By: Rod Pedersen
10 – SCHENN BROTHERS: With three Stanley Cups between them, brothers Luke (2) and Brayden (1) Schenn will oppose each other in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs when Luke’s Jets meet Brayden’s Blues with Game 1 coming up this weekend at Canada Life Centre. The brothers from Saskatoon, SK are facing each other in the playoffs for the first time and it says here Luke will come out smiling in the end. JETS IN 5
9 – FLOWER POWER – Vegas vs Minnesota is a tantalizing series given the fact Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury was at one time the Face of the Golden Knights Franchise — the first player selected in the 2017 expansion draft. It would be even more juicy if The Flower was actually starting. Filip Gustavsson made a career-high 58 stars for Minny this season and will get the call in this series. GOLDEN KNIGHTS IN 6
8 – CAUSE CHAOS – Of the eight first round series, this one is the most “meh” as far as we’re concerned. However first year coach Sheldon Keefe has led the Devils back to the playoffs with Jacob Markstrom in goal, facing a Canes team which is always a contender, but never even the bridesmaid. However they’re always somewhere in the wedding party. CANES IN 6
7 – CRYPTO CURRENCY: The perennially optimistic fans of the Edmonton Oilers feel the defending Western Conference champions have a great chance against the L.A. Kings as the pair meet for a fourth straight postseason. Edmonton is 3-0 in those meetings. However this is the first time the Kings have had home-ice advantage and it means a lot, as they’ve won 78% of their home games at Crypto.com Arena. That’s a franchise record 31 home wins and LA is a wagon. KINGS IN 6
6 – OLE, OLE, OLE: The Montreal Canadiens are headed back to the playoffs for the first time since reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2021, and they’ll face Washington in Round 1. The Habs clinched Wednesday night with a 4-2 victory over Carolina at a bonkers Bell Centre. Will they just be happy to be there? (They should be! The non-playoff bound Calgary Flames actually had three more points in the regular season). 20 points separated Washington and Montreal in the regular season. CAPS IN 5
5 – STARS-AVS: Only four points separated these teams in the regular year (Dallas 106, Colorado 102) and this pairing has been locked in for weeks, affording plenty of time for preparation. The biggest story here is Mikko Rantanen of the Stars going against his former team. It’ll likely be the best first round series. STARS IN
4 – PRESIDENT’S CURSE?: They don’t want to hear it in Winnipeg since the Jets clinched their first Presidents’ Trophy in franchise history this season however it is a real thing; no team since the 2013 Chicago Blackhawks has captured the regular season crown, and went on to win the Stanley Cup. Can the Jets crack the curse? Only the hockey gods know for sure.
3 – BATTLE OF FLORIDA: Sometimes it feels like no one outside the State cares but so what?! The Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning will meet in the playoffs for the fourth time in five years when the teams hook up at Amalie Arena in Tampa for Game 1 this weekend. The Bolts won the first two meetings in 2021 and 2022, while the Cats took the last meeting in 2024. Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk has been out since the Four Nations Faceoff in February but figures to be back for Game 1 while veteran rearguard Aaron Ekblad returns from suspension in Game 3. PANTHERS IN 7
2 – BATTLE OF ONTARIO: Who’s kidding who – this is the glam match-up of Round 1. Toronto and Ottawa have met four prior times in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the Leafs have won ‘em all (2000, 2001, 2002 & 2004). No wonder Sens fans hate them! Somebody said all the pressure is on Toronto but that’s nothing new. They’ve got pressure on them in an intrasquad game. The Buds won’t disappoint. LEAFS IN 6
1 – CANADA’S DROUGHT: They talk about it everyday in the Great White North. No Canadian team has won the Stanley Cup since 1993 when the Montreal Canadiens lifted hockey’s Holy Grail. The drought coincides with the beginning of Commissioner Gary Bettman’s tenure, prompting Canadian fans to coin the phrase “The Bettman Curse”. Will it end in 2025? All bets are off.
See you at the rink!
(Rod Pedersen covers the NHL for the South Florida Tribune. He also hosts the award-winning Cats N Bolts Podcast and the daily Rod Pedersen Show on Game+TV, YouTube Live & Podcast)
