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The NHL Playoffs is the most exciting postseason depending on who you ask. Nine teams that made it to the 2018 postseason, also made it to the 2017 postseason.
The Vegas Golden Knights, the Los Angeles Kings, the Winnipeg Jets, the Colorado Avalanche, the New Jersey Devils, the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Philadelphia Flyers, are the newcomers for the 2018 postseason.
There are so many headlines heading into these playoffs: Will Washington finally overcome their playoff failures? Will Pittsburgh three-peat, something which hasn't been done in over 30 years? Will the year of Philadelphia continue? Will Nashville get back to the finals? Will Vegas be the first expansion team to win a championship in its first season?
#1 (WC2) New Jersey Devils
Why the Devils will win it all: The Devils have more playoff experience on their roster than people think. Even though they haven't been there since the 2011-2012 season, they have players like Brian Boyle, Michael Grabner, and Patrick Maroon, who have recently been there.
Taylor Hall continues to play like an MVP, as he finished with 39 goals and 54 assists. Rookie Nico Hischier, takes his game to another level and becomes the second star on the team. Keith Kinkaid continues to play well like he did at the end of the regular season.
Why the Devils won't win it all: They have an impossible bracket to even reach the conference finals. Even though New Jersey beat Tampa Bay 3-0 in the regular season, it will be a different animal in the playoffs.
Even if the Devils were to beat Tampa, they would have to face the Toronto Maple Leafs or, the Boston Bruins in the second round. All of those teams finished with over 100 points. Also, Keith Kinkaid starts to falter and they have to rely on Cory Schneider between the pipes.
#2 (WC1) Columbus Blue Jackets
Why Columbus Will win it all: They have one of the best defensive pairings in the game, in Seth Jones and Zack Werenski and, Sergei Bobrovsky plays like he is capable of between the pipes.
The Artemi Panarin-Pierre-Luc Dubois- Cam Atkinson is starting to gel and it is one of the most dangerous lines in the league right now. Columbus doesn't have to face Pittsburgh in round one and if they beat Washington, it would give them more confidence to beat them.
Why they won't win it all: Sergei Bobrovsky falters once again in the playoffs and the centerman doesn't step up. Columbus doesn't score enough and relies on its defensive game too much.
#3 (3, Metro) Philadelphia Flyers
Why the Flyers will win it all: They have one of the most underrated offenses in the entire NHL. Claude Giroux's move to wing panned out for Philadelphia. Giroux scored 34 goals and recorded 68 assists during the regular season. Rookie Nolan Patrick all of a sudden steps up his game and supplies the Flyers with extra goal support.
The Flyers also have one of the best defensive pairings in the game, in Shayne Gostibehere and Ivan Provorov. Brian Elliott or Petr Mrazek all of a sudden turn into Ron Hextall between the pipes for the Flyers.
Why they won't: They drew a bad matchup in the first round in the Pittsburgh Penguins and their goaltending doesn't make the big save when it needs too.
#4 (3, Atlantic) Toronto Maple Leafs
Why Toronto will win it all: The Maple Leafs arguably have one of the best offenses in the NHL. They scored 277 goals during the regular season which is the second-best in the NHL.
They have four lines that can score at any moment. The defense will tighten down and, Frederik Andersen doesn't give up bad goals at timely moments. They are also well coached by Mike Babcock. Toronto is almost tough to beat when they score three goals or more in a game.
Why they won't: Toronto doesn't win often when they score under three goals. The defense gives up too many shots and Frederik Andersen gets tired.
#5 (2, Metro) Pittsburgh Penguins
Why Pittsburgh will win it all: They have the experience and are hungry for a three-peat. Pittsburgh has the best player in the world in Sidney Crosby and arguably another top-five player in Evgeni Malkin. They have a dangerous power play and Matt Murray is the best goalie in these playoffs. Pittsburgh has won 45 games this season when they have scored three goals or more in a game.
Why they won't: The inconsistent play of Kris Letang and the entire defensive unit gets beat or turns the puck over at the wrong time. If they are forced to win 2-1 games. Pittsburgh's depth scoring doesn't show up and they show signs of fatigue.,
#6 (2, Atlantic) Boston
Why the Bruins will win it all: They have one of the best defensive units in the NHL. Boston only gave up 214 goals during the regular season. The Bruins have one of the most dangerous lines in David Pastrnak-Patrice Bergeron-Brad Marchand.
They have rookies that can score like Ryan Donato, Charlie McAvoy, and Danton Heinen. Boston still has Rick Nash injured and his return will help boost this offense.
Why they won't: Tuukka Rask's playoff failures comeback and Boston relies too much on its defense to win games instead of playing a speed game and scoring goals.
#7 (1, Metro) Washington Capitals
Why the Capitals will win it all: Alex Ovechkin isn't going to play selfish and, is sick and, tired of losing in the postseason. He scored 49 goals during the regular season, which lead the NHL.
The rest of the team follows Ovechkin's lead and plays for one another. Braden Holtby steps up his game in the playoffs and silences his doubters. Washington also doesn't feel the pressure because they didn't win the Presidents' Trophy.
Why they won't: The goaltending and defense let them down, and the pressure of the postseason gets to them again.
#8 (1, Atlantic) Tampa Bay Lightning
Why Tampa Bay will win it all: Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov are two of the top 15 players in the NHL and they have the motivation to get back to the finals and win it all.
The shaky defense decides to lock down opponents and not give up many odd men rushes. Tampa Bay has the most athletic goaltender in these playoffs in Andrei Vasilevskiy and he is one of the favorites to win the Vezina Trophy.
His record was 44-17-3 in the regular season with a .920 save percentage and a 2.62 GAA, along with eight shutouts.
Why they won't: The defense gives up too many odd men rushes and leave out Vasilevskiy to dry. The depth scoring also doesn't step up and they have a tough bracket in the east to even reach the conference finals. They face New Jersey in round 1 and then possibly either Toronto or Boston in round 2.
#9 (WC2) Colorado Avalanche
Why they will win it all: Everyone is counting them out and Colorado believes in themselves. They have one of the best players on the planet in Nathan MacKinnon.
He scored 39 goals, and recorded 58 assists during the regular season. They also have other key young players like Samuel Girard, Mikko Rantanen, Tyler Jost, and Gabriel Landeskog.
Why they won't: They run into a buzzsaw in the opening series against the Nashville Predators, who are on a mission to win it all. Colorado doesn't exactly have goaltending either in Jonathan Bernier.
#10 (WC1) Los Angeles Kings
Why the Kings will win it all: The Kings are the second most experienced team in the west and other than Winnipeg, they pose the biggest threat to the Nashville Predators.
Jonathan Quick is a proven goalie to get the job done when it matters the most. His record during the regular season was 33-28-3 with a .921 save percentage and a 2.40 GAA, along with five shutouts.
They have a more respectable offense this season as they totaled for 239 goals as a team.
Why they won't: Los Angeles isn't exactly ready for primetime again yet, and their offense goes in the spiral. The Kings also get caught up in the Vegas atmosphere in the first round.
#11 (3, Pacific) San Jose Sharks
Why the Sharks will win it all: Martin Jones plays well between the pipes and, he is the backbone of this team. They have underrated offensive talent and they have different players step up every night.
Why they won't: San Jose struggled at the end of the season and, it will carry into the postseason. The offense sputters and the defense wasn't as good this season as it was a season ago.
#12 (3, Central) Minnesota Wild
Why the Wild will win it all: Devan Dubnyk, is one of the most underrated goalies in the NHL. His record was 35-16-7, during the regular season with a .918 save percentage, and a 2.52 GAA, along with five shutouts.
Minnesota plays a very solid two-way game. Zach Parise only scored 15 goals and recorded nine assists in 42 games played. He missed the start of the season because of back surgery and Parise returns to his normal form in the playoffs.
Why they won't: Head coach Bruce Boudreau can never get it done in the playoffs. The Wild offense sputters in the postseason. Minnesota usually struggles to get out of the first round in the playoffs.
#13 (2, Pacific) Anaheim Ducks
Why the Ducks will win it all: They usually play well at the end of the season and gives themselves momentum to have a chance to win another Stanley Cup title.
Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf, will not have a bad postseason like they did in the regular season. Richard Rakell continues to play at a high level and the Ducks have an underrated defense led by Josh Montour.
Why they won't: John Gibson's upper-body injury is worse than it actually is. Even if he is healthy, Gibson has a tendency of not being steady between the pipes. Getzlaf and Perry don't show up in the playoffs and Rakell all of a sudden doesn't play at a high level.
#14 (2, Central) Winnipeg Jets
Why the Jets will win it all: The Jets have one of the best power plays in the league. Patrik Laine scored 44 goals, and 31 of them were on the power play. They have one of the most underrated defenses in the NHL, and they also have a very deep lineup.
Blake Wheeler had quite a dangerous season with 23 goals and 68 assists. Connor Hellebuyck continues to play at a high level and, was one of best goalies in the NHL during the regular season.
His record was 44-11-9 with a .924 save percentage and a 2.36 GAA, along with six shutouts.
Why they won't: The term losapeg, sticks to them come playoff time. Hellebuyck gets hurt and they don't have a good backup. Winnipeg shoots too much from the outside and don't crash the net enough to make life difficult on the goalie.
#15 (1, Pacific) Vegas Golden Knights
Why the Golden Knights will win it all: William Karlsson scored 43 goals and recorded 35 assists in the regular season and he continues to carry the team offensively. James Neal also scored 25 goals and recorded 19 assists during the regular season and he is one of the key veterans on the team who has been to the postseason before. Marc-Andre Fleury stays calm between the pipes.
Why they won't: They are an expansion team and are inexperienced. Marc-Andre Fleury doesn't play steady between the pipes and then they have to turn to Malcolm Subban. The defense gives up many odd men rushes and they face an experienced team in round one in the Los Angeles Kings.
#16 (1, Central) Nashville Predators
Why Nashville will win it all: They had the best record in the regular season (53-18-11 with 117 points). The Predators gave up the least amount of goals during the regular season at 211.
Pekka Rinne continues to play at a high level and he might be the favorite to win the Vezina. His record was 42-13-4, with a .927 save percentage, and a 2.31 GAA, along with eight shutouts.
Nashville has the best defensive unit in the NHL, and they led the league with 260 points by the defenseman during the regular season. They are on a mission to win it all. Nashville doesn't have many weaknesses.
Why they won't: They get caught with the Presdients' Trophy curse and Pekka Rinne all of a sudden falters.
