LA Kings and Anaheim Ducks First Round Playoff Predictions

Lori Hultin

I would really like to root for the Predators and in fact, I’m going to pick them despite all of my hockey sense telling me otherwise. No, I don’t really think they are going to win, but how great would it be to see Anaheim knocked out early (and for the Kings, to not have to face them in another playoff series)?

Emily Redenbach

Ugh, I hate to predict the Ducks winning anything but I don’t think Nashville has what it takes. The Ducks are a strong team. They had their issues at the beginning of the season but they came back with enough firepower to win not only the Pacific Division (yes I’m still grumbling that the Kings had like 17 chances to pull that off and couldn’t close it out) but the Jennings Trophy too. It’ll be difficult for the Predators to get past that; but they won’t go down without a fight. It may all come down to goaltending – both teams have relatively strong net minders. Ultimately the Ducks have a proven record in recent playoffs that the Predators just don’t have.

Sean Stone

For me, this is the premier match up of round one. The Ducks are playing great hockey right now, and the Predators have a rock solid lineup. To me it feels too easy to predict a Ducks win. Sports are unpredictable, and it would be predictably unpredictable if the Predators snuck up on the Ducks and pulled the upset. Here’s why that could happen.

The Predators play in the central division, which was an absolute gauntlet this season. They weren’t able to keep pace with the Stars, Blues and Blackhawks, but they are battle tested. And they’re playing a Ducks team that is riding an emotional high right now. At one point it looked like Anaheim might not even make the playoffs at all. Now the Ducks have home ice and are playing a team that finished fourth in their division. I could definitely see a letdown in game one, and the Predators winning their home games on the backs of goalie Pekka Rinne, defensemen Shea Weber and Roman Josi, and attacking threats Ryan Johansen and James Neal. The Ducks have talent all over the ice as well though, but one area of concern could be the youth of their defenders. Five of the eight Ducks defenders are under the age of 25. The future is certainly bright and the Ducks will be good for a long time, but that youth could work against them in this heavyweight series. Predators in six.

Phil Loos

Anaheim in 6.

Jeff Duarte

In our pre-season predictions article I predicted the Montreal Canadiens would defeat the Anaheim Ducks in 7 games to win the Stanley Cup.  As the season started, the “Habs” were making me look like a genius as they got off to a hot start that broke a long time franchise record while the Ducks struggled pathetically and made me look like an idiot.  Now it’s the other way around as the Ducks stormed back and won the Pacific Divison (on the last game of the season) while the Canadiens collapsed and disappeared into an abyss, (not the pro wrestler).

With the division victory, the Ducks now have to face the dangerous Nashville Predators, who clinched their playoff position with a Wild Card spot in the very competitive Central Division.  With the travel and the heavy defensive style that the “Preds” play, a series victory for the Ducks won’t be easy but I predict they will find a way to overcome Nashville and win the series in 7 games, (yes, I said 7 games).

Of course, that means a “Freeway Face-off” re-match between the Kings and the Ducks in the second round but we’ll save that prediction for another day …. SO STAY TUNED!!!