Similar to that, the primary spherical of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs are full — and what a wild first spherical it was. We had a number of Recreation 7s, proof that the Presidents’ Trophy curse is alive and effectively, a number of top-seeded groups being upset — together with the defending champions! — and historical past made by the league’s youngest franchise.
Now let’s do it yet again.
With the Bruins, Lightning, Rangers and Avalanche — all favourite sentering the playoffs — now gone, the sector is all the way down to eight groups. What’s in retailer within the second spherical of the NHL playoffs?
This is what our consultants assume:
Oilers vs. Golden Knights
Austin Nivison: Each of those groups had been pretty spectacular within the first spherical. The Oilers dealt with their enterprise in opposition to an excellent Los Angeles Kings workforce in six video games. Leon Draisaitl is already as much as seven targets this postseason, and Connor McDavid was as good as common. If there’s a concern about Edmonton shifting ahead, it is that Stuart Skinner appeared slightly leaky at instances in opposition to the Kings. That may’t occur in opposition to Vegas. The Golden Knights made fast work of the Winnipeg Jets, and all the important thing gamers confirmed up. Jack Eichel and Chandler Stephenson delivered, Mark Stone lastly appeared snug after recovering from damage, and Laurent Brossoit stood robust in web. The Oilers had been my Stanley Cup choose earlier than the playoffs, and nothing concerning the first spherical modified my thoughts.
Choose — Oilers beat Golden Knights 4-2
Chris Bengel: The Oilers had been examined greater than many thought they’d be of their opening spherical collection in opposition to the Kings. Nonetheless, Edmonton displayed their offensive firepower with Draisaitl and McDavid combining for 21 factors within the collection. The Oilers’ offense is simply going to be an excessive amount of for the Golden Knights after wanting downright deadly on the power-play of their first spherical collection. In any case, Vegas wasn’t examined a lot late of their collection in opposition to the Jets after accidents received the higher of Winnipeg.
Choose — Oilers beat Golden Knights 4-3
Stars vs. Kraken picks
Nivison: I doubted the Kraken, and I paid for it. Within the second spherical, I am doubting the Kraken. Will I pay for it? Not if Roope Hintz continues to blaze by way of and round opposing defenders. In Dallas’ first-round victory over the Minnesota Wild, Hintz tallied 5 targets and 12 factors in six video games. Now, it seems like Joe Pavelski might be again in time for Recreation 1, and that solely makes me extra assured in my choose. I do not need to dismiss the Kraken out of hand. They confirmed simply how a lot of a weapon their depth is by knocking off the Colorado Avalanche with targets from 15 completely different gamers. However Dallas has some firepower of its personal and rock stable goaltending within the type of Jake Oettinger.
Choose — Stars beat Kraken 4-3
Bengel: After splitting the primary 4 video games of their collection in opposition to the Wild, the Stars appeared like a juggernaut. Hintz was a person possessed. Secondary level productive was a theme for Dallas with guys like Evgenii Dadonov, Miro Heiskanen, and Tyler Seguin rising to the event. The standing of Kraken ahead Jared McCann could be very a lot up the air, however I simply do not assume Seattle has the scoring punch to make life troublesome for Oettinger, who recorded a formidable 2.01 goals-against-average in opposition to the Wild.
Choose — Stars beat Kraken 4-2
Devils vs. Hurricanes picks
Nivison: The Devils appeared lifeless within the water after the primary two video games on the Prudential Heart, however they gained 4 of the following 5 and eradicated the New York Rangers with a superb efficiency in Recreation 7. Jack Hughes has not been intimidated by the highlight, and Akira Schmid has been a revelation in objective for New Jersey. The Hurricanes, as anticipated, performed terrific protection of their first-round matchup in opposition to the New York Islanders. The problem is that targets had been arduous to come back by, and Carolina is enjoying with a depleted ahead group. That does not bode effectively in opposition to New Jersey, even when Timo Meier is out for some time.
Choose — Devils beat Hurricanes 4-2
Bengel: Lindy Ruff’s determination to pivot to Schmid in web clearly saved New Jersey’s season. Schmid stopped all 31 photographs in New Jersey’s convincing Recreation 7 victory over New York. I consider that the Devils may have the clear benefit in between the pipes with Hurricanes netminder Frederik Andersen’s play being typically up-and-down. As well as, the Hurricanes averaged simply 2.67 goals-per-game in Spherical 1 with out offensive playmakers like Andrei Svechnikov and now Teuvo Teravainen. Devils ought to win this pretty comfortably.
Choose — Devils beat Hurricanes 4-2
Maple Leafs vs. Panthers picks
Nivison: What a matchup we have now right here. The Maple Leafs received over the first-round hump, and the Panthers simply knocked off one of the best regular-season workforce in NHL historical past. All of Toronto’s stars are enjoying at a excessive stage, and it’s the deeper workforce. Nevertheless, the Panthers had the roster to play at a excessive stage all season, they simply weren’t getting the outcomes. Now, it looks like they’re getting the outcomes when it issues most, and Matthew Tkachuk is a one-man wrecking crew. Plus, after watching Aaron Ekblad and Gustav Forsling maintain their very own in opposition to the Boston Bruins’ finest gamers, I am assured they will do the identical in opposition to Toronto. Give me a high-scoring collection with a number of overtimes… and provides me the Panthers.
Choose — Panthers beat Maple Leafs 4-3
Bengel: They lastly did it! The Maple Leafs exorcised their opening-round demons. Now with the proverbial monkey off their again, I count on Toronto to make a deep run on the Stanley Cup Last. Mitch Marner has continued his stellar season with 9 factors (two targets, seven assists) within the postseason to this point. Search for Marner, Auston Matthews and John Tavares to proceed to tempo this electrical offense. What Florida did within the first spherical vs. the Bruins was spectacular, however I simply do not see the Panthers having the ability to maintain tempo this time round.
Choose — Maple Leafs beat Panthers 4-2