Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview: Who Will Advance?

Every first-round matchup of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is underway. What are the results so far and have they gone as expected?

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators

The Maple Leafs, who finished first in the Atlantic, have been the pick for most to advance to the second round. Former All-Star John Tavares has scored goals in back-to-back games to give the Maple Leafs a 2-0 lead in the series.

The second game was an overtime thriller that saw the Senators coming back from down 2-0, but the Leafs held on to take a commanding lead in the series.

The Maple Leafs will advance in five games.

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Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers

The consensus prediction for the series was for the Lightning to advance, but the defending champions shocked Tampa on the road, dominating game one and winning 6-2.

Given the Panthers’ championship pedigree, it’s hard to pick against them. Star Matthew Tkachuk scored two goals in the Panthers’ rout. Game two is on Thursday, and although the Thunder will put up a better fight than 6-2, winning the series is a different story.

The Panthers will advance in seven games.

Washington Capitals vs. Montreal Canadiens

The Capitals finished the regular season at the top of the Metropolitan Division and with the most points in the Eastern Conference. That’s a hard resume to pick against.

Game one saw a third-period comeback from the Canadiens heading into overtime, only for all-time great Alex Ovechkin to put the game away with his second goal of the game and first overtime Playoff goal of his career.

The Capitals will advance in five games.

Carolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils

A series that was anticipated to be competitive has been one-sided so far. Former Dallas Star Logan Stankoven scored two straight goals in the second period of game one en route to a 4-1 win.

The Hurricanes have taken a 2-0 lead on a combined 7-2 scoring difference through two games. The Hurricanes will head to New Jersey, but it’s hard to imagine the series flipping on its head.

The Hurricanes will advance in six games.

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Winnipeg Jets vs. St. Louis Blues

Not many picked the Blues to advance before the series started and that has remained true two games in. The Jets are up 2-0 in the series off a goal by Kyle Connor with 1:43 into the third period of game two.

While both games have been competitive, the Jets have done more down the stretch to pull out both games, a trend that will continue.

The Jets will advance in six games.

Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche

Despite the Stars finishing with the higher seed in the Central Division, injury concerns have led the Avalanche to be the popular pick in the series.

Stars left wing Jason Robertson, the team’s top scorer, will miss at least the next two games of the series in addition to the first two. The Stars came back in the third period of game two, and overtime heroics from Colin Blackwell tied the series.

However, teams without their top scorer typically don’t win a series.

The Avalanche will advance in seven games.

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Minnesota Wild

The Knights were a pretty consensus pick in this series, but the Wild shocked them in game two, dominating on the road 5-2. Kirill Kaprizov has five points over two games in a series that heads to Minnesota with the momentum on the Wild’s side.

Vegas has been the better team this season, however, and they’ll rebound.

The Knights will advance in six games.

Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers

This series was considered to be the most competitive of the first round, and with just one game in, the series has not disappointed.

Game one saw the Kings up 4-1 entering the third period, only for the Oilers to tie the game at five apiece off Conor McDavid’s heroics. A game that looked destined for overtime ended with a King’s goal by Phillip Danault with less than a minute to go.

The game was a classic, one that hopefully sets the tone for the rest of the series. Despite the loss, the Oilers have the best player in the world, and they will rebound.

The Oilers will advance in seven.

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