NHL playoffs 2018: Four bold predictions

Show Caption Hide Caption NHL playoff preview: Can anyone stop the Predators? SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports' Jimmy Hascup and Kevin Allen look at some dark horses that could make some noise this postseason, but ultimately it's hard to bet against Nashville.

The four best teams in the NHL -- the Nashville Predators, Winnipeg Jets, Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins -- are split between two divisions. With the league's elite set to potentially meet before the Stanley Cup final, the 2018 playoffs will be ripe for surprises.

Here are the bold predictions from USA TODAY Sports' NHL staff for the playoffs:

Kevin Allen: Auston Matthews will register 10-12 points in the first round. Matthews, 20, enters the playoffs riding a 10-game points streak. The Arizona native seems poised to have a monstrous postseason. With his blend of size, drive, skating ability and skill, Matthews is built to fight through the tighter playoff checking.

Jimmy Hascup: The Los Angeles Kings will upset the Vegas Golden Knights in Round 1. The NHL has seen nothing like a Vegas party in the playoffs, but the Golden Knights have never faced playoff pressure. How will this group react to the momentum swings in games and within a series? The Kings are experienced and battle-tested. Their stingy defensive style is conducive to the playoffs. Plus, they possess two of the series best players in Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty.

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Mike Brehm: Bruins forward Brad Marchand will be suspended at some point during the postseason. He has been pushing the limits and it will catch up to him. But because it's the playoffs, he'll miss only one game.

Jace Evans: The Toronto Maple Leafs will win a playoff series for the first time since 2004. The Maple Leafs’ 2013 playoff collapse against the Bruins might as well be ancient history given the amount of turnover each team has experienced in the past five seasons. That devastating Game 7 loss after leading 4-1 will not be a factor for a Maple Leafs team that quietly posted the best regular-season in its history with 105 points. Goalie Frederik Andersen also set a franchise record for 38 wins, and star Auston Matthews is now back from injury and ready to make a huge difference.