Last night’s NHL Draft Lottery saw the Nashville Predators retain the 4th spot in the draft order. Colorado won the first pick and most certainly will pick local prospect Seth Jones. Nashville remains in position to get one of the top four prospects in this draft.

The NHL Draft will take place on June 30th at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.

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Ahhh… gotta love the playoffs. In a year that sees all six O6 teams in the playoffs for the first time in almost two decades, there are some intriguing matchups for round one of the race for Lord Stanley’s Cup.

Eastern Conference

#1 Pittsburgh vs. #8 New York Islanders - This looks like a complete mismatch on paper, but… say it with me… too bad these games aren’t played on paper… good! In this case, paper is good enough, Pittsburgh dominated the season series and will win this one in a walk – Pens in 4
Series Schedule
May 1, 2013 7:30 p NBCSN, TSN
May 3, 2013 7 p NBCSN, TSN
May 5, 2013 12 noon NBC, TSN
May 7, 2013 7 p NBCSN, TSN
May 9, 2013 7 p TSN
May 11, 2013 TBD TSN
May 12, 2013 TBD TSN

#2 Montreal vs. #7 Ottawa - This could be fun, Hockey capital vs. Canadian capital. To this observer, this one is the best chance for an upset in round one. Ottawa is getting healthy and hot at the right time, Montreal didn’t exactly light it up down the final segment of the season. This one turns on goaltending, the better goaltender wins. My thought is that Craig Anderson will be the better goaltender – Sens in 6
Series Schedule
May 2, 2013 7 p CNBC, CBC, RDS
May 3, 2013 7 p CNBC, CBC, RDS
May 5, 2013 7 p NBCSN, CBC, RDS
May 7, 2013 7 p CNBC, CBC, RDS
May 9, 2013 7 p CBC, RDS
May 11, 2013 TBD CBC, RDS
May 12, 2013 TBD CBC, RDS

#3 Washington vs. #6 New York Rangers - A rematch of last season’s ECSF. The Caps turned on the jets with back-to-back wins (ironically) over Winnipeg in late March and haven’t looked back. The Rangers have also rolled into the playoff playing their best hockey of the season. This one has the potential to be epic, the best series of the first round. Martin Erat could be an X factor for the series, for either team – Caps in 7
Series Schedule
May 2, 2013 7:30 p NBCSN, TSN
May 4, 2013 12:30 p NBC, TSN
May 6, 2013 7:30 p NBCSN, TSN
May 8, 2013 7:30 p NBCSN, TSN
May 10, 2013 7:30 p TSN
May 12, 2013 TBD TSN
May 13, 2013 TBD TSN

#4 Boston vs. #5 Toronto - No, that’s not a typo. The Toronto Maple Leafs are in the playoffs. While Boston won the season series, these teams are evenly matched. Toronto must get past the “glad to be here” syndrome and Boston is out to prove that two years ago was no fluke. Two Cup winning coaches, two teams with exceptional PK’s. This series will turn on the play of each team’s power play – B’s in 6
Series Schedule
May 1, 2013 7 p CNBC, CBC, RDS
May 4, 2013 7 p CNBC, CBC, RDS
May 6, 2013 7 p NHLN-US, CBC, RDS
May 8, 2013 7 p NHLN-US, CBC, RDS
May 10, 2013 7 p CBC, RDS
May 12, 2013 TBD CBC, RDS
May 13, 2013 TBD CBC, RDS

Western Conference
#1 Chicago vs. #8 Minnesota - The juggernaught know as the Chicago Blackhawks have all, the Minnesota Wild paid it all. Chicago is better and deeper at all positions and this series will show that. The Wild can play the “LA did it from the 8 spot, why not us” card all they want… the 2013 Wild aren’t the 2012 Kings. To even be in this series Minnesota needs to play error-free hockey and get stellar goaltending from Niklas Backstrom, if perfection is your only hope you have to ask the question... Can you sweep a seven game series in less than four games? – Hawks in 4
Series Schedule
April 30, 2013 8 p NBCSN, CBC
May 3, 2013 9:30 p NBCSN, CBC
May 5, 2013 3 p NBC, CBC
May 7, 2013 9:30 p NBCSN, CBC
May 9, 2013 TBD CBC
May 11, 2013 TBD CBC
May 12, 2013 TBD CBC

#2 Anaheim vs. #7 Detroit - The Anaheim Ducks have flown under the radar all year, quietly putting together an excellent season in the shadow of Chicago’s cruise missile to the playoffs. Detroit finished the season strong as they got injured players back into their lineup and they will be a formidable foe at the 7 seed. Both teams can fill the net, both teams have solid goaltending, the difference may be on the blueline, and in this series, behind the bench. Mike Babcock has won his share of Cups, Bruce Boudreau is still looking for his first – Red Wings in 6
Series Schedule
April 30, 2013 10:30 p NBCSN, TSN
May 2, 2013 10 p NBCSN, TSN
May 4, 2013 7:30 p NBCSN, TSN
May 6, 2013 8 p CNBC, TSN
May 8, 2013 10 p TSN
May 10, 2013 TBD TSN
May 12, 2013 TBD TSN

#3 Vancouver vs. #6 San Jose - In the words of a country song “This is gonna get ugly…” These are two underachieving franchises with a ton of pressure on them to win, and win now. San Jose had a busy trade deadline and added some much needed speed to their lineup. Vancouver’s goalrtending merry-go-round will be interesting to watch, San Jose’s tendency to be streaky will also be a key. I think game one is the key to this one, if San Jose wins game one, they win the series - Canucks in 5
Series Schedule
May 1, 2013 10:30 p NBCSN, TSN
May 3, 2013 10 p CNBC, TSN
May 5, 2013 10 p NBCSN, TSN
May 7, 2013 10 p CNBC, TSN
May 9, 2013 10 p TSN
May 11, 2013 TBD TSN
May 13, 2013 TBD TSN

#4 St. Louis vs. #5 Los Angeles - Another rematch series from the 2012 playoffs, the St. Louis Blues come into the playoffs on a serious roll, going 11-2-0 in April. The Los Angeles Kings had another up-and-down season with something a little surprising… inconsistent goaltending from Jonathan Quick, especially on the road. The Blues could win this one in a walk if they stay true to their tight-checking style… if they try and match tempo with LA, this one will be over fast - Kings in 6
Series Schedule
April 30, 2013 8 p CNBC, CBC
May 2, 2013 9:30 p CNBC, CBC
May 4, 2013 10 p NBCSN, CBC
May 6, 2013 10 p NBCSN, CBC
May 8, 2013 TBD CBC
May 10, 2013 TBD CBC
May 13, 2013 TBD CBC

OK… it’s time to drop the puck on the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs! Those are my picks…

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