It feels like we usually are seeing away teams start off the playoffs with a bit of an advantage...but not this year, Nope...this year the teams in dark are taking control. We also usually see an OT game in the first couple of nights...and yet nothing....
Will that continue?
Tune into the Buzzcast at 3pm today for all the opinions...
By the way, this year my travel schedule has been killing me...but for those interested in my round 1 picks.....here are my first-round winners as I filled in my nhl bracket...
Dallas
Colorado
Edmonton
Nashville
Florida
Toronto
NY Rangers
Carolina
Starting tomorrow...the fun offseason rumors launch! BUT TONIGHT!
Two Eastern Conference playoff series will play their second game on Monday, while two Western Conference series will get underway.
Toronto at Boston(Game 2): The Bruins pulled away in Game 1 for a 5-1 win. William Nylander has returned to the ice but it appears that he will not return to play. The odd-numbered games in a series are the most important to win but the even-numbered one determine how far a series could go. The Maple Leafs aren't in dire trouble yet but they will be if they go home trailing two games to zero.
Ek's pick': Maple Leafs with a 3-2 overtime win to tie the series.
Islanders at Carolina(Game 2): The Canes didn't have their A game going for the majority of Game 1. Nonetheless, Frederik Andersen made 33 saves and Stefan Noesen broke a 1-1 tie in the third period on the way to 3-1 lead (the final goal was an empty netter). Carolina was fortunate to get the game to the third period in a 1-1 deadlock despite the Islanders carrying most of the play. I expect a better game from Carolina tonight.
Ek's pick: Hurricanes with a 4-1 win to take a two-game lead in the series before the scene shifts to Elmont.
Vegas at Dallas (Game 1)
This is a tough draw for the Stars but, if they get through this series, it's not hard to envision Dallas being the team that comes out of the West. It may come down to which version of Jake Oettinger shows up in net for Dallas. I think this is going to be a long and tough series with Game 1 setting the tone for a series than can go either way. Mark Stone is a go to play tonight for the Golden Knights.
Ek's pick: Stars 4-3 in overtime.
Los Angeles at Edmonton(Game 1)
From years of watching playoff hockey, I've seen many series where the tighter-checking team finds a way to contain the more offensively explosive club enough to pull together four wins. This year's version of the Oilers, after Kris Knoblauch took over as head coach, seems to building something special. Even if the Oilers lose Game 1, it'll be a steep challenge for the Kings to come away with the series. Even so, I could see LA grabbing Game 1 on the road.
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