​And then there were eight…

​The first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs was chock-full of sweeps and surprises. The Canadiens, Wild, and Blue Jackets looked great throughout the year, but were jettisoned early. We’re left with the two conferences sitting at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of fresh blood. In the Eastern Conference, perennial contenders Washington, Pittsburgh, and New York are still in the mix, joined by a fresh face in Ottawa. In the Western Conference, on the other hand, first-round departures by Chicago and San Jose have opened things up for a young, rising team in Edmonton, and for teams still looking to seal the deal and win their first Stanley Cup in a long time (St. Louis) or for the first time ever (Nashville). The entertainment value of the second-round of the Stanley Cup playoffs promises to be high. Here’s a preview of the four conference semifinal matchups, as well as my prediction for each. 

Nashville has hit their stride at just the right time. Playing some of the best hockey of this year’s playoffs, the Predators dispatched the Chicago Blackhawks in a four-game sweep. As has been their Modus Operandi all year, 'Smashville' played tight, physical defense and held the Hawks to just three goals over those four games, shutting them out in the first two. They say defense wins championships and, if that’s true, both teams could be strong contenders. Jake 'The Snake' Allen deserves a lot of credit for the Blues taking out the Wild. The goalie was lights out, posting a .956 save percentage and allowing 1.47 goals per game, second in both categories to Nashville’s Pekka Rinne. Both teams have been in the playoff picture for the past few years, but neither could make the big leap. This year, however, it looks very likely that one might break through.
Series Pick: Nashville Predators in 6

This matchup should be a beauty. The Ducks and Oilers are the two best remaining teams in the Western Conference, finishing the regular season with 105 and 103 points, respectively. The Ducks have the advantage of playoff familiarity, going 18-9 in playoff games in the past three years. They also have plenty of depth, especially with forwards, with solid players like Ryan Getzlaf, Patrick Eaves, Ryan Kesler, and Corey Perry scattered throughout their top three lines. This young and talented Oilers team is fun to watch. Second-year star Connor McDavid is so fast that he makes Speedy Gonzales look like Regular Gonzales, something that should come in handy for breaking open games against a somewhat depleted Anaheim defense. McDavid and Leon Draisaitl can score some goals and will need to test and rattle Ducks’ young goalie John Gibson.
Series Pick: Edmonton Oilers in 7

A tale as old as time…song as old as rhyme…Penguins and the Caps. The Metropolitan Division rivalry resumes in the postseason as these two powerhouses from the East go to battle. The two teams met just last year in the second round, with the Penguins advancing in six games and going on to win the Stanley Cup. This year, the Capitals had a little trouble in the first-round against the upstart Toronto Maple Leafs, but they righted the ship and finished strong. Caps’ goalie Braden Holtby flipped the switch and played extremely well in the last few games of the series; Washington will need that level of play to continue. The Penguins put an end to a great Columbus season with a sweep, even without starting goalie Matt Murray who was injured in warmups before the first game. Backup goalie Marc-Andre Fleury carried the Pens at times in that first series. They will need a lot more of that, as well as some additional defensive pressure, to counter the President’s Cup winning Capitals.
Series Pick: Washington Capitals in 7

Entering the playoffs, the Ottawa Senators had the makings of a team that might struggle. They were the only playoff team with a negative goal differential in the regular season, allowing more goals than they scored. That actually worked in their favor in their tight first-round series with Boston, in which four of the six games went to overtime and all six were decided by just one goal. Ottawa seems accustomed to the close games that are emblematic of playoff hockey. They had the regular season edge against Boston, just as they do against New York. Can they advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in a decade? Or will the Rangers go deep this year? Rangers’ cornerstone, goalie Henrik Lundqvist, will again be a large factor in New York’s success. New York will look to play fast and physical to open things up against an Ottawa team that likes to keep the pace and the scoring at a minimum.
Series Pick: New York Rangers in 6

​The NBA Finals matchup no longer appears set in stone as it seemed to just a few months ago. While the Golden State Warriors are still dominant and remain the odds-on favorites, they have shown that they’re human after all. The Cleveland Cavaliers have garnered some doubt about their plans to repeat. The Cavs skidded down the stretch and chalked up a losing record following the All-Star break (no team has ever won a title after doing so). With some powerful contenders in the West and with the Cavs faltering a little, a Warriors-Cavaliers Finals for the third year straight is not a given anymore.
 
The postseason should be much more entertaining than it appeared it would be as the season was born. Instead, we’ve been gifted with Harden v. Westbrook, the return of the Lebron-Lance Stephenson rivalry, and glimpses at the NBA’s future elite in playoff form with Isaiah Thomas, Jimmy Butler, and Kawhi Leonard all set to take on big roles. It’ll be a rollercoaster from now until June, so buckle in and prepare for the first round with previews of every series and my predictions for each.

Golden State Warriors (1) v. Portland Trailblazers (8)
The Golden State Warriors are the unsurprising number one team in the NBA after their tour de force 2016-17 season. Golden State seeks a return to the NBA Finals and their second title in three years. Durant is back on board, though not quite 100 percent, after missing 19 games with an injury. Even when they’re not at full speed, this team is still quite scary. Portland has potential to steal a game away from Golden State, especially if Damian Lillard plays as lights out as he has been. This Blazers squad is not the same one that the Warriors played earlier in the season. Since then, the Blazers have acquired Jusuf Nurkic (who should be healthy enough to play in the series) and have gone on a hot streak. Still, the Blazers shouldn’t be expected to do much more than provide a slight amount of resistance.
Series Prediction: Golden State Warriors in 5
 
San Antonio Spurs (2) v. Memphis Grizzlies (7)
The Spurs are a fundamentally sound, well-oiled machine programmed by Gregg Popovich to emerge as competitors for the rest of eternity. Behind MVP-caliber Kawhi Leonard, the Spurs have reached the playoffs for the 20th consecutive year, the longest active streak in any of the big four sports. The Spurs meet a familiar foe in the Memphis Grizzlies. The two have met in the playoffs five times, including four times in the last seven seasons. The Grizzlies showed some promise earlier on in the year, before sinking to the seven-seed. Ranked last in shooting percentage and second to last in points scored, running up the scoreboard isn’t their game. As a staunch defensive team, they’ll need to draw the Spurs into a gritty battle to win.
Series Prediction: San Antonio Spurs in 5
 
Houston Rockets (3) v. Oklahoma City Thunder (6)
Easily the marquee matchup of the entire first round, this battle brings a clash of the MVP frontrunners in James Harden and Russell Westbrook. Houston won the season series 3-1 and each of the four times these teams played was a treat, with three of those games being decided by three points or less. A close, hard-fought series should be expected. The Rockets were second in the NBA in scoring and first in three-pointers made. The Thunder did a great job battling in the paint, finishing first in the league in both offensive and total rebounds. OKC’s Andre Roberson is a great defender; he will guard Harden and could potentially slow him down. But Houston edges out OKC in depth, boasting a more complete roster and a long list of shooters.
Series Prediction: Houston Rockets in 6
 
Los Angeles Clippers (4) v. Utah Jazz (5)
The Clippers looked like true contenders at times this season and like same ol’ LA at others. They’re back on the upswing at just the right time though, ending the season on a seven-game win streak. LA is wildly unpredictable and is haunted by their slew of past playoff exits; they’ll need to stay consistent to advance. The Utah Jazz snagged their first Northwest Division title in almost 10 years. Utah allowed the fewest points per game in the entire league and play at a slow pace that lends itself to playoff basketball. If there were an upset to be had in the first round, the Jazz would be the ones to do it.
Series Prediction: Utah Jazz in 7

Boston Celtics (1) v. Chicago Bulls (8)
Isaiah Thomas and a rising defense pushed the Boston Celtics passed the Cavaliers to the top of the Eastern Conference. Avery Bradley, who was injured during Bean Town’s playoff run last season, has served as the team’s number two scorer and a vital source of defense. The Celtics split four games with the Bulls this year, but otherwise proved to be dominant against the East’s lower seeded teams (they couldn’t replicate that success against those atop the conference). After an incredible amount of inconsistency and locker room disputes, it looked like the Chicago Bulls were phoning it in and gearing up for next year at the trade deadline. Nevertheless, the Bulls somehow made the playoffs. Superstar Jimmy Butler will attempt to be the rising tide that lifts the Bulls’ boat to a postseason upset.
Series Prediction: Boston Celtics in 6
 
Cleveland Cavaliers (2) v. Indiana Pacers (7)
Cleveland’s defense looked like Swiss cheese late in the year and their win-loss column reflected that. But the Cavs are still the Cavs and should be given the benefit of the doubt that they’ll get things rolling for the playoffs, at least for the first round. Unable to find a rim protector who could stay healthy, their biggest vulnerability is inside defense. Paul George has done a lot to lead the Pacers to the playoffs. That may end up being the highlight of their season… They may be able to catch the struggling Cavs off guard for a game, but it would take a lot more than Indy currently has for them to accomplish anything big.
Series Prediction: Cleveland Cavaliers in 5
 
Toronto Raptors (3) v. Milwaukee Bucks (6)
After pushing the Cavs to six games in the Eastern Conference Finals a year ago, the Toronto Raptors are back and hoping to make some noise. The Raptors have their sights set on using that experience and their talent to challenge Cleveland late in the playoffs, not just to emerge from the first round. Toronto bulked up at the deadline, adding Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker to an already well-rounded and deep roster.  On the other end, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo is a player you probably don’t want to mess with in the playoffs. 'The Greek Freak' can do it all, and with an emerging core of young Bucks by his side, this team has the potential to give the Raptors a run in the series.
Series Prediction: Toronto Raptors in 6
 
Washington Wizards (4) v. Atlanta Hawks (5)
The Wiz Kids of D.C. have the makings of a solid contender in the Eastern Conference. Washington brings one of the NBA’s best one-two punches in guards John Wall and Bradley Beal. Wall was second in assists per game (10.7) and the pair got buckets by the bunches, both averaging 23.1 points per game. Home court advantage should also prove vital for the Wizards, who earned one of the league’s best home records at 30-11. In the ATL, scoring wasn’t necessarily a strong suit, with the team sitting in the bottom 10 in points per game. The Hawks will look for defensive production across the board to counter Washington’s backcourt.
Series Prediction: Washington Wizards in 5

Fire up your Zamboni and lace up your skates, it’s playoff hockey time! A wonderful, wild regular season has come to an end and we’re on the brink of postseason intensity. A mix of familiar faces and teams who have yet to win a Stanley Cup enter the 16 team tournament that starts tonight.
 
Thanks to the current playoff format (which the NHL put in place in 2013-14), we’ve got some wacky yet competitive matchups. Instead of the three-seed Blue Jackets hosting the six-seed Ottawa Senators, they’ll start on the road against the two-seed defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins. This leaves the Senators and the seven-seed Boston Bruins to square off. On the one hand, this allows for divisional rivalries to bloom and for more engaging competition, as teams closer in strength play each other. On the other hand, it deprives strong teams of being rewarded for their efforts. This all ties in to a larger conversation about whether the NHL needs to reformat their playoffs again. Nonetheless, there are some fun series on deck.
 
In another big playoff story that we’ve been covering all year, the country of Canada has made a comeback! After every single Canadian-based team missed the playoffs last year for the first time in a long time, the 2016-17 playoffs feature five of the seven teams from the Great White North. Montreal and Edmonton both come in as higher seeds.
 
Without further ado, here’s a preview of each of the eight playoff series, along with my prediction for each one. 

Chicago Blackhawks (C1) v. Nashville Predators (WC2)
With plenty of star power in Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, Atermi 'The Bread Man' Panarin, and Jonathan Toews, the perennial Cup contending Chicago Blackhawks are back in the mix. The Hawks won the championship in 2010, 2013, and 2015, and hope to keep the dynasty rolling. More than your typical eight-seed wild card, Nashville represents a strong threat to those hopes. The Predators stocked up in the offseason to make a playoff push, trading for star defenseman P.K. Subban. If goalie Pekka Rinne – who has been solid this season – can step up in the postseason, the Preds may have a chance. It’ll be a test, though, as the Blackhawks won four out of the five games between the two Central Division rivals this season, including the most recent showdown in March.
Series Pick: Chicago Blackhawks in 7
 
Minnesota Wild (C2) v. St. Louis Blues (C3)
The Minnesota Wild looked great all season, even holding on to the league’s best record for a long stretch before losing ground to the Capitals in the East and the Blackhawks in the West. Things have changed since then, with some less-than-stellar goalie play from Devan Dubnyk sinking Minnesota into a slump. The St. Louis Blues are hot going into the postseason, winning seven of their last 10 games. Heck, the Blues are on fire since firing Ken Hitchcock and hiring former Wild coach Mike Yeo. St. Louis went 22-8-2 to finish the season after making the coaching change, clawing their way into a fairly good playoff spot. The fight between these foes should be a battle of streaks and will likely rest on which Dubnyk decides to show up.
Series Pick: St. Louis Blues in 6
 
Anaheim Ducks (P1) v. Calgary Flames (WC1)
Fire. Chippiness. The Box of Shame. All should be expected if the last game between these two is any indication. The Flames and Ducks played in the second to last game of the season, treating us to a nice preview of the playoff series. That game ended with a staggering 104 total penalty minutes being awarded for fights and game misconducts after Calgary’s Mark Giordano hit and injured Anaheim defenseman Cam Fowler. That lends itself to a tense and ugly series ahead.
Series Pick: Anaheim Ducks in 5
 
Edmonton Oilers (P2) v. San Jose Sharks (P3)
Just last season, the Edmonton Oilers went a bleak 31-43-8 and finished dead last in the Western Conference. The San Jose Sharks powered through to the Stanley Cup Finals and took the Pittsburgh Penguins to six games before losing. The fortunes have swung for both squads this year, though both have earned their playoff spots and are primed to make a run. Rookie Connor McDavid has helped escalate the Oilers’ offense, as he led the league in assists (70) and points (100). The Sharks have struggled against the Oilers this season, winning only two of five games and playing poorly in the losses. San Jose has faded towards the end of the season, catching a bit of the injury bug along the way. The Sharks have playoff experience, but Edmonton has gotten things going late in the season.
Series Pick: Edmonton Oilers in 7

Washington Capitals (M1) v. Toronto Maple Leafs (WC2)
'Started from the bottom, now we here.' Like Toronto compatriot Drake, the Maple Leafs have gone from worst in the league last year to the playoffs in 2017. That jump was due in large part to rookie phenom Auston Matthews, the favorite to win the Calder Trophy as the best rookie in the NHL. The Leafs may be a quick out though, as they come up against the Cup favorites. The Washington Capitals currently have 3-1 odds to get over the hump and win it all; the Maple Leafs are at the other end of the spectrum with 40-1 odds. The Caps look like they have what it takes to finally win the Stanley Cup with the league’s best defense and goaltending (a league low 182 goals allowed) and plenty of firepower (+81 goal differential).
Series Pick: Washington Capitals in 5
 
Pittsburgh Penguins (M2) v. Columbus Blue Jackets (M3)
While this Metropolitan Division battle should make for great competition, it is easily the most unfortunate matchup of this year’s playoffs. The Blue Jackets defied expectations and were tremendous all year. However, rather than being rewarded with home-ice advantage and a lower-seeded opponent, Columbus drew the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins. Both teams have stumbled into the postseason, with Pittsburgh going 4-4-2 and Columbus going 3-5-2 in their last 10 games. The Jackets boast an extremely well-rounded team and a shut-down defense, along with the best goalie in the league. The Penguins counter that immovable object with their unstoppable force offense as the highest scoring team in the NHL. Plus, Pittsburgh has the edge in playoff experience.
Series Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins in 7
 
Montreal Canadiens (A1) v. New York Rangers (WC1)
The Rangers looked unstoppable early in the season, seeming to score at will in every game. Their offense has flattened out a bit since then (but it was still good for the fourth most goals) and they’ve fallen to a wild card spot. They’ve also seen goaltender Henrik Lundqvist’s play slip a bit this season. The Canadiens are a team that rely heavily on goalie play as well, and Carey Price has been more than dependable. Price and some Max Pacioretty goals could give Les Habs the upper hand in the series. New York, however, is always a formidable playoff team.
Series Pick: Montreal Canadiens in 7
 
Ottawa Senators (A2) v. Boston Bruins (A3)
The Sens-Bruins matchup is full of swing potential. Ottawa and Boston both notched 44 wins and finished 6th and 7th in the Eastern Conference, respectively. The Senators are the only team in the playoffs with a negative goal differential, scoring 212 goals on the year but allowing 214. This seems like something the Bruins should be able to capitalize on, but on the other hand, the Bruins failed to beat the Senators in four games this year. In each, Ottawa came away with the victory in close games, all decided by one or two goals. Seeding aside, this series is quite evenly matched and could easily go either way.
Series Pick: Boston Bruins in 6

The MLB season can be gruelingly long. With 81 home games each, baseball teams often have to get creative to continuously draw in crowds. This results in promotions that are geared toward bringing in casual fans and individuals from all walks of life, with everything from 'Star Wars Night' to 'Bring Your Dog to the Ballpark Day'. It also results in a wide variety of awesome/funny/weird/creative giveaways, some of which are baseball-centric, some of which are anything but. Only in baseball will you find a Hello Kitty t-shirt night!
 
While I never need to be coaxed into going to more baseball games, I excitedly await my favorite team’s promotional schedule every season, jotting down the giveaway dates that I need to be at. Over the years, I have collected enough Colorado Rockies bobbleheads to fill a roster of my own, including a Jack Link’s Sasquatch in a Rockies jersey (he could provide some good power hitting on my bobblehead team). Among my other favorites are replicas of the 2007 National League Championship trophy and ring.
 
In planning to add to my collection of MLB giveaway items this year, I looked around the league to see what treasures each of the 30 teams are handing out. Here are the best giveaways from each team for the 2017 MLB season!

• No longer will you have to carry around a multitude of 'K' posters when strikeout machine Robbie Ray pitches. You can now keep track with the Arizona Diamondbacks Robbie Ray strikeout counter.
• Atlanta is leaving Turner Field after 20 years, moving into brand new SunTrust Park. The team is giving away a commemorative Opening Day ticket to honor the new ballpark’s inaugural season.
  • Honorable Mention: The team unveiled a statue of all-time great Hank Aaron outside of their new stadium. Fans will receive a replica of the statue this year.
• The Baltimore Orioles are celebrating their 25th year in Oriole Park at Camden Yards with mini replicas of the beautiful ballpark.
• Throw on his trademark chain and you too can be like Boston Red Sox star Hanley Ramirez. The replica gold chain features Ramirez’s number 13 and 'El Trece'.
• The Chicago Cubs won the 2016 World Series and they’re already winning 2017’s giveaways with a slew of incredible items, most of them championship based. The best item is a championship parade snow globe, where the snow is confetti!
  • Honorable mention(s): Wrigley Field wall mini chalkboard, replica World Series trophy, World Series banner, NL champs pennant, throwback 1908 jersey.
• You can never go wrong with a Star Wars giveaway, and a Stormtrooper bobblehead is a good fit for the white and black clad Chicago White Sox. 

​The start of baseball season is truly a romantic occasion, full of blue skies, neatly trimmed grass fields, and unbridled optimism. Fans of all teams approach the game with renewed energy, believing that this could finally be their year, enjoying the unlimited possibilities. As the calendar turns to April and teams embark on a 162 game journey with unblemished records, truly anything can happen.
 
With that, I’m likely to be as wrong as everybody else is with my season predictions. Nonetheless, here they are! Teams are ordered by where I think they’ll finish in their division, with a very quick blurb about each. Without further ado, let’s play ball!

​NL West
1. Dodgers: A star-studded roster should lead L.A. to their fifth straight division title.
2. Rockies: Surprise! One of the league’s best lineups. Improved rotation and bullpen? Expect the return of Rocktober.
3. Giants: They’ll have some success, but no “even-year” magic in 2017 means a playoff miss.
4. D-Backs: Roster is too dependent on a few stars with little depth. Another down season ahead.
5. Padres: Bad at pitching and the worst at hitting last year. No big improvements during the offseason. Cellar-dwelling should continue.
 
NL Central
1. Cubs: World Series champs built to win for years to come. Look for a deep playoff run.
2. Cardinals: Have the starting pitchers necessary to keep runs low. Will need to weather a tough stretch of games to start the year to stay afloat in the division.
3. Pirates: Will have one of the league’s best outfields and offenses if franchise star Andrew McCutchen can return to an elite level of play.
4. Brewers: A team in transition looking for players to build around. Not a contending year.
5. Reds: Pitchers gave up a league worst 258 home runs last year. Things aren’t looking up.
 
NL East
1. Nationals: The Nats have the talent to follow up on last year’s 95 win season.
2. Mets: Roster didn’t change much from last year’s 87 wins. Should hold just about steady.
3. Marlins: Some hitting power and a good bullpen won’t be enough to overcome mediocre rotation.
4. Atlanta: Better, but not yet a contender. The result of the rebuild should still be fun to watch.
5. Phillies: A young team that couldn’t hit its way out of a paper bag last year, when it was last in runs and bottom three in hits and batting average. Still needs to grow in 2017.

​AL West
1. Mariners: In a wide open division, the Mariners can win it all with a strong offensive core, especially if Felix Hernandez pitches like King Felix.
2. Astros: This young core made a lot of noise last year. They should keep rocketing up the standings and maybe into a Wild Card (or even higher…).
3. Angels: Potential Cinderella team. Perennial MVP contender Mike Trout and some offseason upgrades could help L.A. bounce back this year.
4. Rangers: Divisional competition, a weak rotation, and an aging lineup should mean regression.
5. Athletics: The A’s have a great pitching rotation. Their offense, defense, and bullpen are all iffy.
 
AL Central
1. Cleveland: World Series last year. Added the best hitter in free agency. Will be back in the mix.
2. Tigers: The team has an aging core, but it should still produce. Starting pitching will need to match the quality offense.
3. Royals: Not looking like the KC team that won the Series in 2015, but still formidable.
4. Twins: A meager 59 wins last year, worst in the MLB. Should be better (hard to be worse…).
5. White Sox: Finished 4th last year with Chris Sale as their ace. No more Sale? Not much going on.
 
AL East
1. Red Sox: This squad can score runs. Lots of depth and the addition of Chris Sale keeps them on top.
2. Blue Jays: Great pitching, quality defense. Should slide into the playoffs for the third straight year.
3. Yankees: Brought in a nice supporting cast of vets. Will get better. Won’t steal the league’s deepest division though.
4. Orioles: Not a bad team, just in a stacked division. Could find themselves battling for the second wild card spot.
5. Rays: Only team with a losing record in the division last year. Dealt players for prospects. Rebuild mode continues.