NHL playoffs: First-round predictions; Capitals, Blackhawks get set up nicely

Capitals and Blackhawks should advance with ease, but the Senators could be in trouble vs. Boston

It's time for playoff hockey.

All but one of the NHL's Original Six are among 16 still standing. The defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins are in the mix and the back-to-back Presidents' Trophy-winning Washington Capitals coast into the postseason atop the Eastern Conference with dreams of that ever-elusive title.

But what is playoff hockey without some playoff hockey predictions? With action kicking off Wednesday night, let's project the winner of each first-round series:

Eastern Conference

SERIES	PREDICTED WINNER/SERIES RESULTS
Washington Capitals vs. Toronto Maple Leafs	Capitals, 4-1
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Columbus Blue Jackets	Blue Jackets, 4-3
Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Rangers	Canadiens, 4-3
Ottawa Senators vs. Boston Bruins	Bruins, 4-1

Calling the Caps' waltz past the Maple Leafs is hardly startling, but the Bruins taking out Ottawa 4-1? Gasp. Chalk up Boston as the big spoiler for Round 1.

As for the Penguins, their world-beating offense can and will be worn down over a series by the Blue Jackets' defense.

Western Conference

SERIES	PREDICTED WINNER/SERIES RESULTS
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Nashville Predators	Blackhawks, 4-2
Minnesota Wild vs. St. Louis Blues	Wild, 4-1
Anaheim Ducks vs. Calgary Flames	Ducks, 4-1
Edmonton Oilers vs. San Jose Sharks	Oilers, 4-2

Nothing too shocking here. Maybe San Jose puts up more of a fight, and maybe Calgary does, too, but this one seems a little more set in stone than the East.

In any event, it bodes well for the Blackhawks, who are looking to bring another title back to Chi-Town.