Hi, this is Fred Wallace with Off the Wire, brought to you by your local Auto Logic, the Logical Choice.
This is the best time of the NHL year. Invariably, the first round of the NHL Playoffs create the most excitement and the most interest.
By the time the Stanley Cup rolls around in June, there’s obvious interest, but more often than not, the level of excitement of 1 best of 7, pales in comparison to 8 series which commence in earnest tonight.
Here are the matchups;
In the Eastern Conference- Washington gets Philadelphia
Florida faces the Islanders, Tampa Bay goes against Detroit and Pittsburgh plays the Rangers
In the Western Conference, we’ve got Dallas against Minnesota, St. Louis meeting Chicago, Anaheim takes on Nashville and the Los Angeles Kings face off with San Jose.
An NHL’er once told me the difference between first place and 8th place in either conference is tiny and based on these matchups, I tend to believe him.
Nevertheless. in Round 1, I’m going to take Washington, Florida, Detroit and Pittsburgh.
In the West, my calls are Dallas, St Louis, Anaheim and the Kings.
Drop the puck tonight for the best time of the NHL season.
I’m Fred Wallace