Playoff predictions, third round: Peter vs Ian vs Keith, a coin

Let’s go! I think we’ve got two really exciting series for these conference finals. In the east, two teams that should have bad blood. In the west, some of the highest skill in the league. It will now be a delight to predict them with our friend Keith, a coin.

Keith, a coin, is a quarter. One time I was hanging out with an Australian person and he called the change in his pocket “shrapnel.” Keith is shrapnel, and he correctly predicts hockey series fifty percent of the time, making this series a caustic commentary on randomness in the sport and only the latest manifestation of my grudge over the 2010 Montreal series.

And now the results so far. We use the / score-keeping system, which everyone understands without explanation.

First Round	Peter	Ian	Keith
CAR beat NYI
BOS beat TOR
FLA beat TBL
NYR beat WSH
DAL beat VGK
COL beat WPG
VAN beat NSH
EDM beat LAK
Second Round	Peter	Ian	Keith
EDM beat VAN
DAL beat COL
NYR beat CAR
FLA beat BOS
Third Round	Peter	Ian	Keith
TBD
TBD
Finals	Peter	Ian	Keith
TBD

New York vs Florida

Peter: I’m increasingly grumpy about the New York Rangers, who I don’t think are nearly as good as their regular-season record (President’s Trophy) and playoff record describe. At even-strength play, I think they’re not much more than mediocre, which will be a distinct advantage for the Cats. But I’m worried about Florida’s discipline. Give me Florida in 6.

Ian: If you’ve been following along with my picks all postseason long, I’m picking against the Rangers in every playoff series. There’s no rhyme or reason to it other than their head coach and his system. The roster got them through the first two rounds, but that old Volkswagen of strategy appears to finally be hitting that playoff wall. Florida in 5.

Keith: Florida in 7.

Dallas vs Edmonton

Peter: I am going to love this series. I’ve liked every Dallas game so far, and I thought their series against Colorado was some of the best hockey I’ve seen lately. Edmonton has been getting crazy numbers out of Leon Draisaitl, but they’re much thinner down the lineup and have a weaker goalie. Unless McDavid goes super saiyan, I think the Stars will cruise to the final. Dallas in 5.

Ian: Craig Laughlin said Dallas was his pick to win it all this year and who would doubt a legendary analyst and NHL player like him? I guess, Idiot Me, because I’m on the Zack Hyman hype train to the moon. He’s the first player in the McDavid Era who can predictably score dirty goals for them from anywhere, meaning Edmonton doesn’t have to solely rely on The Other Connor Mc and Leon Draisaitl’s skill to score, which I think was holding them back before. The Oilers are my pick to win it all and it’ll be an awesome thing when they do. Edmonton in 7.

Keith: Edmonton in 7.

Your turn. Drop [CITY] in [NUMBER OF GAMES] and call us wrong.