2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs

[Cosmo]

We're mostly set, so let's get 'er started.

EAST
Boston (135 points) vs. Florida (92)
Toronto (111) vs. Tampa Bay (98)
Carolina (113) vs. N.Y. Islanders (93)
New Jersey (112) vs. N.Y. Rangers (107)

WEST
Colorado (109) vs. Seattle (100)
Dallas (108) vs. Minnesota (103)
Vegas (111) vs. Winnipeg (95)
Edmonton (109) vs. Los Angeles (104)
* Colorado wins the Central with a win in Nashville tonight; otherwise, Dallas wins the division

My picks
EAST
Boston in 5
Tampa in 7
Carolina in 5
Rangers in 7

WEST
Vegas in 6
L.A. in 7
Colorado in 6
Minnesota in 7

The Panthers actually had a modicum of success against the Bruins this season, winning both matchups in Sunrise (one in OT). That's why I'll give Florida one win in the series, but that's it. ... Devils-Rangers is such a joyous throwback. Tampa-Toronto is going to be spicy. I'm hitching my flag to team Kraken for this postseason but I don't think they'll win their first-round series.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

Pulling for Seattle too for what should be some obvious reasons in the West. Good story on top of everything else.

 

[Spartan Squad]

Pulling for Seattle too for what should be some obvious reasons in the West. Good story on top of everything else.

And eliminating Vegas will make everyone happy.

 

[MileHigh]

Vegas plays Winnipeg. Seattle plays Colorado (if Avs win tonight) or Dallas (if Avs lose tonight).

 

[Cosmo]

Vegas plays Winnipeg. Seattle plays Colorado (if Avs win tonight) or Dallas (if Avs lose tonight).

I can't read. Oof. I'll change it.

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

Pretty cool in this neck of the woods with all three NY-area teams in the playoffs for just the fourth time ever and the first time since 2007. Of course, with the Islanders being pretty mediocre and the Rangers and Devils opposing each other, it'll almost surely go from three to one in a series, but still, neat. I think the Islanders can get two wins against the Hurricanes--Sorokin will steal one in the first two games and the Isles will win one at home--but hard to see an upset path for them, even with Barzal back.

 

[The Big Ragu]

Pretty cool in this neck of the woods with all three NY-area teams in the playoffs for just the fourth time ever and the first time since 2007. Of course, with the Islanders being pretty mediocre and the Rangers and Devils opposing each other, it'll almost surely go from three to one in a series, but still, neat. I think the Islanders can get two wins against the Hurricanes--Sorokin will steal one in the first two games and the Isles will win one at home--but hard to see an upset path for them, even with Barzal back.

I think that series will be closer than the betting odds will predict. Sorokin is a better keeper than Andersen / Raanta. Carolina obviously has more talent, but losing Svechnikov was pretty big, and Carolina limped into the end of the season. And if Barzal is back, it might help some of the Isles scoring issues.. Carolina feasts against undisciplined teams, but the Isles play the kind of game that can beat them. If the series is a neutral zone slog, the way I think it could be, the Isles could win it.

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

I think that series will be closer than the betting odds will predict. Sorokin is a better keeper than Andersen / Raanta. Carolina obviously has more talent, but losing Svechnikov was pretty big, and Carolina limped into the end of the season. And if Barzal is back, it might help some of the Isles scoring issues.. Carolina feasts against undisciplined teams, but the Isles play the kind of game that can beat them. If the series is a neutral zone slog, the way I think it could be, the Isles could win it.

Any chance they have rests on Barzal being at 100% right away. Horvat was invisible without him (three goals in six-plus games on his line, four goals in the final 23 games w/o him). They have such a small margin for error and there were a lot of nights this year where they looked like an old team aging faster bc of the extra half-season they played in the 2020 & 2021 playoffs. They were so good at slogging the Penguins & Bruins in 2021 but they are struggling to even do that most of the time this year. That third period against Montreal Wednesday was like watching 18 men hanging on by a finger to a rock over a 500-foot drop until Lee scored.

But they absolutely have a chance. They had NO chance against the Bruins. I mean, that one might have been canceled after three games.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

I think that series will be closer than the betting odds will predict. Sorokin is a better keeper than Andersen / Raanta. Carolina obviously has more talent, but losing Svechnikov was pretty big, and Carolina limped into the end of the season. And if Barzal is back, it might help some of the Isles scoring issues.. Carolina feasts against undisciplined teams, but the Isles play the kind of game that can beat them. If the series is a neutral zone slog, the way I think it could be, the Isles could win it.

A team with Sebastian Aho on its roster will win the series.

 

[MileHigh]

Seattle vs. Colorado
Minnesota vs. Dallas

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

*Playoff

Singular.

 

[Cosmo]

*Playoff

Singular.

From NHL.com: 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs 1st-round schedule

Stanley Cup Final is singular

 

[The Big Ragu]

1st round picks =

EAST
Carolina in 7 over the Isles.
Bruins in 5 over Florida
Toronto in 7 over Tampa
Rangers in 6 over Devils.

WEST
Minnesota in 7 over Dallas
Edmonton in 6 over LA
Colorado in 6 over Seattle
Vegas in 7 over Winnipeg

Finals = Toronto in 7 over Edmonton

 

[Jake from State Farm]

If you have a little $$$ riding on the Maple Leafs …

 

[misterbc]

Wouldn’t surprise me to see Dallas and Winnipeg advance. Both similar teams in that they aren’t exactly mercurial but have guys that are hard to play against up and down the lineup, reasonable defence corps and forwards who can score when needed. Benn can win a game by his self. On top of it, they have goaltending edges at least through round 1. They can play shut down and, especially, Jets played the last few games of the season with the same intensity they played the first half. Against the Stars a team might think they are in the game but then Robertson and Pavelski score and the game is over.
I don’t see Colorado repeating as Western Conference Champs.

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

As @Sam Mills 51 foresaw, Sebastian Aho is the difference in G1 of Isles-Hurricanes. Carolina wins it 2-1. That was a textbook Islanders game and they lost it. They just don't have the firepower for one round, never mind more than that.

 

[dixiehack]

Kings at Oilers on the opening night of the playoffs scratches an itch I didn’t know existed in my 80s kid sports brain. This series and Devils-Rangers may be the only ones I care about. Maybe the Leafs just for the comedy.

 

[Della9250]

I dont know how you can launch at a guy, upend him and not have it be a major penalty like Dumba just did on Pavelski

 

[JC]

I dont know how you can launch at a guy, upend him and not have it be a major penalty like Dumba just did on Pavelski

The point of contact was with his shoulder. He didn’t hit him in the head. Might have been a split second late but the it wasn’t a head shot.

 

[Della9250]

The point of contact was with his shoulder. He didn’t hit him in the head. Might have been a split second late but the it wasn’t a head shot.

I don't disagree with that -- but he leaned up and in off one skate to deliver it; that's where I have an issue.