Eastern Conference:
Philadelphia Flyers (1) vs Montréal Canadiens (8)
The Flyers may have a self-destructive GM in Chuck Fletcher, he was wise enough to hire a top-level coaching staff that will compensate for his own failings such as overpaid free agents and botched trades in the three-headed monster comprised of Alain Vigneault, Michel Therrien and Mike Yeo, each playing to their strengths. Claude Giroux is still a capable leader, Sean Couturier has become an important first-line player, the wingers are tough, the defense is stingy and Carter Hart in net is showing he can be just as good as Jordan Binnington was last year - except in his case, it's exactly the role he was drafted for and destined to take on.
Hart will face his childhood idol Carey Price, who cried on the ice the last time he faced the Flyers as the #1 guy in the 2008 playoffs, unable to solve R.J. Umberger and out-duelled by Martin Biron. The Habs' Big Three did a number on the Pittsburgh Penguins, but they'll be facing guys who will put their own forwards through the same ordeal, so in that case you have to hand it to the best offense to find a way. The Flyers' defense is also much younger and closer to its prime.
Offense: Flyers
Defense: Flyers
Goaltending: Flyers
Coaching: Flyers
My heart: Canadiens
My pick: Flyers in 6.
Tampa Bay Lightning (2) vs Columbus Blue Jackets (7)
It won't exactly be a repeat of last season because it cannot be as quick as last year; the Bolts are prepared for the onslaught the Jackets will bring and spent the first half of the season preparing for just that, losing easy standing points in the process but learning a hard lesson. Tampa still has a recent Norris winner (Victor Hedman), last year's Vezina winner (Andrei Vasilevskyi), and a former Hart and Art Ross winner (Nikita Kucherov) who are sure to play, and a former Rocket Richard winner (Steven Stamkos) who might suit up if the series goes long enough. The high-end talent is definitely there.
But the Jackets have just eliminated the Toronto Maple Leafs, the second-best offense in the Conference... behind Tampa's. They crave this match-up. They're ready and warmed up.
Offense: Lightning
Defense: Jackets
Goaltending: Lightning
Coaching: Jackets
My heart: Jackets
My pick: Blue Jackets in 6.
Washington Capitals (3) vs New York Islanders (5)
No one wants to face a Barry Trotz-coached team in the first round, and no one wants to face the New York Islanders under Trotz - especially not a team that has underwhelmed and under-performed in the round robin, has lost important elements on defense since their last postseason and whose best goalie will not play. Granted, that leaves them with Stanley Cup winner Braden Holtby between the pipes, but judging by the past three regular-seasons, he will be walking away as a free agent this off-season and may not find a job as a #1 in his next stop.
The Isles are very disciplined, extremely balanced, and now deeper than ever thanks to the deadline acquisition of proven playoff performer Jean-Gabriel Pageau.
In this type of match-up, one question is important: can Alex Ovechkin beat the Islanders by himself? The answer is "yes", but it's also "he would pretty much have to", considering the Caps' questionable defense and goaltending. You simply cannot count on and expect a Conn Smythe-worthy performance just to get through Round One, it's just unfair.
Offense: Capitals
Defense: Islanders
Goaltending: Islanders
Coaching: Islanders
My heart: Capitals
My pick: Islanders in 7. In the NHL.com Bracket Challenge, I chose the Caps, but for my "public face", I feel I'm being more honest by picking Long Island.
Boston Bruins (4) vs Caroline Hurricanes (5)
Neither of these teams should be here; the Canes should be at home heeding tornado warnings and the Bruins should be facing the weakest team in the Conference, but instead, Boston coasted through the round robin trying their best not to get injured - or get anywhere near the puck, for that matter. The "Perfection Line" of Rocket Richard winner David Pastrnak, four-time Selke winner Patrice Bergeron and rat-faced Brad Marchand failed at pretty much everything they attempted in the three games.
And look, both Bruins goalies - Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak - can outplay their counterparts in their sleep (or in a coma), but the fact of the matter is that James Reimer and Petr Mazarek have played extremely well in sweeping the New York Rangers, and they may not be able to withstand that through two months of play, but it's possible they can do it for another ten days. And that's all they need to get through a lifeless Bruins team.
Offense: Bruins
Defense: Hurricanes
Goaltending: Bruins
Coaching: Bruins
My heart: Bruins
My pick: Hurricanes in 7. I don't want Carolina to win. I hate cheering for the Bruins. This is a no-win for me. But I'd rather no-win via Boston moving on, which means they won't.
Western Conference:
Vegas Golden Knights (1) vs Chicago Blackhawks (8)
Although their regular-season standings did not show that, the Golden Knights are not out of place as the first seed in the West; they have a perfect team. I dislike their changing coaches, going from one I like and respect (Gerard Gallant) to one I can't say a good word about (Peter DeBoer) and I feel it was disrespectful to Marc-André Fleury to go with Robin Lehner for two of the three round-robin games, but they're still a heck of a team and while the Hawks do have experience, pedigree, elite-level talent and brand-name recognition, they are nowhere near as deep or balanced as Vegas.
Offense: Golden Knights
Defense: Golden Knights
Goaltending: Golden Knights
Coaching: none
My heart: Golden Knights
My pick: Vegas in 5.
Colorado Avalanche (2) vs Arizona Coyotes (7)
The Avs are just like the Golden Knights: perfect and deep everywhere. Two #1 goalies? Check. The best line in hockey? Check. The league's most valuable player? Check. The best rookie defenseman? Check. A solid top-4 on D that can play for 50 minutes? Check.
Commend the Yotes for beating the Nashville Predators and outplaying them in every facet to an extent where "hey, it's 2020" isn't a good enough excuse to give that core another shot. But these are the Avs. Sure, Colorado has a learning curve to go through, but they'll face hard lessons in the second round, not here.
Offense: Avalanche
Defense: Avalanche
Goaltending: Avalanche
Coaching: Coyotes
My heart: Avalanche
My pick: Avalanche in 4.
Dallas Stars (3) vs Calgary Flames (6)
I love the Dallas Stars.
Let me rephrase that: I love Ben Bishop, who has not suited up for two straight games. The oft-injured Vezina-worthy netminder may not play in this series, and he's Dallas' only hope. The top line of Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn and Alex Radulov has a combined zero (0) points (not goals, points) in the round robin and defenseman Miro Heiskanen is the only point-per-game player on Dallas this postseason. The only other player with more than a single point on the entire roster is 36-year-old Joe Pavelski, who has two goals.
Against the reigning Stanley Cup champions in the final round robin game, the Stars looked like they were skating in slow motion.
The Flames, on the other hand, went through the Winnipeg Jets like a steamroller, going balls-to-the-wall on every shift and injuring two of the Jets' best offensive threats in the process. To repeat against Dallas, they would have to injure... the Zamboni driver and a pizza delivery person, I guess. Calgary's stars are on a mission to have us forget last year's playofs and their former racist head coach; Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan have a playoff reputation to restore, and their defense is still great.
Calgary's not winning the Cup, but they're moving on to the next round.
Offense: Flames
Defense: Flames
Goaltending: Stars
Coaching: Stars
My heart: Flames
My pick: Flames in 5.
St. Louis Blues (4) vs Vancouver Canucks (5)
The reigning champs - like fellow finalists Boston - had a tough round robin. They failed to win a single game and looked disinterested most of the time. Can they find enough passion to wake up for their slumber before the Canucks take too commanding a lead?
My guess is the Blues' experience will shine through in the end, and they'll get into gear as each game passes, slowing down Vancouver's young and talented - albeit thin - legs. If St. Louis' offensive cannons can make some sort of noise, it'll be an added bonus, but by their depth alone and because they're facing a young and inexperienced group and coach, they'll have the best of the series. They'll need more to advance further, however.
Offense: Canucks
Defense: Blues
Goaltending: Canucks
Coaching: Blues
My heart: Canucks
My pick: Blues in 6 or 7.
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