It's that time of year again.
The regular season has reached its end, and we're just a couple days away from the always exhilarating NHL playoffs.
This year's playoffs seem to be as wide open as over - particularly in the Western Conference - but I'm going to try my hand at predicting each series winner.
I'd like to stress that this is just my opinion and, while I went 12-3 in predicting series last year, I could obviously be wrong. This is a fun post I enjoy writing every year, and just because I pick against Team Y doesn't mean I think they are bad or that I dislike them.
Anaheim Ducks vs Winnipeg Jets Prediction: Jets in 7
Both of these teams can fill the net with regularity. Both of these teams have good defense cores, and both enter this series with question marks in goal for different reasons.
I was leaning towards Anaheim because of Winnipeg's inability to stay out of the box, however, Anaheim isn't exactly the most disciplined team either.
This series could very well come down to special teams, and Winnipeg was the better team on the power play and penalty kill, so I'm going to hesitantly go with them.
I will say, barring injuries to key plays, that I like the winner of this series to take out either Calgary or Vancouver in the 2nd round.
St. Louis Blues vs Minnesota Wild Prediction: Wild in 7
This is arguably the toughest 1st round series to predict, but I'm going to with the underdogs in 7. St. Louis is an excellent team in all game states, and I could certainly see them winning this series, but Minnesota is the hotter team coming in so I'm going with them.
Since February 1st the Wild have a plus-30 goal differential at evens, which leads the league by a good margin. St. Louis' even-strength goal differential in that span? 0. At least of late the Wild have been the better team at full-strength, and that's where the majority of every game is played; especially in the playoffs.
If Devan Dubnyk can continue to provide solid goaltending I like the Wild in a close one.
Vancouver Canucks vs Calgary Flames Prediction: Flames in 6
This is a pretty even matchup and, though the Canucks are better in terms of possession, I'm going to go with the Flames.
Vancouver has the experience, but Calgary has the speed, and I think that will be a difference maker. The Flames are very good at drawing penalties, and against a slower, older Canucks team their speed could force the Canucks into some penalty trouble. That could be the difference in a game or two, which could decide the series.
I also think this will serve as a coming out party for Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan and some of Calgary's good, young players who haven't been in the playoffs before.
Nashville Predators vs Chicago Blackhawks Prediction: Blackhawks in 6
Nashville has had an excellent year, but I think this is where it ends. Though the Blackhawks are the lower seed, I think they're the better team, and their plus-40 goal differential helps illustrate that.
The Blackhawks are a dominant possession team that possesses more firepower, experience and team speed. Not to mention Patrick Kane should be back for this series, and he could be the difference.
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