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2018 NHL Playoffs Preview – Matchups and Picks

2018 stanley cup bracket

The fight for the greatest trophy in professional sports, The Stanley Cup, begins April 11th, 2018 and there are tons of exciting storylines to look forward to this year. Are the Vegas Golden Knights For real? Who will be left standing in the battles between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia or Anaheim and San Jose. Can Alexander Ovechkin and the Capitals finally make it to the Cup finals.

So much discuss, let's breakdown each NHL Playoffs matchup below with our predictions for each series winner.

Round 2 Preview and Predictions is now posted!

Quick Navigation

Tampa Bay (#1) vs New Jersey (WC#2)

Nashville (#1) vs Colorado (WC#2)

Boston (#2) vs Toronto (#3)

Winnipeg (#2) vs Minnesota (#3)

Washington (#1) vs Columbus (WC#1)

Las Vegas (#1) vs Los Angeles (WC#1)

Pittsburgh (#2) vs Philadelphia (#3)

Anaheim (#2) vs San Jose (#3)

Eastern Conference 1st Round Matchups

tampa bay lightning nhl logo

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING


1st in the Atlantic

54-23-5 (11​​​​3 points)

  • check
    1st in Goals Per Game
  • check
    13th in Goals Against

Hea​​​​d to Head Matchup

Lightning Lost 0-3-0

Impact Players

  • plus
    Nikita Kucherov (100 Pts)
  • plus
    Victor Hedman (+32 Rating)

Lightning -230 to Win at Bovada

Bet Tampa Bay To Win Series
new jersey devils logo nhl

NEW JERSEY DEVILS


Wild Card #2

44-29-9 (97 points)

  • 15th in Goals Per Game
  • 17th in Goals Against

Hea​​​​d to Head Matchup

Devils won 3-0-0

Impact Players

  • plus
    Taylor Hall (93 Pts)
  • plus
    Taylor Hall (39 Goals)

Devils +260 to Win at BetOnline

Bet New Jersey To Win Series

Lightning vs Devils Series Preview

During the regular season, the Devils won all 3 games. The 3 games were all decided by one goal.  Many hockey experts had the Devils fighting for a good draft pick, however the Devils exceeded expectations and qualified for the playoffs. The main reason, and the most likely winner of the Hart Trophy, is Tyler Hall. He had a season that players dream of.  Hall achieved over 40 points more then the next player on New Jersey. Literally, any hopes of the Devils advancing past Tampa rides on his shoulders. Tampa Bay is well coached and ready to make a serious Cup run. They made a few key acquisitions at the trade deadline to increase their depth since last year. The Bolts finished with the league’s number one offence lead by Kucherov and Stamkos. They also have arguably the leagues best defenceman in Victor Hedman who led the league with a +32 rating.

Series Prediction - Lightning in 5 Games

Why Tampa Bay Lightning Win This Series

  • 1
    Offence. Tampa Bay has 5 players who scored 20 goals or more lead by Kucherov.
  • 2
    Vasilevskly. He was a workhorse for the Bolts this season. He played 65 games, achieved 44 wins and will not likely lose four games to the Devils.
  • 3
    Defence. No matter what defensive pairing is on the ice, the Bolts are solid offensively and defensively
boston bruins nhl logo

Boston Bruins


2nd in the Atlantic

50-20-12 (112 points)

  • 6th in Goals Per Game
  • check
    4th in Goals Against

Hea​​​​d to Head Matchup

Bruins Lost 1-3-0

Impact Players

  • plus
    Brad Marchand (34 Goals)
  • plus
    David Pastrnak (35 Goals)

Bruins -150 to Win at Bovada

Bet Boston To Win Series
toronto maple leafs nhl logo

Toronto Maple Leafs


3rd in the Atlantic

49-26-7 (105 points)

  • check
    3rd in Goals Per Game
  • 12th in Goals Against

Hea​​​​d to Head Matchup

Leafs won 3-1-0

Impact Players

  • plus
    Auston Matthews (34 Goals)
  • plus
    Frederik Andersen (38 Wins)

Leafs +137 to Win at BetOnline

Bet Toronto To Win Series

Bruins vs Leafs Series Preview

During the regular season, Toronto won 3 of the 4 games to give them a mental edge over the Bruins. The Maple Leafs had a great season and is one of only two Canadian teams to make the playoffs. As always, the pressure is on Toronto to win the Stanley Cup for the city that has been waiting since 1967 to explode into celebration. Auston Matthews will need to play out of his skin to help Toronto advance. Unfortunately for Toronto, they are drawn against one of the Cup favourites in the Bruins. Boston finished the season second in the Eastern Conference despite playing multiple games without Marchand and Bergeron who were out due to injuries. With all key players healthy and Rask in form, the Bruins will be near impossible to beat.

Series Prediction - Bruins in 6 Games

Why Boston Bruins Win This Series

  • 1
    Brad Marchand. Love him or hate him, he is the core of the Bruins. He scored 85 points in only 67 games.
  • 2
    Defence. The Bruins finished with the best goals against in the Eastern Conference. The Bruins do not solely rely on Tukka Rask in goal to shut down the opponents, they also play defence as a team led by captain Chara.
  • 3
    Rick Nash. Picked up at the trading deadline, he will give more balance to the Bruins attack. He will be a spark for the Bruins powerplay.
washington capitals logo nhl

Washington Capitals


1st in the Metro

49-26-7 (105 points)

  • check
    9th in Goals Per Game
  • 16th in Goals Against

Hea​​​​d to Head Matchup

Capitals Won 3-1-0

Impact Players

  • plus
    Alex Ovechkin (49 Goals)
  • plus
    John Carlson (68 Pts)

Capitals -130 to Win at BetOnline

Bet Washington To Win Series
columbus blue jackets nhl logo

Columbus Blue Jackets


Wild Card #1

45-30-7 (97 points)

  • 17th in Goals Per Game
  • check
    10th in Goals Against

Hea​​​​d to Head Matchup

Jackets Lost 1-3-0

Impact Players

  • plus
    Artemi Panarin (82 Pts)
  • plus
    Seth Jones (57 Pts)

Blue Jackets +125 to Win at Bovada

Bet Columbus To Win Series

Capitals vs Blue Jackets Series Preview

During the regular season, the Capitals won the series 3 games to 1, with the Blue Jackets winning the last game. Columbus will need other players to help Panarin carry the load offensively. Bobrovsky is one of the better goalies in the NHL but he will need to play better than he ever has, to help the Blue Jackets upset the Capitals. The Capitals playoff curse needs to end at some point, you would think, and this may be the year when no one is looking at them to win. The city, the team and Ovechkin all want the Cup badly, the Blue Jackets are merely a team in their way with very small hopes of an upset.

Series Prediction - Capitals in 5  Games

Why Washington Capitals Win This Series

  • 1
    Alex Ovechkin. One of the greats of the game. Alex the Great has never won Lord Stanley and this might be his last real chance to do so. Expect Ovechkin’s play to be out of this world during this series, he knows his window is closing.
  • 2
    Braden Holtby. He has been consistently one of the better goalies, each year, in the regular season. Now he is ready to perform in the playoffs.
  • 3
    Team Depth: Backstrom, Kuznestov and Oshie are all ready to take the next step and take some pressure off Ovechkin. This will distribute the scoring and pile on pressure for the Blue Jackets to take their eye off Ovechkin, which can only spell disaster for Columbus.
pittsburgh penguins nhl logo

Pittsburgh Penguins


2nd in the Metro

47-29-6 (100 points)

  • 4th in Goals Per Game
  • 20th in Goals Against

Hea​​​​d to Head Matchup

Penguins Won 4-0-0

Impact Players

  • plus
    Sidney Crosby (89 Pts)
  • plus
    Evgeni Malkin (42 Goals)

Penguins -190 to Win at Bovada

Bet Pittsburgh To Win Series
philadelphia flyers nhl logo

Philadelphia Flyers


3rd in the Metro

42-26-14 (98 points)

  • 12th in Goals Per Game
  • check
    14th in Goals Against

Hea​​​​d to Head Matchup

Flyers Lost 0-4-0

Impact Players

  • plus
    Claude Giroux (102 Pts)
  • plus
    Shayne Gostisbehere (65 Pts)

Flyers +195 to Win BetOnline

Bet Philadelphia To Win Series

Penguins vs Flyers Series Preview

During the regular season, Pittsburgh have won all 4 games against Philadelphia. The battle of Pennsylvania is revived for this firs time since their last epic series in 2012.  The Flyers are led by Giroux, one of the hottest players down the stretch, who carried the Flyers to 3rd in the Metropolitan.  The downside for the Flyers is that now the Penguins know who, specifically, they need to shut down. Back from injury, Elliott has returned in goal for the Flyers, in time for the playoffs, but will he back to form? Pittsburgh are one of the modern-day dynasty teams led by a very powerful line-up including Crosby who most consider still the best in the game. The only question mark on a possible three-peat - is Murray. Without Fleury to back him up, can he return to the heights of last year’s playoffs? Time will tell.

Series Prediction - Penguins in 6  Games

Why Pittsburgh Penguins Win This Series

  • 1
    Sidney Crosby. He has been driving this franchise ever since he joined the Penguins. Sidney is a proven winner who has won countless individual awards and he has won many team awards including three Stanley Cups, two Olympic Gold Medals, a World Championship, a World Cup and the World Juniors. Hard to bet against greatness.
  • 2
    Evgeni Malkin. He could be the Jari Kurri of this generation. If Malkin played on any other team, there is no doubt that he would be the main man. This season he led the Penguins in scoring and come playoff time has at times even out-performed Crosby. That's a lethal combination to stop.
  • 3
    Experience: The Penguins are the defending back to back Stanley Cup Champions. This team knows how to win and what needs to be done to win. The shot at 3 in a row is a huge motivating power.

Western Conference 1st Round Matchups

nashville predators nhl logo

Nashville Predators


1st in the Central

53-18-11 (117 points)

  • check
    7th in Goals Per Game
  • check
    2nd in Goals Against

Hea​​​​d to Head Matchup

Predators Won 4-0-0

Impact Players

  • plus
    Pekka Rinne (42 Wins)
  • plus
    P.K. Subban (59 Pts)

Predators -250 To Win at Bovada

Bet Nashville To Win Series
colorado avalanche nhl logo

Colorado Avalanche


Wild Card #2

43-30-9 (95 points)

  • 10th in Goals Per Game
  • 15th in Goals Against

Hea​​​​d to Head Matchup

Avalanche Lost 0-4-0

Impact Players

  • plus
    Nathan MacKinnon (97 Pts)
  • plus
    Mikko Rantanen (29 Goals)

Avalanche +395 To Win at BetOnline

Bet Colorado To Win Series

Predators vs Avalanche Series Preview

During the regular season, the series went in favour of Nashville 4-0. Colorado need to get healthy as Johnson and Varlamov are not 100%.  Mackinnon will be the best player on the ice and quite possibly the Hart Trophy winner this year. Nashville were in last year’s Stanley Cup final and they are likely to be there again as this team is once again built for a long run. We know the Predators defence will be solid, but they will need Johansen and Forsberg to step up and take control of the offense. Nashville will win this series because they are the stronger team, from top to bottom.

Series Prediction - Predators in 5 Games

Why Nashville Predators Win This Series

  • 1
    Defensive Depth. The Predators have the best defensive core in the NHL. A strong keeper in Rinne and a well-balanced attack that has propelled them to the Presidents trophy.
  • 2
    Home Ice. The Nashville home crowd is intimidating for the visitors and a massive support for the home team. You can say they are an extra man on the ice.
  • 3
    Coaching: The x-factor who can change this series, in favour of the Avalanche, is Nathan MacKinnon. Nashville's coaching staff knows this and with the experience and depth on defence, the Preds will neutralize him.
winnipeg jets nhl logo

Winnipeg Jets


2nd in the Central

52-20-10 (114 points)

  • check
    2nd in Goals Per Game
  • check
    5th in Goals Against

Hea​​​​d to Head Matchup

Jets Won 3-1-0

Impact Players

  • plus
    Patrik Laine (44 Goals)
  • plus
    Blake Wheeler (91 Pts)

Jets -170 to Win at Bovada

Bet Winnipeg To Win Series
minnesota wild nhl logo

Minnesota Wild


3rd in the Central

45-26-11 (101 points)

  • 11th in Goals Per Game
  • 11th in Goals Against

Hea​​​​d to Head Matchup

Wild Lost 1-3-0

Impact Players

  • plus
    Eric Staal (42 Goals)
  • plus
    Devan Dubnyk (2.52 GAA)

Wild +190 to Win at BetOnline

Bet Minnesota To Win Series

Jets vs Wild Series Preview

During the regular season, the series went in favour of the Jets 3 wins to 1. The Wild had another solid season in a very strong Central division. Without Suter in the line-up, the rest of the defensive core will be under waves of pressure. From the start it was obvious that Winnipeg was going to make the playoffs and the Wild will not be the team to stop them from advancing. Winnipeg has one eye on Nashville already and that will be one hell of a series.

Series Prediction - Jets in 5  Games

Why Winnipeg Jets Win This Series

  • 1
    Connor Hellebuyck. Hellebuyck has been a pleasant surprise for the Jets this season. Hellebuyck will be involved in the Vezina Trophy discussion and will be the main reason the Jets get past the Wild in round one.
  • 2
    Forward Depth. After adding Paul Stastny to the roster at the trading deadline, the Jets had a solid number two centre. Jets now have three elite centres.
  • 3
    Big Buff: Dustin Byfuglien’s hard hitting no nonsense defence will shut down the Wild’s scoring. 
las vegas golden knights nhl logo

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS


1st in the Pacific

51-24-7 (109 points)

  • check
    5th in Goals Per Game
  • 8th in Goals Against

Hea​​​​d to Head Matchup

Knights Tied 2-1-1

Impact Players

  • plus
    William Karlsson (43 Goals)
  • plus
    Marc Andre-Fleury (2.24 GAA)

Knights -129 at BetOnline

Bet Vegas To Win Series
los angeles kings logo nhl

LOS ANGELES KINGS


Wild Card #1

45-29-8 (98 points)

  • 16th in Goals Per Game
  • check
    1st in Goals Against

Hea​​​​d to Head Matchup

Kings Tied 2-1-1

Impact Players

  • plus
    Jonathan Quick (2.40 GAA)
  • plus
    Drew Doughty (60 Pts)

Kings +120 at Bovada

Bet LA To Win Series

Golden Knights vs Kings Series Preview

During the regular season, the series was tied at two wins each, with both having an overtime win. Las Vegas will need Fleury to be even hotter than he has been all year if they want to move past the Kings. With the pressure of the playoffs now setting into the team, the Golden Knights lack of NHL experience will start to show cracks. The Kings will follow the lead of potential Hart Trophy candidate Anze Kopitar. They are a balanced team who have been playoff hockey style for about a month now.  When the Kings win this series, they will be staying in California for the next round.

Series Prediction - Kings in 6 Games

Why LA Kings Win This Series

  • 1
    Anze. Anze Kopitar was one of the hottest players in the NHL down the stretch. Kopitar was the driving force to put the Kings into the playoffs and will be hard to contain.
  • 2
    Experience. The Kings have many players left from the Stanley Cup runs and know how to win under pressure. The playoffs are their time, they are built to win every year.
  • 3
    Carter. He is getting older, but this guy knows how to score the big goals in a big game. He came back from an injury late in the season and looked in playoff form already.
anaheim ducks nhl logo

ANAHEIM DUCKS


2nd in the Pacific

44-25-13 (101 points)

  • 18th in Goals Per Game
  • check
    3rd in Goals Against

Hea​​​​d to Head Matchup

Ducks Lost 0-3-1

Impact Players

  • plus
    Rickard Rakell (34 Goals)
  • plus
    Ryan Getzlaf (61 Pts)

Ducks -125 to Win at BetOnline

Bet Anaheim To Win Series
san jose sharks nhl logo

SAN JOSE SHARKS


3rd in the Pacific

45-27-10 (100 points)

  • check
    13th in Goals Per Game
  • 9th in Goals Against

Hea​​​​d to Head Matchup

Sharks Won 3-0-1

Impact Players

  • plus
    Brent Burns (67 Pts)
  • plus
    Logan Couture (34 Goals)

Sharks +130 to Win at Bovada

Bet San Jose To Win Series

Ducks vs Sharks Series Preview

During the regular season, the Sharks won the series 3 games to 1 with Anaheim winning their only game in overtime. The battle of California will be a great series to watch. One goal decided three of their four regular season games. If Gibson gets hot in goal and Getzlaf/Perry can turn back the clock, this series will hit a new high. The Sharks should have won the Cup on a few occasions over the last five to ten years and this year is no different. Their time is running out and they need to win won soon or they will miss their window.

Series Prediction - Sharks in 7 Games

Why San Jose Sharks Win This Series

  • 1
    Burns. Brett Burns is one of the best defenceman in the NHL and will be a force at both ends of the rink, despite a rather quiet regular season for him.
  • 2
    Center Depth. A great one/two punch up the middle with Pavelski and Couture. This balance of attack will be hard to keep in check.
  • 3
    Joe. He might not start for the playoffs but that will only motivate the rest of the team. When he gets healthy and comes back into the line-up, he will once again raise the team on the powerplay.

Recommended Sportsbooks to bet the NHL Playoffs - check around for the best odds!

For American Bettors

Best USA Betting Sites for NHL

  • 1
    Bovada
  • 2
    BetOnline
  • 3
    Intertops

For Canadian Bettors

Best CAN Betting Sites for NHL

  • 1
    Bodog
  • 2
    BetOnline
  • 3
    Sports Interaction
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Marc Denis

Marc Denis

With the same name as a famous hockey player, this Marc Denis loves every sport he sees. A passion for hockey, football (NFL, CFL), soccer, baseball, basketball and Formula One.

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