NHL Playoffs 2017: Updated Schedule, Stanley Cup Odds and Picks

The Chicago Blackhawks may have come into the playoffs as the favorites to win the Stanley Cup, but the Nashville Predators had other ideas.

Peter Laviolette's team came into the United Center and won back-to-back games, and the Preds will take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series when it resumes in Nashville, Tennessee, Monday night.

After edging the Blackhawks 1-0 in the series opener, the Preds systematically took them apart with a 5-0 victory Saturday night. Chicago suffered back-to-back shutout losses in the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

The Minnesota Wild are in the same situation as the Blackhawks, as Bruce Boudreau's team lost the first two games of their series at home and must try to get back into the series as it shifts to St. Louis.

The Blues and Wild face off at 3 p.m. ET Sunday, and the Wild will try to beat Blues goalie Jake Allen, who has given up just two goals as St. Louis has recorded a pair of 2-1 victories.

Zach Parise has scored both of Minnesota's goals, and it's clear he will need some help if his team is going to turn the series around. Allen stopped 23 shots in Game 2 Friday night and Jaden Schwartz scored the winning goal with 2:27 to go.

The Blues are minus-116 favorites to earn the victory in Game 3, according to OddsShark. The Wild are plus-105 underdogs in what should be another tight game.

Matchup	Series Standings	Time (ET)	Odds	Prediction
Minnesota Wild at St. Louis Blues	St. Louis, 2-0	3 p.m.	St. Louis -116; Minnesota +105	Minnesota
Pittsburgh Penguins at Columbus Blue Jackets	Pittsburgh, 2-0	6 p.m.	Columbus -120; Pittsburgh +109	Columbus
Montreal Canadiens at New York Rangers	Series tied, 1-1	7 p.m.	New York -130; Montreal +118	New York
Edmonton Oilers at San Jose Sharks	Series tied, 1-1	10 p.m.	San Jose -134; Edmonton +121	Edmonton

The Pittsburgh Penguins battled the Columbus Blue Jackets for positioning in the Metropolitatn Division throughout the regular season, and the defending Stanley Cup champions earned some separation in the final two weeks of the regular season and finished second to earn home-ice advantage in the first-round series.

The Penguins took advantage of that edge with a pair of home-ice victories, and they take a 2-0 series lead into Game 3 Sunday night at 6 p.m.

John Tortorella has tried to keep the Blue Jackets from getting discouraged in the series, and they will have a chance to reverse their fortunes at the Nationwide Arena.

If the Jackets are going to win their first game in the series, they will need to get a first-rate performance from goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. The Jackets have given up seven in the first two games of the series while being held to two goals.

Bobrovsky was sensational during the regular season as he had a 41-17-5 regular-season record along with a 2.06 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage. He needs to play to that form in Game 3 if the Blue Jackets are going to slow down high-scoring Sidney Crosby and Co. 

The Jackets will not have left wing Matt Calvert in the lineup Sunday as a result of his one-game suspension. He cross-checked Pittsburgh's Tom Kuhnhackl in the head at the conclusion of Game 2, and the league decided to sit him down in Game 3.

The Montreal Canadiens were a few seconds away from being down 0-2 in their series, but Tomas Plekanec tied the game and Alexander Radulov scored the winner in overtime Friday night.

As a result, the Canadiens and Rangers go into the third game of their first-round playoff series tied at 1-1. The venue switches to Madison Square Garden, and while that should play into the hands of the Rangers, they struggled at home at the end of the regular season.

New York won its last two regular-season home games, but lost the preceding eight games prior to those victories. 

"I think regular season we had our struggles, but this is a new season once playoffs come around, and everything that’s happened before is erased,” Rick Nash told Justin Tasch of the New York Daily News. “Our fans, I think the building is gonna be loud and we’ve got to be ready for the start of the game.”

The final game Sunday night will see the San Jose Sharks host the Edmonton Oilers in the third game of that series between Pacific Division rivals. After San Jose registered an overtime victory in Game 1 of the series, the Oilers scored two short-handed goals in their 2-0 victory Friday night.

One of those came off the stick of Connor McDavid, and the league's leading scorer may be difficult to stop here because of his explosive speed and sensational all-around ability.

Predictions

Desperation takes over in the playoffs, and the teams that are down 0-2 are going to have to rebound if they don't want their stay in the postseason to be short.

Look for the Wild and the Blue Jackets to find ways to win. After being held to two goals on their home ice, look for Minnesota to beat Allen for at least three goals and come up with the victory. Bobrovsky comes back to form at home and the Jackets will find enough offense to defeat the Pens.

The Rangers will overcome their recent home-ice problems and beat the Habs in Game 3, while McDavid and the Oilers will earn a 2-1 edge in the series. In addition to McDavid, look for high-scoring Leon Draisaitl to play a key role in the game for the Oilers.