Blackhawks Lead Western Conference Playoff Contenders

“It’s so hard just to make it to the playoffs”.

ANAHEIM DUCKS: Will the real Corey Perry please stand up? They have too much depth with Patrick Marleau, Logan Couture, Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski, Brent Burns and Marc-Edouard Vlasic.

Why: The Sens have defied the odds all season long and while far from a sure thing, they’re the pick in a close series that could probably go either way. “When he sets the tone and he’s saying, ‘OK, I’m here and you’re going to have to play against me all night, ‘ the guy on the other side is going: ‘Oh boy”. And really, can anyone see Nashville or Calgary beating the Hawks? Young goaltender Matt Murray, who was strong in the 2016 Cup run, looks to duplicate that performance.

It’s Chicago’s deep, talented group of forwards against Nashville’s stingy defense.

It’s been said time and again that Crawford gets less respect than he deserves, but he has been one of the best netminders in the league over the past few seasons, whether or not you’re of the mind he deserves to be there.

“All that stuff becomes magnified and there’s no small plays out there”.

Mike Milbury isn’t the only NBC hockey analyst who thinks the Capitals are going to win the Stanley Cup, which isn’t surprising given that Washington was the class of the NHL during the regular season en route to winning its second consecutive Presidents’ Trophy.

Even after the salary cap limited the potential of its overall depth, Chicago has managed to stay at the top of the Western Conference. This will be his first foray into the Stanley Cup playoffs, but he did score 21 goals in 19 games to lead Gatineau to the QMJHL championship in 2007-08. The Oilers, by contrast, are young and full of pop. Captain Connor McDavid just finished one of the finer sophomore seasons in league history and Leon Draisaitl is emerging as a viable threat himself at age 21. Milan Lucic, who sometimes looks important, has played more than 100 games post season. Terrific leadership from Toews and Seabrook. Meanwhile, Artemi Panarin, Richard Panik, Ryan Hartman and Nick Shmaltz have helped fill key holes to keep this team on top. They have returned to 2015 form when they last won the cup and should be the favorite to make the finals. Game 2 will be Saturday night in Chicago. We were tinkering a lot past year. The 25-year-old right wing was also among the league leaders in goals and points. Emotions will run high, especially among the fans.

Meanwhile, Washington won one less game this season than last but still easily outdistanced the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins to win the Metropolitan Division for the second year in a row.

MONTREAL CANADIENS: Is Chris Kreider No. 1 on the hit list for the Canadiens and their fans?

Last Wednesday, Milbury and Keith Jones discussed the Capitals’ postseason chances on NBCSN’s pregame show before Washington beat the Rangers. Maybe. But Id bet it the other way.

Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen struggled as a rookie in his playoff debut with Anaheim back in 2014, when he posted an.899 save percentage in seven first round games and was replaced by Jonas Hiller for the conference semifinal. Win the Cup and you put this team alongside the Oilers and the Islanders.