Proteau: First-Round Eastern Conference Playoff Predictions

Hi there, welcome back to The Hockey News Com. So the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs are almost here and the Eastern Conference matchups are set for the first round. So let’s talk about them and I’ll give you my personal predictions for the first round. First series we’ll talk about is the number one ranked New York Rangers taking on the 8th ranked Washington Capitals. I think this should be a relative cakewalk for the Rangers. They just have a much better team overall than the Capitals, better goaltending, better defense corps, a deeper group of forwards, you name it. The Rangers really are the better team in this matchup and that’s why I like it to go. If not five games, then maybe a sweep. This might be the closest thing we’ll have to a sweep in the first round, second series. The Battle of Florida, the Florida Panthers favorite against the Tampa Bay Lightning, although you know the Lightning in their own right should deserve a lot of credit. And I think I like the Lightning. In seven games when a hard fought series, they’ve got the goaltending and Vasilevsky. He looks like his old self again and they’ve got a great group, a balanced group of of speedy, smart, slick forwards. I think they can give the Panthers a real run for their money. So I like the the Lightning to win that one. In seven games, the next series is the Carolina Hurricanes against the New York Islanders. Much like the Rangers Capital series, I think the the Hurricanes are going to win this with ease, maybe five games at the most. I think the Islanders just don’t have the talent overall. Depth wise to really rival the Hurricanes. They’re fast, they’re great, they’ve got great goaltending. I also have great goaltending, but not as much talent up front After that. And finally the another emotional series will be the Boston Bruins favorite against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Bruins won all four regular season games but the 1st 2 losses. They’ve suffered were in extra time, so they do have some something to hang their hat on as a positive and I think the leaves are going to win this in six games. A little bit of put luck on their side and a step forward with from Austin Matthews in the core four. I think they’re going to surprise people and knock off the Bruins in the first round. So those are my 4 picks. If you can keep coming back to thehockeynews.com each and every day to see if I was right and check out the Western Conference picks later on when they’re posted. And in the meantime, you can go to thn.com/free, subscribe to the magazine and get access to our exclusive archive as well. Until next time folks, take care. I’m Adam Proto for thehockeynews.com.