Advertisement

Here Is Murley's NHL Playoffs Preview & Predictions Feat. Spittin' Chiclets

$EBR Stanley Cup Previews and Predictions

Mark LoMoglio. Getty Images.

NOTE: THESE ARE SERIES PREDICTIONS---NOT GAMBLING PICKS. GAMBLING PICKS WILL BE FEATURED IN SEPARATE BLOGS.

Central but really the South Division!

Carolina Hurricanes vs Nashville Predators - Waffle House series

Getty Images.

Everyone knows Nashville is dead to us so I had to take my time with this series. Yes, what they did to the $EBR Crew towards the end of the season was a disgrace. So I am riding with Carolina who has had a hell of a season and the home-ice advantage to take down the Preds. Order up an All-star Breakfast and a Papa Joe's Pork chop with eggs from 1 of the 186 Waffle House locations in North Carolina and put your money on Canes to win the series.

Odds - Carolina -240/Nash +190

Murls - CAR in 7

RA - CAR in 7

Whit - CAR in 5

Grinnelli - CAR in 5 

Biz - CAR in 6

Tampa Bay Lightning vs Florida Panthers - Beach Bars Series

Jeff Greenberg. Getty Images.

Florida has excelled all season with a great mix of veterans and great goaltending but the real reason has to be they have the most experience playing with little or no fans in the building. The stable of goalies for the Panthers to mix in if one of them struggles at the start is key. Also, can the NHL wake up to the fact they have an absolute star in Barkov. People of South Florida party on the A1A with a bucket of beers on the patio of the Elbo room with your winnings from this series… insider tip is they only accept cash.

Odds - TB -143/Panthers +116

Murls - FLA in 6

RA - FLA in 7

Whit - TB in 6

Grinnelli - TB in 6

Biz - FLA in 7

East Division

Pittsburgh Penguins vs New York Islanders - Whitney vs Borelli Series

Phillip MacCallum. Getty Images.

Advertisement

The Whit is not a fan of the Isles and their style of play and Frankie is as diehard of a fan as anyone will ever see. The Twitter exchange during this series is a must-follow. Barzal is electric to watch but our old friend #87 has been on a mission all year. If you remember a couple of years back the Islanders swept Pittsburgh in the first round, but don't worry Pens fans Sid the Kid has the memory of an elephant and will exact his revenge. $EBR is jumping on board and riding Sid’s coattails just like Whitney did during his whole Pitt career. We are taking this all the way to PNC Bank baby!

Odds - Pitt -150/Isles +121

Murls - PIT in 5

RA - NYI in 7

Whit - PIT in 7

Grinnelli - PIT in 7

Biz - PIT in 6

Washington Capitals vs Boston Bruins - PFT vs RA Bragging Rights Series

This series is must-watch tv and is going to have it all. The teams are incredible and either can win it all but the chance for something insane to happen will have me staying up late. Marchand and Wilson are two of the most polarizing players in the league and I would take them both on my team. If this series is played low scoring and at a slow pace that suits Boston then that spells trouble for the Caps. Caps have health issues as Ovie and Kuznetsov have missed a lot of time. The Taylor Hall trade is the best of the deadline and he has become a game-changer again. The rule is never to bet against a star player in the playoffs when he is about to become a free agent with the chance to get paid. Boston fans in the building pounding those draft beers and going crazy will give the Bruins the fuel to win all their home games. Sorry PFT but Caps are finished.

Advertisement

Odds - Boston -143/Caps +116

Murls - BOS in 6

RA - BOS in 5

Whit - BOS in 6

Grinnelli - BOS in 6

BIZ - BOS in 7

The North

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Montreal Canadians - Battle of the best/worst fanbases

Giphy Images.

Canada, eh? Biz will be focused on watching this series as he and all of Canada is hoping this Leafs team will be the one to end the drought for a Stanley Cup in the Great White North. There are questions of who will be in the pipes as nothing can just be calm and easy in Toronto, but Matthews is The King in the North this series and we’ll be looking at odds for him each game to score the first goal. The Leafs have plenty of wiggle room to figure out who they want to start in net and the only question in this series is who has better poutine after the bars Toronto or Montreal?

Odds - Leafs -275/Canadiens +210

Murls - TOR in 4

RA - MON in 7

Whit - TOR in 6

Grinnelli - TOR in 4

Biz - TOR in 5

Edmonton Oilers vs Winnipeg Jets - Weather stinks series

Giphy Images.

I pulled a Grinnelli mush when I said I liked the Jets as my dark horse pick and they are built to beat the Leafs. Since that podcast dropped, the Jets are 2-6. McDavid and Draisaitl are by far 2 of the best players in the league now. The only duo more entertaining is Harry and Lloyd when they make a trip to a little place called Aspen where the beer flows like wine and the women flock like the salmon of Capistrano. Edmonton will feel 10 degrees warmer after this series and we all get the best matchup for the second round with Leafs vs Oilers.

Odds- Oilers -167/Jets+135

Murls - EDM in 6

Advertisement

RA - EDM in 5

Whit - EDM in 6

Grinnelli - EDM in 5

Biz - EDM in 6

West Division

Vegas Golden Knights vs Minnesota Wild - Sin City vs Twin Cities

Giphy Images.

This is another must-watch series. Vegas has been dominant against most of the teams but the one that gives them the most problems has been the Wild. Do we think the Vegas Flu works during the playoffs? My guy in the desert has said the pools are opening and the craps tables are hot! Who will the Knights ride in net for the playoffs? Will Kirill the Thrill force the team to get on the gas for the playoffs? These are questions worth a 60-minute interview…but I can’t turn my back on the Knights. They have been so good all year and with the addition of Pietrangelo they get it done. Also like everyone else out there I really want to see a VGK-COL series.

Odds - Knights -240/Wild +190

Murls - VGK in 7

RA - VGK in 6

Whit - MIN in 7

Grinnelli - VGK in 6

Biz - VGK in 6

Colorado Avalanche vs St. Louis Blues - Hero Beers vs Budweiser Series

Giphy Images.

The Avs, to put it lightly, are a wagon. They can score all the way through their lineup, play at elevation, and even the goalie is probably going to win the Vezina. This series should not be too much trouble for the Avs. St. Louis will put up a fight or their coach might lace them up and drop the gloves with the guys at the morning skate. If all players are healthy, this series might be a sweep but out of respect for Chief on the bench and Monty as the eye in the sky, I will give them one game. This is an easy ticket to collect on, so make a reservation at the craft beer bar and order a round for Joe Public as long as the ABV is over 10%.

Advertisement

Odds - Avs -335/Blues +255

Murls - COLO in 5

RA - COLO in 7

Whit - COLO in 6

Grinnelli - COLO in 4

Biz - COLO in 6