Avs in 6
Oilers in 7
Lightning in 7
Canes in 5

Most exciting: Panthers/Lightning
Highest scoring: Flames/Oilers
Lowest scoring: Canes/Rangers

I'll go:

Winners: COL, EDM, TBL, CAR
Most exciting: CAL v EDM
Highest scoring: COL v STL
Lowest scoring: CAR v NYR

STL in 7
CGY in 5
TBL in 7 - most exciting, highest scoring
CAR in 6 - lowest scoring

Well, we're all agreed on the lowest scoring series anyhow! Interestingly, the top 2 goalies (min. 4 GP) so far in the playoffs are Markstrom & Smith, yet nobody thinks that series will be the lowest scoring!

Remaining 8 teams by goal differential per game.

1. COL: 5.25 GF - 2.25 GA = +3.00
2. EDM: 3.86 GF - 2.43 GA = +1.43
3. STL: 3.67 GF - 2.67 GA = +1.00
4. CAR: 3.43 GF - 2.86 GA = +0.57
5. FLA: 3.33 GF - 3.17 GA = +0.16
6. CGY: 2.14 GF - 2.00 GA = +0.14
7. TBL: 3.29 GF - 3.43 GA = -0.14
8. NYR: 4.00 GF - 4.14 GA = -0.14

Interesting to me how the "experts" have almost all chosen Calgary to win the Pacific. Calgary was consistently good all season long whereas Edmonton had ups and downs, and yet Calgary finished with 50 wins compared to Edmonton's 49.

In 38 games under Woodcroft, Edmonton posted a .724 win percentage, tied for 2nd best record in the league with, you guessed it, Calgary. Over that span Edmonton scored 145 goals (5th) to Calgary's 146 (4th), while allowing 105 (11th) to Calgary's 100 (5th). Calgary had the luxury of having their starter available the whole time (Markstrom started 28 of 38 games) whereas Edmonton didn't (Smith started 19 of 38 games), yet they finished with basically identical records: Calgary 25-8-5 and Edmonton 26-9-3.

I'm simply not seeing any daylight between these two teams. Why then is the media nearly unanimous in their adulation for Calgary?

One down, three to go.

I really thought Florida would make a series of it, but their PP went flaccid and Vasilenskiy was unreal (unlike the first round).

Is it just me or was the "Battle of Florida" a complete dud? 4-0 sweep with just 16 goals scored total. The Battle of Alberta had nearly that many in the first game!

Pacific: 28 goals in 3 games (9.33 G/GP)
Central: 26 goals in 4 games (6.50)
Eastern: 16 goals in 4 games (4.00)
Metro: 9 goals in 3 games (3.00)

I think the whole league is watching the BOA tonight!

BOF was a complete dud on ice but it sure was fun for the Panthers in the clubs

Update:

Pacific: 36 goals in 4 games (9.00 G/GP)
Central: 26 goals in 4 games (6.50)
Eastern: 16 goals in 4 games (4.00)
Metro: 14 goals in 4 games (3.50)

Pacific: CGY 16 - EDM 20 (EDM leading 3-1)
Central: COL 15 - STL 11 (COL leading 3-1)
Eastern: FLA 3 - TBL 13 (TBL won 4-0)
Metro: CAR 6 - NYR 8 (series tied 2-2)

2 for 2 so far...

Final update

Pacific: 45 goals in 5 games (9.00 G/GP)
Central: 40 goals in 6 games (6.67)
Eastern: 16 goals in 4 games (4.00)
Metro: 33 goals in 7 games (4.71)

Pacific: CGY 20 - EDM 25 (EDM won 4-1)
Central: COL 22 - STL 18 (COL won 4-2)
Eastern: FLA 3 - TBL 13 (TBL won 4-0)
Metro: CAR 13 - NYR 20 (NYR win 4-3)

So the BoF was in fact the lowest scoring series and the BOA was the highest. And I correctly predicted the winner in 3 of the 4 divisions - my apologies to Rangers fans for underestimating their team.

On to the Conference Finals!! 🥳🥳