Our NHL writers, analysts and editors weigh in with their predictions for the first round of the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs -- plus their picks to win the Cup.

EASTERN CONFERENCE WAS-CBJ PIT-PHI TB-NJD BOS-TOR Allen

Capitals in 5

Penguins in 4

Lightning in 6

Maple Leafs in 7 Arledge

Blue Jackets in 7

Penguins in 6

Lightning in 5

Maple Leafs in 7

Buccigross

Blue Jackets in 7

Penguins in 7

Lightning in 6

Bruins in 7 Chandan

Capitals in 6

Flyers in 7

Devils in 7

Bruins in 5



Cohn

Capitals in 6

Penguins in 6

Lightning in 6

Bruins in 7 Crawford

Capitals in 6

Penguins in 6

Devils in 7

Maple Leafs in 7 Kaplan

Capitals in 7

Penguins in 6

Lightning in 6

Bruins in 7 Kavanagh

Capitals in 6

Penguins in 7

Lightning in 6

Bruins in 5



La Greca

Blue Jackets in 6

Penguins in 6

Devils in 7

Bruins in 7



Levy

Blue Jackets in 7

Penguins in 5

Lightning in 6

Bruins in 6

Masi

Blue Jackets in 6

Penguins in 6

Lightning in 5



Maple Leafs in 7



Matiash

Capitals in 7

Penguins in 5

Lightning in 6

Bruins in 7

Melrose

Blue Jackets in 6

Penguins in 6

Lightning in 5

Bruins in 7 Peters

Capitals in 6

Penguins in 7

Lightning in 5

Maple Leafs in 7 Wyshynski

Blue Jackets in 7

Penguins in 6

Lightning in 6

Maple Leafs in 6

WESTERN CONFERENCE NSH-COL WPG-MIN VGK-TB ANA-SJS Allen

Predators in 5

Jets in 6

Kings in 7

Ducks in 7 Arledge

Predators in 4

Jets in 6

Kings in 7

Ducks in 7

Buccigross

Predators in 6

Jets in 6

Golden Knights in 7

Ducks in 7 Chandan

Predators in 5

Wild in 6

Kings in 6

Ducks in 6 Cohn

Predators in 5

Jets in 5

Golden Knights in 7

Ducks in 7 Crawford

Predators in 5

Jets in 5

Golden Knights in 7

Ducks in 7 Kaplan

Predators in 5

Jets in 6

Kings in 6

Sharks in 7 Kavanagh

Predators in 5

Jets in 4

Golden Knights in 6

Sharks in 7



La Greca

Predators in 5

Jets in 5

Kings in 6

Ducks in 7



Levy

Predators in 5

Jets in 5

Golden Knights in 7

Sharks in 7

Masi

Predators in 5

Jets in 7

Golden Knights in 7

Sharks in 7



Matiash

Predators in 5

Jets in 6

Kings in 6

Sharks in 7

Melrose

Predators in 5

Jets in 6

Kings in 7

Ducks in 7

Peters

Predators in 4

Jets in 5

Kings in 6

Ducks in 7 Wyshynski

Predators in 4

Jets in 5

Golden Knights in 7

Sharks in 7

STANLEY CUP WINNER EAST WEST CUP WINNER Allen

Capitals

Predators

Capitals

Arledge

Lightning

Jets

Lightning



Buccigross

Lightning

Predators

Predators Chandan

Bruins

Golden Knights

Bruins

Cohn

Bruins

Predators

Predators

Crawford

Capitals

Predators

Capitals Kaplan

Bruins

Predators

Predators Kavanagh

Bruins

Predators

Predators



La Greca

Bruins

Predators

Bruins



Levy

Bruins

Predators

Bruins

Masi

Lightning

Jets

Lightning

Matiash

Lightning

Predators

Predators

Melrose

Lightning

Predators

Predators

Peters

Lightning

Predators

Predators Virk

Lightning

Sharks

Lightning Wyshynski

Lightning

Predators

Predators

ESPN Experts panel: Sean Allen, NHL fantasy columnist; Ben Arledge, associate editor; John Buccigross, SportsCenter anchor; Linda Cohn, SportsCenter anchor; Sachin Chandan, hockey researcher for ESPN the Magazine; Aimee Crawford, senior editor; Emily Kaplan, national NHL reporter; Tim Kavanagh, general editor; Don La Greca, ESPN Radio host; Steve Levy, SportsCenter anchor; Vince Masi, Sports and Information research specialist; Victoria Matiash, NHL fantasy columnist; Barry Melrose, NHL analyst; Chris Peters, NHL prospects columnist; Greg Wyshynski, senior NHL writer.