The NHL playoffs are quite possibly the most exhilarating two months in North American sports.  This postseason is sure to bring lots of excitement, as only 16 points separate the 16 teams in the playoffs, the lowest point differential of postseason teams in NHL history since the NHL expanded to 16 teams in the playoffs.  The parity in the NHL is clear.  It seems as though just about every team in the playoffs has a legitimate shot at hoisting the Stanley Cup.  But in the end, only one team will get to hoist Lord Stanley.  In the end, only one team will be the champions of the National Hockey League.  Here are our postseason predictions.

First Round

Kevin Rosenthal:

(8) Pittsburgh Penguins over (1) New York Rangers in seven games

(7) Ottawa Senators over (2) Montreal Canadiens in six games

(3) Tampa Bay Lightning over (6) Detroit Red Wings in five games

(4) Washington Capitals over (5) New York Islanders in seven games

(8) Winnipeg Jets over (1) Anaheim Ducks in five games

(2) St. Louis Blues over (7) Minnesota Wild in six games

(3) Nashville Predators over (6) Chicago Blackhawks in six games

(4) Vancouver Canucks over (5) Calgary Flames in seven games

Max Steinbaum:  

(1) New York Rangers over (8) Pittsburgh Penguins in seven games

(7) Ottawa Senators over (2) Montreal Canadiens in six games

(3) Tampa Bay Lightning over (6) Detroit Red Wings in six games

(5) New York Islanders over (4) Washington Capitals in seven games

(1) Anaheim Ducks over (8) Winnipeg Jets in six games

(2) St. Louis Blues over (7) Minnesota Wild in six games

(6) Chicago Blackhawks over (3) Nashville Predators in seven games

(4) Vancouver Canucks over (5) Calgary Flames in seven games

Elise Yang:

(1) New York Rangers over (8) Pittsburgh Penguins in seven games

(2) Montreal Canadiens over (7) Ottawa Senators in six games

(3) Tampa Bay Lightning over (6) Detroit Red Wings in five games

(4) Washington Capitals over (5) New York Islanders in seven games

(1) Anaheim Ducks over (8) Winnipeg Jets in five games

(2) St. Louis Blues over (7) Minnesota Wild in seven games

(6) Chicago Blackhawks over (3) Nashville Predators in seven games

(4) Vancouver Canucks over (5) Calgary Flames in six games

Second Round

Kevin Rosenthal:

(8) Pittsburgh Penguins over (4) Washington Capitals in five games

(3) Tampa Bay Lightning over (7) Ottawa Senators in six games

(8) Winnipeg Jets over (4) Vancouver Canucks in five games

(2) St. Louis Blues over (3) Nashville Predators in seven games

Max Steinbaum:

(1) New York Rangers over (5) New York Islanders in six games

(3) Tampa Bay Lightning over (7) Ottawa Senators in seven games

(1) Anaheim Ducks over (4) Vancouver Canucks in six games

(2) St. Louis Blues over (6) Chicago Blackhawks in seven games

Elise Yang:

(1) New York Rangers over (4) Washington Capitals in seven games

(3) Tampa Bay Lightning over (2) Montreal Canadiens in seven games

(1) Anaheim Ducks over (4) Vancouver Canucks in seven games

(2) St. Louis Blues over (6) Chicago Blackhawks in six games

Conference Finals

Kevin Rosenthal:

(3) Tampa Bay Lightning over Pittsburgh Penguins in seven games

(2) St. Louis Blues over (8) Winnipeg Jets in six games

Max Steinbaum:

(3) Tampa Bay Lightning over (1) New York Rangers in seven games

(1) Anaheim Ducks over (2) St. Louis Blues in seven games

Elise Yang:

(1) New York Rangers over (3) Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games

(2) St. Louis Blues over (1) Anaheim Ducks in seven games

Stanley Cup

Kevin Rosenthal:

Tampa Bay Lightning over St. Louis Blues in six games

Max Steinbaum:

Tampa Bay Lightning over Anaheim Ducks in six games

Elise Yang:

New York Rangers over St. Louis Blues in six games