The Stanley Cup Playoffs are as predictable as British weather. The notion that the better team wins can be tossed out the window. Don’t bother trying to actually figure what will happen. If you’re right, then you’re lucky. If you’re wrong, then you’re probably me. Expect me to be wrong, expect that you will be wrong, expect the NHL to be wrong (somehow) and just enjoy the bestial beauty of the greatest game on Earth.
Toronto vs. Columbus
Columbus, after being completely gutted in the off-season, is a pleasant underdog story to have as the ninth seed in the bracket. Toronto continues to chase its first-round demons and has yet to reach the stratosphere of teams many thought they would reach.
Although beating the Jackets doesn’t qualify as a playoff series win, it would be a huge monkey off the back of guys like Auston Matthews and John Tavares. The Maple Leafs, although they boast a murderers’ row of offensive weapons, were underwhelming this season. It may seem like years ago, but this squad fired Mike Babcock in November. Toronto still struggles defensively, and Frederik Andersen has not played as well as he can. Last year’s playoffs saw the NHL’s two best defensive teams make the finals, and if the adage, “defense wins championships” remains true, then the Leafs are in trouble. At the end of the day though, their offense has as high a ceiling as any, and therefore this unit can never be counted out.
Columbus has an unproven, young goalie in Elvis Merzlikins, and one of the NHL’s top blue lines in front of him, led by Americans Seth Jones and Zach Werenski. It will, however, be incredibly difficult for them to overcome their lack of skilled forwards. Pierre-Luc Dubois is a gem and the team should be built around him, but Artemi Panarin and Matt Duchene‘s dominance last season has vanished. They struggle on the powerplay as a result. They are still a formidable defensive team and have arguably the strongest team culture entering the playoffs, spearheaded by hot-head John Tortorella, and therefore have a shot.
With all that being said, Matthews, Marner, Tavares, and Nylander will be too much for Columbus to handle. I’m also not overwhelmingly favorable towards either team’s goalies, so I expect a high-scoring series, much better suited for Toronto. Columbus’ trip to the NHL Bubble will be short-lived.
Prediction: Toronto in 4.
Pittsburgh vs. Montreal
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Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and the Penguins are alive and well, and are, as per usual, considered favorites. Montreal, frankly, has no business being here.
Pittsburgh is as terrifying as ever, and common sense should have them making quick work of the Habs. What is especially impressive this time around has been their success without MVP-caliber play from Crosby, who’s missed some time. Of course, that guy Geno is pretty good. This also speaks volumes about how good of a coach Mike Sullivan is, as well as this defense being very underrated. The Penguins are loaded with excellent hockey players, including-but-not-limited-to Jake Guentzel, Kris Letang, Bryan Rust, and breakout star John Marino. The Penguins are also pulling off the modern NHL “goalie rotation” between Tristan Jarry and Matt Murray.
Montreal started off this season on fire but quickly lost all their momentum following a couple of massive losing streaks. The Canadiens have had poor special teams, goal-tending, and maybe even luck. Shea Weber and Brendan Gallagher are the leaders, and they suddenly have a very good prospect pool, but unfortunately, that won’t help yet. They cannot put together win streaks because their next-man-up mentality doesn’t help score a lot of goals in the league anymore. They are capable of stealing games due to their speed, and the sometimes incredible play of their goalie. Speaking of him, this is also possibly Carey Price‘s last chance to prove he can win a Stanley Cup.
Pittsburgh is the better team and will win the series; of that, I am certain. I do think that Montreal will scare them though, and in a sport like hockey, it’s not crazy to think they could push it to a Game 5.
Prediction: Pittsburgh in 5.
New York vs. Florida
A rematch of the thrilling 2016 first-round series, this bout between two financially struggling franchises could go either way.
The Islanders enter the NHL Bubble on life support. They slowly slid down the standings for the last bit of the regular season. New York is now an average team with aging players and bad contracts. They get decent play between the pipes from their tandem of Semyon Varlamov and Thomas Greiss. Ryan Pulock, Adam Pelech, and Devon Toews headline a very serviceable defense. The problem for the Isles is much like the issue the Blue Jackets face entering the bubble. Mathew Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier, their biggest difference makers on offense, are an inadequate duo for the NHL playoffs.
Florida has been a complete bust for the entire 2019-20 season. After backing up the Brinks truck for Sergei Bobrovsky in the off-season, he’s fallen off in a way that would make Johnny Manziel proud. Simply put, Bobrovsky was one of the worst net-minders in the NHL this year, and Florida owes him $ 60 million over the next six years. If he turns in it around, which is his only option, this team could be very, very good. Aleksander Barkov had an uncharacteristically bad season, but I’m hopeful he can return to form. Jonathan Huberdeau continues to make his case for being one of the best wingers in the league. Aaron Ekblad and Keith Yandle lead a capable, but uninspiring defensive unit. Good enough to not cost a series, but not enough to make up for poor goaltending, the be-all, and end-all of the NHL playoffs.
I think Bobrovsky will regain his form come playoff time, something he’s done before. If that is the case, I see the Panthers as the favorites.
Prediction: Florida in 5.
Carolina vs. New York
Here we have a deceptively one-sided matchup. The Rangers ran away with the season series, but that momentum should all but disappear considering the time off.
Carolina has turned their franchise around these past few years. They robbed Calgary of Dougie Hamilton who has emerged as one of the NHL’s best defenders. He and Jaccob Slavin round out a great defensive unit for the Hurricanes. They also have a dynamic duo in the making, with Fins Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen. Their biggest question mark is without a doubt who will be stopping pucks. Rod Brind’Amour has gone to Petr Mrazek for most of the season, but James Reimer had better production.
New York has Artemi Panarin. Artemi Panarin is very good. Artemi Panarin is deserving of the Hart. They have other forwards too. Mika Zibanejad, for instance, was scorching the Earth before the season was suspended. It is the production of guys like him and Adam Fox that I’m not sure will continue into August. New York was awful defensively and average in nets, although Igor Shesterkin has a ton of potential. This team has potential, but their lack of depth is a death sentence in this game. You have to be able to roll four lines without crossing your fingers and hoping for the best, which is essentially what I do whenever I see Kaapo Kakko on the ice.
I think Carolina will demolish New York. I see an overrated team that played over their heads this season against an underrated team that is as good as any.
Prediction: Carolina in 3.
