2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs First-Round Predictions: B/R Staff Picks for Every Series
Hockey's dramatic second act is about to commence.
The 2026 NHL Playoffs begin on Saturday with the Hurricanes and Senators kicking things off for the 16 teams vying for the Stanley Cup. One thing is for certain: we will have a new champion this season, as the two-time defending champion Florida Panthers are on the outside looking in.
That leaves a wide-open field in the East and sets up an attritional slog in the West. Will the Avs break the Presidents' Trophy curse? Can Sidney Crosby conjure some old magic to lead the Penguins to glory?
Our B/R NHL Staff provided their predictions for every first-round series.
Disagree with our team? Submit your thoughts on each series of the playoffs in the comments section of the app!
Atlantic Division: Buffalo Sabres vs. Boston Bruins
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The Sabres ended a league-record 14-year playoff drought this season. This will be the first postseason for many of them, including stars Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin. They have a good mix of veterans and young talent, and will be determined to prove themselves as a strong playoff club.
Meanwhile, the Bruins are back in the postseason after missing the cut last year. Led by winger David Pastrnak, defenseman Charlie McAvoy, and goaltender Jeremy Swayman, they have the postseason experience, but they might not have sufficient depth to contain the Sabres' offense.
Prediction: Sabres in 6.
- Lyle Richardson
The best part of this Sabres season? For once, it wasn't about simply trying to make the playoffs -- it was about gaining real confidence and seeing how far this group could take it. They took it to No. 1 in the Atlantic in the regular season, and it doesn't feel like this special season will end with a first-round exit.
Thompson and Dahlin have ample international big-game experience, and they're chomping at the bit to see it carry over to their first Stanley Cup playoff appearances.
We need to give the Bruins credit for not bowing over and accepting a re-tool: Pastrnak is simply too prolific for that, Swayman had a serious bounce-back season, and Morgan Geekie had something to prove. This team isn't going down easy.
But sometimes the vibes are the vibes, and the vibes say the Sabres and the city of Buffalo are going to will this party to the second round.
Prediction: Sabres in 7
-Sara Civian
I'm a Western New York native, so I can appreciate the Sabres returning to the playoffs and waking up the echoes of childhood favorites like Rick Martin, Gil Perreault and Rene Robert, not to mention the dulcet tones of Rick Jeanneret.
Lest anyone forget, "RJ's" historic "May Day" call came in a series-clincher against the Bruins.
But regardless of all that, I'm feeling a contrarian vibe here.
Boston won three of four in the season series while holding a prolific Buffalo team to 2.75 goals per game across the series.
They've got the best single player on the ice in Pastrnak, a goalie who's more proven in Swayman and an under-the-radar difference-maker in Geekie. Put that together with some playoff-newbie nerves across the Sabres roster and it smells like an upset.
Prediction: Bruins in 6
-Lyle Fitzsimmons
There's no question that the Sabres are the better team, but playoff hockey is a whole different animal.
The Bruins, for all of their warts, are a team full of veterans who have gone on deep runs and won't be overwhelmed by the moment. Plus, Jeremy Swayman is one of the best goaltenders in the NHL. The Sabres are going to be riding an incredible amount of hype, which is well deserved and will bring energy to the home arena, but can they handle the ups and downs? In particular, I wonder about their goaltending. They got by with a three-goaltender split over the 82-game season. In the playoffs, the pressure is immense on one guy every night and you're probably not rotating duties. Who gets the starter role and can he handle the grind and spotlight?
Ultimately, I do think the talent in Buffalo will be too much for Boston.
Prediction: Sabres in 5
- Adam Herman
Looking at this series and how the Sabres and Bruins handled each other throughout the season is a good way to distract from how this will go. The Sabres want to push the pace and put the Bruins on their heels. The Bruins want to drag the Sabres into a mud pit and turn it into a grind.
Both teams will get their ways at times, but the Sabres have the better, deeper team and even though the Bruins have some of the more experienced guys, giving the edge to the team with more talent should be the way it goes. Funky things happen in the postseason, though.
Buffalo has been resilient and any slip-ups they've had throughout the season resulted in them learning from it and never repeating it. The Bruins are survivors and are prone to fits of sometimes brutal play. This feels like it's Buffalo's series to win, but they're going to learn quickly how gnarly and nasty the playoffs will be.
Prediction: Sabres in six
-- Joe Yerdon
Atlantic Division: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens
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The Lightning possess considerable veteran depth and postseason experience, led by goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy and forwards Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point. They will attempt to use that to their advantage in this series, though the absence of veteran defenseman Victor Hedman will be felt.
Meanwhile, the up-and-coming Canadiens have plenty of speed and skill in Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky, while Lane Hutson is among the league's best young defensemen. Their overall defensive game needs work, but they're a hungry young club out to make their mark.
Prediction: Canadiens in 6.
- Lyle Richardson
I typically lean toward the team with the advantage in postseason experience, particularly when it's a team that has won two Stanley Cups and reached the final series three times in the last six years.
But the Canadiens are good enough to make me reconsider and go with my fellow Lyle.
There's something about them that just feels inevitable here. They have a battle-tested coach in Martin St. Louis, and the Lightning are just dinged-up enough for it to make an impact.
Prediction: Canadiens in 6
- Lyle Fitzsimmons
Wow, we've got Lyles Squared going with the underdogs. The Canadiens had a statement season: They aren't turning back and don't need any significant changes left in their re-tool. They're here.
The Lightning had a statement season of their own, though: They're still here, and they can handle injuries to key players and keep trucking along. They're also probably relieved to avoid a battle of Florida in the first round this season. The Panthers said the Lightning were the toughest team they faced leading up to the Oilers' last playoff run, and I take that comment seriously.
The Canadiens are at the beginning of a long, fun playoff window, and they will entertain us for seasons to come. The Lightning? They've got one more first-round win in them.
Prediction: Lightning in 7
-Sara Civian
Full credit to the Canadiens for their best season in a long time, but I think it's too early for them.
In fact, I think Habs' management knows this, hence the fairly quiet trade deadline. Yes, the starpower at the top is more than adequate. Caufield, Suzuki, Hutson, Demidov, and Slafkovsky are a core group that can and probably will be the heart of a contender in Montreal at some point. I don't think that moment is now. Tampa Bay also has more than its share of star power, but also a ridiculous level of depth, at least at forward. The ability to deploy players like Yanni Gourde, Corey Perry, and Nick Paul in the bottom six is something that Montreal just can't match.
It will be the Habs' time to shine very soon, but not yet.
Prediction: Lightning in 6
- Adam Herman
If this series was going to be a movie, it'd fall into the "drama" category.
The Canadiens are exciting and have so, so much outstanding young talent. They're also a team that got a taste of what the playoffs are like last season. Cole Caufield is electric, Juraj Slafkovský is a beast, Nick Suzuki is all-around outstanding and Lane Hutson is a star. They're coming in hot and, unfortunately for them, the Lightning are the exact wrong team for them to try and ascend against.
Tampa Bay has all the veteran strength and an elite goalie having an incredible season in Andrei Vasilevskiy. Nikita Kucherov might be the MVP, Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli are outstanding up the middle and then you've got Corey Perry there to drive everyone crazy.
This feels like a seven-game series in the waiting.
Prediction: Lightning in seven
-- Joe Yerdon
Metropolitan Division: Carolina Hurricanes vs. Ottawa Senators
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The Hurricanes are a talented and experienced club that finished first in the Eastern Conference. Their goaltending is a question mark, but that should be offset by an otherwise deep roster featuring forwards Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, Seth Jarvis, and defenseman Jaccob Slavin.
Meanwhile, the Senators have a good mix of scoring and defensive grit up front with Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, and Shane Pinto, while Jake Sanderson is an emerging all-star defenseman. However, they have their own goalie issues and lack sufficient depth to contain the Hurricanes.
Prediction: Hurricanes in 5
- Lyle Richardson
This is going to be a fascinating series featuring two of the stingiest teams in the league. These teams play an extremely similar brand of suffocating hockey, allowing opponents few shots on net and generating offense from defense.
The Senators had an especially impressive second half of the season as their confidence grew and the shots started going in, but the Hurricanes are a tough first-round draw for them here. The Canes have to be relieved that the Panthers are nowhere in sight this year in their endless quest to make it past the conference finals. This is their best opportunity to finally make it to the Stanley Cup Final, and the pressure is on.
This is one of the toughest series in the first round, but the battle-tested Hurricanes will persevere.
Prediction: Hurricanes in 6
-Sara Civian
The Hurricanes have been here before. But it hasn't been pleasant.
Six straight seasons of first- or second-place divisional finishes have yielded only two trips to the conference finals and only one win in nine games upon arrival.
Don't think for a moment that that's not on Rod Brind'Amour's mind these days.
But while the necessity of a parade through the streets of Raleigh remains to be seen, there's too much talent, discipline and coaching prowess to allow it to end this quickly, no matter how sturdy the opposition Ottawa provides.
Prediction: Hurricanes in 7
- Lyle Fitzsimmons
Two teams that play a rigid game but can be felled by goaltending. The Hurricanes are more battle-tested and have just a bit more depth. It may take a committee effort, but I think they can find a competent net performer among Freddie Anderson, Pyotr Kochetkov, and Brandon Bussi. I'm less keen on the Senators' odds of finding enough consistency from Linus Ullmark and James Reimer. Also, the Hurricanes seem to have figured out the power play, which historically has sunk them in the playoffs. They have led the league in goals per 60 with the man advantage since February. Alexei Nikishin and Nikolaj Ehlers have been a big help in that regard.
Prediction: Hurricanes in 5
- Adam Herman
Thinking about this series made me give one of those exasperated sighs where your lips make a horse sound. You know the kind. That's also the noise the Senators will be making trying to wrangle the Hurricanes.
Carolina's "damn the torpedoes" style of game where they put opponents under pressure for 60 minutes is frustrating and if there's a team that can deal with that and counterpunch out of it, it's Ottawa. But when you look at how the 'Canes do it with Nikolaj Ehlers, Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis constantly buzzing, it's a lot to handle.
The Sens will try to get under their skin with Brady Tkachuk leading the charge. Tim Stützle's mix of skill and shenanigans, Claude Giroux's veteran presence, Dylan Cozens' two-way play makes Ottawa deeply frustrating. Jake Sanderson's return makes them better on the back end and Linus Ullmark can be a difference-maker. That said, Brandon Bussi solved a big question for Carolina at the other end of the ice.
Prediction: Hurricanes in six
-- Joe Yerdon
Metropolitan Division: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers
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Back in the playoffs after a three-year absence, the Penguins have retooled with younger talent. However, they are still led by aging stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and apart from Erik Karlsson, there is reason for concern about their defensive depth.
The rebuilding Flyers exceeded expectations by squeaking into the playoffs. They possess a promising mix of veterans such as Travis Konecny, Trevor Zegras, and Owen Tippett, and youngsters like Matvei Michkov and Porter Martone. They have nothing to lose, which could make them dangerous.
Prediction: Flyers in 6
- Lyle Richardson
While I appreciate a good OT or shootout win as much as the next fan, the one stat that leaps out to me in this matchup is that the Penguins actually had seven more regulation wins during the regular season than the Flyers.
Maybe it matters. Maybe it doesn't. But I noticed it enough to make me believe it shows that the Penguins, while older and probably less interesting to watch, are every bit as good and perhaps better than their Eastern PA counterparts.
Stuart Skinner will no doubt provide some agita along the way—trust me on that one, I'm an Oilers fan—he's typically good enough in the early rounds to get it done when it matters.
Prediction: Penguins in 6
- Lyle Fitzsimmons
Lyle F took the words out of my mouth -- I'm all about the regulation wins meaning something when this season featured so many loser points. I'm also all about Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin's last hurrah, meaning something.
The Flyers are probably the most unexpected entry into the postseason, and it happened at the very last second. This could work for them or against them -- will the lack of pressure or the potential lack of preparedness win out?
At the end of the day, Skinner is good for a round-one win and that'll be the difference.
Prediction: Penguins in 5
-Sara Civian
By far the weakest first-round matchup, but the intensity between the two rival Pennsylvania organizations may make up for it. Penguins first-year head coach Dan Muse should win the Jack Adams. He has that team playing above its means, though, of course, superstars like Sidney Crosby and Erik Karlsson help the cause. No disrespect to Travis Konecny and Trevor Zegras, but those cannot be the two best offensive players on a credible playoff team. Plus, Philly's goaltending is a nightmare. Flyers'head coach Rick Tocchet will try to make this a slogfest, and to be fair, the Flyers did a pretty good job of it this season. They won't be able to win in 3-on-3 overtime or the shootout in the playoffs, however. I think the Penguins have too much offensive power and the Flyers have too little goaltending ability to actually pull this off and win a low-event series.
Prediction: Penguins in 6
- Adam Herman
I need chaos for this series. The hockey world is a lot more fun when Flyers and Penguins fans hate each other and spawning memes about each other's teams non-stop. Maybe we'll luck out and that'll happen, but it's tough to tell.
The Penguins have the classic talent with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Erik Karlsson. They've got a coach in Dan Muse who's pulled all the right switches for them and it's truly incredible to see. Then you've got the Flyers where Rick Tocchet has done the same with a young group that's been eager to learn and adapt and survive to get to the playoffs. Trevor Zegras looks spectacular, Matvei Michkov is looking fun and now Porter Martone might just be their X-factor.
Pittsburgh has played the most consistent hockey throughout the season so they've got to be the favorites, but the Flyers have momentum going into the playoffs. This better be fun or else we'll be frowning.
Prediction: Penguins in seven
-- Joe Yerdon
Central Division: Colorado Avalanche vs. Los Angeles Kings
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Maybe the Kings are happy not to see the Oilers for the first time in what feels like forever. Or maybe not, considering they've got the top seeds this time around.
Colorado capped off a magnificent season with a Central Division title and a Presidents' Trophy, the fourth in franchise history. They won a Cup after leading the league in 2000-01, but were beaten in the second round by Vegas after most recently winning it in 2020-21.
Nathan MacKinnon had another stellar season with 127 points and was joined in the 100 Club by Martin Necas, who joined the team in the blockbuster deal that sent Mikko Rantanen to Carolina. Elsewhere, Cale Makar was third in blue-liner scoring despite missing eight games, and goalies Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood were each in the league's top 10 in goals-against average.
Put it all together, and seems impossible for Los Angeles to snag more than a game in Anze Kopitar's swan song.
Prediction: Avalanche in 5
- Lyle Fitzsimmons
Winners of the Presidents' Trophy, the Avalanche possess plenty of playoff experience. Led by Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas, they possess a potent offense. They have solid goaltending and the NHL's top defenseman in Cale Makar. These factors give them a significant edge in this series.
The Kings scraped their way into the postseason. They'll be motivated to give retiring captain Anze Kopitar a strong playoff run. Their offense got a boost with the addition of Artemi Panarin, but it can't match the powerful Avalanche. They'll have their hands full trying to shut down the league's top regular-season team.
Prediction: Avalanche in 5
- Lyle Richardson
Congratulations, Kings, you don't have to face the Oilers in the first round for once. You've got the best team in the league, the Colorado Avalanche. You could call this a genie wish gone wrong, but really, no one is to blame but the Kings themselves for fumbling through the season and somehow punching a ticket to the postseason at the end.
I don't trust LA's lack of production against the league's best goaltending tandem. It's as simple as that.
Prediction: Avalanche in 4
-Sara Civian
Look, anything can happen in a seven-game series. This is about as lopsided as it can get, though. The Avalanche, despite a bit of a slip at the end of the season, is a wagon. And I expect they'll get back to their elite, unforgiving performances now that the games mean something. Meanwhile, the Kings are incredibly lucky to have made the playoffs at all. Ninety points is rarely ever sufficient for the playoff cutoff and their 22 regulation wins tied the Blackhawks for the second-worst mark in the NHL this season. Every single Eastern Conference team had more. Seriously.
The Avalanche are going to be swarming with speed — MacKinnon, Makar, Necas — and far better Kings teams weren't able to get over the hump against the Oilers in the past. The fact that Cody Ceci and Brian Dumoulin will be tasked with eating critical shutdown minutes against this team is a disaster in the making. But hey, you never know.
Prediction: Avalanche in 4
- Adam Herman
It's so great to see Los Angeles Kings captain Anže Kopitar get one more shot in the playoffs, but it's deeply unfortunate that it comes against the Colorado Avalanche.
The Kings are almost inexplicably in the playoffs after winning just 22 games in regulation. Getting to overtime won't get them half-wins and this is where it's so tough that Kevin Fiala won't be able to help them because they need all the help they can get against the Avs.
Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Nečas will be on a mission to get past L.A. as quickly as possible to prepare for the winner of Dallas-Minnesota and with Scott Wedgewood playing incredibly in goal, they ought to be able to do that. If Colorado is going to get back to the Stanley Cup Final, it's vital that they handle the Kings as quickly as possible.
Prediction: Avalanche in five
-- Joe Yerdon
Central Division: Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild
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The Stars have reached the Western Conference Finals in each of the last three years. With a deep roster featuring winger Jason Robertson, center Wyatt Johnston, and defenseman Miro Heiskanen, they are determined to get over the hump this season and win their first Stanley Cup since 1999.
Wild GM Bill Guerin's acquisition of superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes signaled his intention to force open his club's Stanley Cup window. They have a strong offense led by Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy, and a solid blueline that improved with the addition of the puck-moving Hughes.
Prediction: Wild in 7
- Lyle Richardson
The Stars are good. They're deep. They're talented. They're tested to the point that they've indeed reached the final four in three straight seasons.
But like Montreal a few paragraphs earlier, there's something about the Wild that seems inevitable here, too. Hughes is probably the best player on either team, Kaprizov is the most dynamic forward, and Minnesota has gotten reliable goaltending all season from Filip Gustavsson.
That translates to a first trip to the second round since 2015.
Prediction: Wild in 6
- Lyle Fitzsimmons
Listen, Quinn Hughes is one of the most singularly impactful players in the league, and the Wild acquiring him is just what they needed to take their team to the next level. I think we can all agree this is a nightmare matchup for fans of both teams and a delightful one for hockey fans. I think we all know it could go either way, and it is going to be dang close.
Still, something in me says the Stars have the edge. The Wild have struggled on the penalty kill this season, and the Stars have excelled on the power play. The close series often comes down to special teams. When you zoom out on the Wild's team defense in general, it's pretty loosey-goosey, with some generous shots allowed to opponents while elite goaltending has cleaned up defensive mistakes (or laziness). The Stars will be able to exploit that.
Prediction: Stars in 7
-Sara Civian
A playoff format that makes a matchup like this possible in round one needs to be thrown in the dumpster, but that's a discussion for a different day. The second- and third-best teams in the Western Conference should provide a memorable series.
If Minnesota wins this series, it may be because its defensive depth is better than Dallas'. The Hughes trade was transformative for Minnesota, not just because of what he brings, but also because it allowed head coach John Hynes to put defensemen in better positions to succeed. Jonas Brodin and Jared Spurgeon as a second pairing is formidable. In Dallas, I do not think Tyler Myers was a legitimate answer at the deadline for their defensive depth woes. Miro Heiskanen potentially missing games, or at least not playing at 100 percent, is a major problem.
On the other hand, Jake Oettinger is one of the best playoff goaltenders a team can ask for. The Wild will rely on Filip Gustavsson, who is good but not great, and Jesper Wallstedt, who is the best goaltending prospect in the world but inexperienced. This could be a coinflip, but I'll bet on the Wild's defensive depth.
Prediction: Wild in 7
- Adam Herman
This is the appointment viewing series in the West. Two of the best teams in the NHL throwing haymakers for what ought to be a seven-game series is why we love the playoffs.
Dallas desperately wants to break their Western Conference Final slump and Minnesota wants to establish themselves as a true power. The Stars' depth of scoring with Jason Robertson, Wyatt Johnston and Mikko Rantanen is incredible and with Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley on the blue line, they're more than a handful. Having Jake Oettinger holding it down with his history of being a boss in the playoffs makes them nasty.
The Wild, meanwhile, roll with Quinn Hughes who's been dominant with them. Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy make for an incredible one-two punch up front and their cadre of role players can make matchups a nightmare. Whether it's Filip Gustavsson or Jesper Wallstedt in goal, Minnesota is set. This will be a treat to watch.
Prediction: Stars in seven
-- Joe Yerdon
Pacific Division: Vegas Golden Knights vs. Utah Mammoth
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Despite one of the worst seasons in franchise history, the Vegas Golden Knights clinched first place in the weak Pacific Division. However, they noticeably improved after hiring John Tortorella as interim coach. The Golden Knights have considerable experience, led by stars Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, and Tomas Hertl.
For many of the Mammoth players, this will be their first foray into the NHL playoffs. They're an exciting young team featuring scoring forwards Clayton Keller, Dylan Guenther, and Logan Cooley. The Mammoth have also had steady goaltending all season from Karel Vejmelka, which could make the difference.
Prediction: Mammoth in 6
- Lyle Richardson
If this matchup had been a topic a month ago, the Mammoth are a slam dunk.
But the Tortorella Era in Vegas, as it typically is when the fiery coach first arrives, has been full of success. In fact, the Golden Knights haven't lost a game in regulation since he arrived, parlaying the heater into a fifth division title since 2017-18.
Eichel is a stud. Marner may be invigorated by his first non-Toronto arrival to the playoffs. And there seems to be enough muscle memory in the Vegas room to get it done.
Prediction: Golden Knights in 7
- Lyle Fitzsimmons
The Golden Knights will get this done based on the Torts of it all and this group's collective postseason experience. It won't be pretty, and they don't look primed for the long postseason run we anticipated for them at the beginning of the season, but they're good for a first-round win.
Prediction: Golden Knights in 6
-Sara Civian
Vegas' season was highly disappointing and they're very lucky the Pacific Division was completely feckless. Otherwise, we're not talking about playoff hockey. In any case, they crossed the line, and they seem to have some extra jump under new head coach John Tortorella. On paper, this team is a contender. If not on par with Colorado, then certainly in the realm of Carolina, Dallas, and Minnesota. Goaltending has sunk them this season, so that is the potential Achilles heel.
Utah's top units have put up some electric shifts this season. Dylan Guenther's 40-goal season would have gained a lot more notoriety around the NHL had he done it in a more traditional market. Logan Cooley would have also ascended in reputation had injuries not put him on the shelf for long stretches this season. I don't think they're ready for a deep run. Mackenzie Weegar was a notable addition at the deadline, but even still, they don't have a true No. 1 defenseman. At forward, Vegas has an obvious edge down the lineup. A third-line center like Tomas Hertl is a luxury the Mammoth cannot match. I would give Utah better odds if they had goaltending capable of stealing a series, but Karel Vejmelka is not that.
If we assume that Vegas has figured out the glitches and Tortorella has this team back on course, they should win decisively. If not, then it's a totally different story. Utah does have enough punching power to cause an upset if the Golden Knights are off-kilter.
Prediction: Vegas in 6
- Adam Herman
There's a bit of a clash here between Utah and Vegas in how to view things. Vegas was always meant to be here and they're meant to be a Cup contender. Utah has been building towards becoming a playoff team and now they've made it and there's kind of a "happy to be here" feel to them.
That kind of clash can make chaos, however, but the way Vegas has played since John Tortorella took over has given them the kind of focus they lacked for the better part of the year. We're seeing Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner and Mark Stone playing at their best heading into the playoffs and with their depth and strength, they're going to be brutal to deal with.
The Mammoth meanwhile have the young upstarts with Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther and the veteran steadiness from Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz up front and Mikhail Sergachev on defense. They can hang and they can also make life miserable for Vegas if they're not prepared. Having Torts run them, however, makes that a lot less likely.
Prediction: Vegas in six
-- Joe Yerdon
Pacific Division: Edmonton Oilers vs. Anaheim Ducks
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The postseason will start off with a different feel for the two-time defending Western champs, who'd begun the last four tournaments with defeats of Los Angeles but will move about 30 miles southeast to face the Ducks.
It's the first time in the mix since 2018 for Anaheim, which beat Nashville to lock up third in the Pacific on Thursday but had gone 1-6-2 in its previous nine games with an unsightly 4.11 goals-against average.
That won't be ideal against the prolific Oilers, led again by six-time Art Ross winner Connor McDavid and returning running mates Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman, each of whom had been absent down the stretch with injuries.
The Ducks are stocked with young talent, but how Lukas Dostal holds up in the Anaheim net will probably determine how long this one goes.
Prediction: Oilers in 5
- Lyle Fitzsimmons
The Oilers were plagued by questionable goaltending and a shaky defense throughout this season. However, they have the experience of back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances, and the powerful offensive punch of superstar Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who is returning from a knee injury.
Meanwhile, the Ducks are returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2018. This is an exciting young team led by Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier. They also possess the veteran experience of Jacob Trouba, Chris Kreider, and John Carlson, but it might not be enough to contain the battle-tested Oilers.
Prediction: Oilers in 6
- Lyle Richardson
Draisaitl returning from injury in time for the playoffs is obviously huge for the Oilers, and of course, you can never count out McDavid to will his team to a series win.
Still, the goaltending situation is less-than-ideal, and the defense has suffered overall.
The fresh legs and wide eyes of the Ducks will be a sneaky difficult out for Edmonton, and I think the dynamic is enough to tilt the ice in Anaheim's favor.
Prediction: Ducks in 7
-Sara Civian
The questions in Edmonton are the same as ever. Can their starpower overcome the total absence of depth? Will the goaltending be anything less than atrocious?
Those are problems that can and probably will haunt the Oilers this postseason. I'm not sure Anaheim will be the team to completely exploit it. Yes, the Ducks' top players have put together some electric shifts. And while Olen Zellweger and Jackson Lacombe aren't battle-tested, I do think they have the skating and defensive acumen to put up a fight against the Oilers' top weapons. The key to beating Edmonton is depth and goaltending, and the Ducks just don't have the horses, I don't think. After the aforementioned defensemen and John Carlson, the defensive depth chart is very weak. Asking Leo Carlsson (way too young) and Mikael Granlund (who best performs in sheltered minutes) to match up against McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is unfair.
If Leon Draisaitl, who ended the season on IR, misses most of the series, maybe Anaheim has a chance. Plus, Edmonton goaltending is prone to implode at any moment. I'm betting on that being a round 2 problem.
Prediction: Edmonton in 6
- Adam Herman
With all the talent involved in this series, would it be wrong to say this one could be a total mess? The Oilers and Ducks haven't been firing on all cylinders coming into the playoffs but at least Edmonton has found a good chunk of their game while the Ducks have survived.
With Connor McDavid and (probably) Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers are always dangerous and Anaheim having to wrangle them as well as keeping Evan Bouchard quiet on the blue line, it's a tall task. That said, if Anaheim can get Leo Carlsson rolling, Cutter Gauthier crashing the net, and Beckett Sennecke sniping and dangling, this could get messy for Edmonton.
The Oilers will have questions around their goaltending and while the Ducks don't have that, they also love to play the wide-open game which will also allow McDavid and company to play at their best. That's a real bad mix for the Ducks and unless their veteran defensemen like Radko Gudas, John Carlson and Jacob Trouba want to muck it up, this will be tough for the young upstarts.
Prediction: Oilers in five
-- Joe Yerdon
