Pucks And Pitchforks Return To Play Predictions For Stanley Cup Play-In Round
By Nick Villano
The Pucks and Pitchforks writers pick their winners for the play-in round.
After four long months with zero new hockey games on our TV, the NHL is moving right into the best tournament in sports. (Sorry, not sorry March Madness.) The NHL Playoffs begin this weekend with the most teams eligible in the history of the sport. 24 teams are still alive, fighting for Lord Stanley’s Cup.
The New Jersey Devils are not one of the teams fighting for the Cup, unfortunately. It would have been a really good experience for this young roster to get some do-or-die games under their belt. Despite the fact they were terrible for most of the season, the Devils were playing very well down the stretch, and since they lost the lottery anyway they would have lost very little to get a shot in the playoffs.
That’s beyond the point now. The Devils are waiting until December to play again, and most of the rest of the league is going for the sport’s top prize. Here at Pucks and Pitchforks, we didn’t want to just sit on the sidelines. We’re here, making our own picks for the play-in round of the playoffs! We will go round by round telling you who we think is going to come out on top, as some of our writers give their predictions for how these series will go.
5. Pittsburgh Penguins vs 12. Montreal Canadiens
Nick Villano (Site Expert/Editor):
People are actually putting their chips on the Montreal Canadiens, but if they win it will show the craziness that this pandemic-driven playoff style truly is. The Penguins should win this with some quickness, but we’ll give the Canadiens one game just to get the Canadian media riled up. Penguins in 4.
Vinnie Parise: (Head Site Writer):
The Montreal Canadiens have a good goaltender and some good players but they were well out of the playoffs before the pause. The Penguins still have championship aspirations as long as Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang are there. Also, don’t forget that Jake Guentzal had time to heal. Penguins in 3.
Rob DeLuca (Staff Writer):
All of the Alexis Lafreienere to Pittsburgh jokes can die right here. They would have to lose in order for this to happen, and unfortunately, Carey Price can’t do that by himself. Penguins in 4.
Charlie Borges Jr. (Staff Writer):
The Pittsburgh Penguins should have a fairly easy time beating the Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens aren’t even remotely close to being a playoff team. The depth of the Penguins will carry them to victory. The only way the Canadiens can win is if Matt Murray can’t shut the door and Mike Sullivan is too stubborn to start Tristian Jarry. Penguins in 4.
Andy Studna (Staff Writer):
The Canadiens should be tanking this for a chance at the first-overall pick, no question. All jokes
aside, this is the most lopsided matchup in the qualifier. I don’t buy into the narrative of Carey
Price magically getting white-hot and pushing this series to the limit. The Penguins are better in
every facet of the game and should coast to a 3-game sweep in this one. Penguins in 3.
Owen Egbert (Staff Writer):
How do the shaky canadiens compete with the depth and star power of the Pittsburgh Penguins? They don’t. Penguins in 3.
Dave Browne (Staff Writer):
Even the great Carey Price can’t make up for the average team that Montreal is. Pittsburgh will avenge last year’s playoff disappointment. Penguins in 3.
David Lebovitz (Our Much-Needed Comic Relief During These Tough Times):
Unless Carey Price goes lights out, which is entirely possible, I don’t see how this is remotely competitive. The Pens are back-to-back Cup winners in recent years for a reason, and their players who were good then are still just as good now. Penguins in 3.