2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Round 1 series picks

Credit: Apr 13, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele controls the puck ahead of Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin in the third period at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

The field of 16 is set, the Stanley Cup playoffs begin April 20, and it’s time for Daily Faceoff’s staffers to battle for bragging rights., the whole group is high on the Dallas Stars. They get a tough draw against the defending champion Vegas Golden Knights, but not enough to scare any of us away. The Stars are just too deep. They’re one of two unanimous picks to win Round 1 in the West.

Despite the Colorado Avalanche’s all-world talent atop their roster, the same Nathan MacKinnon-led group lost to the Seattle Kraken in the first round last year, lest we forget, and just one of eight staffers likes Colorado to get past the Winnipeg Jets this year. The Jets lack Colorado’s star power but are balanced, superior defensively and have the best goalie in the world in Connor Hellebuyck. Just one dissenter went against the Vancouver Canucks.

Out East, it’s not a huge surprise to see everyone picking the New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes to blow past the Washington Capitals and New York Islanders, respectively; the bottom portion of the Eastern Conference playoff race was wildly entertaining in April but also unbelievably messy, so none of us expects its survivors to do much against the true Beasts of the East.

Almost every one of us predicts the Toronto Maple Leafs will conquer their Boston Bruins curse in Round 1 on the strength of superior scoring, while the Battle of Florida had us split 5-3, making it the least agreed-upon series. The Panthers were the far stronger team in the regular season, but that was true two years ago when the Bolts steamrolled them in a sweep during Round 2.

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