2018 NHL Playoffs Are Set

The NHL playoffs are set. The playoffs will be one that no one needs to miss. Now I have to admit that the playoffs lost some luster in my eyes, after the massive collapse of my Dallas Stars
. But despite the Stars downfall (get better soon Ben Bishop), the playoffs are still going to be a lot of fun to watch. All 16 teams are fairly equal to some degree, which means that the 8th seeds could upset the 1st seeds. Now will it happen? I don't think so. But it's possible. Here's my NHL predictions:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (8) New Jersey Devils
This one I think will end quickly. Now I don't think it'll be a sweep. New Jersey have some good scorers and they are solid in net, but the Lightning are too stacked to have their season end in the first round.

PREDICTION: Tampa Bay wins in 5 games






(2) Boston Bruins vs. (7) Toronto Maple Leafs
Austin Matthews is going to be fun to watch in this series. The Bruins will struggle to contain this young superstar. Rusk has been dealing with injuries. If Matthews and the Maple Leafs can take advantage of Rusk, then Toronto will have a chance to knock off the 2-seed. But Rusk seems to always rise to the occasion in the playoffs, which is why I think it'll be a rough series but one Boston can win.

PREDICTION: Boston wins in 7 games



(3) Washington Capitals vs. (6) Columbus Blue Jackets
This one is probably going to be the one series that will be completely one sided. The Capitals, with Alexander Ovechkin leading the way, will help the Capitals end this series early.

PREDICTION: Washington wins in 4 games







(4) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (5) Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers have flown under the radar this season (like what I did there. lol), but they won't catch their in-state rivals off guard. The Penguins, behind Sidney Crosby, will ultimately knock off Philadelphia. Not saying that it'll be easy. Philadelphia will have a strong fan base behind them at home, but the Penguins will advance to the 2nd round.

PREDICTION: Pittsburgh wins in 6 games




WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1)Nashville Predators vs. (8) Colorado Avalanche
The Avs barely made it into the playoffs, especially after their goalie went down. Not sure they can handle the Preds for a long period of time. They might get a win at home, but they won't do much more than that.

PREDICTION: Nashville wins in 5 games




(2) Winnipeg Jets vs. (7) Minnesota Wild
The Jets surprised me this season at just how good they are. I didn't think they'd be in the playoffs at all let alone be the 2-seed. They will be a force in these playoffs. Minnesota will have some highlight moments in this series, but the Wild won't be able to do it for long. 

PREDICTION: Winnipeg wins in 6 games



(3) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (6) Los Angeles Kings
No one thought an expansion team could do what Vegas did this year. They are good...very good. Led by James Neal and Marc-Andre Fleury, the Golden Knights will have the desert of Las Vegas flocking to the ice for hockey.

PREDICTION: Vegas wins in 6 games





(4) Anaheim Ducks vs. (5) San Jose Sharks
This will be a series that, unless you live in one of these two cities and are fans of one of these two teams, will be a snooze-fess. Neither the Ducks nor the Sharks have anyone worth watching on either team. But with that said, the Ducks seem to always find a way to advance in the playoffs...at least out of the first round.

PREDICTION: Anaheim wins in 7 games

So there ya go. Those are my predictions for the first round of the NHL Playoffs. I will predict the rest of the playoffs after the each round is over. What do y'all think? Give me your predictions.