The Stanley Cup Playoffs start this weekend! Just 16 teams remain vying for Lord Stanley’s Cup after a long 82-game season. We dive into the Metropolitan Division playoff series and make picks and predictions for the Rangers vs Capitals and Hurricanes vs Islanders series.
After looking for our picks and predictions for the Atlantic Division, we’re concluding the Eastern Conference playoff picks with the Metropolitan Division.
ATLANTIC DIVISION PLAYOFF PREVIEW: ODDS, PICKS, AND PREDICTIONS
NHL Playoffs Metropolitan Division Odds, Picks, & Predictions
NHL Playoffs Odds, Picks, & Predictions: New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals snuck into the playoffs in Game 82 thanks to some help from the Philadelphia Flyers pulling their goalie. The Caps finished the season on a three-game winning streak and get rewarded with a first-round matchup against the Presidents’ Trophy-winning New York Rangers.
Rangers vs. Capitals Odds
New York Rangers (-400) | Washington Capitals (+340)
Rangers -1.5 Games (-170) | Capitals +1.5 Games (+155)
Over 5.5 Games (-132) | Under 5.5 Games (+115)
The Rangers are the biggest favorites in the first round, with -400 odds, implying an 80% chance of winning the series.
Rangers vs. Capitals Picks & Predictions
The New York Rangers are huge favorites for a reason. They have excellent special teams units with both the power play and penalty kill among the top five in the league. Igor Shesterkin is also a great goaltender between the pipes, and the Rangers made some deadline additions to add to their depth.
Artemi Panarin leads the way up front for the Rangers, and it’s a shame he’s not in the Hart Trophy conversation after a 49-goal, 120-point season. He’s joined by Vincent Trocheck and breakout winger Alexis Lafreniere on the second line. The Rangers also have former Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox on the back end.
The Capitals and Rangers split their season series, with both teams winning twice on home ice. Even if New York dominates the first two games, we saw New Jersey come back from a 2-0 deficit — both 5-1 losses — to take down the Rangers in seven games.
However, the Capitals do have one of the worst goal differentials in playoff history at -36 and needed a lot of help down the stretch to even make the playoffs.
The Rangers should roll, but you can’t just count out the Caps. They should be able to get at least one win on home ice.
Rangers vs. Capitals Pick: Over 5.5 Games (-132)
Rangers vs. Capitals Prediction: Rangers to win Game 1 & Capitals to win the series (+900)
NHL Playoffs Odds, Picks, & Predictions: Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Islanders
The Carolina Hurricanes really turned it on after the trade deadline with the additions of Jake Guentzel and Evgeny Kuznetsov. They’re 16-4-1 since March 7th and 24-8-2 since the All-Star break.
But the New York Islanders had a strong finish as well to finish third in the Metropolitan Division. They went 8-0-1 in their final nine games and 10-2-1 after a six-game losing streak.
Hurricanes vs. Islanders Odds
Carolina Hurricanes (-340) | New York Islanders (+310)
Hurricanes -1.5 Games (-152) | Islanders +1.5 Games (+125)
Over 5.5 Games (-140) | Under 5.5 Games (+115)
The Hurricanes are big favorites as well at -340, implying a 77.27% chance of winning the series.
Hurricanes vs. Islanders Picks & Predictions
The Hurricanes and Islanders meet again in the first round of the playoffs after Carolina took care of business in six games last year. The Canes are an even better team this time around, while the Islanders finished the season with more losses (43) than wins (39).
The key factor for the Hurricanes in these playoffs is Frederik Andersen. The veteran netminder missed nearly four months with blood clotting issues but has been a brickwall since returning. He’s 9-1-0 with a .951 SV% and three shutouts while allowing just 13 goals in 10 starts since March 7th.
What’s even more important is that Andersen is fresh for the playoffs. While other goalies played upwards of 50 or 60 games, Andersen played in just 16 games this season and just ten since March 7th.
The Canes also added some much-needed offensive firepower with Guentzel and Kuznetsov at the deadline. They look like the real deal this year.
But the Islanders have some strengths as well. They’re tough to play against and have a solid goalie tandem in Ilya Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov. Varlamov is starting Game 1 after going 8-1-1 with a .930 SV% in 10 starts since March 10th. Varlamov played for Patrick Roy in Colorado, and the new Islanders coach is riding his guy into the playoffs.
Still, the Canes are the team to beat in the Eastern Conference for a reason.
Hurricanes vs. Islanders Pick: Hurricanes to win Game 1 and the series (-135)
Hurricanes vs. Islanders Prediction: Hurricanes to win in six games (+370)
