So, in Round 1, despite having paid much less attention to the NHL this year, I managed to do quite well, finishing with a record of 7 – 1, with my only blemish being not trusting Vegas to win their series. Home ice advantage also had a record of 7 – 1, as San Jose was the only team without home ice advantage to win a series. So since the second round starts tonight, let me give my predictions for that round.
Eastern Conference
Tampa Bay vs Boston: Tampa Bay had an easier time of the first round, and Boston definitely looked vulnerable, especially when it comes to their goaltending. Tampa is at least as good a team as Boston on paper — if not better — and is playing better right now. So I’m taking Tampa Bay.
Prediction: Tampa Bay.
Washington vs Pittsburgh: This is a tough one. Pittsburgh has won the most recent series, and gone on to win the Stanley Cup after doing so. Washington is known to stumble in the playoffs. Pittsburgh is probably a deeper team than Washington. But on the other hand, Washington managed to dig themselves out of an early hole which will give them some confidence, Ovechkin is playing very well, and you have to figure that they’re due at some point. Given that Pittsburgh managed to beat Philadelphia by outscoring them but that Philly’s goaltending, as usual, wasn’t all that great, you have to think that this might be the year for it. And so, at the end of the day … I think I’m gonna go with that, since I have some room to make some mistakes since I did so well in the first round. Washington, you’d better not disappoint me again …
Prediction: Washington
Western Conference:
Nashville vs Winnipeg: Nashville is a very good team. But they had a harder time with a weaker opponent than Winnipeg did, and Winnipeg is also a very good team. This one should be close, but given the fact that Nashville looked more vulnerable in the first round than Winnipeg I’m going to side with Winnipeg here.
Prediction: Winnipeg
Vegas vs San Jose: So, my only error in the first round was arguably not taking Vegas seriously enough. Is now the time to believe that they are really, really for real? Or to just accept that they have home ice advantage and have beaten San Jose more times in the regular season and so have advantages that San Jose lacks? Or should I continue to believe that midnight will strike eventually for this team, and so it might as well be here, against at team that was more dominant in the first round than they were (even though both had sweeps)?
Heck with it, let me take the team with the official advantages this time and stop thinking of them as an expansion team.
Prediction: Vegas
Summary
Eastern Conference
Tampa Bay vs Boston Correct
Washington vs Pittsburgh Correct
Western Conference
Nashville vs Winnipeg Correct
Vegas vs San Jose Correct
Overall Record: 11 – 1
Home Ice Advantage Team Record: 10 – 2
The Verbose Stoic 
April 27, 2018 at 8:20 pm |
The Lightning did well taking care of business, but as a Devils fan it’s hard not to be excited for the coming seasons. This year was a blast and the future is bright!
Also my Stanley Cup pick is Pittsburgh.
April 28, 2018 at 6:56 am |
Yeah, there are a few teams that have to be feeling that way this season. New Jersey is one. Colorado is another. Toronto has to be disappointed, but still thinking that their young core is set for the future.
I don’t know; I think the West teams are probably stronger. While I’m not a Pittsburgh fan, I have to admit that a Vegas/Pittsburgh final would be incredibly interesting [grin].