Here we are: the playoffs. Simple rules: Who is deeper, whose nastier, and whose goalie is hotter? The issue is that predictions are almost pointless because when the playoffs start, it’s a whole new season; everything resets. So here, in short readable blurbs are how I see the NHL playoffs playing out.

West Round 1

Jets Blues: Blues in 6.

Sorry, don’t buy the Jets as a playoff team. Ehler’s injury adds to my skepticism, as does Hellebuyck’s struggles in the playoffs. Meanwhile on the other side, the goalie that dogged him for a four nations title. Binnington is an absolute psychopath. It also doesn’t hurt that the Blues have been playing playoff hockey for the last two months. Chaos starts early in these playoffs, and it starts in Saint Louis.

Avs Stars: Avs in 6

Scared absolutely shitless of this series. Whoever loses this series will feel like they’ve thrown away a year of their window. I feel this is especially true of the Avs who could lose both Charlie Coyle and Brock Nelson this season. Landeskog is back though, I’m still skeptical, but you cannot tell me that he, Cale and Nate aren’t all locked the F in, this group has more dawgs. Moose be damned, Mikko has struggled as a playoff player in recent years, he doesn’t like to get dirty. No Heiskenen for the Stars is the death nail, though. Mackenzie Blackwood is the Avs biggest question, this is his first taste of playoffs and so much of playoff success comes down to the goalie. Time for the man to enter beast mode, and I believe he will.

(I am not confident, I am very scared, I do not know how I am going to stomach 7 games of this.)

Golden Knights Wild: Vegas in 6

Vegas might just be the best team in the west, Karill the thrill is back in Minnesota though so this thing is about to be a series. Vegs though, it’s the time of year where goalie Aidin Hill becomes unbeatable.

Kings Oilers: Kings in 7

DARCY! I’ve long been a Darcy Kuemper doubter, but hey man, damn he ruled this year. Absolute stud in net during the regular season, this is a cup winning goalie and he deserves my damn respect. I’m giving it to him, but also because Stuart Skinner is as bad as they come in this playoff setting. Kings play heavy, hard, sandpaper hockey and that will translate extremely well to playoffs. The Oilers only get 7 because they employ two of the top four players in the league.

East Round 1

Maple Leafs Senators: Sens in 7

You don’t really get my vibe if you think I’m going to be respecting the Toronto Maple Laughs in the playoffs. Let me see you get through two rounds of the gauntlet Atlantic before I give you an ounce of respect, Toronto. The Og prediction here was Sens in 6 but that wouldn’t fit, it’s time for another crushing game 7 loss in Toronto. With the current geopolitical state of the world I think it really only makes sense to begin our invasion of Canada a day after a crushing game 7 round 1 loss for the Leafs.

Brady Tkachuk is about to introduce himself to the casuals, they’re familiar after four nations, the kid is about to be an absolute psycho in this series and that energy is going to outweigh Craig Berubes, the coach doesn’t matter. The Toronto Maple Leafs are a paper soft, kiddie hockey team, they can’t play in the yoffs. See ya in Salt Lake in October Mitch Marner.

Lightning Panthers: Lightning in 7

Absolute classic series here. Vassy v Bob for one, goalie master class incoming. Rats vs Rats as well, people underestimate the sandpaper of the Lightning. Here’s my hot take, the Lightning are the best team in the whole league. I cannot wait to watch every single game of this series. Beautiful time to be alive. Feed me the goaltending masterclasses, I cannot wait for Tuesday.

Capitals vs. Canadiens: Caps in 6

HABITANTS! THE QUEBECQUA! We’re so back. The playoffs are just better when absolutely bat shit crazy french Canadian fans are involved. The Belle center is about to be absolutely buzzing and guess what, this is going to be a series, the Caps are sleep walking after the Ovi goal chase saga. The Canadians are going to win at home and probably steal an early one in Washington. Ultimately though, I like the Caps to wake from their slumber and potentially start a cup run with a win over the Habitants.

Canes Devlis: Canes in 4

Business as usual in Raleigh, round 1 win. Only question I have is goaltending. It’s a bummer that Jack Hughes isn’t involved in these playoffs.

West Round 2

Avs Blues: Avs in 7

Absolute battle this one, I would love this goalie matchup to be honest. Again another vote of confidence in Blackwood. Maybe Landy is contributing in this series you never know. Hell of a year for the Blues but after they play spoiler in round 1 the luck runs out in round 2.

Golden Knights Kings: Golden Knights in 7

Grit and grind. Vegas, best team in the west though. Love this series, hard, gritty and some goaltending masterclasses involved. People forget, Vegas is a hockey market.

East Round 2

Lightning Senators: Lightning in 7

Linus Ullmark is going to keep the Sens in this series, man oh man the Lightning could get got here, they are going to be beat the hell out of after they get out of this. I think the Stanley Cup team for the East comes out of the Atlantic. I really am just dying to watch these series.

Capitals Canes: Caps in 5

Apologies to the Carolina Hurricanes, I just do not believe in you as a hockey club. The only outcome of these playoffs that would absolutely shock me is if the Hurricanes somehow won the Stanley Cup. I just don’t think they have the dawgs to do so. I really just do not believe in them and will be really surprised if they matter  a ton this year.

West Finals

Golden Knights Avs: Avs in 7

This will be the Avs second biggest test but they pass here. Also would not shock me if Vegas takes it. This is the series that scares me the second most next to Dallas.

East Finals

Caps Lightning: Lightning in 5

Tampa shows whose boss.

2022 Stanley Cup Finals Rematch Lightning Avs

Gotta pick the Avs but man they honestly probably would lose this series.

 

Fun times, let the playoffs begins.

 

Not a ton of analysis, just vibes, let us roll.