2018 Stanley Cup playoff predictions: Confidence high in Jets, Lightning

The NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs begin Wednesday night, and with some interesting storylines to boot.

In the Western Conference, the Nashville Predators and Vegas Golden Knights are the division winners. The Golden Knights will host its first playoff games, while the Predators enter the postseason coming off their best regular-season in franchise history. The Colorado Avalanche and Winnipeg Jets are also back in the playoffs.

In the Eastern Conference, there’s some familiar teams at the top with the Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning. The two-time reigning Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins are also back and could face the Capitals in the second round yet again.

With the Chicago Blackhawks not in the playoffs for the first time in nine years, Second City Hockey’s staff and other Blackhawks fans have found filling out a bracket challenging.

it's almost kind of nice filling out an NHL playoff bracket without having to pick the Blackhawks to go all the way

almost

— Jessica Smetana (@jessica_smetana) April 9, 2018

Just for some laughs, here are SCH’s preseason picks:

Brad: Edmonton over Toronto

Brandon: Tampa Bay over Minnesota

Dave: Montreal over Edmonton

Jenna: Edmonton over Toronto

And here are SCH’s 2018 playoff predictions with overwhelming confidence in a potential Jets vs. Lightning matchup in the Stanley Cup Final.

2018 SCH’s Stanley Cup playoff predictions