The best postseason in professional sports gets underway tonight. The two months of the NHL playoffs are filled with everything you could possibly want in a postseason. Overtime games are the norm and there seems to always be one series with at least one triple overtime game. Five series will start tonight with the first puck set to drop at 7 p.m. ET.
It's time, #Bolts Nation.
Let's get loud. #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/Hw6Adlnmu3
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) April 10, 2019
Tampa Bay and Columbus is the first series to get underway. The Lightning, after one of the best regular seasons in NHL history, are looking to upend the conventional wisdom that favorites never win the Stanley Cup. President Trophy winners have gone on to win just two of the last 13 Stanley Cups.
Prepare yourselves for Round One.
The Penguins and Islanders faced off four times this season. Where did each team's offense come from on the rink?
Goal locations from every Pens vs. Isles game this season ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/6EiUEHEsov
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 10, 2019
This gives us a pretty good idea of what to expect in the Pens-Islanders series. The Islanders have scored all of their goals against the Penguins down low. They are your typical gritty Barry Trotz team, but a lot of teams those teams come up flat in the postseason. That’s part of the reason why ESPN and other outlets are picking the Penguins to win the series.
GAME DAY: @NHLJets expecting tough battle with 'confident' #STLBlues https://t.co/uovFHbATQK #TSNHockey #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/3pg8TSS2HM
— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) April 10, 2019
Life comes at you fast. Winnipeg was seen as one of the Western Conference’s favorites for much of the year, but losing six of their last nine to end the season has people jumping off the bandwagon. Many are calling for St. Louis to pull off the upset.
The quarter-finals are set for Thursday at the Women’s #IIHFWorlds – LIVE on TSN, the TSN app & TSN Direct:
🇺🇸🆚🇯🇵 – 5:30am et
🇨🇦🆚🇩🇪 – 9am et
🇫🇮🆚🇨🇿 – 12:30pm ethttps://t.co/3PTSwVFR94 #TSNHockey pic.twitter.com/ksxTmCnjPd— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) April 10, 2019
The NHL isn’t the only game in town. The Frozen Four is set to kick off on Thursday, and the IIHF Women’s World Championship Quarterfinals are tomorrow too. The United States and Canada remain the heavy favorites, and the two powers are on a collision course to meet in the Semifinals on Friday.
The New Jersey Devils will pick first at the 2019 NHL draft https://t.co/QLjAoHeWsu pic.twitter.com/G8XjWFnT13
— SI NHL (@SI_NHL) April 10, 2019
Non-playoff teams were crossing their fingers hoping the ping pong balls went their way last night in the NHL Draft Lottery. The New Jersey Devils won the lottery and will pick No. 1 for the second time in three years. They are widely expected to take American Jack Hughes with the first pick.
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