By Tommy Kane

Published: April 7th, 2019

Volume III: Issue XII

The 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs are yet upon us, and it is the most exciting time of the year for hockey fans.

This season, we had multiple storylines and shocking results to follow. Huge trades and injuries turned around many teams throughout the season.

The Tampa Bay Lightning took the league by storm, while the Anaheim Ducks slumped to a 12-game losing streak during the course of the season. The Hurricanes make the playoffs for the first time since 2009, ending their playoff drought, while the Buffalo Sabres fell apart towards the end and missed the postseason.

Nonetheless, let’s take a look at each match-up of the first round.

1. Tampa Bay Lightning vs. WC2. Columbus Blue Jackets

The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets all three times they met this year, and Tampa will ride off the momentum from beating the Bruins in the final season match.

Tampa won 62 games, tieing the NHL record. They also have the best powerplay percentage at 28.2% and the tied best penalty kill percentage at 85.0%. Nikita Kucherov is the points leader in the NHL at 128 points, just adding to their prowess.

Yes, Tampa had their fair share of injuries on the blue line, but head coach Jon Cooper and the team have figured out how to overcome them all year. To add, Andrei Vasilevskiy (G) has a save percentage of .925, having a great year.

The Blue Jackets have had bumps throughout the season, but nonetheless, they will get a shot. Sergei Bobrovsky (G) has been huge for them all season, even earning a league-high nine shutouts. Columbus also has weapons offensively in Artemi Panarin and Cam Atkinson, along with a stellar penalty kill (85.0%).

In the end, the Lightning are a more dominant hockey team and will win the series in five games. Lightning win, 4-1.

1. Washington Capitals vs. WC1. Carolina Hurricanes

The defending champs against a team that hasn’t been to the postseason since 2009 will make for a great match.

The Capitals have been strong all year and took the Eastern Conference. The Hurricanes have stuck with it all year and earn a playoff spot.

No surprise, Alex Ovechkin leads the league in goals scored (51) and doesn’t look to slow down any time soon. Goaltending has not been a strong suit for the Caps, but Braden Holtby (G) will show up for this series.

The Hurricanes shocked the world by having an above-par season and making the playoffs, as well as with those crazy celebrations. Sebastian Aho led the team with 83 points on the season.

Other than that, the Capitals are the stronger team in this series. They have most of the players that they had when they hoisted the cup last year. Carolina will put up a fight, but the Capitals will survive in six. Capitals win, 4-2.

2. Boston Bruins vs. 3. Toronto Maple Leafs

The tilt that has caused controversy regarding the playoffs ever since the Lightning ran away with the league. In fact, these two met in the first round last year. Bruins lead this rivalry on the season, 3-1, and really have looked unstoppable for the most part.

You can talk about Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, and Patrice Bergeron all day, but the penalty kill is solid at 25.9% and is overlooked. Obviously, the team is offensively sound, but they can play defense. Many of the players have strong two-way games.

On the other side, the Maple Leafs have shown fight all season, adding John Tavares to the lineup. It has paid off for them and complements Auston Matthews and Morgan Reilly. Frederik Andersen (G) has also been playing great hockey with a save percentage of .917.

These teams are both strong, but the Bruins do have an edge. This series will swing like a pendulum, but Boston will win in seven. Bruins win, 4-3.

2. New York Islanders vs. 3. Pittsburgh Penguins

There is bad blood between these two rivals and it will only get worse throughout the first round.

The Penguins have been playing well as of late. Sidney Crosby earned 100 points on the season and Jake Guentzel led the team with 40 goals. The Penguins powerplay is hot at 24.6%, while it hasn’t been great recently. Matt Murray (G) has found his groove and has a save percentage of .919.

The Islanders are equally dangerous and ended their season shutting out the Capitals. Head coach Barry Trotz has them going in the right direction. The tandem between Robin Lehner (G) and Thomas Greiss (G) is a killer. Lehner has a save percentage of .930 and Greiss .927. Not only that, but the Isles can shoot the puck and will beat teams quickly.

The Penguins have been getting in the right shape down the stretch. Are the Islanders a fluke? Pens will win this one in six games. Penguins win, 4-2.

1. Calgary Flames vs. WC2. Colorado Avalanche

Johnny Hockey and the Flames will face the Avalanche in round one. The Flames started off weak but have gotten hot, while the Avs have been hot and cold, but most recently hot.

A lot of production for the Flames comes from their first line, but more involvement has arisen. Johnny Gaudreau just missed 100 points but has shown the league that he is going to be an elite player. Calgary has shown time and time again that they can win games. They will be a tough out.

The Avs have reaped from Nathan McKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, but they haven’t been overly amazing. They just made the playoffs and have shown a lot of gray areas throughout the season. They do have a strong powerplay, but a weak penalty kill. On a plus side, Philipp Grubauer (G) has been playing well and may help combat the strong Calgary offense.

When it’s all said and done, the Flames will keep on burning. Flames win, 4-1.

1. Nashville Predators vs. WC1. Dallas Stars

This will be a great matchup because the Stars are playing well and may be able to get the underdog win.

The Preds just snuck into first place in the Central Division, but they aren’t invincible. Arguably, they haven’t had a stand-out player all year and their trade deadline acquisitions haven’t lived up to expectations. Despite this, they are still dangerous. Pekka Rinne (G) and Juuse Saros (G) are great goalies and can turn around a season. They have a plethora of offensive weapons, it is just a matter of if they will show up.

The Stars have one of the best goalies in the land in Ben Bishop. He leads the NHL in save percentage at .934. An experienced goaltender could be huge down the stretch. The Stars haven’t been a huge amazement, but they have the weapons in Tyler Seguin, Alexander Radulov, and Jamie Benn, as well as a supporting cast.

Plain and simple, Dallas will figure out a way in seven games to get out of this series and escape the Predators alive. Dallas wins, 4-3.

2. Winnipeg Jets vs. 3. St. Louis Blues

This will be one of the best series in the first round because it can go either way. Both these teams are so close in skill level it is amazing.

You know the deal, Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler, Connor Hellebuyck, etc. Hellebuyck (G) and Laurent Brossoit (G) are both skilled goalies and it is a toss-up determining which will start. This is a good dilemma. To add, the Jets have a great powerplay and they can score at ease. Penalty killing, though, is weaker. The key for Winnipeg is starting off well at home and getting a few key wins. This team can play dangerous and they did so in a tight Central Division.

Speaking of dangerous, did someone mention the Blues? These guys turned around their season. One day they were fighting in practice and the next day they were winning again. Jordan Bennington (G) is having a career rookie season with a save percentage of .927 and a GAA of 1.89 (leading league). He is confident. Who else is confident? Vladimir Tarasenko and Ryan O’Reilly are.

It is going to go down to the wire, but the Jets will push out of this one in seven games. Jets win, 4-3.

2. San Jose Sharks vs. 3. Vegas Golden Knights

The Golden Knights are 2 for 2 making the postseason. Despite this, the Sharks know how to take care of business and are still searching for that first Cup (along with the Knights). This series will be a good one.

The Sharks have offensive and defensive weapons year after year, and this year is no different. Brent Burns leads them in points and he is a great two-way defenseman and is key to the team. The powerplay is pretty solid at 23.6% as well. Martin Jones (G), as usual, is not a goalie any team wants to face, although it hasn’t been his best season.

The Knights made a great deal in getting Mark Stone and he has only been helpful from the start. With him and a few other stand-outs from Sin City, they can change games. Marc-Andre Fleury (G) has a save percentage of .913 and has been pivotal all year for them. Despite the recent injury, he is back and ready to battle. He is a game-changer.

The bottom line with this series is the Sharks have outplayed the Golden Knights this season. Not saying the Knights are bad but they don’t have the cast to play up to the Sharks. Sharks win, 4-2.

The 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs commence on Apr. 10, 2019. Games will be on NBC and its affiliates.

Happy Hockey!

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