It’s preview time… pulling out the ole rather murky crystal ball and it’s time to pick some series.
MASSMUTUAL EAST DIVISION
Pittsburgh Penguins (1) vs. New York Islanders (4)
The Schedule
Sunday, May 16, Noon: Islanders at Penguins | NBC, SN, TVAS
Tuesday, May 18, 7:30 p.m.: Islanders at Penguins | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVAS, ATTSN-PT, MSG+
Thursday, May 20, 7 p.m.: Penguins at Islanders | NBCSN, SN360, TVAS, MSG+, ATTSN-PT
Saturday, May 22, 3 p.m.: Penguins at Islanders | NBC, SN, TVAS
*Monday, May 24, TBD: Islanders at Penguins | TBD
*Wednesday, May 26, TBD: Penguins at Islanders | TBD
*Friday, May 28, TBD: Islanders at Penguins | TBD
The Breakdown
The Penguins found their stride and managed to overcome a slow start to take the East Division title and their reward is a New York Islander team that can play lockdown defense, but has questions in net and questions at forward. Islander’s bench boss Barry Trotz will help keep this close.
The X Factor
Mathew Barzal… if he comes to play, this one may go New York’s way.
The Call
I am not a believer in the Penguins, but they have enough to get through round 1. Pens in 6.

Washington Capitals (2) vs. Boston Bruins (3)
The Schedule
Saturday, May 15, 7:15 p.m.: Bruins at Capitals | NBC, SN, CBC, TVAS
Monday, May 17, 7:30 p.m.: Bruins at Capitals | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVAS, NBCSWA, NESN
Wednesday, May 19, 6:30 p.m.: Capitals at Bruins | NBCSN, SNE, SNO, SNP, SN360, TVAS, NESN, NBCSWA
Friday, May 21, 6:30 p.m.: Capitals at Bruins | NBCSN, SNE, SNO, SNP, SN360, TVAS, NESN, NBCSWA
*Sunday, May 23, TBD: Bruins at Capitals | TBD
*Tuesday, May 25, TBD: Capitals at Bruins | TBD
*Thursday, May 27, TBD: Bruins at Capitals | TBD
The Breakdown
This is an interesting matchup that gets going tonight. The Bruins have had a solid season and Taylor Hall has figured out his game since being traded to the B’s, but Washington, with Peter Laviolette behind the bench has been very good as well, fighting through injuries and sub par netminding.
The X Factor
Washington goaltending, if they get adequate goaltending, they will win this series.
The Call
The Caps get the goaltending they need and Peter Laviolette works his magic, Caps in seven.

DISCOVER CENTRAL DIVISION
Carolina Hurricanes (1) vs. Nashville Predators (4)
The Schedule
Monday, May 17, 8 p.m.: Predators at Hurricanes | CNBC, SNE, TVAS, BSSO, BSSO
Wednesday, May 19, 8 p.m.: Predators at Hurricanes | CNBC, FX-CA, TVAS, BSSO, BSSO
Friday, May 21, 7 p.m.: Hurricanes at Predators | USA, FXX-CA, TVAS, BSSO, BSSO
Sunday, May 23, TBD: Hurricanes at Predators | TBD
*Tuesday, May 25, TBD: Predators at Hurricanes | TBD
*Thursday, May 27, TBD: Hurricanes at Predators | TBD
*Saturday, May 29, TBD: Predators at Hurricanes | TBD
The Breakdown
Abandon hope all ye who enter this series. A mismatch of gargantuan proportions. Carolina dominated the regular season series, the last two games that the Preds won don’t count. Wait what?
Hold on… I forgot… I am not writing for the national hockey media. Read any preview of this series and the Preds don’t have a chance. Every single ESPN writer, all but one on NHL.com… they all pick the Carolina Hurricanes. Every. Single. One.
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before.
Carolina comes in with the weight of expectations, Nashville is playing with house money. A four seed in the Central, the 13th ranked team in the playoffs. Nashville has no chance… at least if you believe the prognosticators.
Look, I know I have gold tinted glasses on, but the Nashvile Predators of April and May are light years away from the Jekyll and Hyde team we saw in January and February. This series will be closer than anyone thinks.
The X Factor
Ryan Johansen and Matt Duchene… regular season struggles are forgotten if these two play to their potential in the playoffs.
The Call
Do the Predators wake up the echoes of 2017? Sure, why not… that will really piss off the hockey intelligencia… Preds in six.

Florida Panthers (2) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (3)
The Schedule
Sunday, May 16, 7:30 p.m.: Lightning at Panthers | NBCSN, SN, TVAS, BSFL, BSSUN
Tuesday, May 18, 8 p.m.: Lightning at Panthers | CNBC, SNE, TVAS, BSFL, BSSUN
Thursday, May 20, 6:30 p.m.: Panthers at Lightning | USA, FX-CA, TVAS, BSSUN, BSFL
Saturday, May 22, 12:30 p.m.: Panthers at Lightning | CNBC, SN, TVAS, BSSUN, BSFL
*Monday, May 24, TBD: Lightning at Panthers | TBD
*Wednesday, May 26, TBD: Panthers at Lightning | TBD
*Friday, May 28, TBD: Lightning at Panthers | TBD
The Breakdown
The battle of Florida is joined as these two teams meet for the first time ever in the playoffs. Tampa gets over their “Cap Flu” and is almost back to full strength, The Panthers are a talented bunch with a Stanley Cup pedigree behind the bench.
The X Factor
The Panthers defense… they need to get past missing Aaron Ekblad.
The Call
The Lightning are ripe for a first round upset… it ain’t happening, Bolts in six.

HONDA WEST DIVISION
Colorado Avalanche (1) vs. St. Louis Blues (4)
Monday, May 17, 10 p.m.: Blues at Avalanche | NBCSN, SN1, TVAS, ALT, BSMW
Wednesday, May 19, 10:30 p.m.: Blues at Avalanche | CNBC, SN360, TVAS, ALT, BSMW
Friday, May 21, 9:30 p.m.: Avalanche at Blues | USA, SN360, TVAS, BSMW, ALT
Sunday, May 23, TBD: Avalanche at Blues | TBD
*Tuesday, May 25, TBD: Blues at Avalanche | TBD
*Thursday, May 27, TBD: Avalanche at Blues | TBD
*Saturday, May 29, TBD: Blues at Avalanche | TBD
The Breakdown
A Central Division showdown in the West, the Avalanche are the sexy pick to win the Cup. St. Louis began to show signs of their championship form as the season progressed after a rough start. This is a difficult draw for the Av’s as a physical Blues team can give them fits.
The X Factor
Blues netminder Jordan Binnington, was a phenom in their 2019 run, struggled in 2020… which one shows up?
The Call
Colorado in seven physical games.

Vegas Golden Knights (2) vs. Minnesota Wild (3)
Sunday, May 16, 3 p.m.: Wild at Golden Knights | NBC, SN, TVAS
Tuesday, May 18, 10 p.m.: Wild at Golden Knights | NBCSN, SN360, TVAS, ATTSN-RM, BSN, BSWI+
Thursday, May 20, 9:30 p.m.: Golden Knights at Wild | NBCSN, SN360, TVAS, BSW+, BSWI, ATTSN-RM
Saturday, May 22, 8 p.m.: Golden Knights at Wild | NBC, SN360, TVAS
*Monday, May 24, TBD: Wild at Golden Knights | TBD
*Wednesday, May 26, TBD: Golden Knights at Wild | TBD
*Friday, May 28, TBD: Wild at Golden Knights | TBD
The Breakdown
The Minnesota Wild are a different team than the lock down squad we are used to seeing and Vegas just ran out of runway to take the President’s Trophy and the one seed. I am not used to seeing the Wild be a high flying offensive team, but rookie sensation Kirill Koprizov and former Pred Kevin FIala combined for 47 goals in this shortened season.
The X Factor
Vegas in OT – The Golden Knights went 9-0-0 in extra time… could be critical in this series.
The Call
This Wild team may be legit… they have enough to get through this round… Wild in six.

SCOTIA NORTH DIVISION

Toronto Maple Leafs (1) vs. Montreal Canadiens (4)
The Schedule
Thursday, May 20, 7:30 p.m.: Canadiens at Maple Leafs | NHLN, SN, CBC, TVAS
Saturday, May 22, 7 p.m.: Canadiens at Maple Leafs | CNBC, SN, CBC, TVAS
Monday, May 24, TBD: Maple Leafs at Canadiens | TBD
Tuesday, May 25, TBD: Maple Leafs at Canadiens | TBD
*Thursday, May 27, TBD: Canadiens at Maple Leafs | TBD
*Saturday, May 29, TBD: Maple Leafs at Canadiens | TBD
*Monday, May 31, TBD: Canadiens at Maple Leafs | TBD
The Breakdown
Montreal finished 18th in the league and only made the playoffs because of the North Division setup. Toronto has been really good all season in the pressure cooker that is the TO media.
The X Factor
Hard to call Shea Weber an X Factor, but if he dominates like Pred fans have seen him do previously, this series could be closer that most expect.
The Call
It won’t be close, Toronto in four.

Edmonton Oilers (2) vs. Winnipeg Jets (3)
The Schedule
Wednesday, May 19, 9 p.m.: Jets at Oilers | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVAS
Friday, May 21, 9 p.m.: Jets at Oilers | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVAS
Sunday, May 23, TBD: Oilers at Jets | TBD
Monday, May 24, TBD: Oilers at Jets | TBD
*Wednesday, May 26, TBD: Jets at Oilers | TBD
*Friday, May 28, TBD: Oilers at Jets | TBD
*Sunday, May 30, TBD: Jets at Oilers | TBD
The Breakdown
Edmonton finally seems to have a team that can compete, Winnipeg seems to be a team treading water. The Oilers finally seem to have some role players to surround their top line talent.
The X Factor
Connor – both of them… if the goalie is the one we are talking about… this could be interesting.
The Call
This is McDavid’s time to shine. Oilers in Five.

* if necessary
TBD - To Be Determined

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