The puck drops in the 2016 edition of the Stanley Cup Playoffs – one of the most underrated sports tournaments in the country – on Wednesday afternoon.
This year, it’s America’s tournament and America’s tournament only. For the first time since 1970, no Canadian teams made the playoffs. Canada’s presence will truly be missed. This just means something different there than it does here. But the show will go on, and it will, of course, be as intense and thrilling as it is every year.
Here are previews, things to watch, and picks for each first round matchup.
Eastern Conference
Washington vs. Philadelphia
What You Need To Know:
- The ‘Caps bounce into the playoffs after a regular season which saw them run away with the Presidents Trophy. At second in both most goals scored and fewest goals conceded, they’re clearly the NHL’s most complete team.
- Washington is also notorious for falling apart in the playoffs. They’ve made chocking a performance art in the last decade.
- Philadelphia is young and snuck into the playoffs with a win on Sunday over the New York Islanders.
Thing To Watch: TJ Oshie. The American star of the 2014 Olympics in Sochi was acquired by Washington in a blockbuster trade in the offseason, and has had a career goal-scoring year.
The Pick: ‘Caps in 5.
Pittsburgh vs. New York Rangers
What You Need To Know:
- Pittsburgh was revitalized after a disappointing start when the team fired former Portland Winterhawks coach Mike Johnston in December.
- These two teams met in the first round of the playoffs last year as well. In that series, it was the Rangers who came in heavily favored. They won in five games.
- This is the glamour matchup of the first round. Great atmospheres, stars, Doc Emrick on the NBC calls – if you only watch one series, make it this one.
Thing To Watch: Goaltending. Pittsburgh has more firepower, but the Rangers’ Henrik Lundquist is the class of the league – while the Penguins’ Marc-Andre Flurey is concussed.
The Pick: Rangers in 7.
Florida vs. New York Islanders
What You Need To Know:
- The Islanders left the great Nassau Coliseum for the Barclays Center in Brooklyn this year. The move has been an absolute disaster, killing the Islanders’ home-ice advantage from their playoff run in 2015.
- Florida kind of came out of nowhere to score a ton of goals and win the Atlantic. Their five fans are happy.
- To give you a taste of the coming atmosphere in South Florida, the Sun Sentinel just ran a column entitled, “With playoffs here, how to become an overnight Panthers fan.”
Thing To Watch: Florida’s 44-year-old Jaromir Jagr, who started playing professional hockey in the 80s and is running circles around players half is age. Also keep an eye on weather Panthers goalie Robert Luango folds like a tent as he was wont to do when in Vancouver.
The Pick: Panthers in 6.
Tampa Bay vs. Detroit
What You Need To Know:
- These two teams also met in the first round last year. Tampa won in seven games on their way to the Stanley Cup Final.
- Longtime Red Wings star Pavel Datsyuk is set to leave the team at the conclusion of its playoff run.
- After years under the guidance of the NHL’s best coach in Mike Babcock, the Wings make their 25th straight playoff appearance under new boss Jeff Blashill.
Thing To Watch: The best scorer in the league is the Lightning’s Steven Stamkos, but he’s out after undergoing surgery on a blood clot in his arm.
The Pick: Red Wings in 7.
Western Conference
Dallas vs. Minnesota
What You Need To Know:
- The Wild made the playoffs for the fourth straight year, but they’re kind of collapsing.
- Dallas’ lavish spending in the last two summers is paying off with a team scored the most goals in the league and finished as the Western Conference’s best.
- The Wild are also playing for an interim coach, as Mike Yeo was fired in February.
Thing To Watch: The games in Minnesota. The State of Hockey is no joke.
The Pick: Stars in 5.
St. Louis vs. Chicago
What You Need To Know:
- For the modern-day NHL, the Blackhawks are a dynasty. They’ve won three of the last six Stanley Cups.
- The ‘Hawks might be a little bit down so far this year, but Patrick Kane – embroiled in controversy for much of the last year – did become the first American to lead the league in scoring.
- The Blues are trying to get over the hump in this series. Chicago knocked them out of the playoffs two years ago, and they lost in the first round last year to Minnesota.
Things To Watch: Kane. He’s dynamite.
The Pick: Chicago in seven.
Anaheim vs. Nashville
What You Need To Know:
- The Ducks fell just short in the Western Conference Final against Chicago last year. The Blackhawks also knocked out the Predators on their way to the 2015 Cup.
- These are two of the non-traditional American hockey markets that have, more or less, worked. Expect a fun crowd in Smashville especially.
- The Ducks are laden with veterans, and considered heavy favorites.
Things To Watch: Nashville traded former Winterhawk and top-5 pick Seth Jones to Columbus at the deadline for Ryan Johansen. They need Johansen to have a big series.
The Pick: Ducks in 5.
Los Angeles vs. San Jose
- This series marks the renewal of California’s best hockey rivalry. The past two times the Sharks have been in the playoffs, the Kings have knocked them out.
- There isn’t a ton of attention paid to coaching in the NHL, but Kings coach Darryl Sutter will make a tangible difference in this series.
- San Jose has a history of playoff collapses themselves. They’re core – Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Joe Pavelski, and Bret Burns – has lost a number of series from winning positions.
Thing To Watch: This is going to be a competitive series, but mark game six down as a potential must-watch. That’ll be the series’ final game in San Jose, and perhaps the Sharks best chance to finish off an upset.
The Pick: Kings in 7.
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