The defending champions dispatched the Panthers in the first Sunshine State Showdown in the postseason, backed by the return of Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos.
(3) Tampa Bay Lightningīoth teams closed out their first-round series in six games against formidable foes. NHL playoff predictions: Central Division (1) Carolina Hurricanes vs. In five games, Boston scored five goals in 19 opportunities, which translates to 26.3 percent efficiency with the man advantage The Islanders' penalty kill struggled against the Penguins' power play, allowing three goals in 12 opportunities for 75 percent efficacy. With the squads evenly matched at 5v5, this series could come down to special teams, and the Bruins' power play was clicking on all cylinders against the Capitals. He also has a history of playing well against the Long Island team with 14 goals (tied for his second-most against a team) and 24 points in 27 career games. After being acquired by Boston at the deadline, the forward notched four goals in three games against the Islanders - which were also the Bruins' only three wins of the season series. There are a number of players, on each side, who will play huge roles, but Hall is the one who could be the key. It's pretty much how they lined up in their regular-season series, in which the Islanders won 5-2-1 but only outscored the Bruins 20-18 and managed just three goals in the last three games. Both are sporting similar GF/GP (3.20 for the Bruins and 3.50 for the Islanders) and GA/GP (2.00 for Boston and 2.67 for New York) in the playoffs. This series pairs two evenly matched clubs - as Bruins bench boss Bruce Cassidy said: "We're playing ourselves a little bit" - who are playing quality hockey at the perfect time. The Boys from Beantown, meanwhile, dispatched the Capitals in five games by outscoring the "Great 8," Alex Ovechkin, and crew 16-10. By the way, the team they sent packing 28 years ago also hailed from the Steel City.
The Islanders are sending the Nassau Coliseum off in style as the team not only beat the division champion Penguins in six games but also did it by clinching at home for the first time since 1993. Instead, the Bruins and Islanders are facing off in the second round in the East Division - and the series sure to be a doozy. If this was a normal season, there's a good chance this would have been the Eastern Conference final matchup. (SN Illustration) NHL playoff predictions: East Division (3) Boston Bruins vs.
MORE: Full TV schedule for Round 2 NHL playoffs bracket 2021 and that's what makes the playoffs oh, so special. Will Vegas finally get its Cup? Are the Lightning the NHL's next great dynasty? Or will franchises that have been waiting decades finally lift the Stanley Cup again? The answer is, nobody knows. What will happen in the second round and beyond is anyone's guess.