It's that time of year to repeat what has become a bit of a tradition:
Stanley Cup playoff predictions/updates.

Neither the Canucks or the Habs are present this year (just wait till NEXT year, right?) so I have no dog in this fight.

All that said, let's get onto the FIRST ROUND predictions:

Nashville vs Dallas - I predict this series will go 6 or 7 games, with Nashville eventually emerging as victorious.
Winnipeg vs St. Louis - Even though I am a 'pegger...I see the Jets falling to the Blues in 5 or 6.
Calgary vs Colorado - Tough call...but I'll say Calgary in 7
San Jose vs Las Vegas - Although the Knights did the classic Cinderella run last year, I don't think they'll repeat. Paccioretty usually disappears during the playoffs.
Tampa vs Columbus - The BJ's (hehehe) might squeak out a win...maybe two but Tampa's dominant offense will prevail. Bolts in 5
Boston vs Toronto - Bruins in 6 as the Leafs make their typical first-round exit.
Washington vs Carolina - Capitals in 6 or 7 (although I don't see them repeating as SC champs again).
New York Islanders vs Pittsburgh - Islanders in 6 or 7; Penguins have been inconsistent this season...this doesn't bode well for the playoffs.

You surface only for the playoffs, don't you. There is more to this site than the Lodge you know!

Re NHL -- as Oilers fan I am so disappointed almost to the point of not even following Playoffs (Only good news is that McDavid's injury is not as serious as thought during Flames game on Saturday). Re 1st round predictions I mostly agree, except for Leafs and Jets series. Leafs will beat Bruins in 6 (even if most of western Canada will not be too happy about it, lol), Jets might go game 7 & it is a tossup

Overall prediction-- I have a hunch Flames might go far this year. Online betting sites actually have Tampa as #1 and Flames as #2 . So let that be the final, although it probably won't. I don't see Caps repeating either.

I don't know about Winnipeg...Jordan Binnington has been awesome in the SL net.
And even though Tampa has been a powerhouse all year, they tend to fall on their face in the playoffs...there's that nasty President's Trophy curse...I don't see them going to the finals.


There used to be................

I haven't been following hockey this year but I heard about Bob Cole's last game as CBC announcer, so I had to watch the Toronto-Montreal game. It was very entertaining for a mean-nothing game!

It was an AWESOME game....and I'm sure it meant something to Ryan Poehling.


Imagine...as a kid, all those early morning practices...dreaming of playing in the big league.
Then one day you are playing for a renowned STANLEY CUP CHAMPION like the Habs....and not only do you get your first goal, but your first hat-trick AND the GAME WINNING GOAL in the same night?
That guy must have been on cloud nine for days!


...and what about Charlie Lindgren?

Wow...Tampa Bay looking really ordinary. If they lose the next one it will surely be an insurmountable deficit.

Not surprising that St. Louis has taken a 2-game lead in this series...Binnington looks amazing!

Syd and the Pens looking pretty average too.......

SJ and Vegas tied at one game each........looks like this one might go the distance.

Oh my...

Tampa needs to win 4 games in a row in order to survive.................

Looks like one of my first-round predictions has failed.
This just goes to prove what I've always said about the regular season vs the playoffs....you can be the "best team" in the league...President's Trophy winner...even set a NEW record for most regular-season wins...but you can STILL get swept in the first round by the second wild-card.
LA did it to Vancouver in 2012...and went on to WIN the Stanley Cup.
Congrats to John Tortorella (Yes....THAT John Tortorella) and the Columbus Blue Jackets for playing David to the Tampa Bay's Goliath....an impressive effort by a hungry group.
It will be interesting to see how they fare against the Bruins or Leafs.

As I DID predict (although not in 4 games) the Islanders have eliminated the Penguins....SWEPT them, to be precise.

History has been made...in that BOTH 8th seeds from the East and the West, have ousted the top team in those Divisions....
Colorado advances to the next round.

Winnipeg has been eliminated, as predicted...Nashville, San Jose and Carolina are on the brink of elimination.

Sad to think that the hopes of the nation, rests upon the Leafs....................Go Boston...or Columbus!

An ASTOUNDING comeback by the San Jose Sharks....from a 3-goal deficit going into the third period....to score 4 unanswered goals in an extended power-play.
Vegas tied the game with less than a minute to play in regulation....then, in OT the Sharks prevail to take the series.

In other news, the Toronto Maple Laffs were eliminated in Game 7 by the Bruins........AGAIN.

Tomorrow will be the last game in the Washington/Carolina series....

Incredible playoffs this year....these past two nights have featured some GREAT games with lots of tension...some GAME 7 OT...some heartbreak and some amazing twists.
So far, every TOP team has been eliminated in the first round.
The odds-makers figured on a Tampa/Calgary final? Not this year....

Tampa, Calgary, Washington and Nashville are done...like dinner. Only 4 of my predictions came true, as far as victors go...number of games wasn't entirely accurate.

So we're on to the next round:

St Louis vs Dallas: I say St. Louis in 5 or 6
Colorado vs San Jose: Colorado in 6 or 7
New York Islanders vs Carolina: Islanders in 5 or 6
Boston vs Columbus: Columbus in 6 or 7

Wouldn't a Columbus vs Colorado final be great?

So far, two more of my predictions have turned out WRONG!

Boston advances past Columbus and Carolina over the Islanders...pity that the underdog Columbus looked so promising in the first round but then basically got schooled in the second.
Carolina has shown some moxy....but will they fall in the next?

A San Jose/Carolina final could be interesting.........but now that I've said it...it will probably be Boston/Dallas.

Congrats to San Jose...advancing to the next round.

Way to go Landeskog....if you had gotten your ass OFF the ice in a timely manner...it would have been a tie game. Reminded me of Markus Naslund..........


So.....further predictions:
San Jose vs St Louis - SJ in 6
Boston vs Carolina - Carolina in 6 or 7

Looks like it will be a San Jose/Boston final....

I'm rooting for SJ...I want to see Joe Thornton win at least ONE cup in his career.

Who are you talking to anyway?