The Pittsburgh Penguins looking to become the first back-to-back Stanley Cup champions since the 1997-1998 Detroit Red Wings, begin their title defense Wednesday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The series begins in Pittsburgh Wednesday and Friday night for Games 1 and 2 before shifting to Columbus for a Sunday evening start at 6:00 p.m. There are no two-day breaks in the series through Games 1-5.
ROUND 1 SCHEDULE
Game 1: Wednesday April 12, 7:30PM | PPG Paints Arena
Game 2: Friday April 14, 7:00PM | PPG Paints Arena
Game 3 Sunday, April 16, 6:00PM | Nationwide Arena
Game 4:Tuesday April 18, 7:30PM | Nationwide Arena
Game 5: Thursday April 20, TBD | PPG Paints Arena
Game 6: Sunday April 23, TBD | Nationwide Arena
Game 7: Tuesday April 25, TBD | PPG Paints Arena
The Penguins finishing the regular season with 111 points, boasted the second most points in the NHL and second best home record in the NHL, going 31-6-4 at PPG Paints Arena.
Pittsburgh would have home-ice in the playoffs against every opponent except Washington. The President Trophy winning Capitals open the playoffs Thursday night vs the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Pittsburgh and Washington again are the clear favorites to come out of the East and many believe they’re on a collision course to meet each other again in Round 2.
The other series in the East are Montreal vs New York Rangers and Ottawa vs Boston in what is a wide open Atlantic Division bracket. The only surprise would be Ottawa coming out of the bracket.
So whose going to be the new yoda and say the team cannot make a long run into the playoffs, and to tear it down??
Well there were always two claiming that which is ironic… like the Sith, always two there is 😉
Plus sammich hates 16 of the 19 regular starters so I can add him to the list of possible blow it up guys
So…. McDavid pulls the Oilers out of the basement with a dominating finish and a large points lead buuuut… Crosby wins the Rocket missing games and with a whole bunch of regulars on the shelf. Who gets the MVPs? Are they split? I would argue each is gonna take home one of them
Sid because McDavid–as silly as it sounds–will have more years to get league recognition and Sid’s work was more impressive, carrying the kids and without the regular team cast due to injuries.
I’ll actually say McDavid wins going away – too big of a points game – this wasn’t 4 points.
i’ll say sid wins because the old guard Canadian voters want superstars to wait their turn.
I can see that matty, there has always been a “politics” game where sometime you really gotta make a huge statement the 1st time or be on the ballot a few times before you get your due… is that 11 point gap gonna be enough when you factor in all the other pieces? Pittsburgh was 4th in man games lost too.
Personal opinion I see McDavid winning the Hart; Lindsay is a tougher call as the players decide