Our NHL writers, analysts and editors weigh in with their predictions for the first round of the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs -- plus their picks to win the Cup.
EASTERN CONFERENCE WAS-CBJ PIT-PHI TB-NJD BOS-TOR Allen Capitals in 5 Penguins in 4 Lightning in 6 Maple Leafs in 7 Arledge Blue Jackets in 7 Penguins in 6 Lightning in 5 Maple Leafs in 7 Buccigross Blue Jackets in 7 Penguins in 7 Lightning in 6 Bruins in 7 Chandan Capitals in 6 Flyers in 7 Devils in 7 Bruins in 5 Cohn Capitals in 6 Penguins in 6 Lightning in 6 Bruins in 7 Crawford Capitals in 6 Penguins in 6 Devils in 7 Maple Leafs in 7 Kaplan Capitals in 7 Penguins in 6 Lightning in 6 Bruins in 7 Kavanagh Capitals in 6 Penguins in 7 Lightning in 6 Bruins in 5 La Greca Blue Jackets in 6 Penguins in 6 Devils in 7 Bruins in 7 Levy Blue Jackets in 7 Penguins in 5 Lightning in 6 Bruins in 6 Masi Blue Jackets in 6 Penguins in 6 Lightning in 5 Maple Leafs in 7 Matiash Capitals in 7 Penguins in 5 Lightning in 6 Bruins in 7 Melrose Blue Jackets in 6 Penguins in 6 Lightning in 5 Bruins in 7 Peters Capitals in 6 Penguins in 7 Lightning in 5 Maple Leafs in 7 Wyshynski Blue Jackets in 7 Penguins in 6 Lightning in 6 Maple Leafs in 6
WESTERN CONFERENCE NSH-COL WPG-MIN VGK-TB ANA-SJS Allen Predators in 5 Jets in 6 Kings in 7 Ducks in 7 Arledge Predators in 4 Jets in 6 Kings in 7 Ducks in 7 Buccigross Predators in 6 Jets in 6 Golden Knights in 7 Ducks in 7 Chandan Predators in 5 Wild in 6 Kings in 6 Ducks in 6 Cohn Predators in 5 Jets in 5 Golden Knights in 7 Ducks in 7 Crawford Predators in 5 Jets in 5 Golden Knights in 7 Ducks in 7 Kaplan Predators in 5 Jets in 6 Kings in 6 Sharks in 7 Kavanagh Predators in 5 Jets in 4 Golden Knights in 6 Sharks in 7 La Greca Predators in 5 Jets in 5 Kings in 6 Ducks in 7 Levy Predators in 5 Jets in 5 Golden Knights in 7 Sharks in 7 Masi Predators in 5 Jets in 7 Golden Knights in 7 Sharks in 7 Matiash Predators in 5 Jets in 6 Kings in 6 Sharks in 7 Melrose Predators in 5 Jets in 6 Kings in 7 Ducks in 7 Peters Predators in 4 Jets in 5 Kings in 6 Ducks in 7 Wyshynski Predators in 4 Jets in 5 Golden Knights in 7 Sharks in 7
STANLEY CUP WINNER EAST WEST CUP WINNER Allen Capitals Predators Capitals Arledge Lightning Jets Lightning Buccigross Lightning Predators Predators Chandan Bruins Golden Knights Bruins Cohn Bruins Predators Predators Crawford Capitals Predators Capitals Kaplan Bruins Predators Predators Kavanagh Bruins Predators Predators La Greca Bruins Predators Bruins Levy Bruins Predators Bruins Masi Lightning Jets Lightning Matiash Lightning Predators Predators Melrose Lightning Predators Predators Peters Lightning Predators Predators Virk Lightning Sharks Lightning Wyshynski Lightning Predators Predators
ESPN Experts panel: Sean Allen, NHL fantasy columnist; Ben Arledge, associate editor; John Buccigross, SportsCenter anchor; Linda Cohn, SportsCenter anchor; Sachin Chandan, hockey researcher for ESPN the Magazine; Aimee Crawford, senior editor; Emily Kaplan, national NHL reporter; Tim Kavanagh, general editor; Don La Greca, ESPN Radio host; Steve Levy, SportsCenter anchor; Vince Masi, Sports and Information research specialist; Victoria Matiash, NHL fantasy columnist; Barry Melrose, NHL analyst; Chris Peters, NHL prospects columnist; Greg Wyshynski, senior NHL writer.