Binge Sports: The 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs-Round 1

That’s what it’s all about folks. Welcome back to Binge Sports and yes, it’s already that time of year again. It’s once again time for arguably the most exciting playoffs in professional sports, the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Teams have been jockeying for position all season and especially in the last few weeks. There’s been a lot of points to grab out there, but we’re finally all set. We do know one thing. There will be a new champion. After winning it all last year, the LA Kings failed to reach the playoffs. So who will step up and hoist the Stanley Cup this June? Sixteen teams will try. Fifteen teams will fail. I’ll break down the first round for you with the complete schedule for every single series, give you a quick preview of the matchups, and as you knew I would, give you the chance to vote on who you think will move on to the next round. Let’s not waste any more time. Let’s change it up a bit and start on the left side of the bracket and the Western Conference.

(W1)MINNESOTA WILD v. (C1)ST. LOUIS BLUES

SCHEDULE

Game 1: @St. Louis-Thu. 4/16-9:30E/8:30C-NBCSN

Game 2: @St. Louis-Sat. 4/18-3:00E/2:00C-NBC

Game 3: @Minnesota-Mon. 4/20-8:00E/7:00C-CNBC

Game 4: @Minnesota-Wed. 4/22-8:30E/7:30C-NBCSN

Game 5 (if necessary): @St. Louis-Fri. 4/24-TBD

Game 6 (if necessary): @Minnesota-Sun. 4/26-TBD

Game 7 (if necessary): @St. Louis-Wed. 4/29-TBD

PREVIEW

Well, the Blues finally got what they wanted and won the Central. What they also got was a first round matchup with the hottest team in the NHL over the last three months, the Minnesota Wild. Since Devan Dubnyk took over in the net in January, the Wild have gone 28-9-3. Both teams play a similar style, and neither will have to look that far back to remember how to play against one another. They actually played in the regular season finale just this past weekend. The Blues and Wild split their season series with two wins apiece, and three of those games were played within the last month. The Blues just need to learn how to finish. In the last two years, they’ve gone up 2-0 in the first round, only to lose the next four. They’ll certainly need to do better than that to stop the momentum of Minnesota. Both teams were very solid defensively this year, so we could see some low-scoring battles in what could be one of the most intriguing battles of this first round.

[yop_poll id=”212″]

(C3)CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS v. (C2)NASHVILLE PREDATORS

SCHEDULE

Game 1: @Nashville-Wed. 4/15-8:30E/7:30C-NBCSN

Game 2: @Nashville-Fri. 4/17-9:30E/8:30C-NBCSN

Game 3: @Chicago-Sun. 4/19-3:00E/2:00C-NBC

Game 4: @Chicago-Tue. 4/21-9:30E/8:30C-NBCSN

Game 5 (if necessary): @Nashville-Thu. 4/23-TBD

Game 6 (if necessary): @Chicago-Sat. 4/25-TBD

Game 7 (if necessary): @Nashville-Mon. 4/27-TBD

PREVIEW

Unfortunately for Chicago, they’re still without the services of Patrick Kane, who missed the final 21 games due to a broken clavicle. No official timetable has been set for his return, but there is a small chance he could return sometime later in this series. In his absence, captain Jonathan Toews has picked up more of the scoring load, but the problem Chicago has is on defense. They’ll certainly need to play better and give Corey Crawford some help. Rookie Filip Forster will be looking to attack that defense and continue his great play in his first year for Nashville. Roman Josi will look to add to the sixty-plus points he put up in the regular season while continuing his great play defensively. The Predators got off to a very hot start this year, even leading the NHL in points all the way to mid-February, but slumped towards the end to grab second in the Central. They did finish ahead of Chicago, but lost the season series, only taking one out of four games, the last which was played all the way back in December. But the Predators do have the home-ice advantage, which may go a long way against a team like the Blackhawks.

[yop_poll id=”213″]

(W2)WINNIPEG JETS v. (P1)ANAHEIM DUCKS

SCHEDULE

Game 1: @Anaheim-Thu. 4/16-10:30E/9:30C-CNBC

Game 2: @Anaheim-Sat. 4/18-10:30E/9:30C-NBCSN

Game 3: @Winnipeg-Mon. 4/20-9:00E/8:00C-NHLN-NBCSN

Game 4: @Winnipeg-Wed. 4/22-9:30E/8:30C-USA

Game 5 (if necessary): @Anaheim-Fri. 4/24-TBD

Game 6 (if necessary): @Winnipeg-Sun. 4/26-TBD

Game 7 (if necessary): @Anaheim-Tue. 4/28-TBD

PREVIEW

The Ducks come into the playoffs as the top seed in the West for a second straight year and won the Pacific for the third year in a row. However, they’ve struggled to advance in the playoffs against weaker teams, which the Jets certainly are. They haven’t been to the playoffs since the move from Atlanta. Winnipeg is fun to watch with a really aggressive and physical style, but that also creates penalty problems. Anaheim will need to improve their power-play numbers, which you’d think would be higher with the likes of Ryan Kesler, Matt Beleskey, Corey Perry, and captain Ryan Getzlaf all being very capable scoring options. I know it’s fun to root for the underdog, but the Jets just may be outmatched here. Anaheim took the season series 3-0.

[yop_poll id=”214″]

(P3)CALGARY FLAMES v. (P2)VANCOUVER CANUCKS

SCHEDULE

Game 1: @Vancouver-Wed. 4/15-10:00E/9:00C-USA

Game 2: @Vancouver-Fri. 4/17-10:00E/9:00C-CNBC

Game 3: @Calgary-Sun. 4/19-10:00E/9:00C-NBCSN

Game 4: @Calgary-Tue. 4/21-10:00E/9:00C-USA

Game 5 (if necessary): @Vancouver-Thu. 4/23-TBD

Game 6 (if necessary): @Calgary-Sat. 4/25-TBD

Game 7 (if necessary): @Vancouver-Mon. 4/27-TBD

PREVIEW

Neither of these two teams were even in the playoffs last year, so this series has that going for it. At least the Canucks have made six of the last seven postseasons. Calgary, on the other hand, hasn’t played more than the regular 82 since the ’08-’09 campaign. And the Flames haven’t made it easy on their fans this year, winning so many of their games from behind. In fact, more than 40% of their goals came in the third period this season. But when they do score, they can score quickly. Despite losing captain Mark Giordano, the line containing Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, and Jiri Hudler will be the biggest threat, as these three have scored more than 1/3 of Calgary’s goals. Vancouver counters with the twin combo of Henrik and Daniel Sedin, who have anchored this team for a decade. But the Canucks are such a balanced team, with 11 forwards having scored 10 or more goals. These two teams split the season series, each winning one at home and one on the road. This one could easily go seven.

[yop_poll id=”215″]

Well, we’re halfway there. Let’s move on to some big rivalry series in the East.

(W1)OTTAWA SENATORS v. (A1)MONTREAL CANADIENS

SCHEDULE

Game 1: @Montreal-Wed. 4/15-7:00E/6:00C-NHLN

Game 2: @Montreal-Fri. 4/17-7:00E/6:00C-CNBC

Game 3: @Ottawa-Sun. 4/19-7:00E/6:00C-NBCSN

Game 4: @Ottawa-Wed. 4/22-7:00E/6:00C-USA

Game 5 (if necessary): @Montreal-Fri. 4/24-TBD

Game 6 (if necessary): @Ottawa-Sun. 4/26-TBD

Game 7 (if necessary): @Montreal-Tue. 4/28-TBD

PREVIEW

This has finally become a nice little rivalry. These two teams met in the first round two years ago, with Ottawa taking that series, which is actually their only playoff series win since they reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2007. The Senators are so hot right now. Since making his first start for Ottawa on February 18th, in a win against the Canadiens, goalie Andrew Hammond has gone 20-1-2. Not to be overlooked, Canadiens goalie Carey Price has arguably been the best over the course of this season. Then you’ve got another highly anticipated matchup with Erik Karlsson and P.K. Subban. Throw in a ton of more stars and we’re going to have a nice series here.

[yop_poll id=”216″]

(A3)DETROIT RED WINGS v. (A2)TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

SCHEDULE

Game 1: @Tampa Bay-Thu. 4/16-7:30E/6:30C-CNBC

Game 2: @Tampa Bay-Sat. 4/18-3:00E/2:00C-NBC

Game 3: @Detroit-Tue. 4/21-7:00E/6:00C-NBCSN

Game 4: @Detroit-Thu. 4/23-7:00E/6:00C-NBCSN

Game 5 (if necessary): @Tampa Bay-Sat. 4/25-TBD

Game 6 (if necessary): @Detroit-Mon. 4/27-TBD

Game 7 (if necessary): @Tampa Bay-Wed. 4/29-TBD

PREVIEW

Detroit returns to the playoffs for the 24th consecutive year. But this young Tampa Bay squad doesn’t care about that at all. They, as does does Detroit, come in with more than 100 points on the year and a 3-1 regular season record against the Red Wings. The Lightning’s Steven Stamkos had 43 goals, which was the second most in the NHL, but he’ll certainly have some difficulty against two of the top defensive forwards in the league as the Red Wings counter with Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg. Tampa Bay will need their explosive second line that features Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat, and Nikita Kucherov to continue their stellar play. Each had more than 60 points this year. Detroit has been inconsistent in goal this year, not a problem you want going into a series against the best scoring team in the NHL.

[yop_poll id=”217″]

(W2)PITTSBURGH PENGUINS v. (M1)NEW YORK RANGERS

SCHEDULE

Game 1: @New York-Thu. 4/16-7:00E/6:00C-NBCSN

Game 2: @New York-Sat. 4/18-8:00E/7:00C-NBC

Game 3: @Pittsburgh-Mon. 4/20-7:00E/6:00C-NBCSN

Game 4: @Pittsburgh-Wed. 4/22-7:00E/6:00C-NBCSN

Game 5 (if necessary): @New York-Fri. 4/24-TBD

Game 6 (if necessary): @Pittsburgh-Sun. 4/26-TBD

Game 7 (if necessary): @New York-Tue. 4/28-TBD

PREVIEW

Why am I not surprised to see this matchup? Just give me more of what we got from this second round, seven game classic a year ago and I’m good to go. The Pittsburgh Penguins, who snuck into these playoffs with a win on the last day of the regular season, will be looking for revenge on the Presidents’ Trophy-winning New York Rangers, who trounced them twice in the regular season and took three of four overall, mostly behind the amazing play of goalie Henrik Lundqvist. In four games against Pittsburgh, he allowed only seven goals on 140 shots. Sidney Crosby will need better performances and a ton of help from his teammates for the Penguins to have any chance against these Rangers.

[yop_poll id=”218″]

(M3)NEW YORK ISLANDERS v. (M2)WASHINGTON CAPITALS

SCHEDULE

Game 1: @Washington-Wed. 4/15-7:00E/6:00C-USA

Game 2: @Washington-Fri. 4/17-7:00E/6:00C-NBCSN

Game 3: @New York-Sun. 4/19-Noon Eastern/11:00C-NBC

Game 4: @New York-Tue. 4/21-7:30E/6:30C-USA

Game 5 (if necessary): @Washington-Thu. 4/23-TBD

Game 6 (if necessary): @New York-Sat. 4/25-TBD

Game 7 (if necessary): @Washington-Mon. 4/27-TBD

PREVIEW

This rivalry goes back a long time, but this is the first time that the Capitals and Islanders have met in the playoffs since 1993, which is also the last year the Islanders won a playoff series. At least we get one last hurrah with these two teams in the Nassau Coliseum, which is sure to be loud come Game 3. The marquee matchup here is obviously the captains. Washington’s Alex Ovechkin was the leading goal scorer in the NHL with 53, but not to be ignored is New York’s John Tavares, who can make any player around him better. Each scored five points in the four games that were played between these teams during the regular season. Those games were split with each team winning their games at home, but three of the four needed extra time, which is exactly what hockey fans love this time of year.

[yop_poll id=”219″]

Did you get all of that? That’s almost everything you need for the first round. Want a little more insight? Be on the lookout for the all-new Binge Sportscast as Kupka joins me. We’ll let you know why playoff hockey is so awesome and break down each matchup of this exciting first round. Until then, tell me who you got. Leave comments below or find and follow me on Twitter @BingeSports and/or @THElukenorris. Enjoy.