Expert Opinion: Hockey Now Writers Make Qualifying Round Picks

Who will make it out of the Qualifying Round?

We’ll soon find out, but the writers across the Hockey Now network have some thoughts before the games begin. I, along with my colleagues at the five other Hockey Now site, have made predictions for each of the Qualifying Round Series and how the teams will be seeded in the East and West.

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So how does everyone see the New York Islanders-Florida Panthers series playing out? It seems to be split. George Richards and I explain Explain our picks below.

Christian Arnold, NYI Hockey Now: Islanders in 5. A healthy Islanders squad will be a tough challenge for the Florida Panthers. This won’t be an easy series for the Islanders, but a healthy Casey Cizikas and Adam Pelech returns them to the team that won 10 straight games and recorded points in 17 consecutive contests.

George Richards, Florida Hockey Now: Panthers in 5. If the Panthers cannot stay patient and wait out the steady-handed Islanders, they’ll be in trouble. But the Islanders don’t offer the kind of firepower that should scare Sergei Bobrovsky too much.

Here’s how George, myself, and the rest of the crew picked the other series:

CHRISTIAN’S PICKS

EAST — PIT vs. MTL: Penguins in 4; NYR vs. CAR: Rangers in 5; CBJ vs. TOR: Blue Jackets in 5. SEEDING: 1. BOS; 2. TB; 3. PHI; 4. WSH.

WEST — CHI vs. EDM: Oilers in 4; WPG vs. CGY: Flames in 5; ARI vs. NSH: Coyotes in 5; MIN vs. VAN: Canucks in 4. SEEDING: 1. STL; 2. VGK; 3. COL; 4. DAL.

GEORGE’S PICKS

EAST — PIT vs. MTL: Penguins in 4; NYR vs. CAR: Rangers in 5; CBJ vs. TOR: Jackets in 5. SEEDING: 1. TB; 2. BOS; 3. PHL; 4. WSH.

WEST — CHI vs. EDM: Oilers in 4; WPG vs. CGY: Jets in 5; ARI vs. NSH: Preds in 5; MIN vs. VAN: Canucks in 4. SEEDING: 1. COL; 2. VGK; 3. STL; 4. DAL.

DAN KINGERSKI, Pittsburgh Hockey Now

EAST— PIT vs. MTL: Penguins in 4; NYR vs. CAR: Rangers in 5; FLA vs. NYI: Islanders in 4. CBJ vs. TOR:Jackets in 5. SEEDING: 1. WSH; 2. TB; 3. PHI; 4. BOS.

WEST — CHI vs. EDM: Blackhawks in 4; WPG vs. CGY: Flames in 5; ARI vs. NSH: Preds in 3; MIN vs. VAN:Canucks in 4. SEEDING: 1. VGK; 2. COL; 3. STL; 4. DAL.

JIMMY MURPHY, Boston Hockey Now

EAST — PIT vs. MTL: Penguins in 5; NYR vs. CAR: Rangers in 3; FLA vs. NYI: Panthers in 5. CBJ vs. TOR: Blue Jackets in 5. SEEDING: 1. TB; 2. WSH; 3. BOS; 4. PHI.

WEST — CHI vs. EDM: Oilers in 4; WPG vs. CGY: Jets in 3; ARI vs. NSH: Preds in 5; MIN vs. VAN: Wild in 5. SEEDING: 1. COL; 2. VGK; 3. DAL; 4. STL.

ADRIAN DATER Colorado Hockey Now

EAST — PIT vs. MTL: Penguins in 4; NYR vs. CAR: Rangers in 5; FLA vs. NYI: Panthers in 5; CBJ vs. TOR: Leafs in 4. SEEDING: 1. PHL; 2. TB; 3. BOS; 4. WSH.

WEST — CHI vs. EDM: Blackhawks in 5; WPG vs. CGY: Flames in 5; ARI vs. NSH: Preds in 3; MIN vs. VAN: Canucks in 4. SEEDING: 1. STL; 2. COL; 3. VGK; 4. DAL.

SHENG PENG, San Jose Hockey Now

EAST — PIT vs. MTL: Penguins in 3; NYR vs. CAR: Hurricanes in 5; FLA vs. NYI: Islanders in 3; CBJ vs. TOR: Maple Leafs in 5. SEEDING: 1. TBL; 2. PHI; 3. BOS; 4. WAS.

WEST — CHI vs. EDM: Oilers in 4; ARI vs. NSH: Coyotes in 4; MIN vs. VAN: Canucks in 5; WPG vs. CGY: Flames in 4. SEEDING: 1. VGK; 2. DAL; 3. STL; 4. COL.