I’m anticipating a surprisingly fun, well matched first round series between the Central Division leading Colorado Avalanche, defending their Stanley Cup and the first Wild Card team in the West, the Seattle Kraken, who are in the playoffs for the first time in their short existence. All three games between these teams were close in the regular season, decided by just a goal all won … Continue reading NHL Playoffs 2023 Series Preview: Avalanche vs. Kraken

The Western Conference leading Vegas Golden Knights will face off against the second Wild Card Winnipeg Jets in the first round of the playoffs. The Knights swept the regular season series between these cross-division teams, winning 5-2 at home on October 20th, 2-1 in overtime at home in Vegas on October 30th, and then 6-5 on the road in Winnipeg on December 13th. After missing … Continue reading NHL Playoffs 2023 Series Preview: Golden Knights vs. Jets

This series has been set for quite a long time in the Atlantic Division as the #2 seed Toronto Maple Leafs and the #3 seed Tampa Bay Lightning in a rematch of last year’s fantastic first round series where the Bolts won in seven games. The Leafs were the better team between these teams this year, going 2-0-1 against Tampa this year, losing 4-3 in … Continue reading NHL Playoffs 2023 Series Preview: Maple Leafs vs. Lightning

I’m anticipating an incredible series in the Metropolitan Division for the Battle of the Hudson between the #2 seed New Jersey Devils and the #3 seed New York Rangers. In the four games these teams played during the regular season, the Devils went 3-1 with two of those games going to overtime. The Devils won the first matchup 5-3 in MSG on November 28th, the … Continue reading NHL Playoffs 2023 Series Preview: Devils vs. Rangers

I’m expecting a fantastic defensive battle for this first round series between the Metro Division leading Carolina Hurricanes and the first Wild Card in the East New York Islanders. In the four games between these divisional teams, the Canes went 3-1, with the Isles winning the first game 6-2 in Carolina on October 28th and the Hurricanes winning the next three, winning a 3-0 shutout … Continue reading NHL Playoffs 2023 Series Preview: Hurricanes vs. Islanders

Although I don’t expect this to be the greatest series in the East between the President’s Trophy winning Bruins, who set records as the best regular season team in NHL history this year and the second Wild Card team, the Florida Panthers, I do expect some really fun hockey in this matchup. These Atlantic Division teams surprisingly split their four regular season games this year, … Continue reading NHL Playoffs 2023 Series Preview: Bruins vs. Panthers

I’m expecting a very exciting and competitive series in the Central Division for this first-round matchup between the #2 seed Dallas Stars and the #3 seed Minnesota Wild, who are quite evenly matched in this series. These teams split their four regular season matchups, each winning on the road and then at home. The Wild won the first game 6-5 in a shootout on December … Continue reading NHL Playoffs 2023 Series Preview: Stars vs. Wild