Playoff Picks: JetsNation Picks The East
6 years ago
It’s playoff time! With that in mind, as always predictions need to be made and JetsNation staff and contributors were asked to pick their favorites to come out of the first round of the Eastern Conference.
We all agree that Tampa Bay is a juggernaut and should get through easily, every other series after that sees most of us agree on who will move on, but there always is that one person who will stick out and go against the general consensus…
Tampa Bay Lightning (54-23-5 / 1st Atlantic)
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New Jersey Devils (44-29-9 / 2nd Wild Card)
Art M: Lightning in 5 – I never pick sweeps. If I did, this would be one of them.
Tony: Tampa in 6. Think the Devils give T-Bay a little scare.
Robert: Lightning in 5. I picture the Devils like the Jets of 3 years ago. Good young team, just not ready.
Cassie: I picked Tampa in this one. I also don’t like to pick sweeps, so I have them in 5 games. The Devils don’t feel like the team that can be a dragon slayer.
Brian: Lightning in 6. Jersey has a fair bit of fight in them, and also Taylor Hall. However, I don’t think either of those things outlast Tampa.
Kyle: Tampa Bay in 7. Tampa Bay has not been great in the second half of the season. They will barely scrape by.
Alec: Tampa Bay in 5. Unless the Devils goalies are the reincarnation of Martin Brodeur, Taylor Hall will not be able to single-handedly win this series.
Cam: Lightning in 5. I love what the Devils have done in their construction of this team, but Tampa is too deep of a team for the Devils to win.
Boston Bruins (50-20-12 / 2nd Atlantic)
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Toronto Maple Leafs (49-26-7 / 3rd Atlantic)
Art M: Bruins in 6 – Toronto is going to put up a great fight, but overall B’s just too strong
Tony: Bruins in 7. Closest first round series.
Robert: Bruins in 7. I think this will be the most entertaining series. I don’t like the Leafs defense nor their chances of matching the Bruins toughness.
Cassie: Bruins in 6. Toronto can put up a fight, but Toronto’s defense isn’t going to be able to match up against the Bruins well.
Brian: Bruins in 7. I truly think this could be one of the more entertaining series this year.
Kyle: Bruins in 5. The Leafs are good, but Boston is better.
Alec: Bruins in 7. Two very good teams, home ice advantage will be the difference.
Cam: Leafs in 7. Matthews and Nylander are so good.
Washington Capitals (49-26-7 / 1st Metropolitan)
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Columbus Blue Jackets (45-30-7 / 1st Wild Card)
Art M: Capitals in 6 – Jackets could surprise a few people with how tough they play, Caps better overall team though.
Tony: Jackets win in 6. Sorry caps fans.
Robert: Caps in 6 before losing in the second round.
Cassie: Caps in 5. I just think they’re that much better than the Jackets.
Brian: Caps in 7. I think the Jackets push the Caps to the absolute limit, and we’ll get a 2OT game 7 or something, just to scare the hell out of Caps fans.
Kyle: Washington in 5. I don’t think Columbus is anywhere near as good as the Caps.
Alec: Washington in 6. The Capitals may look past the Jackets a bit, but they are too good for them over the duration of the series.
Cam: Jackets in 6. I think Columbus has made enough improvements this season and Washington hadn’t improved enough.
Pittsburgh Penguins (47-29-6 / 2nd Metropolitan)
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Philadelphia Flyers (42-26-14 / 3rd Metropolitan)
Art M: Penguins in 5 – Do the Penguins have a playoff switch? They better find it in this series.
Tony: Pens in 6. Series will be rough.
Robert: Pens in 7. These teams are more equal than they should be but this will come down to the experience of the Penguins.
Cassie: Flyers in 7. Honestly though, this one should go the distance and there will be no true winners. Someone is going to come out barely alive, but beaten down.
Brian: Pens in 7, but my god this series is going to be brutal.
Kyle: Pens in 6. This series wholly depends on Matt Murray’s play.
Alec: Pens in 6. This series could be as entertaining as the series in 2012. In the end Matt Murray will be the difference.
Cam: Pens in 5. 3-peat baby! Or, not. But the Pens beat the Flyers.
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