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Nothing really new to report on the Boston Bruins front. Well, except for one little tidbit.
Bruins general manager Don Sweeney and head coach Claude Julien will meet with the media together tomorrow at 10 a.m. at TD Garden. What this means for Julien's future in Boston, however, remains to be seen, as the club did this with Peter Chiarelli shortly before they fired him.
An interesting angle with this is that team president Cam Neely and CEO Charlie Jacobs are not speaking with the media until next Wednesday.
Weird times, but hey, at least they're all used to it by now, right?
Florida Panthers vs. (Wild Card No. 1) New York Islanders
Yes, the Islanders are down Anders Lee and more importantly starting goaltender Jaroslav Halak, but I think last year’s first-round series with the Washington Capitals gave many of the then-inexperienced Isles the tough love experience you need to succeed in the postseason. Still, I really think there’s an energy around the Cats that will be enough to propel them into the second round. Though, and I’ll be 100 percent honest here, this is a pick I have almost no confidence in.
Prediction: Panthers in 7.
(2) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (3) Detroit Red Wings
When push comes to shove, I think the Wings really limped their way into this series, and their questions in net versus what they’re going against in Ben Bishop make it think this one is going to the Lightning. You can read a lot more about that whole thing right here. (Please do that.)
Prediction: Lightning in 6.
Washington Capitals vs. (Wild Card No. 2) Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers have played a ton of high-pressure hockey over the last, what, two months? And the Capitals have been in the driver’s seat since, what, Day 1 of the regular season? This is a dangerous combination. And I’m buying into the hypetrain, strike that-- the Wayne Train, and taking the Flyers to pull off the major upset and straight-up surprise this Capitals group.
So, here’s one from a little group just outside of Philly…
(2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (3) New York Rangers
Pittsburgh is rolling, Sidney Crosby looks great, Mike Sullivan has really found a brand that works for this Penguins group, and Henrik Lundqvist looks absolutely gassed. Couple this with some reeling injuries hampering the Rangers’ depth, and it’s really tough for me to go against the grain here.
Prediction: Penguins in 6.
Dallas Stars vs. (Wild Card No. 2) Minnesota Wild
Dallas! Stars! Dallas! Stars! In other words, I expect to hear tons of Pantera this series.
Prediction: Dallas in 5.
(2) St. Louis Blues vs. (3) Chicago Blackhawks
Here’s the Ty Anderson Yearly Plan of Picking Against the Blackhawks. This, as you could imagine, did not work out for me last year. Or in 2013, for that matter. But I just think all that hockey has finally caught up to the Blackhawks, and that the Blues are due for a major playoff breakthrough. Call it the Perfect Storm, and call me a sucker, but I’ll go with a healthy Blues group to pull this one off.
Prediction: Blues in 7.
Anaheim Ducks vs. (Wild Card No. 1) Nashville Predators
The Predators aren’t getting the credit they should, if you ask me, but I still think this one goes to Anaheim. The one thing that could make this series interesting: Anaheim had to take a weird trip to the East for a makeup game with the Capitals over the weekend, and now have to travel to Nashville. Still, I think the Ducks have the depth up front and on the backend to power their way through to round two.
Prediction: Ducks in 6.
(2) Los Angeles Kings vs. (3) San Jose Sharks
Remember when we all thought the Sharks were overdue for a rebuild? Well, they exceeded expectations, and now have the pleasure of drawing the Los Angeles Kings in round one. Joy. This is also the perfect series for Milan Lucic to reacquaint himself with the intensity of playoff hockey.
Uh-oh. (For San Jose.)
Prediction: Kings in 7.
Ty Anderson has been covering the National Hockey League for HockeyBuzz.com since 2010, has been a member of the Pro Hockey Writers Association's Boston Chapter since 2013, and can be contacted on Twitter, or emailed at Ty.AndersonHB[at]gmail.com.