#1. Calgary Flames (116 pts) vs #2WC. Nashville Predators (101 pts)

Season Series
1-1-0 (tie)

Top Series Scorers

Evander Kane (NSH) (24-29-53)
Mats Zuccarello (CGY) (19-34-53)
Derick Brassard (NSH) (16-37-53)
Keith Yandle (CGY) (6-47-53)

Starting Goaltenders

Roberto Luongo (CGY) (36-14-3) (1.96 - .938%)

Kari Lehtonen (NSH) (44-23-8) (2.07 - .926%)

Analysis

One thing is for certain, this will be the lowest scoring series of the first round. Both teams played very stingy defense this season. While not offensively gifted, both Luongo and Lehtonen were amungst the league leaders in their respective goalie categories. It's going to be hard to bet against the season Roberto Luongo had. He's due for a Vezina this season, and the Flames are the more skilled team here. They only played twice this season and split the series 1-1. It was a nice run that Tyler had after the allstar break this year to grab the final playoff spot, but this series is the Flames to lose.

Prediction

Flames in 5



#2. Vegas Golden Knights (111 pts) vs #3. Los Angeles Kings (106 pts)

Season Series

3-2-1 (Kings)

Top Series Scorers

John Carlson (VGK) (17-64-81)
William Karlsson (LAK) (37-35-72)
Jack Eichel (VGK) (29-39-68)
Seth Jones (LAK) (8-49-57)

Starting Goaltenders

Devan Dubnyk (VGK) (24-27-5) (2.65 - .909%)

Tuuka Rask (LAK) (37-21-5) (2.24 - .924%)

Analysis

The most interesting part about this series is the goaltending. Both teams have capable backups (Hutton and Raanta) that they can go to in case their starter loses them a game. In fact, we aren't exactly sure who Joe's starter will be as Hutton has outperformed Dubnyk in every way this season. Regardless, this should be a tightly contested series no matter who is in net. I like the top end offense better on the Vegas Golden Knights as the line of Eichel-Forsberg-Radulov has been really good to them this year, but the Kings overall depth is much better with guys such as Clayton Keller, Timo Meier and Danton Heinen in the bottom 6. The spread out attack of the Kings should prove to be the deciding factor here.

Prediction

Kings in 6



#1. Dallas Stars (114 pts) vs #1WC. Winnipeg Jets (102 pts)

Season Series

2-1-1 (Stars)

Top Series Scorers

Sean Couturier (DAL) (34-43-77)
Mark Scheifele (DAL) (31-46-77)
Ryan O'Reilly (DAL) (34-34-68)
Nazem Kadri (WPG) (29-39-68)

Starting Goaltenders

Marc-Andre Fleury (DAL) (37-17-6) (2.20 - .919%)

Jimmy Howard (WPG) (27-21-5) (2.98 - .904%)

Analysis

Not many people predicted the Jets to be in a playoff position this year, led by the play of Garret Sparks early on, the team faultered a bit when they went out and acquired Jimmy Howard. We all know Howard will be the starter, but Sparks numbers were much better during the regular season. We could expect Sparks to get a game in before the season is over. Offensively, Junya's Stars were the much better team. Their top 3 centermen (Couturier, Scheifele, O'Reilly) all outscored the Jet's top scorer, Nazem Kadri. It's the only mismatch series in the first round, and the cinderella season for the Jets should come to an end. As Rumpy puts it "if the Stars don't win this round, we need a new simulator".

Prediction

Stars in 5


#2. Colorado Avalanche (113 pts) vs #3. Chicago Blackhawks (106 pts)

Season Series

2-1-1 (Avalanche)

Top Series Scorers

Nathan MacKinnon (COL) (29-52-81)
Mark Stone (CHI) (30-49-79)
Gabriel Landeskog (CHI) (29-46-75)
Mikko Rantanen (COL) (28-38-66)

Starting Goaltenders

Pekka Rinne (COL) (38-21-0) (2.01 - .930%)

Henrik Lundqvist (CHI) (28-15-7) (2.45 - .915%)

Analysis

This might be the toughest series to decide in the Western Conference. I believe on paper, the Avalanche have this series won, but Dave's Blackhawks can match Bryce's team tit for tat on all 4 lines. In fact, I prefer Dave's bottom 6 forwards over Bryce's. If it wasn't for Bryce's cheap deadline pickups in Krejci and Zetterberg, I'd have Dave winning this series. It will come down to goaltending, where the Avalanche have the distinct advantage. On defense, Bryce is putting out a deeper lineup and outmatches the Blackhawks in this area as well. The Hawks will need their forward depth to come up big to take this series.

Prediction

Avalanche in 7 (toss-up)