NHL.com experts have made their predictions for the Stanley Cup Playoffs and they believe the best team in the regular season will rule in the postseason as well.

Ten of the 15 staff members who made predictions picked the Tampa Bay Lightning, who won the Presidents' Trophy with 128 points and became the second team in NHL history to win 62 games in a season, to hoist the Stanley Cup at the end of the playoffs.

Five of the 10 to pick the Lightning predicted goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy to win the Conn Smythe Trophy, which is awarded to the most valuable player in the postseason. Forward Brayden Point was picked by three writers and forward Nikita Kucherov was picked by two.

The Boston Bruins, who finished tied with the Calgary Flames for second in points (107), were picked by three staff members to win the Stanley Cup. The Flames and Nashville Predators each got one vote.

Here are NHL.com's picks for the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs:

Amalie Benjamin, NHL.com staff writer

Eastern Conference First Round

TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning

BOS vs. TOR: Boston Bruins

WSH vs. CAR: Washington Capitals

NYI vs. PIT: New York Islanders

Western Conference First Round

CGY vs. COL: Calgary Flames

SJS vs. VGK: Vegas Golden Knights

NSH vs. DAL: Nashville Predators

WPG vs. STL: Winnipeg Jets

Stanley Cup Final: Lightning over Jets

Conn Smythe Trophy: Nikita Kucherov, Lightning

Video: Previewing Columbus vs. Tampa Bay First Round matchup

Tim Campbell, NHL.com staff writer

Eastern Conference First Round

TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning

BOS vs. TOR: Toronto Maple Leafs

WSH vs. CAR: Washington Capitals

NYI vs. PIT: New York Islanders

Western Conference First Round

CGY vs. COL: Calgary Flames

SJS vs. VGK: San Jose Sharks

NSH vs. DAL: Nashville Predators

WPG vs. STL: Winnipeg Jets

Stanley Cup Final: Flames over Maple Leafs

Conn Smythe Trophy: Johnny Gaudreau, Flames

Brian Compton, NHL.com deputy managing editor

Eastern Conference First Round

TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning

BOS vs. TOR: Boston Bruins

WSH vs. CAR: Washington Capitals

NYI vs. PIT: Pittsburgh Penguins

Western Conference First Round

CGY vs. COL: Calgary Flames

SJS vs. VGK: Vegas Golden Knights

NSH vs. DAL: Nashville Predators

WPG vs. STL: Winnipeg Jets

Stanley Cup Final: Bruins over Golden Knights

Conn Smythe Trophy: Brad Marchand, Bruins

Video: Previewing the Leafs vs. Bruins First Round matchup

Nicholas J. Cotsonika, NHL.com columnist

Eastern Conference First Round

TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning

BOS vs. TOR: Boston Bruins

WSH vs. CAR: Washington Capitals

NYI vs. PIT: Pittsburgh Penguins

Western Conference First Round

CGY vs. COL: Calgary Flames

SJS vs. VGK: Vegas Golden Knights

NSH vs. DAL: Dallas Stars

WPG vs. STL: St. Louis Blues

Stanley Cup Final: Lightning over Flames

Conn Smythe Trophy: Nikita Kucherov, Lightning

William Douglas, NHL.com staff writer

Eastern Conference First Round

TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning

BOS vs. TOR: Toronto Maple Leafs

WSH vs. CAR: Washington Capitals

NYI vs. PIT: Pittsburgh Penguins

Western Conference First Round

CGY vs. COL: Calgary Flames

SJS vs. VGK: San Jose Sharks

NSH vs. DAL: Nashville Predators

WPG vs. STL: St. Louis Blues

Stanley Cup Final: Lightning over Predators

Conn Smythe Trophy: Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning

Video: Previewing the Stars vs. Predators First Round series

Tom Gulitti, NHL.com staff writer

Eastern Conference First Round

TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning

BOS vs. TOR: Boston Bruins

WSH vs. CAR: Washington Capitals

NYI vs. PIT: Pittsburgh Penguins

Western Conference First Round

CGY vs. COL: Calgary Flames

SJS vs. VGK: San Jose Sharks

NSH vs. DAL: Dallas Stars

WPG vs. STL: Winnipeg Jets

Stanley Cup Final: Bruins over Sharks

Conn Smythe Trophy: Patrice Bergeron, Bruins

Pete Jensen, NHL.com senior fantasy editor

Eastern Conference First Round

TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning

BOS vs. TOR: Boston Bruins

WSH vs. CAR: Washington Capitals

NYI vs. PIT: Pittsburgh Penguins

Western Conference First Round

CGY vs. COL: Calgary Flames

SJS vs. VGK: San Jose Sharks

NSH vs. DAL: Nashville Predators

WPG vs. STL: St. Louis Blues

Stanley Cup Final: Bruins over Sharks

Conn Smythe Trophy: Patrice Bergeron, Bruins

Video: Previewing Golden Knights-Sharks First Round series

Adam Kimelman, NHL.com deputy managing editor

Eastern Conference First Round

TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning

BOS vs. TOR: Boston Bruins

WSH vs. CAR: Washington Capitals

NYI vs. PIT: Pittsburgh Penguins

Western Conference First Round

CGY vs. COL: Calgary Flames

SJS vs. VGK: Vegas Golden Knights

NSH vs. DAL: Nashville Predators

WPG vs. STL: Winnipeg Jets

Stanley Cup Final: Lightning over Jets

Conn Smythe Trophy: Brayden Point, Lightning

Mike G. Morreale, NHL.com staff writer

Eastern Conference First Round

TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning

BOS vs. TOR: Boston Bruins

WSH vs. CAR: Washington Capitals

NYI vs. PIT: Pittsburgh Penguins

Western Conference First Round

CGY vs. COL: Calgary Flames

SJS vs. VGK: Vegas Golden Knights

NSH vs. DAL: Nashville Predators

WPG vs. STL: St. Louis Blues

Stanley Cup Final: Lightning over Golden Knights

Conn Smythe Trophy: Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning

Video: Previewing the Avalanche-Flames First Round series

Tracey Myers, NHL.com staff writer

Eastern Conference First Round

TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning

BOS. vs. TOR: Boston Bruins

WSH vs. CAR: Washington Capitals

NYI vs. PIT: New York Islanders

Western Conference First Round

CGY vs. COL: Calgary Flames

SJS vs. VGK: Vegas Golden Knights

NSH vs. DAL: Nashville Predators

WPG vs. STL: St. Louis Blues

Stanley Cup Final: Lightning over Blues

Conn Smythe Trophy: Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning

Bill Price, NHL.com Editor-in-Chief

Eastern Conference First Round

TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning

BOS. vs. TOR: Boston Bruins

WSH vs. CAR: Washington Capitals

NYI vs. PIT: New York Islanders

Western Conference First Round

CGY vs. COL: Calgary Flames

SJS vs. VGK: San Jose Sharks

NSH vs. DAL: Nashville Predators

WPG vs. STL: St. Louis Blues

Stanley Cup Final: Predators over Capitals

Conn Smythe Trophy: Ryan Johansen, Predators

Video: Previewing the Islanders-Penguins First Round matchup

Shawn Roarke, NHL.com Senior Director of Editorial

Eastern Conference First Round

TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning

BOS vs. TOR: Boston Bruins

WSH vs. CAR: Washington Capitals

NYI vs. PIT: Pittsburgh Penguins

Western Conference First Round

CGY vs. COL: Calgary Flames

SJS vs. VGK: Vegas Golden Knights

NSH vs. DAL: Nashville Predators

WPG vs. STL: St. Louis Blues

Stanley Cup Final: Lightning over Predators

Conn Smythe Trophy: Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning

Dan Rosen, NHL.com senior writer

Eastern Conference First Round

TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning

BOS vs. TOR: Boston Bruins

WSH vs. CAR: Washington Capitals

NYI vs. PIT: New York Islanders

Western Conference First Round

CGY vs. COL: Calgary Flames

SJS vs. VGK: Vegas Golden Knights

NSH vs. DAL: Dallas Stars

WPG vs. STL: St. Louis Blues

Stanley Cup Final: Lightning over Blues

Conn Smythe Trophy: Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning

Video: Previewing the Blues vs. Jets First Round matchup

Dave Stubbs, NHL.com columnist

Eastern Conference First Round

TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning

BOS vs. TOR: Boston Bruins

WSH vs. CAR: Washington Capitals

NYI vs. PIT: Pittsburgh Penguins

Western Conference First Round

CGY vs. COL: Calgary Flames

SJS vs. VGK: Vegas Golden Knights

NSH vs. DAL: Nashville Predators

WPG vs. STL: Winnipeg Jets

Stanley Cup Final: Lightning over Jets

Conn Smythe Trophy: Brayden Point, Lightning

Mike Zeisberger, NHL.com staff writer

Eastern Conference First Round

TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning

BOS vs. TOR: Boston Bruins

WSH vs. CAR: Washington Capitals

NYI vs. PIT: Pittsburgh Penguins

Western Conference First Round

CGY vs. COL: Calgary Flames

SJS vs. VGK: Vegas Golden Knights

NSH vs. DAL: Nashville Predators

WPG vs. STL: Winnipeg Jets

Stanley Cup Final: Lightning over Predators

Conn Smythe Trophy: Brayden Point, Lightning

Video: Previewing the Hurricanes-Capitals First Round series

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