Who will advance in NHL playoffs? Picks and predictions for every second round series
The second round of the NHL playoffs starts Sunday with two of the top teams in the league facing off.
Either the No. 3 overall Carolina Hurricanes or the No. 1 overall New York Rangers won't make it to the conference finals, but a Canadian team will because the Vancouver Canucks are facing the Edmonton Oilers.
The Boston Bruins and Panthers will play in a rematch of last year's playoff upset by Florida while the Colorado Avalanche will face the winner of Sunday's Game 7 between the Dallas Stars and defending champion Vegas Golden Knights
USA TODAY Sports' Mike Brehm and Jace Evans make their predictions for the second round of the NHL playoffs:
New York Rangers vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Brehm: Hurricanes in 6. I picked the Hurricanes to win the Stanley Cup and I believe they make it through this round, but it will be tough. The teams are very evenly matched, but the Hurricanes brought in playoff performers Jake Guentzel and Evgeny Kuznetsov at the deadline to help a team that rolls four lines effectively. They could be the difference-makers in this series.
Evans: Hurricanes in 6. The Rangers overwhelmed the Capitals in the first round with their special teams, scoring six power-play goals and tacking on two more short-handed tallies. But they held just a moderate edge in even-strength goals at 7-5. The Hurricanes had a better power play and penalty kill than the Rangers this season — one of the only teams that can say that — and were also the league's top puck-possession unit. Maybe the Rangers' high-end talent can help even the playing field but the bet is the Hurricanes' depth wins out.
Florida Panthers vs. Boston Bruins
Brehm: Panthers in 6. The Bruins didn't play well in the first period of Games 5 and 6 when the Maple Leafs played with desperation. The Panthers play that style all the time. Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman should be able to steal a couple games, but the Panthers' superior talent will win out in the end.
Evans: Panthers in 5. I don't see the Bruins getting revenge this year. The Panthers are better and the Bruins are worse. Florida looked like a team about to make a deep run while running past the rival Lightning. Boston is lucky it survived the Leafs after lackluster play late in the series.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Edmonton Oilers
Brehm: Oilers in 5. The Oilers dominated the Los Angeles Kings on special teams in the first round. The productive power play was expected. But they went 12-for-12 on the penalty kill. The Canucks, whose power play was just average in the first round, will have their hands full.
Evans: Oilers in 5. Third-string goalie Arturs Silovs stepping in and leading the Canucks into the second round is an awesome story. Facing Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and the rest of the Edmonton Oilers with your third-string goalie, though, is not ideal.