Experts' predictions: First-round playoff picks, Stanley Cup winner

ESPN.com

Apr 6, 2018, 04:34 PM

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.