Stanley Cup Playoffs predictions: Blackhawks, Kings at risk in Round 1 – CBSSports.com
It needed the entirety of the season to figure out, but the field and matchups for the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs are finally set. Highlighted by multiple rivalry series, the first round is sure to give hockey fans all they can handle.
With the playoff format playing up those divisional matchups, there are going to be some really great teams ousted after the first round. But that’s been the story in each of the first two years of this setup.
For instance, the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues will be meeting for the second time under this system. The Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks, who had that incredible series in 2014 in which the Kings came all the way back from a 3-0 deficit en route to their second Stanley Cup in three years, are back at it again this year. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers will square off in the playoffs for the third straight season. The Tampa Bay Lightning and Detroit Red Wings will meet in the first round for the second consecutive year.
Those are the kinds of series the NHL wanted to see when they started this format. It makes for some wildly unpredictable results.
Both Adam Gretz and I believe the series between the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues is among the toughest to predict. That shows in our selections. Both of us see that one going seven games. We’re obviously both familiar with the narrative that surrounds these teams. The Blues have struggled in the playoffs in years past, while the Blackhawks have won the Stanley Cups three times in the previous six seasons.
However, with the Blackhawks’ depth concerns on defense (which were there last season without much impact as they won the Cup) and the Blues finally getting almost fully healthy heading into the postseason, things could be different this time around. History seems to favor Chicago, but anything can happen.
Another extremely tough series to predict is the one between the Rangers and Penguins. That’s especially true given the injury concerns for both teams. The Rangers have multiple defensemen that could be on the shelf in the playoffs, while the Penguins will be without Evgeni Malkin still have some doubt about who will be healthy enough to start in net. Not knowing the full details, as is usually the case this time of year with the secrecy surrounding injuries, makes this one more evenly matched than our predictions may indicate.
Additionally, both Gretz and I are looking at the Minnesota Wild as a team that has the longest odds to get out of the first round. They limped into the playoffs and will play a Dallas Stars team that looks like a well-oiled offensive machine, with or without Tyler Seguin.
We’re also in agreement that of all the teams in the first round, the Capitals look best positioned to not only win their series against the Flyers, but to also make a run to their first Stanley Cup. That first-round series won’t be easy against a Philadelphia squad that had success against the Caps this year, but this seems like the year for Washington to do something special.
The beauty of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is that we’re almost always going to see something crazy. That seems to come most frequently in the first round, so get ready for some of the most fun two weeks on the hockey calendar and enjoy the postseason, everyone.
Here are our predictions for the first round.
The Capitals and Flyers will square off in the opening round. (USATSI)
