The first round has been completed, and the hockey panel is back to predict the conference semi-finals for you. The Capitals and the Blues, the last two Cup winners, were the only top seeded teams to be bounced in the opening round. Will the Islanders or the Canucks write a Cinderella story? Or will the round robin teams continue to prevail? Will we see a Game 7, after the opening round gave us none? More OTs?! Here are the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, conference semi-finals.
Eastern Conference
(4) Boston Bruins @ (2) Tampa Bay Lightning
Game 1: Sunday, August 23rd @ 8:00pm EST. The Lightning were able to avenge last postseason’s first round sweep of the Columbus Blue Jackets by knocking off the Blue Jackets in this year’s playoffs in five games. It was a series that was closer than it sounds, but with the monkey off their back, Tampa goes into a series against the reigning Eastern Conference champs. Boston knocked off Carolina, also in five games, to get their playoffs started. The Bruins are without Tuukka Rask, though, for what should be a very fun series.
ZachMac: Boston in 6
KJ: Tampa in 6
Mike Brown: Tampa in 5
Kevin Langley: Boston in 7
Dan Damico: Tampa in 6
Anthony Kristensen: Boston in 6
Nate Herman: Tampa in 7
Damein Leininger: Tampa in 6
Zane Chappelear: Tampa in 7
(6) New York Islanders @ (1) Philadelphia Flyers
Game 1: Monday, August 24th @ 7:00pm EST. The Flyers gave the Montreal Canadiens two games, but they were able to finally close out the Habs in six. Many are wondering if the Flyers have yet to face a true test since the return. Meanwhile, the Islanders made quick work of the Washington Capitals, sending the only round robin team from the East home in just five games. Which orange are you taking?
ZachMac: New York in 6
KJ: New York in 7
Mike Brown: New York in 6
Kevin Langley: Philadelphia in 5
Dan Damico: Philadelphia in 7
Anthony Kristensen: Philadelphia in 6
Nate Herman: New York in 6
Damien Leininger: Philadelphia in 7
Zane Chappelear: New York in 7
Western Conference
(3) Dallas Stars @ (2) Colorado Avalanche
Game 1: Saturday, August 22nd @ 8:00 EST. The Stars were able to dispatch the Calgary Flames in six games in what was a back and forth series. They go up again the high-powered offense of the Avalanche, who sent the Arizona Coyotes home in just five games. We’re about find out if the spread between 2-seed and 3-seed is actually as far apart as we all think.
ZachMac: Colorado in 4
KJ: Colorado in 4
Mike Brown: Colorado in 5
Kevin Langley: Colorado in 5
Dan Damico: Colorado in 6
Anthony Kristensen: Colorado in 6
Nate Herman: Colorado in 6
Damien Leininger: Colorado in 6
Zane Chappelear: Colorado in 6
(5) Vancouver Canucks @ (1) Vegas Golden Knights
Game 1: Sunday, August 23rd @ 10:30pm EST. The Vancouver Canucks, much like the New York Islanders, were the only team in the West to send home a round robin team. They dismantled the reigning champs, St. Louis Blues, in six games. The Golden Knights, much like the Philadelphia Flyers, will most likely be facing their first playoff-style competition after taking down the Chicago Blackhawks in five games. Can the top seed stand tall?
ZachMac: Vegas in 7
KJ: Vegas in 5
Mike Brown: Vegas in 5
Kevin Langley: Vegas in 6
Dan Damico: Vegas in 6
Anthony Kristensen: Vegas in 5
Nate Herman: Vegas in 6
Damien Leininger: Vegas in 6
Zane Chappelear: Vegas in 5
*Thanks for following along! Find us @PuckPuckPassPod as we continue to follow the NHL Playoffs, with podcast episodes dropping weekly! Enjoy the conference semi-finals!*
