My Predictions for the First Round of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs in the National Hockey League

Dear readers of my blog,

These are my predictions for the first round of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs in the National Hockey League.

Florida Panthers (1st in Atlantic Division) vs. Washington Capitals (2nd Western Conference Wild Card): Florida Panthers in five games

Carolina Hurricanes (1st in Metropolitan Division) vs. Boston Bruins (1st Eastern Conference Wild Card): Carolina Hurricanes in six games

Toronto Maple Leafs (2nd in Atlantic Division) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (3rd in Atlantic Division): Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games

New York Rangers (2nd in Metropolitan Division) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (3rd in Metropolitan Division): Pittsburgh Penguins in six games

Colorado Avalanche (1st in Central Division) vs. Nashville Predators (2nd Western Conference Wild Card): Colorado Avalanche in five games

Calgary Flames (1st in Pacific Division) vs. Dallas Stars (1st Western Conference Wild Card): Calgary Flames in five games

Minnesota Wild (2nd in Central Division) vs. St. Louis Blues (3rd in Central Division): St. Louis Blues in six games

Edmonton Oilers (2nd in Pacific Division) vs. Los Angeles Kings (3rd in Pacific Division): Los Angeles Kings in seven games

Here are a few thoughts. Since none of my two favourite teams have made the playoffs, I can watch all games as neutral spectator. I have no favourites whatsoever. The Florida Panthers has been exceptional all season with excellent goaltending, solid defense and especially powerful attacking play that should be enough to comfortably beat the Washington Capitals that is on a slow downward spiral. The Carolina Hurricanes will benefit from its excellent coaching staff and fresh enthusiasm around the team against the Boston Bruins that is going through changes and still lacking consistency. The Tampa Bay Lightning has been champions twice in a row and should never be underestimated while the Toronto Maple Leafs has an infamous history of losing in the first round of the playoffs and the longest draught in the entire league which makes me favour the former over the latter in seven tight games. The experience of the veterans on the Pittsburgh Penguins might pay off in the playoffs against a dynamic New York Rangers that still has't entirely completed its onging reconstruction.

In the Western Conference, the Colorado Avalanche is overdue for an extended playoff run and has a much more balanced team than the Nashville Predators that is on a downward spiral. The Calgary Flames has constantly been getting better throughout the past few seasons while the Dallas Stars couldn't equal its Stanley Cup finals appearance two seasons ago and won't be able to survive for long. The St. Louis Blues has a great squad with experienced veterans, including several reliable Stanley Cup winners which should pay off against the dynamic but less experienced and much overrated Minnesota Wild. Finally, the Los Angeles Kings has been surprising all season long and can play without any pressure and expectations while the Edmonton Oilers could crack under the weight of its expected potential and the stress of an unreliable season with numerous ups and downs.

No matter who you are rooting for, enjoy this season's Stanley Cup playoffs to the fullest!