In lieu of typing up something banal, I thought I would use tonight & tomorrow to preview the Stanley Cup playoffs’ first round matchups. (Please ignore the fact that the Canucks & Flames are playing out the string.) Normally I save these for during the week, but thought the weekend might bring a better audience. Also – I was bored at school & surfing while watching them write tests was unproductive.

So I put my attention into something more beneficial to me – hockey talk!
MASSMUTUAL EAST DIVISION
Pittsburgh Penguins (1) vs. New York Islanders (4)
- Sunday, May 16, Noon.: Islanders at Penguins | NBC, SN, TVAS
- Tuesday, May 18, 7:30 p.m.: Islanders at Penguins | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVAS
- Thursday, May 20, 7 p.m.: Penguins at Islanders | NBCSN, SN360, TVAS
- Saturday, May 22, 3 p.m.: Penguins at Islanders | NBC, SN, TVAS
- *Monday, May 24, TBD: Islanders at Penguins | TBD
- *Wednesday, May 26, TBD: Penguins at Islanders | TBD
- *Friday, May 28, TBD: Islanders at Penguins | TBD
High-powered offence versus stifling defence. WHO YA GOT?! It’s the Penguins last real shot at the Cup with their current lineup. The Islanders seem content being not as sucky as the Rangers. Given their team history of goalies getting the yips in the playoffs, all will depend on Tristan Jarry in net for the Pens. If he stays sharp then it’s a quick series. If they have to yank him and go with either recently-injured (LBI) Casey DeSmith or only-one-start-in-three-years Maxime Legace, then the Islanders have a good chance.
Prediction: Penguins in five.
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Washington Capitals (2) vs. Boston Bruins (3)
- Saturday, May 15, 7:15 p.m.: Bruins at Capitals | NBC, SN, CBC, TVAS
- Monday, May 17, 7:30 p.m.: Bruins at Capitals | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVAS
- Wednesday, May 19, 6:30 p.m.: Capitals at Bruins | NBCSN, SNE, SNO, SNP, SN360, TVAS
- Friday, May 21, 6:30 p.m.: Capitals at Bruins | NBCSN, SNE, SNO, SNP, SN360, TVAS
- *Sunday, May 23, TBD: Bruins at Capitals | TBD
- *Tuesday, May 25, TBD: Capitals at Bruins | TBD
Defector made the strong, valid case that this series should be the best of the first round, and it’s kind of hard to argue that point. You’ve got the Marchand vs Wilson angle, combined with the firepower of Boston’s Perfection Line and Ovechkin + linemates. Even the diehard Bruins fan in me has to see that this will be a high-scoring, hard-hitting affair that will be decided by 1-2 lucky bounces that give a team the edge it needs to take the series.
Prediction: Bruins in six
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DISCOVER CENTRAL DIVISION
Carolina Hurricanes (1) vs. Nashvillle Predators (4)
- Monday, May 17, 8 p.m.: Predators at Hurricanes | CNBC, SNE, TVAS
- Wednesday, May 19, 8 p.m.: Predators at Hurricanes | CNBC, FX-CA, TVAS
- Friday, May 21, 7 p.m.: Hurricanes at Predators | USA, FXX-CA, TVAS
- Sunday, May 23, TBD: Hurricanes at Predators | TBD
- *Tuesday, May 25, TBD: Predators at Hurricanes | TBD
- *Thursday, May 27, TBD: Hurricanes at Predators | TBD
- *Saturday, May 29, TBD: Predators at Hurricanes | TBD
I would care more about this series if it were the Hamilton Bulldogs versus the Hartford Whalers, but the last five years have proved we don’t deserve anything nice. I’ve been to a game in Nashville, and it was a good time.
Prediction: Nashville in six, because fuck the Hurricanes.
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Florida Panthers (2) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (3)
- Sunday, May 16, 7:30 p.m.: Lightning at Panthers | NBCSN, SN, TVAS
- Tuesday, May 18, 8 p.m.: Lightning at Panthers | CNBC, SNE, TVAS
- Thursday, May 20, 6:30 p.m.: Panthers at Lightning | USA, FX-CA, TVAS
- Saturday, May 22, 12:30 p.m.: Panthers at Lightning | CNBC, SN, TVAS
- *Monday, May 24, TBD: Lightning at Panthers | TBD
- *Wednesday, May 26, TBD: Panthers at Lightning | TBD
- *Friday, May 28, TBD: Lightning at Panthers | TBD
Somehow, the future Quebec Loup Garou were able to string together a consistent season and find a positive result our of all that promise they’ve been preaching the last five years. I couldn’t name you one of their starters outside of goalie, but having Sergei Bobrovsky solves a lot of problems. Meanwhile, Tampa has suffered a few injuries along their path to defending their 2020 title. But they still have their core guys available, plus a healthy Steven Stamkos up front & Andrei Vasilevskiy guarding the cage. With Nikita Kucherov returning from being out the whole regular season, it looks like they’ve got the band back together in time to win 16.
Prediction: Tampa in five.
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Tonight’s sports:
- NHL:
- Bruins at Capitals – 7:15 p.m. | NBC, SN, CBC, TVAS
- NBA:
- Miami vs Milwaukee – 8:00pm | TSN3
- MLB:
- Philadelphia at Toronto – 7:30pm | Sportsnet1
- St. Louis at San Diego – 8:30pm | FS1
- Futbol:
- Atlanta vs. CF Montreal – 7:00pm | TSN4
- Fisticuffs:
- UFC 262: Oliveira vs. Chandler
- Prelims – 8:00pm | ESPN / TSN5
- UFC 262: Oliveira vs. Chandler
It’s pretty thin, but should be pretty good. Keep it between the ditches, people.
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