Stanley Cup Playoffs: Bolts By The Bay Staff Predictions – Round 1

Mar 20, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Anton Stralman (6) is congratulated by teammates after he scored against the Detroit Red Wings during the second period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

By: Kyle Barber

Eastern Conference:

Montreal Canadiens vs. Ottawa Senators

– Riding a wave of momentum, the Ottawa Senators are going to be a tough out in the playoffs. They are matched up against a Carey Price led Montreal Canadians team that pulled out the Atlantic Division crown on the last day of the regular season. Even against a great goaltender like Price, the line of Clark MacArthur-Kyle Turris–Mark Stone will give the Canadians blue line fits throughout the 7 game series. The Sens win the series in game 7 at the Bell Center, and something tells me Andrew Hammond will have a say in that.

Kyle’s Pick: Ottawa in 7 over Montreal

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Detroit Red Wings

– The Detroit Red Wings are entering the Stanley Cup playoffs for the 24th consecutive season while the Tampa Bay Lightning are just on their 2nd consecutive appearance. Experience matters, but so does skill, and Tampa Bay just has more skill than Detroit does. The goal tending situation in Detroit is shaky at best, and with reinforcements arriving from the injury report both on the blue line the Lightning will overwhelm the Red Wings.

Kyle’s Pick: Tampa in 6 over Detroit

New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

– Many are already counting out the Pittsburgh Penguins before this series even begins, but the stingy Pens won’t go down without a fight. Whenever you have Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in the lineup, you always have a chance to win. However, the Rangers are just flat out better than Pittsburgh. Their depth both on the front lines and the blue line, along with the return on Henrik Lundqvist, will make the President’s Trophy winners too tough to beat.

Kyle’s Pick: Rangers in 6 over Pittsburgh

Washington Capitals vs. New York Islanders

Wow, what a match up this is. Two of the best players in the world in Alexander Ovechkin and John Tavaras battling in the playoffs. However, this series will come down to which team has the better goaltending, and Braden Holtby has been unbelievable as of late. Along with the Caps ability to gain contributions from all four lines, the Caps will move on to the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals, and the final season at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum will be complete.

Kyle’s Pick: Capitals in 7 over Islanders

Western Conference:

St. Louis Blues vs. Minnesota Wild

– The run is over for the fighting Devin Dubnyks. Though he and his team has played well throughout the regular season, they will be overwhelmed by a strong Blues team that arguably has the most complete team in the NHL. With the additions of Vladamir Tarasanko and Alexander Steen back on the top-6 forward lines, their scoring depth just improved by over 60 goals! Brian Elliot and Jake Allen round out the Blues impressive roster as one of the most feared 1-2 goalie tandems in the league. St.Louis wants the cup this year, and nothing will stand in their way.

Kyle’s Pick: St.Louis in 6 over Minnesota

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Nashville Predators

– Watch out NHL, Patrick Kane is back, and Nashville is going to experience his wrath first hand. Kane provides a shot in the arm to a Hawks offense that was struggling to score goals during his absence. Along with the outstanding play of goaltender Corey Crawford, the Blackhawks will be tough to beat. Filip Forsberg and his Nashville teammates have been fantastic this season, but this just isn’t their year. They have fallen back to earth, and the Blackhawks talent will overwhelm the young Predators roster.

Kyle’s Pick: Chicago in 5 over Nashville

Winnipeg Jets vs. Anaheim Ducks

The feel good story of the year is best getting started. Nobody had the Winnipeg Jets making it to the Stanley Cup playoffs, especially after the blockbuster deal that sent forward Evander Kane to the Buffalo Sabres. The players in that deal are some that have helped the Jets in their run to the second wildcard spot in the Western Conference. Tyler Myers have been fantastic, and so has the goaltending tandem of Ondrej Pavlec and Micheal Hutchinson. Anaheim had the second best record in the entire NHL this season, but their is just something about this team that has the word upset written across of it. Jets in 7.

Kyle’s Pick: Winnipeg in 7 over Anaheim

Vancouver Canucks vs. Calgary Flames

The other feel good story in the NHL this year? Yeah, that story is about to come to an end. Arguably one of the most entertaining teams to watch in the league, the Calgary Flames surprised everyone this season when they got off to a hot start, and continued their solid play on their way to finishing third in the Pacific Division.

Johnny Gaudreau has been arguably the best rookie player in the NHL this season (Mark Stone may have something to say about that) and the addition of goaltender Jonas Hiller solidified a position that was left void after the retirement of Miikka Kirusoff. However, the Cinderella story must end. Vancouver is solid on the back end, and the addition of Ryan Miller from injury and Eddie Lack as their backup completes the best goalie tandem in the NHL. In a hard fought series, Vancouver pulls it out in 6.

Kyle’s Pick: Vancouver in 6 over Calgary

Next: Who Are Lauren's Playoff Predictions?

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