The bracket is set, and the heartbreak is already set in for Leafs Nation. Let's get to my always-accurate picks.
* Bruins over Maple Leafs in six
There is zero doubt in my mind that Boston is going to win this series. The Leafs have been playing like junk for a month. The Bruins own the Leafs even in the best of times. The feeling of impending doom has been setting in for weeks ever since it became apparent that another Boston/Toronto matchup was happening, and I honestly think this has factored into the Leafs' recent poor play. I'll reiterate my usual stance that the NHL's playoff structure is silly, though the Leafs have slumped to such an extent that their matchup against Boston is no longer 2nd vs. 3rd. It's actually now 2nd vs. 5th, so in a normal points-based bracket, the Maple Leafs would be facing the Islanders in the first round. Given how the Isles have owned the Leafs basically all year, that wouldn't have been any better an opponent for Toronto. Whatever, the Leafs are toast, let's move on.
* Lightning over Blue Jackets in six
* Capitals over Hurricanes in five
* Penguins over Islanders in six
* Flames over Avalanche in six
* Golden Knights over Sharks in seven
* Predators over Stars in five
* Jets over Blues in seven
* Lightning over Bruins in seven
* Capitals over Penguins in six
* Jets over Predators in seven
* Flames over Golden Knights in seven
* Lightning over Capitals in six
* Jets over Flames in seven
* Lightning over Jets in six
It's interesting to note that several of the teams with the highest single-season points totals in NHL history didn't actually go on to win the Stanley Cup, as the playoffs are a much different beast than the regular season. So this won't be a cakewalk for Tampa Bay by any stretch. But, this team is just so damn good, it might be a...I dunno, decent-sized mealwalk at most? The Cup is going back to the Bay.
* Bruins over Maple Leafs in six
There is zero doubt in my mind that Boston is going to win this series. The Leafs have been playing like junk for a month. The Bruins own the Leafs even in the best of times. The feeling of impending doom has been setting in for weeks ever since it became apparent that another Boston/Toronto matchup was happening, and I honestly think this has factored into the Leafs' recent poor play. I'll reiterate my usual stance that the NHL's playoff structure is silly, though the Leafs have slumped to such an extent that their matchup against Boston is no longer 2nd vs. 3rd. It's actually now 2nd vs. 5th, so in a normal points-based bracket, the Maple Leafs would be facing the Islanders in the first round. Given how the Isles have owned the Leafs basically all year, that wouldn't have been any better an opponent for Toronto. Whatever, the Leafs are toast, let's move on.
* Lightning over Blue Jackets in six
* Capitals over Hurricanes in five
* Penguins over Islanders in six
* Flames over Avalanche in six
* Golden Knights over Sharks in seven
* Predators over Stars in five
* Jets over Blues in seven
* Lightning over Bruins in seven
* Capitals over Penguins in six
* Jets over Predators in seven
* Flames over Golden Knights in seven
* Lightning over Capitals in six
* Jets over Flames in seven
* Lightning over Jets in six
It's interesting to note that several of the teams with the highest single-season points totals in NHL history didn't actually go on to win the Stanley Cup, as the playoffs are a much different beast than the regular season. So this won't be a cakewalk for Tampa Bay by any stretch. But, this team is just so damn good, it might be a...I dunno, decent-sized mealwalk at most? The Cup is going back to the Bay.
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