The 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs will kick off on April 11th and run until the Stanley Cup Finals in June. For the first time since 1966, there is no team from New York represented, as the Islanders, Rangers, and Sabres all missed out. Also, 2018 is the first year since 1967 that an expansion team (Vegas) made the postseason.

2018 Stanley Cup Playoff Bracket:

Odds to Win 2018 Stanley Cup:

(Odds courtesy of Bovada)

Nashville Predators (+375)

Boston Bruins (+550)

Tampa Bay Lightning (+600)

Vegas Golden Knights (+750)

Winnipeg Jets (+800)

Pittsburgh Penguins (+1000)

Toronto Maple Leafs (+1100)

Washington Capitals (+1100)

Anaheim Ducks (+2000)

Los Angeles Kings (+2200)

San Jose Sharks (+2500)

Philadelphia Flyers (+2500)

Columbus Blue Jackets (+2800)

Minnesota Wild (+3000)

Colorado Avalanche (+3300)

New Jersey Devils (+3300)

First Round Series Preview, Prices, and National TV Schedule:

*(U.S.A broadcast, CAN broadcast) **In addition to networks listed, all first-round games (except Game 1 TB/NJ) will air on fuboTV.

Eastern Conference

(A1) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (WC2) New Jersey Devils

The Devils top line are the only three players on the team that finished with over twenty goals this season. Their lack of scoring depth may prove to be their Achilles heel against Tampa Bay. New Jersey did, however, beat the Lightning all three times they met in the regular season. Keith Kinkaid took over goaltending duties after Cory Schneider got hurt late in January, and finished the season 7-0-1, with Schneider getting the start in the finale, likely to keep Kinkaid fresh for the postseason. But the Lightning led the league in scoring this season with 3.54 goals per game and certainly have a team that is built for longevity in the postseason, adding a couple of ex-Rangers at the trade deadline who have played in many, many playoff games against the very team they play for now. Expect this one to go the full seven games. Lightning in 7

Game 1: April 12 at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m. (NHL Network, SportsNet)

Game 2: April 14 at Tampa Bay, 3 p.m. (NBC, SN360)

Game 3: April 16 at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m. (CNBC, SportsNet)

Game 4: April 18 at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m. (Golf Channel, SportsNet)

Game 5: April 21 at Tampa Bay, TBD

Game 6: April 23 at New Jersey, TBD

Game 7: April 25 at Tampa Bay, TBD

Series Price: Tampa Bay (-350); New Jersey (+275)

(A2) Boston Bruins vs. (A3) Toronto Maple Leafs

The last time these two teams met in the postseason, it was 2013 and the Bruins scored three goals late in the third period to force overtime. The Bruins went on to win in overtime. This season, the Leafs won three of the four games including one in overtime. The Bruins are the kind of team that will grind out games in the postseason, and with goaltender Tuukka Rask‘s postseason numbers and experience, I think the Bruins have a slight edge in this marquee original six match-up. Bruins in 6

Game 1: April 12 at Boston, 7 p.m. (NBCSN, CBC)

Game 2: April 14 at Boston, 7 p.m. (NBC, CBC)

Game 3: April 16 at Toronto, 7 p.m. (NBCSN, CBC)

Game 4: April 19 at Toronto, 7 p.m. (NBCSN, CBC)

Game 5: April 21 at Boston, TBD

Game 6: April 23 at Toronto, TBD

Game 7: April 25 at Boston, TBD

Series Price: Boston (-145); Toronto (+125)

(M1) Washington Capitals vs. (WC1) Columbus Blue Jackets

As the Capitals hope to make it out of the second round for the first time in the Ovechkin era, the Blue Jackets come to Washington trying to spoil Ovie’s cup chances in the first round. The Capitals are a clear favorite in the offense department, but you have to think that starting your backup goalie in the first round will have some impact on the series. The Jackets’ Sergei Bobrovsky is the reigning Vezina winner and has had another great season this year. But Bobrovsky’s numbers in the postseason are shaky at best, and if there is anyone you don’t want to see in round one against a shaky goalie, it’s Alex Ovechkin. He tends to thrive in situations where the opposing goalie shows ANY sign of weakness. Caps in 5

Game 1: April 12 at Washington, 7:30 p.m. (USA, SN360)

Game 2: April 15 at Washington, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN, SN360)

Game 3: April 17 at Columbus, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN, SN360)

Game 4: April 19 at Columbus, 7:30 p.m. (USA, SportsNet)

Game 5: April 21 at Washington, TBD

Game 6: April 23 at Columbus, TBD

Game 7: April 25 at Washington, TBD

Series Price: Washington (-130); Columbus (+110)

(M2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (M3) Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers come limping into this series against the reigning champs of the East, losing their last ten games of the regular season. The Battle of Pennsylvania has been rather one-sided as of late with the Penguins sweeping the 2017-18 regular season match-ups. I fully expect the Pens to handle this series easily, though don’t be surprised if Philadelphia tries to disrupt the Penguins’ game plan with some serious physical play. This one could get ugly. Pens in 5

Game 1: April 11 at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. (NBCSN, CBC)

Game 2: April 13 at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. (NBCSN, CBC)

Game 3: April 15 at Philadelphia, 3 p.m. (NBC, CBC)

Game 4: April 18 at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. (NBCSN, CBC)

Game 5: April 20 at Pittsburgh, TBD

Game 6: April 22 at Philadelphia, TBD

Game 7: April 24 at Pittsburgh, TBD

Series Price: Pittsburgh (-225); Philadelphia (+185)

Western Conference

(C1) Nashville Predators vs. (WC2) Colorado Avalanche

The Predators put the old “Stanley Cup hangover” adage to rest this season, ending up the favorites in the West. The Avalanche enter this postseason in a similar way the Preds did last year, quietly and unexpectedly. However, I expect the Predators’ experience, as well as the stellar play of goaltender Pekka Rinne, to win out easily. Predators in 5

Game 1: April 12 at Nashville, 9:30 p.m. (NBCSN, SportsNet)

Game 2: April 14 at Nashville, 3 p.m. (NBC, SportsNet)

Game 3: April 16 at Colorado, 10 p.m. (NBCSN, SportsNet)

Game 4: April 18 at Colorado, 10 p.m. (NBCSN, SportsNet)

Game 5: April 20 at Nashville, TBD

Game 6: April 22 at Colorado, TBD

Game 7: April 24 at Nashville, TBD

Series Price: Nashville (-560); Colorado (+380)

(C2) Winnipeg Jets vs. (C3) Minnesota Wild

No one seems to give the Wild a chance in this series because the Jets are charged up with youthful energy and a 9-1 record over their last ten games. The Wild, however, are an experienced postseason team and have a goalie in Devan Dubnyk whom I would take over most others in the tournament. But…the Jets are hot, and when you’re hot, you’re hot — and that’s the name of the game in the NHL postseason. You have to find that chemistry and exploit it. Historically, teams that come into the postseason on a streak do well. This will be one of the best matchups of the first round. Jets in 7

Game 1: April 11 at Winnipeg, 7 p.m. (CNBC, SportsNet)

Game 2: April 13 at Winnipeg, 7:30 p.m. (USA, SportsNet)

Game 3: April 15 at Minnesota, 7 p.m. (USA, SportsNet)

Game 4: April 17 at Minnesota, 8 p.m. (CNBC, SportsNet)

Game 5: April 20 at Winnipeg, TBD

Game 6: April 22 at Minnesota, TBD

Game 7: April 25 at Winnipeg, TBD

Series Price: Winnipeg (-220); Minnesota (+180)

(P1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (WC1) Los Angeles Kings

Perhaps a look at what will be one of the new rivalries in the West, the unlikely Knights head into the postseason to find an experienced Kings team with veteran goalie Jonathan Quick looking to dash the dreams of the newest expansion team. The Knights, however, have an experienced goaltender themselves in Marc-Andre Fleury. With a young team in front of the three-time Stanley Cup champ, expect them to look at him for leadership in the postseason. The experience of the goaltenders cannot be overstated, as one can steal a series out from under the other. This classic matchup between the pipes will lead to another exciting first-round series. Kings in 7

Game 1: April 11 at Vegas, 10 p.m. (NBCSN, CBC)

Game 2: April 13 at Vegas, 10 p.m. (NBCSN, CBC)

Game 3: April 15 at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m. (NBCSN, CBC)

Game 4: April 17 at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m. (NBCSN, CBC)

Game 5: April 19 at Vegas, TBD

Game 6: April 21 at Los Angeles, TBD

Game 7: April 23 at Vegas, TBD

Series Price: Vegas (-140); Los Angeles (+120)

(P2) Anaheim Ducks vs. (P3) San Jose Sharks

The Sharks lost five of their last six coming into this series but did beat the Ducks three times in four games this season. Ducks goalie John Gibson may not be ready for the start of the series, but former Sabres great Ryan Miller is the alternative and can certainly handle a postseason workload. The Sharks hope that adding Evander Kane at the deadline was the final piece they need to bolster their already impressive offensive play. Both teams are familiar with the grind that is postseason hockey, and the California rivalry will make for a well-seasoned series that will likely go the distance. Ducks in 7

Game 1: April 12 at Anaheim, 10:30 p.m. (USA, SN360)

Game 2: April 14 at Anaheim, 10:30 p.m. (NBCSN, SN360)

Game 3: April 16 at San Jose, 10:30 p.m. (CNBC, SN1)

Game 4: April 18 at San Jose, 10:30 p.m. (Golf Channel, SN1)

Game 5: April 20 at Anaheim, TBD

Game 6: April 22 at San Jose, TBD

Game 7: April 24 at Anaheim, TBD

Series Price: Anaheim (-130); San Jose (+110)

Slackie Brown Stanley Cup Predictions:

Danny Baseball:

Eastern Champion: Pittsburgh Penguins

Western Champion: Vegas Golden Knights

Stanley Cup Winner: Vegas Golden Knights

Connor Noetzel:

Eastern Champion: Tampa Bay Lightning

Western Champion: Nashville Predators

Stanley Cup Winner: Nashville Predators

Casey Pazzalia:

Eastern Champion: Washington Capitals

Western Champion: Vegas Golden Knights

Stanley Cup Winner: Washington Capitals