With two sweeps and just one game seven, the first round of the playoffs has completed. The two weeks that are traditionally the most exciting of the year were uncommonly sedate, but no worries: the second round is here and it is packed with drama. The two best teams in the west face each other, two old Patrick Division rivals bump heads once more, and let’s see how far those Cinderella slippers can take Nate Schmidt and his Vegas Knights.

It’s time for predictions. But first, some sad news.

Friends: Keith, a Coin, is dead. He has been lost to time. I dunno where he is. RIP Keith.

But fret not. For in his place comes, Keith, a Coin, II, Son of Keith, a Coin. All picks made by Adrian, a Coin, for the first round are now transferred to Keith, a Coin, II, who, hereafter, shall be known as Keith, a Coin.

Keith, a Coin, is a 1990 quarter minted in Pennsylvania. Don’t hold that against him. Lots of good things came from Pennsylvania; I just can’t think of any right now.

Now a quick summary of the first round:

Note: I’m using the emojis established by Jamie Hersch. I understand that you don’t agree with some of the choices, that’s cool.

Nashville 🐯 vs Winnipeg 🛩

Peter: This is The Series. I think these are the two best teams in the league, and I cannot wait to watch them beat the heck out of each other. Matty Perreault looks to be out of commission, and though he’s a role player, that’s enough of a sentimental factor for me to give the edge to the Preds. Nashville in 6.

Ian: Winnipeg had a huge season and their first-round series win over the Wild was emphatic and dominant. But Nashville was built to win a Cup and there may be no better player in this year’s postseason than… Filip Forsberg. Nashville in 6.

Keith: Winnipeg.

Boston 🐻 vs  Tampa ⚡

Peter: This is Also The Series. I think these are the other two best teams in the league, and I also cannot wait to watch them beat the heck out of each other. I have a suspicion that the win over Toronto may have been costly for Boston in heretofore hidden ways (e.g. Bergeron is not close to 100 percent). Still, they’re a monster of a team, but I suspect they’re not strong enough the best of the Bolts. Tampa in 6.

Ian: Boston struggled with the speed of the Toronto Maple Leafs and I’m not sure they can handle the blitzkrieg that is the Tampa Bay Lightning for seven games. The Bruins took three of four from the Lightning in the regular season, but every game was close (10-8 goal differential). I think this will be one of the best series of this year’s playoffs, but Andrei Vasilevskiy will pull it out in the end for the Bolts. Tampa in 7.

Keith: Tampa.

Pittsburgh 🐧 vs Washington 🇺🇸

Peter: Oh god. Oh dear. Oh my goodness no. Son of a. Razzle frazzle. Criminy. Gee willikers. Yikes. Ouch. Good luck with that. Woof. Ouchies. Come the heck on. You’ve gotta be kidding me. This again? Yowza. Washington in 6.

Ian: I wrote this morning about my sudden realization that there may be something afoot with this year’s Capitals team. I didn’t believe in the Capitals in the first round, you know, due to logic and numbers. But their emphatic dispatching of the Blue Jackets in four straight games makes me think maybe the second round isn’t this team’s ceiling anymore. On top of that, I just don’t think it’s possible for the Caps to lose a 10th out of 11th series. That’s just so statistically improbable I… You know what? Fuck it. I’m in. Washington in 6.

Keith: Pittsburgh.

San Jose 🦈  vs Las Vegas ⚔

Peter: Instead of losing in six like I predicted, the Golden Knights swept the Kings. I won’t let them make fools of me again. Nate’s journey into impossibility ends in San Jose just kidding no it doesn’t Las Vegas in 6.

Ian: The Vegas Golden Knights are impossibly good. Their fairytale inaugural season will end soon, but not in this round. In Nate I trust. Las Vegas in 5.

Keith: Las Vegas.

Okay, your turn. Share your picks below and lambast me, Ian, and Keith for our picks.