2017 NHL Playoff Preview

It’s finally that time of year again! Playoff hockey is back! After a great season and a great fight from teams to clinch playoff spots down to the wire, we have an amazing first round matchup. Canada was shut out in last years playoffs, but this year, five Canadian teams have clinched. There are plenty of good matchups, which will make it hard to fill out your bracket.

 

Eastern Conference

 

Atlantic Division

Montreal Canadiens 1 vs New York Rangers WC 1

They met back in 2014 during the Eastern Conference Finals, Carey Price was hurt during the series, due to Rangers forward Chris Kreider crashing into his crease. The Rangers would go on to win the series. New York was knocked out in the first round last season and will look to avoid being knocked out two seasons in a row in the first round. The Habs may have won the Atlantic Divisions, but with the poorly designed playoff setup, the Rangers were still a 100-point team. The Habs are 3-0 this season against New York; in January with Montreal winning 5-4, again in February with the Habs winning in shootout 3-2, and once again in March with Montreal winning 4-1.

Schedule

Game 1: Wed., April 12 New York Rangers @ Montreal, 7 p.m. ET

Game 2: Fri., April 14 New York Rangers @ Montreal, 7 p.m. ET

Game 3: Sun., April 16 Montreal @ New York Rangers, 7 p.m. ET

Game 4: Tues., April 18 Montreal @ New York Rangers, 7 p.m. ET

Game 5:* Thurs., April 20 New York Rangers @ Montreal, TBD

Game 6:* Sat., April 22 Montreal @ New York Rangers, TBD

Game 7:* Mon., April 24 New York Rangers @ Montreal, TBD

 

Ottawa Senators 2 vs Boston Bruins 3

This will be the first meeting between the Sens and the B’s in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Bruins recovered from a rough start to the season with a strong finish and a little help along the way. The Senators have had another great season and are looking to continue their dominance in the first round against the Bruins. A huge note for this game is that the Senators haven’t lost to the Bruins this season. Take that how you want but things are looking good for Ottawa. This will be a close and hard fought series. The Bruins have recently suffered injury to defensemen Torey Krug as well as Brandon Carlo. They have called up rookie Charlie McAvoy to make his NHL debut in the playoffs. If the Bruins can play solid defense without two of their defensemen, they may have a chance, especially now that Brad Marchand is back from suspension.

Schedule

Game 1: Wed., April 12 Boston @ Ottawa, 7 p.m. ET

Game 2: Sat., April 15 Boston @ Ottawa, 3 p.m. ET

Game 3: Mon., April 17 Ottawa @ Boston, 7 p.m. ET

Game 4: Wed., April 19 Ottawa @ Boston, 7:30 p.m. ET

Game 5:* Fri., April 21 Boston @ Ottawa, TBD

Game 6:* Sun., April 23 Ottawa @ Boston, TBD

Game 7:* Wed., April 26 Boston @ Ottawa, TBD

 

Metropolitan Division

Washington Capitals 1 vs Toronto Maple Leafs WC 2

The Toronto Maple Leafs have surprised everyone by making the playoffs this year with their core of youth thanks to Austin Mattews and Morgan Rielly. That’s the good news. The bad news is they’re matched up against the best team in the NHL, the Washington Capitals. This will be one of the greatest upsets in playoff history if the Leafs could manage to win the series. But with a Cup hungry Washington team that has suffered a ton of playoff disappointment, the Caps will come out strong and ready to win. The season series started with Toronto beating the Caps 4-2 in November. In their second meeting in January, the Caps won 6-5 in a shootout, and in their final meeting the Caps won 4-1. Although the season series was pretty even, I think the Caps will have a walk in the park with this one.

Schedule

Game 1: Thurs., April 13 Toronto @ Washington, 7 p.m. ET

Game 2: Sat., April 15 Toronto @ Washington, 7 p.m. ET

Game 3: Mon., April 17 Washington @ Toronto, 7 p.m. ET

Game 4: Wed., April 19 Washington @ Toronto, 7 p.m. ET

Game 5:* Fri., April 21 Toronto @ Washington, TBD

Game 6:* Sun., April 23 Washington @ Toronto, TBD

Game 7:* Tues., April 25 Toronto @ Washington, TBD

 

Pittsburgh Penguins 2 vs Columbus Blue Jackets 3

The reigning Stanley Cup champs are playing Columbus who is back in the playoffs for the first time since 2014, when they lost the Penguins in 6 games. The Jackets finished the season on a losing streak until their final game against Toronto in which they won and forced the Leafs to play the Caps. Columbus’ upside is Sergei Bobrovsky is having the season of his life and is in Vezina talks, and even perhaps Hart Trophy talks. The Blue Jackets have never won a playoff series and are going up against a playoff veteran team. The Penguins biggest concern is Kris Letang, who is injured and out for the playoffs. Matt Murray will be between the pipes, who helped carry the Pens to the Cup last season. This should be a great matchup, but the Penguins vets like Crosby, Malkin, and Kessel should help push them to the next round.

Schedule

Game 1: Wed., April 12 Columbus @ Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m. ET

Game 2: Fri., April 14 Columbus @ Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. ET

Game 3: Sun., April 16 Pittsburgh @ Columbus, 6 p.m. ET

Game 4: Tues., April 18 Pittsburgh @ Columbus, 7:30 p.m. ET

Game 5:* Thurs., April 20 Columbus @ Pittsburgh, TBD

Game 6:* Sun., April 23 Pittsburgh @ Columbus, TBD

Game 7:* Tues., April 25 Columbus @ Pittsburgh, TBD

 

Western Conference

 

Central Division

Chicago Blackhawks 1 vs Nashville Predators WC 2

This was supposed to be the year Nashville would be a true contender, with the arrival P.K. Subban, and the emergence of young talent, the Predators look to make a name for themselves in the playoffs. It’s too bad that they’re up against one of the best playoff teams in hockey, that being, rivals Chicago Blackhawks. Chicago won the season series 4-1 so Kane and Toews will look to put Nashville away early in the series and keep their modern dynasty alive.

Schedule

Game 1: Thurs., April 13 Nashville @ Chicago, 8 p.m. ET

Game 2: Sat., April 15 Nashville @ Chicago, 8 p.m. ET

Game 3: Mon. April 17 Chicago @ Nashville, 9:30 p.m. ET

Game 4: Thurs., April 20 Chicago @ Nashville, TBD

Game 5:* Sat., April 22 Nashville @ Chicago, TBD

Game 6:* Mon., April 24 Chicago @ Nashville, TBD

Game 7:*Wed., April 26 Nashville @ Chicago, TBD

 

Minnesota Wild 2 vs St. Louis Blues 3

It’s the trade deadline buyers vs the sellers. The Wild have had an impressive season thanks to the additions of players like Eric Staal and Zach Parise as well as goaltender Devan Dubnyk. They will look to reignite the spark they’ve played with all season against a St. Louis team who became hot down the stretch and re-established themselves as a playoff contending team with a new head coach. The Wild should be able to come out on top of St. Louis thanks to their depth. St. Louis won the season series 4-1, which is a huge positive for the Blues going into this series as they will look to continue their dominance against the Wild.

Schedule

Game 1: Wed., April 12 St. Louis @ Minnesota, 9:30 p.m. ET

Game 2: Fri., April 14 St. Louis @ Minnesota, 8 p.m. ET

Game 3: Sun., April 16 Minnesota @ St. Louis, 3 p.m. ET

Game 4: Wed., April 19 Minnesota @ St. Louis, 9:30 p.m. ET

Game 5:* Sat., April 22 St. Louis @ Minnesota, TBD

Game 6:* Mon., April 24 Minnesota @ St. Louis, TBD

Game 7:* Wed., April 26 St. Louis @ Minnesota, TBD

 

Pacific Division

Anaheim Duck 1 vs Calgary Flames WC 1

After clinching the division once again the Ducks look to put out the flame of a young exciting Calgary team. Ryan Getzlaf and young outstanding goalie John Gibson will be key players for the Ducks to win this series. The Flames caught fire during an impressive second half of the season thanks to Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. The Ducks have the season series including two recent wins in April. It will be an interesting series with more pressure on Anaheim than Calgary.

Schedule

Game 1: Thurs., April 13 Calgary @ Anaheim, 7:30 p.m. PT

Game 2: Sat. April 15 Calgary @ Anaheim, 7:30 p.m. PT

Game 3: Mon., April 17 Anaheim @ Calgary, 7 p.m. PT

Game 4: Wed., April 19 Anaheim @ Calgary, 7 p.m. PT

Game 5:* Fri., April 21 Calgary @ Anaheim, TBD

Game 6:* Sun., April 23 Anaheim @ Calgary, TBD

Game 7:* Tues., April 25 Calgary @ Anaheim, TBD

 

Edmonton Oilers 2 vs San Jose Sharks 3

The Oilers are back in the playoffs! 10 years, 10 long years and they’re back. Connor McDavid was in grade school when they were in the playoffs last, and he will look to carry them deep into the playoffs after an outstanding season getting 100 points on the season. They’re up against a tough team in San Jose who lost in the Finals last season and are hungry for blood. Joe Pavelski will look to help this veteran team overcome a young fast team who has no playoff experience and will have to lean on players like Milan Lucic for a playoff veteran presence. The Oilers have the season series 3-2 and will look to keep the wins coming. It will be a tough matchup for them due to the fact that they have no real playoff experience.

Schedule

Game 1: Wed., April 12 San Jose @ Edmonton, 7 p.m. PT

Game 2: Fri., April 14 San Jose @ Edmonton, 7:30 p.m. PT

Game 3: Sun., April 16 Edmonton @ San Jose, 6 p.m. PT

Game 4: Tues., April 18 Edmonton @ San Jose, 7 p.m. PT

Game 5:* Thurs., April 20 San Jose @ Edmonton, TBD

Game 6:* Sat., April 22 Edmonton @ San Jose, TBD

Game 7:* Mon., April 24 San Jose @ Edmonton, TBD

 

 

Written by Chase Barnhart