Stanley Cup Playoffs first-round predictions

NHL.com staff members make their picks for eight series

2020_SCP_1st_round

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By NHL.com @NHLdotcom

The Stanley Cup Qualifiers were not kind to the NHL.com staff members who made their predictions for the best-of-5 series and round-robin. None of the 16 who made picks had a winning record, with five finishing 4-4.

As for the round-robin, six predicted the Vegas Golden Knights would finish No. 1 in the West; just one (Mike G. Morreale), correctly picked the Golden Knights to finish No. 1 in the West and the Philadelphia Flyers to finish No. 1 in the East.

But they are back to try again for the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which begin Tuesday.

Here are their selections:

Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

Qualifiers record: 3-5

Eastern Conference First Round

PHI vs. MTL:Philadelphia Flyers

TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning

WSH vs. NYI:New York Islanders

BOS vs. CAR: Boston Bruins

Western Conference First Round

VGK vs. CHI:Vegas Golden Knights

COL vs. ARI:Colorado Avalanche

DAL vs. CGY: Calgary Flames

STL vs. VAN: Vancouver Canucks

Tim Campbell, staff writer

Qualifiers record: 1-7

Eastern Conference First Round

PHI vs. MTL: Philadelphia Flyers

TBL vs. CBJ:Tampa Bay Lightning

WSH vs. NYI:Washington Capitals

BOS vs. CAR: Boston Bruins

Western Conference First Round

VGK vs. CHI: Vegas Golden Knights

COL vs. ARI:Colorado Avalanche

DAL vs. CGY: Calgary Flames

STL vs. VAN: St. Louis Blues

Brian Compton, deputy managing editor

Qualifiers record: 3-5

Eastern Conference First Round

PHI vs. MTL: Philadelphia Flyers

TBL vs. CBJ:Tampa Bay Lightning

WSH vs. NYI: New York Islanders

BOS vs. CAR:Boston Bruins

Western Conference First Round

VGK vs. CHI:Vegas Golden Knights

COL vs. ARI:Colorado Avalanche

DAL vs. CGY: Dallas Stars

STL vs. VAN: Vancouver Canucks

Mike Kelly breaks down the western conference battle

Nick Cotsonika, columnist

Qualifiers record: 2-6

Eastern Conference First Round

PHI vs. MTL:Philadelphia Flyers

TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning

WSH vs. NYI: Washington Capitals

BOS vs. CAR:Carolina Hurricanes

Western Conference First Round

VGK vs. CHI:Vegas Golden Knights

COL vs. ARI:Colorado Avalanche

DAL vs. CGY:Calgary Flames

STL vs. VAN: St. Louis Blues

William Douglas, staff writer

Qualifiers record: 4-4

Eastern Conference First Round

PHI vs. MTL: Philadelphia Flyers

TBL vs. CBJ:Columbus Blue Jackets

WSH vs. NYI: Washington Capitals

BOS vs. CAR: Carolina Hurricanes

Western Conference First Round

VGK vs. CHI:Vegas Golden Knights

COL vs. ARI: Colorado Avalanche

DAL vs. CGY: Dallas Stars

STL vs. VAN: St. Louis Blues

Tom Gulitti, staff writer

Qualifiers record: 4-4

Eastern Conference First Round

PHI vs. MTL: Philadelphia Flyers

TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning

WSH vs. NYI: Washington Capitals

BOS vs. CAR:Carolina Hurricanes

Western Conference First Round

VGK vs. CHI: Vegas Golden Knights

COL vs. ARI: Colorado Avalanche

DAL vs. CGY:Calgary Flames

STL vs. VAN:St. Louis Blues

Pete Jensen, senior fantasy editor

Qualifiers record: 2-6

Eastern Conference First Round

PHI vs. MTL:Philadelphia Flyers

TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning

WSH vs. NYI: New York Islanders

BOS vs. CAR: Carolina Hurricanes

Western Conference First Round

VGK vs. CHI: Vegas Golden Knights

COL vs. ARI: Colorado Avalanche

DAL vs. CGY: Calgary Flames

STL vs. VAN:St. Louis Blues

Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor

Qualifiers record: 1-7

Eastern Conference First Round

PHI vs. MTL:Philadelphia Flyers

TBL vs. CBJ:Tampa Bay Lightning

WSH vs. NYI: Washington Capitals

BOS vs. CAR: Carolina Hurricanes

Western Conference First Round

VGK vs. CHI: Vegas Golden Knights

COL vs. ARI:Colorado Avalanche

DAL vs. CGY: Calgary Flames

STL vs. VAN:St. Louis Blues

Tracey Myers, staff writer

Qualifiers record: 4-4

Eastern Conference First Round

PHI vs. MTL:Philadelphia Flyers

TBL vs. CBJ: Columbus Blue Jackets

WSH vs. NYI:Washington Capitals

BOS vs. CAR: Boston Bruins

Western Conference First Round

VGK vs. CHI: Vegas Golden Knights

COL vs. ARI: Colorado Avalanche

DAL vs. CGY: Calgary Flames

STL vs. VAN: St. Louis Blues

Mike G. Morreale, staff writer

Qualifiers record: 3-5

Eastern Conference First Round

PHI vs. MTL: Philadelphia Flyers

TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning

WSH vs. NYI:New York Islanders

BOS vs. CAR: Carolina Hurricanes

Western Conference First Round

VGK vs. CHI: Vegas Golden Knights

COL vs. ARI:Colorado Avalanche

DAL vs. CGY:Calgary Flames

STL vs. VAN: St. Louis Blues

Bill Price, Editor-in-Chief

Qualifiers record: 3-5

Eastern Conference First Round

PHI vs. MTL:Philadelphia Flyers

TBL vs. CBJ:Columbus Blue Jackets

WSH vs. NYI:New York Islanders

BOS vs. CAR: Boston Bruins

Western Conference First Round

VGK vs. CHI: Vegas Golden Knights

COL vs. ARI:Colorado Avalanche

DAL vs. CGY: Dallas Stars

STL vs. VAN: St. Louis Blues

Shawn Roarke, Senior Director of Editorial

Qualifiers record: 1-7

Eastern Conference First Round

PHI vs. MTL: Philadelphia Flyers

TBL vs. CBJ:Columbus Blue Jackets

WSH vs. NYI: Washington Capitals

BOS vs. CAR: Boston Bruins

Western Conference First Round

VGK vs. CHI: Vegas Golden Knights

COL vs. ARI:Colorado Avalanche

DAL vs. CGY: Calgary Flames

STL vs. VAN:St. Louis Blues

Dan Rosen, senior writer

Qualifiers record: 4-4

Eastern Conference First Round

PHI vs. MTL:Philadelphia Flyers

TBL vs. CBJ:Tampa Bay Lightning

WSH vs. NYI:New York Islanders

BOS vs. CAR:Carolina Hurricanes

Western Conference First Round

VGK vs. CHI: Vegas Golden Knights

COL vs. ARI:Colorado Avalanche

DAL vs. CGY: Dallas Stars

STL vs. VAN:Vancouver Canucks

David Satriano, staff writer

Qualifiers record: 3-5

Eastern Conference First Round

PHI vs. MTL: Philadelphia Flyers

TBL vs. CBJ:Tampa Bay Lightning

WSH vs. NYI: Washington Capitals

BOS vs. CAR: Boston Bruins

Western Conference First Round

VGK vs. CHI: Vegas Golden Knights

COL vs. ARI: Arizona Coyotes

DAL vs. CGY: Dallas Stars

STL vs. VAN: St. Louis Blues

Dave Stubbs, columnist

Qualifiers record: 4-4

Eastern Conference First Round

PHI vs. MTL:Philadelphia Flyers

TBL vs. CBJ:Tampa Bay Lightning

WSH vs. NYI: New York Islanders

BOS vs. CAR: Carolina Hurricanes

Western Conference First Round

VGK vs. CHI: Vegas Golden Knights

COL vs. ARI: Colorado Avalanche

DAL vs. CGY: Calgary Flames

STL vs. VAN:St. Louis Blues

Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

Qualifiers record: 2-6

Eastern Conference First Round

PHI vs. MTL:Philadelphia Flyers

TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning

WSH vs. NYI: Washington Capitals

BOS vs. CAR:Carolina Hurricanes

Western Conference First Round

VGK vs. CHI:Vegas Golden Knights

COL vs. ARI: Colorado Avalanche

DAL vs. CGY: Calgary Flames

STL vs. VAN:St. Louis Blues

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