2018-2019 Nhl Playoffs

Ah yes, it's time for ANOTHER PLAYOFF BRACKET!!!!!!!

Beacause I am not as much of a hockey nut as I am a football nut this post will not contain nearly as much analysis; so if you came here for that I'm sorry. (But come back next January cuz football playoffs are back then)

Because of what I stated above I will only introduce the teams in the bracket without the story behind them or whatever you wanna call it.

East

Spoiler: East

Atlantic

1 Seed, Tampa Bay Lightning
62-16-4, 128 points (Damn)

2 Seed, Boston Bruins
49-24-9 107 points

3 Seed, Toronto Maple Leafs
46-28-8 100 points

Wild Card 2, Columbus Blue Jackets
47-31-4 98 points

Metropolitan

1 Seed, Washington Capitals
48-26-8 104 points

2 Seed, New York Islanders
48-27-7 103 points

3 Seed, Pittsburgh Penguins
44-26-12 100 points

Wild Card 1, Carolina Hurricanes
46-29-7 99 points

West

Spoiler: West

Central

1 Seed, Nashville Predators
47-29-6 100 points

2 Seed, Winnipeg Jets
47-30-6 99 points

3 Seed, Saint Lois Blues
45-28-9 99 points

Wild Card 1, Dallas Stars
43-32-7 93 points

Pacific.

1 Seed, Calgary Flames
50-25-7 107 points

2 Seed, San Jose Sharks (My team \o/)
46-27-9 101 points

3 Seed, Vegas Golden Knights
43-32-7 93 points

Wild Card 2, Colorado Avalanche
38-30-14 90 points (pathetic)

Spoiler: extra shit

You may be confused after seeing those standings, don't worry I was too when I found out a couple of my first round matchups weren't happening because of the NHL's playoff format. I originally thought it was 8vs1, 7vs2, 6vs3, 5vs4 and so on, untill the winners of the East and West met in the Stanley Cup finals. Not quite that simple.

The actuall playoff format is like this:

There are 4 divisions, 2 in each conference, the top 3 teams in each division get a playoff spot, and two extra wild card teams from each conference in either division. (Meaning the Metropolitan divion could have 5 playoff teams and the Atlantic division would only have 3, becasue both Wild Cards where in Metropolitan. The opposite could happen too, 5 In Atlantic, 3 In Metropolitan. And lastly a 4 on 4, where each division has 1 Wild Card team. The West works the same way.) Now that the teams are decided, the playoff bracket goes like so, The bracket is split into 2 sides, East and West, winners of those go to the Stanley Cup Finals. But each side, East and West, Are separated into Atlantic/Metropolitan and Central/Pacific respectively. Meaning two teams from the, let's say Pacific division can only meet if one of those teams was a Wild Card,

If you're still confused let me give you a visual aid. We will be using this years Pacific bracket for examples. The 3 Divison Winners of The Pacific are Calgary, San Jose, and Vegas. So they will be in a mini bracket together. Their bracket must have one Wild Card Team in it, and since Calgary is the best Team In the West, they get the No.2 (worse) Wild Card, Colorado. Giving us a bracket like this.

Colorado (WC 1) VS Calgary (No.1 Pacific)

Vegas (No.3 Pacific) VS San Jose (No.2 Pacific)

The winners of those 2 sieries will play eachother With the higher seed getring home ice advantage.

So if Calgary wins they will get home Ice beacuse theyre no.1 in the mini bracket. And if Colorado wins they will have road ice disadvantage because theyre the worst seed, Wild Card.

e.g. San Jose and Calgary win.

San Jose (2) VS Calgary (1)

The winner of that will play the winner of the Central Division, whoever has the better regular season record gets home Ice, winner of that advances to Stanley Cup VS. the East Conf winner. Same home ice rules as the previous round.


Now that my mini essay is out of the way let's get this going ;)

1st round​

East

Atlantic​

WC 2 Columbus Blue Jackets
VS.
1 Tampa Bay Lightning

Most peeps probs thinking a sweep or a 5 game series, but I honestly have high expectations for this one, idk why.

Tampa Bay in 7

3 Toronto Maple Leafs
VS.
2 Boston Bruins

More Suffering for Leafs Fans!!!!! You're back in the playoffs but going nowhere. You find yourself driving into a brick wall named the Bruins

Boston in 5

Metropolitan​

WC 1 Carolina Hurricanes
VS.
1 Washington Capitals

If you think the Caps can do the shit they did last year the you're sorely mistaken, the Caps repeating will be like the Washington Nationals winning a playoff series, it's never going to happen. Enjoy the ring while you can Caps fans, it will be your only one for decades.

Carolina in 7

3 Pittsburgh Penguins
VS.
2 New York Islanders

The Pens where looking good this year untill the aquired league laughing-stock Erik Gudbranson and derailed their season, Luckily for them, they where already on a good run, which had them in a good position to get a playoff spot already. Unluckily for them, they're gonna get rekt by New York.

New York Sweeps

West

Central
​

WC 1 Dallas Stars
VS.
1 Nashville Predators

I don't know much about these teams, so Imma just go with the safer bet.

Nashville in 6

3 Saint Lois Blues
VS.
2 Winnipeg Jets

God damn, another pair of teams I know little to nothing about? I really should pay more attention to hockey.

Saint Lois in 7

Pacific
​

WC 2 Colorado Avalanche
VS.
1 Calgary Flames

The Avalanche are the only team that made it in with a losing record meaning they'll start off Vs. no.1 in the West, and they will get the shit kicked out of them in 4 games. Honestly if it was possible to win a sieries 7 games to 0 Calgary would do it.

Calgary Sweeps

3 Vegas Golden Knights
VS.
2 San Jose Sharks

These teams met last year in the 2nd round (Conference Semis) Vegas won 4 games to 2... that's not happening again.

San Jose in 7

Remaining teams

Spoiler: Remaining teams

East
Atlantic
1, Tampa Bay
2, Boston
Metropolitan
2, New York
WC 1, Carolina
West
Central
1, Nashville
3, Saint Lois
Pacific
1, Calgary
2, San Joes

Division Finals

East

Atlantic
​

2 Boston Bruins
VS.
1 Tampa Bay Lightning

Whose the Best team in the East? Not number 1. Tampa Bay has a post season virus, always play like gods in the regular season the choke to death in the playoffs, it never fails. Watching the Lightning do this year after year has my arm twisted into picking against them, RIP Lightning fans.

Boston in 6

Metropolitan​

WC 1 Carolina Hurricanes
VS
2 New York Islanders

Now that Carolina is back in the playoffs for the first time in 10 years they can get rekt by the Islanders!

New York in 5

West

Central
​

3 Saint Lois Blues
VS.
1 Nashville Predators

I still know hardly anything about these teams, kms.

Nashville in 7

Pacific
​

2 San Jose Sharks
VS.
1 Calgary Flames

Similarly to Tampa Bay, my Sharks also have a post season virus, but in a different form. instead of a few great seasons followed by dissapointments we always make the playoffs... and always dissapoint. We've made the playoffs every year except one for the last 20 years or smth like that? Insane right? You would think we would have a few cups by now right? No. We've only made it to the finals once, and lost to Pittsburgh in 6. Because of this legendary inneptitude and our problematic defense/goaltending I just cannot pick the Sharks, here's to another wasted year.

Calgary in 6

Renaining Teams

Spoiler: Remaining Teams

East
2, Boston
2, New York
West
1, Calgary
1, Nashville

Conference Finals

East
​

2 New York Islanders
VS.
2 Boston Bruins

New York's season has met a brick wall named the Bruins. New York had a solid season behind their new coach Barry Trotz that surprised many. But it shall be siezed bu Boston like they did Tampa Bay.

Boston in 5

West
​

1 Nashville Predators
VS.
1 Calgary Flames

I had Calgary beating the Sharks here before I realised that wasn't possible, and if you're wondering where Nashville was in my other bracket they lost to the Sharks. Enough said?

Calgary in 5

Stanley Cup Finals

Boston Bruins
VS.
Calgary Flames
​

My God. Another Boston team in the Finals? Where's my liquor?

The Stanley Cup Finals, The battle for ultimate glory and abd a years worth of bragging rights in the hockey realm. Who wins?



The answer is Calgary.

Like I said Calgary was the only consistanly good team in the West, they where also the 2nd best team in the league behind Tampa, but since Tampa is gone now Calgary will strike down on the Bruins with all of their might and finally vanquish a Boston team in the Finals.

Calgary in 7

Stanley Cup Champions
Calgary Flames
​

It took me 3.5 hours to do this because I realised my bracket was impossible once i had gotten to the finals. I'm tired goodbye


Edit: I fixed some problems with the bracket (shit spelling/grammar, missing win totals etc.) I probs shouldnt have done this at 2 AM. Anyway Im sure I missed some shit so plz lemme know if you find any dumb mistakes

 

fucking lol
a perfect depiction of Tampa tbh, kick ass early on and choke it all away when it matters

 

The biggest chokejob in sports is upon us...

 

AHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAH!





Edit: the Pens also got swept, what a shock

 

I dont even know what to say... this choke may be worse than Tampa getting swept by the Blue Jackets...

 

Whew, forced a game 7. Im honestly proud of our goaltending and defense today, we have a solidchance at making a comeback; game 7 is in San Jose as an added bonus. ;)

 

A dark time for Vegas fans... after all but locking up the series witha commanding game 4 win to snag a 3-1 lead they began to fade... a game 5 loss to San Jose started it all, but thats fine right? You still have the next home game to take care of them.

Game 6 wasnt so fruitful, a devistating 2-1 loss in double OT struck fear into their hearts, what to do now? A win or go home situation on the road is never a good sign, but the Golden Knights have plans, stuffing the Sharks for 2 periods to take a 2-0 lead. Starting off period 3 with an early goal to take a 3-0 lead all but sealed another early Sharks elimination, but then... it happened.

Logan Couture started the apocalypse, scoring the first goal in game 7. Still the Knights are fine, a 3-1 lead is easy enough to hold onto. 49 seconds later it was suddenly 3-2, Vegas begins to worry. But alas, they are still fine right? Just tighten up the D and score a goal or 2 to lock this up right?

* 2 minutes and 44 seconds later *

Its happening, the Sharks have tied it up... will Vegas accomplish a choke so big the Tampa Bay will have thr right to laugh at them? Will they become the Warriors of the NHL (without the championships ofc)? They still have a solid shot though, its anyones game at this point.

* 28 seconds later *

God damn Vegas, you went from a 3-0 lead to trailing in 4:01? What the fuck happened? This is honestly pathetic, I'm totally fine with it, but pathetic none the less.

Vegas will not be stopped that easily however. With under 50 seconds left they finally score again, thus sending this game to OT.

But this means nothing, all this turnes out to be is a nother glorious illusion to instill a false hope into their fans... as 18:19 into the OT period their fate was sealed with a goal by Barclay Goodrow.

All of that to waste, a 3-1 series lead and a 3-0 game 7 lead in with 11 minutes left, straight to waste.

Congratulations Vegas Gold Knights

 

Wow, what a first round. I dont think I have ever been more entertained by a playoffs than this one. Why cant the NBA do this.

1st round results

East

Atlantic
​

WC 2 Columbus Blue Jackets
VS
1 Tampa Bay Lightning

Prediction: Tampa Bay in 7
Result: Columbus Swept

*sigh* God dammit Tampa, I expected you to choke but like this? I knew you guys would dissapoint and quite possibly lose this series but you got swept by the 8 seed that had never won 2 games in a playoff series in their franchise history? My God you guys truly are pathetic.

3 Toronto Maple Leafs
VS
2 Boston Bruins

Prediction: Boston in 5
Result: Boston in 7

I gotta give Toronto credit, the played much better than I though they would, sure they blew a 3-2 series lead but still, they impressed me.

Metropolitan
​

WC 1 Carolina Hurricanes
VS
1 Washington Capitals

Prediction: Carolina in 7
Result: Carolina in 7

The Caps proves that last year was a mere fluke by returning to standard Washington form and getting ousted in the first round, I told you Caps fans to savor the moment.

3 Pittsburgh Penguins
VS
2 New York Islanders

Prediction: New York Sweeps
Result: New York Swept

This may have surprused many but as you can see by the original post I saw this one coming, an up and coming squad led by Barry Trotz vs the squads thats getting older and slower, for those wondering, the Penguins dynasty is over.

West

Central
​

WC 1 Dallas Stars
VS
1 Nashville Predators

Prediction: Nashville in 6
Result: Dallas in 6

Look at Nashvilles no.1 defense* go! The poor fucks that where so inept that they stole the show from the offenses absolute shit power play! 0-15 shots on a power play, GG Nashville.
At least you arent Tampa Bay!

* on paper

3 Saint Louis Blues
VS
2 Winnipeg Jets

Prediction: Saint Louis in 7
Result: Saint Louis in 6

Hey guys, Im spelling Saint Louis right this time \o/! Not much interesting to say here, other than Winnipeg blew a 2-0 lead in the 3rd period in the last game. Hey Vegas, does that sound familiar?

Pacific
​

WC 2 Colorado Avalanche
VS
1 Calgary Flames

Prediciton: Calgary Sweeps
Result: Colorado in 5

What the fuck Calgary? I pick you to win it all and you do this to me???? Win 1 game against the worst team in the playoffs? Fucking hell, this makes Tampa Bays choke look like childs play. You dont even get the "At least were not Tampa Bay" badge, this is absolutely disgusting. You should have beat the shit out of these fools. Instead youve let this season, like every other, go down in flames. Pathetic.

3 Vegas Golden Knights
VS
2 San Jose Sharks

Prediction: San Jose in 7
Result: San Jose in 7

Tampa Bay: "We got the Stanley Cup for choking in the bags bitches, we cant even win a game!"

Calgary: "Please, well only snag one from the worst team in the playoffs, at least Columbus is good, nothing can choke harder than us!"

Vegas: "Hold my beer."
*Blows 3-1 Series lead*
*Blows 3-0 lead with 11 min left in Game 7*

Great Job Vegas, youve won your first Stanley Cup! For biggest choke of the century! And you decide to bitch at the refs for "stealing the series" calling a Major penalty instead of a Minor one, while the call was debateable it doesnt matter. The playoffs are meant to pit great teams against eachother and great teams dont give up 4 goals in under 5 minutes in do or die time. Yes, you should have won the series, but at the same time you shouldnt have. As I said earlier great teams dont give up 4 goals in 5 minutes, even if theyre short handed. You also could have locked it up at home in game 6, but the offense decided not to show up for nearly 100 minutes. And instead of aknowledging this and fixing these problems so this doesnt happen next season even if you get a bad call againts you, youve decided to bitch about it, by asking for reviewable penalties; the NFL has already made a mistake by adding those, dont you do it too NHL. This is why Vegas will fail the same way next season, they will never make it to a Stanley Cup win if they dont adress the real problems. Good luck, Vegas.

Final Record: 5-3
Perfect Predictions: 3

Spoiler: Updated Bracket

2nd Round

East
Atlantic
​

WC 2 Columbus Blue Jackets
VS
2 Boston Bruins

Dont let the win over Tampa get to you head Columbus, cuz youre screwed.

Boston in 5

Metropolitan
​

WC 1 Carolina Hurricanes
VS
2 New York Islanders

I somehow managed to perfectly predict both of these series perfectly, so nothing changes here.

New York in 5

West
Central
​

WC 1 Dallas Stars
VS
3 Saint Louis Blues

Ive got a feeling Saint Louis is goind to be dangerous dont really know why, but Im scared of them. I also dont know why I didnt have them picked to beat Nashville in my original bracket. #topnotchanalysis

Saint Louis in 5

Pacific
​

WC 2 Colorado Avalanche
VS
2 San Jose Sharks

If San Jose doesnt win this series Im gonna go berserk....

San Jose Sweeps

Spoiler: Remaining Teams

East
2, Boston Bruins
2, New York Islanders
West
3, Saint Louis Blues
2, San Jose Sharks

Conferense Finals

East
​

2 New York Islanders
VS
2 Boston Bruins

I dont know what I was thinking in my first bracket when I picked Boston in 5, I still think the Bruins will do it, but definitely not in 5.

Boston in 7

West
​

3 Saint Louis Blues
VS
2 San Jose Sharks

Its come the time for my boys to dissapoint me again.... another season down the tubes. When will this suffering end?

Saint Louis in 6

Stanley Cup Finals

Saint Louis Blues
VS.
Boston Bruins
​

This would be a fun series to see, even though its another fucking Boston team... but still, to great teams in a bloodbath for the Stanley Cup. Im predicting this will go 7 gamesx partly because I want it too, and partly becuase these teams would both be competitive enough to make it happen.

Saint Louis in 7

2018-2019 Stanley Cup
Champions
Saint Louis Blues
​

I told you earlier I had a hunch g
they would be tough didnt I? ;)
I mean, we all know what happened to the last team I picked to win it all...

Edit: Changed Colorodo Rockies to the proper Colorado Avalanche, how the fuck didnt I see that earlier

 

Ummm.... New York? Whats going on?

 

Ahh another round of the Sranley Cup playoffs has passed. This round was more competetive than I thought would be... and Im not complaining (except for the Sharks). Now lets see how I faired shall we?

East

Atlantic
​

WC 2 Columbus Blue Jackets
VS.
2 Boston Bruins

Prediction: Boston in 5
Result: Boston in 6

After game 3 I was thinking we might be spared of the Boston bullshit early, then Colombus returned to traditional form and again failed to win more than 2 games. Just another Boston win, what could go wrong anyway?

Metropolitan
​

WC 1 Carolina Hurricanes
VS
2 New York Islanders

Prediction: New York in 5
Result: Carolina Swept

.....

West

Central
​

WC 1 Dallas Stars
VS
3 Saint Louis Blues

Prediction: Saint Louis in 5
Result: Saint Louis in 7

My pick for the Stanley cup almost lost immdiately again.... I may aswell just pick whoevers playing against the Sharks to win it all.

Pacific
​

WC 2 Colorado Avalanche
VS
2 San Jose Sharks

Prediction: San Jose Sweeps
Result: San Jose in 7

God dammit San Jose, You get paired up with the easiest suckers in the bracket and it still takes you 7 games to down them? You cant even win without me getting pissed anymore, let alone lose. Please tell me Colorado was just saving its best for the playoffs and you arent actually this much of a shit pile. *sigh* Probably the latter, why cant you play like a real team in April/May?

Also, thanks to Gabriel Landeskog for being a man and admitting he made a mistake rather than blasting the refs for "stealing the series"

Final Record: 3-1
Perfect Predictions: 0

Spoiler: Updated Bracket

Conference Finals

East​

WC 1 Carolina Hurricanes
VS
2 Boston Bruins

This kind of feels like "Bears vs Eagles 2" The upstart team that came out of nowhere VS the team everybody except its own fanbase hates, I would love to pick Carolina but the puck in game 7 OT will hit the goal post.

Boston in 7
I dont think it will take Boston 7 games to beat Carolina, probs 5, but I gotta throw that Bears jab in there.

West
​

3 Saint Louis Blues
VS
2 San Jose Sharks

Nothing changes here, I expect heart break, and will still probs be shocked at the outcome. Please stop doing this to me....

Saint Louis in 6

Stanley Cup Finals

Saint Louis Blues
VS
Boston Bruins
​

Again, Nothing changes here.

Saint Louis in 7

2018-2019 Stanley Cup Champions
Saint Louis Blues​

 

Nerd



Sports nerd

 

gives me something to do :P

 

The Conference Finals are a thing of the past... which means more shitposting.

East
​

WC 1 Carolina Hurricanes
VS
2 Boston Bruins

Prediction: Boston in 5 7
Result: Boston Swept

As salty as I am, I have to admit I'm a little impressed, Boston was quite convincing in this series and may lead me to consider changing my Stanley Cup Finals pick. Also, Boston team in the Finals, kms.

West
​

3 Saint Louis Blues
VS
2 San Jose Sharks

Prediction: Saint Louis in 6
Result: Saint Louis in 6

Wha~? N- no, I'm not *sniffle* crying. I totally expected this... *sobs*

Seriously though, what the actual fuck? How can one franchise be so historically inept? 18 playoff appearances in 20 years and weve made it to that Stanley Cup Finals once. Fucking once. Spoiler Altert! We lost. You fuckers finally have a chance to break free from this misery, a 2-1 series lead in the conference finals, and then our explosive offence scores just 2 fucking goals in 3 games. This is honestly pathetic, I dont know why I ever get my hopes up for this team. Just end me now...

Final Eecord: 2-0
Perfect Predictions: 1

Spoiler: Final SCF Prediction

Stanley Cup Finals
Saint Louis Blues
VS
Boston Bruins
​

The Stanley Cup is upon us. 2 months of upsets, blowouts and heartbreak. The final 2 teams. Lets have a look

Representing the East
Boston Bruins
​

Making a bid to bring a 3rd consecutive major sports championship to Boston, the Bruins blew threw the end of the East after a first round scare against Toronto. Convinsingly shredding Carolina and stepping up late in the series to knock off Columbus, it's really a shame they have to be from Boston, I would be compelled to root for them.

Representing the West
Saint Louis Blues
​

I may be salty as possible right now but wow. Saint Louis played ridiculously well in those last three games, limiting the Sharks offence to just 2 goals through 3 games and just generally dominating them overall, beating the Sharks in the playoff is certainly not something to be impressed by; but the way they did it, especially late in the series, is something I cant really ignore. As for their previous 2 series wins, they werent exactly that impressive.

So who wins? A Legacy of Failure in the Saint Louis Blues? Or yet another tyranical Boston team? I predict....

2018-2019 Stanley Cup
Champions
Saint Louis Blues
in 6​

 

No trifecta for you Boston. The world rejoices at this choke job.

 

Finals Recap
​

Saint Louis Blues
VS.
Boston Bruins

Prediction: Saint Louis in 7 6
Result: Saint Louis in 7

To start, I could have sworn I picked the Blues to win in 7 and not 6, idk if I was being an idiot or just pressed the wrong number but whatever. Deep down I had the Blues einning in 7 annnnnnnd.... they did exactly that.

This series was super competitive, and yet not so very competitive at all. 3 games where decided by 3 goals or more, and only 2 games decided by 1 goal, 1 of which went to OT. This series was just trading punches, fortuneatly for everyone except Bruins fans the Blues managed to break that trend in game 4 and 5 winning back to back games for the only time in the series. Thus saving everyone from a Boston trifecta, thank you Blues.

And now, tig's finals shoutouts, a new way to put the spotlight on players/moments that deserve it. Weather that be in a negative or positive way.

Lets kick it off with a banger, a negative shoutout to kick us off.

Shoutout to: Shitty officiating. Ah yes, it's not NHL Playoffs without the refs fucking something up now is it? The biggest fuck up they made was a blown tripping call in game 5, that lead to a Saint Louis goal ultimately resulting in a 2-1 Win for the Blues. Had that been called Boston may have won the game, and ultimately the series, but who cares? Fuck Boston.

Shoutout to: Zdeno Chara, for playing in game 5 despite breaking his jaw in the previous game. While it didn't ultimately matter he still gives me wet dreams as I imagine what it would be like if everyone in sports where as badass as hockey players.

Shoutout to: David Ortiz. Yeah, yeah, nothing to do with hockey but still. For those unaware David Ortiz played in the MLB, primarily for the Boston Red Sox, but also for the Minnesota Twins at the start of his career. While he was visiting the Dominican Republic he was shot in the back at point blank range, he is doing fine after 2 surgeries which resulted in the removal of his gall bladder. His liver and intestines where also damaged in the shooting. If there is one thing I don't hate with all of my heart about Boston it's David Ortiz. Gald he's doing better.

And finally, shoutout to: The Saint Louis Blues for winning their first Stanley Cup and knocking of a Boston team for food measure. Congrats Blues.

2018-2019 Stanley Cup Champions
Saint Louis Blues

​