Which 1st-round playoff series sets up to be the most entertaining?
The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is officially upon us.
Unless your team is in the mix, it can be difficult to pick which game to watch. With this in mind, we ranked all eight first-round matchups in terms of entertainment factor to make your life a bit easier through this hectic period of hockey overload.
8. Predators vs. StarsSeason series: 3-2 Predators
Leading scorers: Ryan Johansen (64 points), Tyler Seguin (80 points)
Although they share the Central Division, the Predators and Stars don't exactly have a long-standing history of animosity. The makeup of both teams doesn't inspire a ton of intrigue either, as both Nashville (19th) and Dallas (29th) are two of the three lowest-scoring teams to qualify for the playoffs.
The drama of a potential upset is always exciting, though, and if the Stars put a scare into the Central champs, this series could be good. If the favored Predators advance, perhaps at the very least, the two teams could plant a seed of hate to generate some buzz for the 2020 Winter Classic.
7. Lightning vs. Blue Jackets
Scott Audette / National Hockey League / GettySeason series: 3-0 Lightning
Leading scorers: Nikita Kucherov (128 points), Artemi Panarin (87 points)
Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen laid it all on the line with an aggressive spending spree before the trade deadline, and after narrowly making the playoffs, his club's reward is a first-round date with arguably the best team ever assembled.
It's not as though the Blue Jackets aren't a fun team to watch, they just face a near-impossible task in taking down the 62-win Lightning, who outscored them by a 17-3 margin in three contests this season. For that reason, this one lacks appeal.
6. Penguins vs. IslandersSeason series: 2-2 tie
Leading scorers: Sidney Crosby (100 points), Mathew Barzal (62 points)
The last time these clubs met in the playoffs, it was chaos. In their first-round battle in 2013, the Penguins and Islanders combined for 42 goals across six games including two overtime thrillers. This time, it's unlikely to be as hectic.
New York was the stingiest team in the NHL this season after allowing just 191 goals, while Pittsburgh, despite all its firepower, quietly went about its business without drawing a ton of attention. History shows both teams have the potential for some fireworks, but we're pessimistic about another barn burner.
5. Flames vs. Avalanche
Gerry Thomas / National Hockey League / GettySeason series: 3-0 Flames
Leading scorers: Johnny Gaudreau (99 points), Nathan MacKinnon (99 points)
This one has a chance to be a thrilling matchup. The Flames and Avalanche combined to have eight skaters finish with 70-plus points, led by the two names above, who each cracked the top 10 in the Art Ross race.
Calgary and Colorado ranked third and 10th, respectively, in goals for this year, but a lack of balance prevents this one from coming in higher on the list. On paper, the Avs just don't have the horses to match the depth of the top-seeded Flames, and Calgary holds a significant advantage on the blue line as well.
4. Capitals vs. HurricanesSeason series: 4-0 Capitals
Leading scorers: Alex Ovechkin (89 points), Sebastian Aho (83 points)
The Capitals enter this one as favorites, but the Hurricanes present an interesting matchup for the reigning champions. Although Washington swept the season series, one win came in a shootout, another with an empty-net insurance marker, and most recently, Carolina let a one-goal lead slip away in the third period.
The Hurricanes also enter the series with plenty of momentum, ending their lengthy postseason drought with an impressive second-half surge. Since the start of 2019, only the Lightning won more games than the Canes (30), and Rod Brind'Amour's group ranked second with 150 goals for over that span. Between Carolina's late push and Washington's title defense, this one could get interesting.
3. Jets vs. Blues
Darcy Finley / National Hockey League / GettySeason series: 3-1 Jets
Leading scorers: Blake Wheeler (91 points), Ryan O'Reilly (77 points)
The Jets and Blues head into their first-round battle trending in opposite directions. Winnipeg, considered a Cup favorite at the start of the season, scuttled to a 22-18-3 record since Jan. 1 while the Blues raced up the standings with a league-leading 30-10-5 mark. As a result, the two teams ended up deadlocked at 99 points, with Winnipeg taking home-ice advantage on account of ROW.
Although the playoffs provide all teams with a clean slate, the disparity in the recent play of the Central Division foes makes this series among the most compelling in the first round. An early exit would make 2018-19 a full-blown disaster for the Jets, while the Blues are playing with house money after sitting at the bottom of the division at Christmas.
2. Sharks vs. Golden KnightsSeason series: 2-2 tie
Leading scorers: Brent Burns (83 points), Mark Stone (73 points)
For the second consecutive year, the Sharks and Golden Knights will battle in the Western Conference bracket, and last time around, it was a war. Vegas took the series in six, and a rivalry emerged.
Both teams offer an exciting blend of skill, speed, and physicality, and their contests in the regular season resembled playoff hockey at its best. Neither the Sharks or Golden Knights enter the postseason particularly hot, but the rosters are stacked and both general managers went all-in with big-time trades this season - Erik Karlsson for the Sharks and Stone for the Golden Knights - to bolster their odds at a ring.
Stay up late for this one.
1. Bruins vs. Maple Leafs
Mark Blinch / National Hockey League / GettySeason series: 3-1 Bruins
Leading scorers: Brad Marchand (100 points), Mitch Marner (94 points)
It's the rematch the hockey world has been waiting for. For several weeks, the Bruins and Maple Leafs have been locked into a first-round matchup, but Boston pulled away with a dominant stretch run to secure home-ice advantage for the second consecutive series between the two teams. Last time around, their nail-biting battle concluded with a dramatic win for the Bruins in Game 7, and there's no reason to believe the rivals won't combine for another classic this year.
Both teams have legitimate title aspirations thanks to elite forward depth along with exceptional goaltenders, but most of the pressure falls on the Maple Leafs, who are in their fourth year under head coach Mike Babcock and still haven't won a series in 15 seasons. They added John Tavares in free agency and traded for Jake Muzzin for this exact reason, but if the Leafs fall short again, the heat in Toronto will ramp up considerably.
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