Hi, this is Fred Wallace with ” Off the Wire “,….. proudly sponsored by Pete’s Auto Body.
Pete’s Auto Body; because we care about our community…..
The Stanley Cup Playoffs begin on Saturday.
After more than 100 consecutive nights of NHL action, now the games get meaningful.
The first round matchups are mostly set.
In the North, Toronto meets Montreal for the first time since 1979.
Meanwhile the Edmonton Oilers will go against the Winnipeg Jets.
In the East, Boston opens at Washington on Saturday night while the other series will pit the Pittsburgh Penguins against the New York Islanders
The most competitive loop on the year, in my view, was the Central Division.
First place Carolina will face Nashville in Round 1 while the all-Florida matchup will see the Panthers go against the defending Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning.
Finally in the West Division, if Colorado wins tonight against the LA Kings the first round pairings would pit the Avalanche against St Louis and Vegas against Minnesota.
However, if the Kings beat Colorado tonight the West bracket would be Vegas-St Louis and the Avalanche up against Minnesota.
The Leafs will sweep Montreal and my other opening round predictions are;
Edmonton
Washington
The Islanders
Carolina
& Tampa Bay…………………. with the West prediction in limbo until later this evening.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs begin Saturday
For Pete’s Auto Body, I’m Fred Wallace.