Compelling first round on tap

A weekly lap around the NHL by Free Press hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe

Sing it with us: It’s the mooooooost wonderful time of the yearrrrrrrrrr.

The hockey year, anyway. Buckle up, folks, as the Stanley Cup playoffs get underway on Saturday for what is sure to be another two-month joyride.

The first round is typically the best, with multiple games every night and plenty of energy, excitement and chaos.

And while debate rages on about whether the NHL needs to tweak its format — a play-in round like the NBA? Seeding one through eight? How about one through 16? — there’s plenty to like about the eight matchups now staring us in the face.

You’ve got the Buffalo Sabres making an appearance for the first time since the Atlanta Thrashers were still a thing. That’s not a typo, with a drought that had extended to the 2011-12 season when the 2.0 Winnipeg Jets were born.

You’ve got a battle between two Central division powerhouses in Dallas and Minnesota, who finished third and seventh in the standings. This one likely won’t be for the faint of heart.

You’ve got the battle of Pennsylvania renewed, with the likes of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin going head-to-head with young stars like Travis Konecny and Porter Martone.

You’ve got the Colorado Avalanche looking to be the first Presidents’ Trophy winners since the 2013 Chicago Blackhawks — featuring Winnipegger and Jets forward Jonathan Toews — to win it all.

And you’ve got three Canadians teams looking to end a 33-year championship drought.

Can the Edmonton Oilers get to the Finals for a third straight year and finally the job? Can the upstart Ottawa Senators keep turning hockey heads and channel the ghost of the “Hamburgler” (look it up, kids). Can the Montreal Canadiens, who were the last north-of-the-border winner way back in 1993, get the job done once again?

We’ve dusted off the crystal ball to offer up our fearless predictions on how each series will play out.

WEST

1) Colorado vs. WC2) Los Angeles

MIKE SAYS: Colorado in 5

KEN SAYS: Colorado in 4

2) Dallas vs. 3) Minnesota

MIKE SAYS: Minnesota in 7

KEN SAYS: Dallas in 6

1) Vegas vs. WC1) Utah

MIKE SAYS: Vegas in 7

KEN SAYS: Vegas in 6

2) Edmonton vs. 3) Anaheim

MIKE SAYS: Edmonton in 6

KEN SAYS: Anaheim in 7

EAST

1) Carolina vs. WC2) Ottawa

MIKE SAYS: Carolina in 6

KEN SAYS: Carolina in 7

2) Pittsburgh vs. 3) Philadelphia

MIKE SAYS: Philadelphia in 7

KEN SAYS: Pittsburgh in 7

1) Buffalo vs. WC1) Boston

MIKE SAYS: Boston in 6

KEN SAYS: Buffalo in 6

2) Tampa Bay vs. 3) Montreal

MIKE SAYS: Tampa Bay in 6

KEN SAYS: Tampa Bay in 7

CONFERENCE FINALS:

MIKE SAYS: Colorado over Edmonton, Carolina over Tampa Bay

KEN SAYS: Vegas over Colorado, Carolina over Buffalo

STANLEY CUP FINAL:

MIKE SAYS: Colorado over Carolina. Conn Smythe — Nathan MacKinnon

KEN SAYS: Vegas over Carolina. Conn Smythe — Jack Eichel

AROUND THE GLASS

SURVEY SAYS: Fourteen fun questions. Plenty of interesting answers. The NHLPA took the pulse of 348 skaters earlier this season, asking them to weigh in on a variety of subject matters. The results were released Friday.

1) Which forward could also excel as a defenceman?

Aleksander Barkov, Florida (18%)

Mitch Marner, Vegas (10.8%)

Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh (3.2%)

Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles (2.9%)

Connor McDavid, Edmonton (2.6%)

2) Which defenceman could also excel as a forward?

Cale Makar, Colorado (36.3%)

Quinn Hughes, Minnesota (21%)

Erik Karlsson, Pittsburgh (4.3%)

Lane Hutson, Montreal (3.2%)

Zach Werenski, Columbus (2.9%)

3) Which goalie has the best puck-handling skills?

Jordan Binnington, St. Louis (22.4%)

Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers (14%)

Joey Daccord, Seattle (12.5%)

Joel Hofer, St. Louis (4.9%)

Jacob Markstrom, New Jersey (4.7%)

4) Who has the best nickname in the league?

David (Pasta) Pastrnak, Boston (13.5%)

Patrick (Showtime) Kane, Detroit (4.3%)

Ryan (Factor) O’Reilly, Nashville (3.6%)

Liam (Spicy Tuna) O’Brien, Utah (3.3%)

William (Willy Styles) Nylander, Toronto (3%)

5) Who is the most fashionable player?

William Nylander, Toronto (32.9%)

David Pastrnak, Boston (9.7%)

Auston Matthews, Toronto (7.1%)

Roope Hintz, Dallas (3.8%)

Martin Necas, Colorado (3.2%)

6. Who is the best golfer in the NHL?

Clayton Keller, Utah (15.9%)

J.T. Miller, New York Rangers (6.3%)

Sam Lafferty, Chicago Blackhawks (5.4%)

Matt Boldy, Minnesota (5.1%)

Gustav Nyquist, Winnipeg (4.5%)

7. Which player does the best job with their social media presence?

William Nylander, Toronto (17.4%)

Joey Daccord, Seattle (8%)

Auston Matthews, Toronto (6%)

Max Domi, Toronto (6%)

Brad Marchand, Florida (5.4%)

8. Which player would make a great coach once they retire?

Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh (10.3%)

Nick Foligno, Minnesota (5%)

David Perron, Detroit (2.6%)

John Tavares, Toronto (2.3%)

Mark Stone, Vegas (2.1%)

9. Which player has the most intense training regimen?

Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado (20.7%)

Connor McDavid, Edmonton (5.5%)

Kris Letang, Pittsburgh (4%)

John Tavares, Toronto (3.7%)

Nico Sturm, Minnesota (3%)

10. What is the best team rivalry in the NHL?

Montreal vs. Toronto (43.5%)

Montreal vs. Boston (17.7%)

Philadelphia vs. Pittsburgh (9.3%)

Tampa Bay vs. Florida (8.7%)

New York Rangers vs. New York Islanders (5.5%)

11. What arena has the best visiting dressing room?

Detroit (24.1%)

Seattle (15.2%)

Utah (14.7%)

New York Islanders (12.1%)

Washington (10.6%)

12. If the NHL expands, where would you want it to go?

Houston (34.3%)

Quebec City (16.9%)

Atlanta (9.8%)

Scottsdale (8.9%)

Austin (5%)

13. Should home teams wear their white sweaters?

NO (68.1%)

YES (31.9%)

14. Which NHL team has the best ice?

Montreal (46.8%)

Edmonton (13.2%)

Winnipeg (10.1%)

Minnesota (8%)

Vegas (3.4%)

www.winnipegfreepress.com/mikemcintyre

www.winnipegfreepress.com/kenwiebe