Sixteen NHL teams have earned post-season privileges, and the Tampa Bay Lightning are most definitely coming out on top.
Okay, so it's not guaranteed, but the NHL's most tropical team is looking like the clear favorite to win the Stanley Cup this time around. The Lightning take on the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first playoff game at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday and, if their 2-1 betting odds are any indication, will sweep the whole series, CBS Sports explains.
Tampa Bay undeniably dominated the Atlantic Division — and the entire NHL — throughout the 2018-19 season with an absurd 62 wins. For reference, the next highest win total came from the Calgary Flames, who racked up 50 victories in the Pacific Division. Literally every writer, analyst, and editor at ESPN predicts the Lightning will win its series, and more than half say they'll win the Stanley Cup.
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Also on Wednesday, the Pittsburgh Penguins will face the New York Islanders, the St. Louis Blues will see the Winnipeg Jets, and last year's Stanley Cup runners up, the Vegas Golden Knights, will play the San Jose Sharks. Those best-of-seven series will likely be tossups, while the Central Divison-topping Nashville Predators are predicted to finish off the Dallas Stars.
First-round first games continue on Thursday when the Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Boston Bruins in yet another toss-up. The Flames earned an overwhelming number of ESPN picks for their faceoff with the Colorado Avalanche, and last year's cup-winning Washington Capitals will likely best the Carolina Hurricanes.
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