NHL Playoffs 2018: Schedule, Odds and Predictions for Friday's Round 1 Games

The home teams had their way on the opening night of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as the Pittsburgh Penguins, Winnipeg Jets and Vegas Golden Knights took 1-0 series leads.

Pittsburgh was the most impressive of the victorious trio, as it overpowered the Philadelphia Flyers 7-0, while the pair of Western Conference winners won by a goal each.

The Penguins, Jets and Golden Knights will attempt to extend their respective advantages Friday night, and each team stands a solid chance of putting its opponent in a hole.

If the home teams continue to achieve success Friday, it would move the total of victories by home sides this postseason to nine.

Friday's Stanley Cup Playoffs Schedule

Game 2: Philadelphia (+195; bet $100 to win $195) at Pittsburgh (-265; bet $265 to win $100) (7 p.m., NBCSN)

Game 2: Minnesota (+163) at Winnipeg (-220) (7:30 p.m., USA)

Game 2: Los Angeles (+115) at Vegas (-150) (10 p.m., NBCSN)

All Times ET, Odds via OddsShark.

Predictions

Pittsburgh Continues Domination of Philadelphia

The Penguins delivered the most dominant performance of the postseason Wednesday, as they scored seven goals on the Flyers.

While some teams would bask in a seven-goal performance in Game 1 of a best-of-seven series, Pittsburgh has already turned the page, per Sam Kasan of the team's official website.

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

"It's one game," Sidney Crosby said. "Whether it's 7-0 or 1-0 in double overtime, it's one game. A big part in the playoffs is to get better every game and adjust. That's the way you have to look at it."

The mentality the Penguins are approaching Game 2 with is perfect, as the Flyers are expected to come out strong in an attempt to prove they can hang with the defending Stanley Cup champion.

Crosby, who recorded a natural hat-trick in Game 1, isn't the only Penguins forward who achieved success against Philadelphia, as five players scored and 11 skaters fired a shot on goal.

Receiving contributions from each aspect of the attack is nothing new for Pittsburgh against Philadelphia, as it has scored five or more goals in each of its past five games against the Flyers, per NHL Public Relations on Twitter:

With the Penguins flying high and focused on the task at hand Friday, they should cruise to a 2-0 series advantage while the Flyers struggle to pose a consistent attacking challenge.

Vegas Offense Comes Alive With Doughty Suspended

Vegas won by the closest margin of any home team in Game 1, as it eked out a 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday.

The Golden Knights were outshot by their Pacific Division foe, but they have an advantage entering Game 2, with Kings defender Drew Doughty officially suspended for his Game 1 hit on William Carrier.

With one of the game's best defenseman off the ice, the Golden Knights should create more chances in front of the raucous crowd at T-Mobile Arena.

John Locher/Associated Press

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Colin Miller were the most active players in the attacking zone in Game 1, as the pair combined for nine of Vegas' 28 shots on goal.

As the Kings are forced to make defensive adjustments, players like James Neal, Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlsson should be able to fire more chances at L.A. goalie Jonathan Quick.

If Vegas earns an early breakthrough—like it did in Game 1—it could benefit from the noise inside the arena to overwhelm the Kings and find holes in the NHL's best defense.

Jets Overwhelm Wild with Chances on Power Play

Despite winning by one in Game 1, the Winnipeg Jets doubled the number of shots taken by the Minnesota Wild.

With an attacking confidence behind it, Winnipeg should produce a similar performance as it attempts to take a two-game advantage.

Minnesota should take a few risks in order to try to steal a victory before heading home for Games 3 and 4.

However, the Wild's aggressive nature will backfire and lead to a few power-play opportunities for the home side.

The Jets, who scored the first goal of the series on the man advantage, rank fifth in the NHL in power-play percentage, and they were the best Western Conference team in that discipline during the regular season.

Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images

Expect Patrik Laine to spearhead Winnipeg's efforts in the attacking zone as he tries to build off scoring in Game 1.

Laine led the league with 20 power-play goals, and Blake Wheeler was second in power-play points. That bodes well for the Jets, even if they spend minimal time up a man.

As they take advantage of the power play and pepper Devan Dubnyk with shots once again, Winnipeg should be able to score in the first period and then pull away to earn a 2-0 series lead.

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.