Crash The Pond NHL Qualifying Round Predictions
Felix, CJ, and Jake want to go on the record with their good/bad/awful predictions for the play in round so everyone can applaud or mock them at the end of the play in round.
Jake Rudolph’s Picks
Pittsburgh vs Montreal - Montreal in 5 - My first pick is definitely off the board in terms of an upset, but Montreal is a team that controls the chances within a game at an elite rate. I am banking on that continuing along with Carey Price returning to his elite form.
Carolina vs New York Rangers - Carolina in 4 - The Canes are one of the most fun teams in the league and are simply better than the Rangers.
New York Islanders vs Florida - Florida in 5 - I really don’t have a strong opinion on this series, so my internal coin flip landed with the Panthers logo up.
Toronto vs Columbus - Toronto in 3 - You have one team that can score in bunches and not defend, and another that struggles to score but limits goals against. I believe games will be open due to the delay, which greatly favors the Leafs.
Edmonton vs Chicago - Edmonton in 5 - Both teams generate a bunch of chances for and cannot limit chances against. This series should be filled with lots of goals and at the end of it the more talented team wins.
Nashville vs Arizona - Arizona in 4 - I am going with my heart on this one and picking the Coyotes because they are wearing the Kachina jerseys. That simple.
Vancouver vs Minnesota - Vancouver in 5 - I actually think the Wild are the better team overall, but the Canucks have more high end talent. I think that high end talent will prove the difference in this short series.
Calgary vs Winnipeg - Calgary in 3 - Winnipeg was the worst team in the league this past year per xGF% and were propped up by the best goaltender in the league this past season. Even if Hellebuyck continues at that rate, I think Calgary scores enough to win the series easily.
Felix Sicard’s Picks
Pittsburgh vs Montreal - Pittsburgh in 5 - NHL media seems to be in lockstep that the Penguins are the objectively superior team, and that they will breeze past the Canadiens, which seems too dismissive of the Habs’ strong five-on-five game. Ultimately, I think the Penguins’ high end talent wins the day, but the plucky Habs will keep it interesting.
Carolina vs New York Rangers - New York in 4 - The Hurricanes are a deep, skillful team that could conceivably go on a deep run. The issue for them is they face a problematic matchup in the speedy Rangers, who have the offense and the goaltending advantage to snag the upset.
New York Islanders vs Florida - New York in 4 - Joel Quenneville versus Barry Trotz; what a coaching matchup. The Islanders play a lockdown defensive game, while the Panthers can make you pay in transition. If Sergei Bobrovsky can regain some form, then Florida has a chance, but New York is the correct pick here.
Toronto vs Columbus - Columbus in 5 - The Maple Leafs might be the best offensive team in the league. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for their defensive game, while the Blue Jackets are a stifling checking team. Just like last year against the Tampa Bay Lightning, John Tortorella’s men will find a way to frustrate the high-priced Leafs’ offense enough to get by them.
Edmonton vs Chicago - Edmonton in 3 - The Blackhawks are truly awful defensively. There’s an argument to be made that they are the very worst defensive team in the entire league. Against the duo of McDavid-Draisaitl and the league’s best power play, that should make for a short series.
Nashville vs Arizona - Nashville in 4 - I have a really hard time trusting the Coyotes’ offense, and they’re a good, but not great defensive team. Darcy Kuemper should be the man in net, but Nashville seems to be favoring Juuse Saros to start in goal, which almost cancels out Arizona’s goaltending prowess. Nashville is the more complete team, and that should show pretty quickly.
Vancouver vs Minnesota - Vancouver in 5 - This is going to be a close one. Both teams have respectable even strength games, with the Canucks easily boasting the best player in the series in Elias Pettersson. Goaltending is what decides it here, as Jacob Markstrom is far superior to either Alex Stalock or Devan Dubnyk.
Calgary vs Winnipeg - Winnipeg in 5 - It’s important to note that the Jets might be just as bad defensively as the Blackhawks. However, they are a very good transition team, something that Calgary struggles to defend. Factor in the presumptive Vezina favorite in Connor Hellebuyck, and Winnipeg has just enough to squeeze by the Flames.
CJ Woodling’s Picks
Pittsburgh vs. Montreal - Pittsburgh in 3 - With Montreal not expected to make the playoffs originally and selling off assets, combined with Pittsburgh somehow always having success despite half their team being hurt, this is a pretty easy choice. It’s tough to bet against Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
Carolina vs. New York Rangers - Carolina in 5 - This is a tough one. New York has an explosive offense and a three-headed goalie monster in a format where goaltending can make or break a series. However, they have almost no competent defense to speak of. And Carolina is deep. If Dougie Hamilton can get healthy enough to come back this series, Carolina should have the edge.
Florida vs. New York Islanders - Florida in 5 - I honestly have no clue how the Islanders keep managing to win. Most of their underlying numbers don’t indicate that they’re a dangerous team. Barry Trotz has definitely made some magic happen here, and if their goaltending gets hot, that could be it. However I have a tough time imagining them being able to contain Alexsander Barkov and company. The biggest issue for Florida is the regression of Sergei Bobvrosky. But if he can pull it together for a few games, Florida could pull this off.
Toronto vs. Columbus - Toronto in 4 - John Tortorella has done an incredible job keeping the Blue Jackets competitive despite the massive loss of talent last offseason. Which is why he is my Jack Adams pick. But at the end of the day, Toronto has so much firepower and a great goalie in Frederik Andersen that I just can’t see them having enough to overcome a relentless Maple Leaf attack.
Edmonton vs. Chicago - Edmonton in 4 - This matchup is very similar to the Montreal vs. Pittsburgh series.Chicago, a team that sold at the deadline and wasn’t expected to make the playoffs suddenly finds themselves with a chance to get into the official playoffs. While Edmonton is certainly a flawed team, the two-headed monster of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl combined with new acquisitions Andreas Athanasiou and Tyler Ennis should be plenty to take care of the Blackhawks.
Arizona vs. Nashville - Arizona in 5 - Team drama aside, the Coyotes were one of the better teams in the league prior to the shutdown in March. Led by Taylor Hall, Phil Kessel, Derek Stepan, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, along with one of the best goalie duos in the league, this is a team that can go on a long playoff run if things break the right way. While Nashville is fairly deep, they don’t have a particularly high ceiling in terms of production. I’m giving the edge to the Kachina jerseys here.
Minnesota vs. Vancouver - Minnesota in 4 - After an awful 2018-19 season and plenty of offseason GM drama, the Wild surprised everyone by putting together a respectable season when most expected them to be bottom-dwellers. As far as Vancouver is concerned, they also weren’t expected to make the playoffs despite an improving roster led by Elias Pettersson. A good season from goaltender Jakob Markstrom has given them a chance. That said, I like the Wild’s defensive depth better than the Canucks, which is why I’m going with the state of hockey here.
Calgary vs. Winnipeg - Calgary in 3 - The Jets can score in bunches and have the probably Vezina winner. But that’s really all I’ve got for this team. They have absolutely no defense to speak of, and Hellebuyck is going to pull a 2003 J.S. Giguere in order for the Jets to have a shot. The Flames have issues at goal, but outside of that don’t have much in the way of weaknesses. I’d be surprised if the Jets even won a game.
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Let us know in the comments your predictions and if you agree or disagree with our takes!