The NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs begin tonight with 16 teams going on a 2 month journey to win the oldest and toughest to win trophy in pro sports: the Stanley Cup. The games will be seen in the US on NBC and NBCSN while in Canada you can see the games on CBC and Sportsnet. I'll have the schedules for both channels but first my fearless predictions:


WESTERN CONFERENCE

VEGAS vs LOS ANGELES


The Vegas Golden Knights shocked the hockey world by setting multiple franchise records for first-year expansion teams and as a result have become an early and surprising potential Cup favourite. The Kings have won the Cup before but this team may be too old and slow to handle a hungrier and faster Vegas team.

Prediction: Vegas in 6

NASHVILLE vs COLORADO


Another early Cup favourite facing another of the league's pleasant surprises. This time I see the experience factor winning out as Nashville is just too good in all areas of the game to get much resistance from the Avalanche. Next year, I could see Colorado taking this series, but for now, they're just not ready yet.

Nashville in 5


SAN JOSE vs ANAHEIM

The battle of California between two of the best teams in the West that for me is simply too close to call. This will come down to the very end and I see the Sharks winning because I think they are the better team.

San Jose in 7

WINNIPEG vs MINNESOTA

Canada's "other" team has been getting a lot of support from Canadians who see the Jets as a potential Cup champion and a solid hope to end Canada's long Cup drought which goes back to 1993. They do have a very good team but they have to beat a lot of tough opponents along the way. The Wild don't figure to be one of them so it's very likely the Jets win this series easily but if there's going to be an upset along the way, I would love it if it happened here.

Minnesota in 6


EASTERN CONFERENCE

TAMPA BAY vs NEW JERSEY

The Devils make the playoffs for the first time in six years and as their reward, they get to face one of the top teams in the East in Tampa Bay that is expected to go very far in this post-season. This series will only be a minor speed bump along the way. There's no way in hell that the Devils can win this series.

Tampa in 4

WASHINGTON vs COLUMBUS

Another potential mismatch. Columbus can't seem to get a break. Last year, they were beaten badly by the champion Pens. This year, they get the Caps, led by Alex Ovechkin, who seems to get stronger and more determined each season. Only a miracle can stop him this time, or failing that, another series with Pittsburgh.

Caps in 5

PHILADELPHIA vs PITTSBURGH

This series will be an all-out war between two teams and cities that hate each other so much that the trash-talking on both sides is expected to reach epic levels. A lot of it will be directed at Sidney Crosby, who is still the best player on the planet, and this is the big stage where he will prove it yet again. This series should come down to the very last shot and the Penguins simply have more ammunition.

Pittsburgh in 7

BOSTON vs TORONTO

The Leafs go back to the scene of the crime to try to erase the horrifying nightmare of Game 7 in 2013. This year, they look to be better prepared with a faster, younger, and more exciting team to watch. The Bruins have also gone to a younger group after a couple of disappointing seasons and it has paid off in a season that saw them get to within one point of first place. They will be the heavy favourites in this series because of the standings and because of that previous series but I prefer not to think about all of that. I'm going with my team all the way!

Leafs in 6



As I promised above, here is the TV schedule for all the games in all the series in Round 1.

TV Schedule (US and Canada) for Round 1 (https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-playoffs-round-1-schedule/c-280159064) (Note: SN refers to Sportsnet.)


No matter where you watch the games or which teams you follow and cheer for, each series will start on a horribly sad note. As you may have heard by now, last Friday before a playoff game of their own, the Humboldt Broncos junior team was involved in a terrible crash in which their team bus collided with another vehicle and left the bus completely wrecked. In the crash, 15 people died and 14 were badly wounded and are still in hospital. NHL teams have offered their assistance and prayers to try to help the citizens of Humboldt and last Saturday's season finales offered many touching tributes to the fallen hockey stars. To date, the #GoFundMe charity promotion which was started on Twitter in wake of the tragedy has raised over 6 million dollars and counting from people worldwide. I have posted their team logo as my avatar as my own little tribute to the team. The suffering continues but the games will still go on, but this year, it won't feel the same.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

VEGAS beats LOS ANGELES in 5

NASHVILLE beats COLORADO in 6

SAN JOSE beats ANAHEIM in 6

WINNIPEG beats MINNESOTA in 6


EASTERN CONFERENCE

TAMPA BAY beats NEW JERSEY in 4

WASHINGTON upset by COLUMBUS in 7

PITTSBURGH beats PHILADELPHIA in 6 (hoping the Flyers wear down the injury-ridden Pens, but the Crosby Rule will prevail)

BOSTON loses to TORONTO in 6

If Vegas wins it all...many expansion teams should look to the Golden Knights on how to form an expansion team...I'm looking at you Cleveland Browns!

Game 4 of Tampa Bay-New Jersey tonight will be carried tonight nationally in the U.S. on The Golf Channel.

Because, sure, you know, why not.

i like Tampa Bay - but that is still not enough to make me watch the Golf Channel.

Leafs vs Bruins and Caps vs CBJ tonight - hoping we get two game 7's

for second round, I think Nashville will beat the Jets in 6, Las Vegas beats the Sharks in 7, and I'll hold off on calling the Eastern Conference until we know who's through to next round (although I'll say that Tampa Bay will win in 5 games).

Leafs vs Bruins and Caps vs CBJ tonight - hoping we get two game 7's



Well, one out of two ain't bad.

Go Leafs Go.

Well, so far, Maple Leafs-Bruins series is the only First Round series this season not yet finished! So it's do or die for either team on tomorrow's Game 7!

Prediction: Boston's next game will be on The Golf Channel. Leafs take Game 7 4-2. Bring on the Lightning!

Do or die in tonight's Toronto-Boston Game 7 at TD Garden!

Hopefully the Capitals can FINALY beat the Penguins & get to the Conference finals for the first time in 20 years!

Well too bad for the May Pole Leafs, maybe they can do better next year.

The next series I'm most interested to see is San Jose vs. Las Vegas, should be interesting. Nashville vs. Winnipeg should be interesting too. The East Conference series I'm not as interested in.

I hope someone tells San Jose Game 2 is tonight. No one seemed to notify them there was a game 1.

If game 1 against the Penguins is any indication it looks like it's the old Capitals who'll get knocked out of the 2nd round for the zillionth time. But they could use this bad start to motivate themselves & turn things around!

Caps in 6 or 7! :wave: :rolleyes:

I hope someone tells San Jose Game 2 is tonight. No one seemed to notify them there was a game 1.


Either that or they haven't been paying attention. That Vegas team is scary! I'm calling Vegas to face Pittsburgh in the Finals. By that time, both Winnipeg and Boston :mad: :mad: will be gone and I can enjoy watching the games again. Vegas vs Pittsburgh would be a great series for any hockey fan to watch no matter who you cheer for, but at this point I'm still not sure who would win it.

Well...

...The Blue Jackets are out, so...Go Penguins!

Game 3 tonight Las Vegas vs. San Jose. Should be a good game. I didn't like that goalie interference call against Las Vegas that took away the winning goal in game 2. It looked to me like the Sharks player pushed the Knights player into the goalie, so I think the goal should have counted. But referees and officials make bogus/wrong calls all the time so you just have to accept it and move on.

Nashville - Winnipeg game tonight just insanely exciting

Looks the Capitals could FINALLY beat the Penguins & make the Conference finals for the first time in 20 years! They took a 2-1 series lead tonight in Pittsburgh. It would be Ovechkin's first trip to to Conference finals after 13 years in the league!

The Capitals just need to get the Penguins & Crosby out of their heads. It's mostly psychological.

Nashville had the most points during the regular season, 117, but Winnipeg was right behind them with 114. Right now Nashville is on the ropes, they are having trouble dealing with this Winnipeg team. If they lose the next game and go down 3 games to 1, the series is probably over, not likely that Nashville could win 3 straight vs. what seems to be a pretty tough Winnipeg team.

The Capitals just need to get the Penguins & Crosby out of their heads. It's mostly psychological.

That may be part of it, but I wouldn't disregard the Penguins talent level as a major factor.

Nashville got the win they needed yesterday, series tied now 2-2. Had Nashville lost, would have been a difficult task to win 3 straight games vs. Winnipeg. Game 5 should be interesting, tonight's game 5 San Jose vs. Las Vegas should be interesting too.

Tampa Bay wins Game 5 of their series 3-1 and eliminate Boston 4 games to 1 and means the Lightning now advance to the semi-finals against either Pittsburgh or Washington. It also means that I won't have to look at Marchand or Chara skating around with the Stanley Cup this summer. I am so happy!




BRUINS ARE OUT!!!!! :) :) :) :) :)

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Tampa Bay wins Game 5 of their series 3-1 and eliminate Boston 4 games to 1 and means the Lightning now advance to the semi-finals against either Pittsburgh or Washington. It also means that I won't have to look at Marchand or Chara skating around with the Stanley Cup this summer. I am so happy!




BRUINS ARE OUT!!!!! :) :) :) :) :)



Didn't want to see Marchand licking the Cup??

Tampa Bay wins Game 5 of their series 3-1 and eliminate Boston 4 games to 1 and means the Lightning now advance to the semi-finals against either Pittsburgh or Washington. It also means that I won't have to look at Marchand or Chara skating around with the Stanley Cup this summer. I am so happy!




BRUINS ARE OUT!!!!! :) :) :) :) :)

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Oh well. Time for someone else to win. :)

Caps finally put out Pittsburgh, i don't think they can beat Tampa Bay though - I see it ending in 6.

I still think the Jets will beat Nashville - it should be an amazing series between them and Vegas

I think the Nashville Predators be will returning to the Western Finals this year once they beat the Winnipeg Jets in the Western Semis. The Eastern Finals is different this year since the Pittsburgh Penguins(the team who realistically won back to back in both 2016 & 2017) are out of it after last night's defeat.

No hockey games tonight or tomorrow night, have to wait till Thursday for the next game. I don't know what I'm going to do with my time, I'm having NHL playoff withdrawal symptoms. :( :lol:

There are actually several things about today's NHL that I dislike, but it's not going to change to my liking so there's no use to complain about it. I don't pay all that much attention to the regular season, but I watch the playoffs because the games are exciting, especially the overtime games.

Caps finally put out Pittsburgh, i don't think they can beat Tampa Bay though - I see it ending in 6.


I hope not. My number one hockey wish this playoff year is to not see Commievechkin win anything.

I hope not. My number one hockey wish this playoff year is to not see Commievechkin win anything.


Mine is to see Winnipeg lose. Go Nashville!! (Or Vegas, just in case.)

It's do or die on Jets-Predators Game 7 now!

The Original 6 and the secondary 5 are now out of the playoffs!

Not the most scintillating game, but happy the Jets won. I figure after all the sadness of Humboldt, Canada could use some hockey happiness.

Too Bad the Nashville Predators are eliminated after the Winnepeg Jets won last night.

Nashville didn't look all that great in their 1st round series, they played good enough to win the series but the defects on their team were showing. Then in the 2nd round going up against a tougher opponent, the defects showed even more. So much for home ice advantage, Nashville lost 3 of their 4 home games in the series. The Winnipeg team looks pretty tough.

I think losing James Neal to the expansion Vegas team was a costly loss for Nashville. Neal was an important player for the Preds, just as he's important now for the Vegas team.

The NHL Final Four is Winnipeg vs Vegas and Tampa Bay vs Washington.

I hope Vegas and Tampa Bay are in The Stanley Cup Finals!

who could have predicted a Winnipeg-Vegas Conference Final? should be a crazy series. I think Winnipeg will win in 7

for the Caps-Lightning series, I'll be rooting for TB, hopefully they end it in 6

I wouldn't be surprised if the finals end up with the two W's, Washington and Winnipeg.

Washington seems to have found a winning formula, and they must have a lot of confidence now that they've dethroned Pittsburgh.

Winnipeg is on a roll too, tough team, will see what opposition the Las Vegas team gives them.

I wouldn't be surprised if the finals end up with the two W's, Washington and Winnipeg.

Washington seems to have found a winning formula, and they must have a lot of confidence now that they've dethroned Pittsburgh.

Winnipeg is on a roll too, tough team, will see what opposition the Las Vegas team gives them.

Which would be an absolute BUST in the national ratings for NBC when sports TV ratings are down for sports across the board!

Congrats! I knew the Caps would eventually do it!

The last time the Caps made it this far was in 1998 when they played Buffalo in the Conference finals & they won in overtime in game 6 or game 7! I know it was Joe Juneau who brought the house down with the OT goal. That 1998 run by the Caps was some of the best hockey I've ever seen which also included a series win over the Bruins.

Compare that to today's snoozefest with the Caps game 1 win over Tampa Bay. Chris Simon played for those 1998 Capitals & he was a fighter AND a scorer! Nowadays you don't have fights to look forward to break the monotony of the game!

Just the overall excitement of the action was better 20 years ago. And if the Capitals make it to the finals both Winnipeg & Vegas would be HORRIBLE opponents compared to the Red Wings in 1998!

Congrats! I knew the Caps would eventually do it!

The last time the Caps made it this far was in 1998 when they played Buffalo in the Conference finals & they won in overtime in game 6 or game 7! I know it was Joe Juneau who brought the house down with the OT goal. That 1998 run by the Caps was some of the best hockey I've ever seen which also included a series win over the Bruins.

Compare that to today's snoozefest with the Caps game 1 win over Tampa Bay. Chris Simon played for those 1998 Capitals & he was a fighter AND a scorer! Nowadays you don't have fights to look forward to break the monotony of the game!

Just the overall excitement of the action was better 20 years ago. And if the Capitals make it to the finals both Winnipeg & Vegas would be HORRIBLE opponents compared to the Red Wings in 1998!
both Winnipeg and Vegas are fast and aggressive teams and they so far have put on a good show - and if all you are interested in is the fights they've had some of that too.

I'm not happy with some of the rule changes and especially the way they are calling some things (if they are going to play by a new set of rules they should at least be consistent), but it is still some good hockey

Vegas got off to a bad start in game 1, but I think they are going to make a series of it (still think the Jets will win though)

Which would be an absolute BUST in the national ratings for NBC when sports TV ratings are down for sports across the board!


I'm so glad. It's just what they deserve. These 8:00 pm starts are awful for games in the East and totally unnecessary --- much like NBC's new fall schedule!

https://www.casinosavenue.com/upload/photoBlog/87_what-happens-in-vegas-stays-in-vegas.jpg


Incorrect. What happens in Vegas will now be heading to Tampa or Washington.

Well I thought that Winnipeg would be a tough opponent for the Las Vegas team, but it wasn't meant to be. The expansion Las Vegas team are Western Conference champions and will be playing in the finals. That is insane. :crazy:

How about the woman who sings the anthems before the Winnipeg Jets games? Such a pretty singing voice. She's a superstar! :eyes: :D

Congrats to the Vegas Golden Knights on advancing to their very first Stanley Cup appearance

How about the woman who sings the anthems before the Winnipeg Jets games? Such a pretty singing voice. She's a superstar! :eyes: :D

http://wfpquantum.s3.amazonaws.com/images/photostore/large/16973852.jpg

Game 7 tonight.

If you're interested in historical omens, no team that has lost game 7 has ever come back to win the series.

http://wfpquantum.s3.amazonaws.com/images/photostore/large/16973852.jpg

Yep that's her, Stacey Nattrass is her name. She's pretty and sings like an angel. Another woman for me to crush on. :eyes: :D :lol:

http://wfpquantum.s3.amazonaws.com/images/photostore/large/16973852.jpg



She looks a little overweight to me. I'd rather watch and listen to Carrie Underwood:

https://cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/w620-fb9303e7b6e2be037d1c8714b822559b.jpg

She looks a little overweight to me.

Nothing wrong with a woman having a little extra weight. More to hold on to and more to love. :D :happyface :lol:

I'd rather watch and listen to Carrie Underwood:

LOL, Carrie Underwood is nasty. Look at those nasty shoes, no socks, and the rip in the knee area of the jeans, it's this dirty type of look that appeals to the Nashville crowd. :rolleyes: :p :lol:

https://cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/w620-fb9303e7b6e2be037d1c8714b822559b.jpg[/QUOTE]

Game 7 tonight.

If you're interested in historical omens, no team that has lost game 7 has ever come back to win the series.. ?

Tampa in huge trouble. Haven't scored since Game 5.

Washington-Vegas starts Monday.

Go Knights.

Bye bye Tampa Bay, it's Las Vegas vs. Washington for the Stanley Cup. Should be interesting. Either Las Vegas will complete their miracle season, or the Caps and Ovechkin will finally hoist the cup.

I'm hoping Vegas...then many expansion teams may follow this model...I'm looking at you, Cleveland Clowns! You've been an expansion team since 1999!

And no doubt this song will be playing...
ui0EgRsFVN8

Don't care about any expansion team. Just don't want Commievechkin to win the Cup.

I like to call this the Donald Trump series. You have Washington, where Trump is the President, playing against Vegas, where he is the King! I wonder who he's picking! For the record, I'll take Vegas in 6!

I like to call this the Donald Trump series.

Since the Russians run the White House anyways, and Ovechkin has a decent shot at dominating the series, I'd tend to agree with you.

Nothing wrong with a woman having a little extra weight. More to hold on to and more to love. :D :happyface :lol:



LOL, Carrie Underwood is nasty. Look at those nasty shoes, no socks, and the rip in the knee area of the jeans, it's this dirty type of look that appeals to the Nashville crowd. :rolleyes: :p :lol:

https://cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/w620-fb9303e7b6e2be037d1c8714b822559b.jpg[/QUOTE]



I take it you are not a Carrie Underwear fan?! :lol: :D :p :wave:

I take it you are not a Carrie Underwear fan?! :lol: :D :p :wave:

LOL, no she doesn't exactly rock my boat, I don't dislike her but she's not really my type. I prefer the woman who sings anthems for the Winnipeg Jets. Fine looking lady and beautiful singing voice too.

LOL, no she doesn't exactly rock my boat, I don't dislike her but she's not really my type. I prefer the woman who sings anthems for the Winnipeg Jets. Fine looking lady and beautiful singing voice too.


I don't like her voice!! :( I think she is very orerated!!:p I didn't vote for her when she was on American Idol. I was rooting for her runner up! Bo somebody, he was a Southern rocker type singer, he should have won IMO!! ;) :wave:

Back to the hockey! We don't really follow if the Kings, Ducks or Flyers aren't involved! So are they down to the two teams / The finals now? :)

I don't like her voice!! :( I think she is very orerated!!:p I didn't vote for her when she was on American Idol. I was rooting for her runner up! Bo somebody, he was a Southern rocker type singer, he should have won IMO!! ;) :wave:

LOL, yeah I know what you mean, in my opinion many American singers are overrated. :p Attitude and swagger is considered the cool thing nowadays and that's what the public goes for. :rolleyes:

Back to the hockey! We don't really follow if the Kings, Ducks or Flyers aren't involved! So are they down to the two teams / The finals now? :)

Yep it's Washington vs. Las Vegas in the finals. Difficult to pick a winner, I can see the series going either way.

[QUOTE=retroTVfan4ever]LOL, yeah I know what you mean, in my opinion many American singers are overrated. :p Attitude and swagger is considered the cool thing nowadays and that's what the public goes for. :rolleyes:



Yep it's Washington vs. Las Vegas in the finals. Difficult to pick a winner, I can see the series going either way.[/QUOTE


Wow!! I do know that Washington is an old, tried and true good team, but Vegas is very new! That is interesting, hard to think of hockey in Vegas. A desert , party town, :eek: but than for sports betting it is great!;) I think it would be cool if they won! ;) :wave:

Yep it's Washington vs. Las Vegas in the finals. Difficult to pick a winner, I can see the series going either way.


If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice

Hopefully all the games are as entertaining as Game 1.....

Las Vegas takes game 1, looks like a toughly fought series shaping up if the 1st game is any indication. Game 2 on Wednesday.

I could have done without the pre-game nonsense, but Las Vegas is show town and I guess they have to do their theatrics. :rolleyes: :lol:

If Washington wins the Cup, Holtby's save tonight goes down as an all time classic.

I'm sad that the Knights lost tonight! :(

Did the Bruins ever make it this year at all?

If Washington wins the Cup, Holtby's save tonight goes down as an all time classic.


http://cdn1.thecomeback.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/holtby-save-832x447.png

I could have done without the pre-game nonsense, but Las Vegas is show town and I guess they have to do their theatrics. :rolleyes: :lol:

Vegas does a pre game theatrical extravaganza.

Washington pulls out Pat Sajak....

Did the Bruins ever make it this year at all?

the Capitals & the Golden Knights are in this year's Stanley Cup(in which the Caps are up 2-1), Mikaela. the Bruins are not.

I hate to "I knew it would happen", because I know nothing that will happen, but when James Neal missed the open net I knew they'd lose tonight.



https://usatftw.files.wordpress.com/2018/06/usp_nhl__stanley_cup_final-vegas_golden_knights_a_100372935.jpg?w=1000&h=600&crop=1

227633

I hate to "I knew it would happen", because I know nothing that will happen, but when James Neal missed the open net I knew they'd lose tonight.



https://usatftw.files.wordpress.com/2018/06/usp_nhl__stanley_cup_final-vegas_golden_knights_a_100372935.jpg?w=1000&h=600&crop=1



:(


Aww!! :( Well the Vegas Knights gave it their all, a brand new team, cool they made it this far!!! ;) Best of luck to them in future seasons!! ;)

:(


Aww!! :( Well the Vegas Knights gave it their all, a brand new team, cool they made it this far!!! ;) Best of luck to them in future seasons!! ;)

I wanted Vegas to win...maybe next year?

Did the Bruins ever make it this year at all?

No, the Bruins won it back in 2011 by beating the Canucks

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Stanley_Cup_Finals

Well it's all over for Las Vegas, Washington takes the cup. I'm not really surprised, I had a feeling the Caps would win. Washington has been knocking on the door for years only to lose in the playoffs, the Las Vegas team competed but Washington just played like the hungrier team and they wanted it more.

It's probably better for the Knights fans that their team didn't win the cup right away the first year. If they were champions right away in their first year, there would be nothing to look forward to, anything that would happen afterwards would be a letdown. So it's not really a good thing for an expansion team to have that much success right away in year one.

Las Vegas sort of took the league by surprise this year, no one expected them to be a big success right away. So I think it might be more difficult for them next season to have similar success because other teams will be more prepared for them now.

Well the Caps finally did it. It looked like they were faltering in the first round against Columbus but they totally turned things around.

I'll always like that '98 team more though with Adam Oates, Peter Bondra, Joe Juneau, Brian Bellows, Richard Zednik, Chris Simon, Sergei Gonchar, Phil Housely, Dale Hunter, Konowalchuk, etc. etc. And of course Olie the goalie, Olaf Kolzig!

I grew up watching hockey in the 80s & it was a FAR better version with more scoring, fighting, hitting, etc. I can never forget the tension between Chris Simon & Joey Kocur was so high the entire series. Simon DARED Kocur to fight him!

To me hockey today is a totally watered down product. I couldn't even get into the Golden Knights!??! Is that a junior team?? :lol:

I wanted Vegas to win...maybe next year?

Give credit to Vegas with good season even if they didn't win the cup this year. But next year would be a good time to win it, although, you need to select which is one single real captain of Vegas to help the Golden Knights win next year, which is important.