There were definitely a few surprises during the first week of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. For starters, both 12 seeds advanced (even when there's no NCAA Tournament, we still get 12-5 upsets!). One of those 5-seeds was Edmonton, which clearly didn't enjoy the home ice advantage nearly as much as I thought they would. Neither did Toronto. Both home teams getting eliminated in the Qualifiers definitely ranks high up there among the unexpected happenings.
Another unexpected happening was how competitive each series was. Only Columbus-Toronto went five, but six others went four. Only Hurricanes-Rangers was a sweep, and even then, the Rangers showed they're gonna be a force relatively soon. And that process will only be sped up now that they've won the lottery and will get the No. 1 pick, which will likely be Alexis Lafreniere, who they can pair with Kaapo Kakko, last year's No. 2 pick, for years to come.
We also saw both teams that entered the round robin with the most points in their conference fail to win a game and end up with the 4-seed. Although, I'm not sure how much we can take away from that. Boston certainly looked flat, but the round robin games were essentially tune-ups. Since all of the games are being played at a neutral site, the seeding doesn't matter as much as it usually would, so you'd have to wonder if that thought process came into play at all. If it did, that may explain why the Bruins and Blues didn't look so great last week.
Overall, though, it was certainly playoff-quality hockey. After four-and-a-half months off, and playing at a time that they aren't used to, we weren't sure if that would be the case. But it was answered pretty quickly with a definitive "Yes!" In virtually every series!
And you'd have to expect that will only continue as we get into the Stanley Cup Playoffs proper. The teams that came out of the Qualifiers have a week's worth of playoff games under their belts already. The teams that played in the round robin, meanwhile, did so because they're the better teams.
I'm curious whether that's going to have an impact. The round robins were competitive games that mattered, but that's not the same as the intensity of a series. The lower seeds had to shift into playoff mode right away, and they've already got one round under their belts. That's no small thing. Besides, this is the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Lower seeded teams win all the time. In fact, what would be shocking is if all eight teams that had first-round byes advance.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Flyers vs. Canadiens: Was any team more impressive in the round robin than the Philadelphia Flyers? They rolled past the top three teams in the Eastern Conference during the regular season, and they did so in dominant fashion! The Flyers have been far and away the best team in Toronto. I don't want to write off Montreal, though. I did that prior to the Qualifier and look what happened! So, the question really becomes: Can Carey Price steal them another series? He might get them a game or two, but if the Flyers play the way they did last week, I don't see Montreal winning four. Flyers in six.
Lightning vs. Blue Jackets: Remember what happened last year between these two? The Lightning sure do! They've been waiting more than a year for a chance at redemption. Now it comes against the same team that they laid an absolute egg against in 2019. Of course, it's not going to be easy without Steven Stamkos or Victor Hedman. We do know that Tampa Bay won't take Columbus lightly this time, though. And I think the team with something to prove will prove it. Lightning in six.
Capitals vs. Islanders: On paper, this is probably the most competitive first-round series in the East. Except for half of Game 3, the Islanders looked great against Florida. Meanwhile, Washington looked somewhat shaky in the round robin. The Capitals got better with each game, though, so maybe they were simply building up to playoff-ready. Washington has more talent, but, don't forget, Islanders coach Barry Trotz used to coach the Capitals. He knows those guys inside and out. That could make a huge difference. Either way, I see this one going seven. And, as we know, Game 7's are always a toss-up. Capitals in seven.
Bruins vs. Hurricanes: Perhaps I underestimated the Carolina Hurricanes. Because that team's defense is tight. As the Rangers found out, good luck coming back if Carolina scores first. Maybe it wasn't a fluke that they made the Eastern Conference Final last season, where they lost to...Boston! The Bruins looked nothing like the dominant team that won the President's Trophy over their first three games in the bubble, though. If they don't want to be upset here, they'll need to turn it on. Quick. If the Bruins play the way they did against Tampa Bay and Philadelphia, this could be a short series. And not in Boston's favor. Hurricanes in five.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Golden Knights vs. Blackhawks: Never count out the Chicago Blackhawks in the playoffs! We should all know that by now, but for some reason, we all forgot in the Edmonton series. Can they do it again? After what they did against a superior Oilers team, don't count them out. Even against the Golden Knights. Vegas got strong goaltending from Robin Lehner in the round robin, which is one of the main reasons why they ended up with the 1-seed. He'll need to be just as strong against Chicago. Because if the Blackhawks carry over their momentum and confidence into this series, they could pull another upset. Blackhawks in six.
Avalanche vs. Coyotes: To show you just how much I know, I though the two weakest teams entering their respective bubbles were Montreal in the East and Arizona in the West. They both won their Qualifier. The first round may be where the Coyotes' run ends, however. Colorado is loaded from top to bottom. Yes, they lost their last round robin game to the Golden Knights, but I still think the Avalanche have been the most impressive team of the 12 in Edmonton. They'll make quick work of the Coyotes. Avalanche in four.
Stars vs. Flames: With the Oilers out, the Flames become Canada's best chance to hoist the Cup. And they've definitely got a shot against Dallas. In fact, I'd be surprised if Calgary doesn't win this series. Look what they did to Winnipeg! Granted, the Jets finished that series short-handed, but the Flames still looked mighty impressive. Plus, they got solid goaltending from Cam Talbot, which only makes them that much better. Flames in six.
Blues vs. Canucks: Unlike their 2019 Stanley Cup Final opponents, the Blues didn't look completely flat during the round robin. In fact, Craig Berube stressed how he felt good about the way his team played in the Dallas game. It almost didn't matter that they lost all three games. It certainly looks like they were ramping themselves up. The postseason starts now for St. Louis. And the defending champs will be very tough to beat. Blues in five.
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