Eight of our 13 experts predict a loss for the Canadiens in the first round. If there were only two, Réjean Tremblay and Denis Poissant, to have successfully predicted a victory for the Canadian in the qualifying round against the Pittsburgh Penguins, our experts are more divided as to the outcome of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs kicking off tonight in the NHL.
The Canadian, who was not in the top eight teams in the Eastern Conference, caused the surprise by eliminating rivals Pennsylvania in four games.
The Habs won their first playoff series since winning the Ottawa Senators in the first round in 2015.
Some of our journalists and columnists are convinced that this unexpected journey for the Montreal team will continue in the first round of the series.
They are indeed five to claim that the Canadian will eliminate his next opponents, the Philadelphia Flyers, to advance to the next round. The first clash, obviously played behind closed doors, will take place tomorrow in Toronto.
On the other hand, our eight other experts believe that the Flyers will overcome the Habs and, in a unanimous verdict, they predict that this series will end in six games.
Other than Tremblay, the only one to predict that the Flyers will suffer a quick elimination in five games is Poissant. Luc Grenier, Yvon Pedneault and José Théodore also give the CH advantage in six or seven games.
L’Avalanche favorite
According to the Las Vegas bookmakers, a heavy order awaits Claude Julien’s team since the Flyers, of which we will find behind the bench two former CH head coaches in Alain Vigneault and Michel Therrien, are the second favorites to win the Stanley Cup behind the Colorado Avalanche.
In a proportion of 30/1, the Canadian appears to be underdog, occupying the penultimate place, tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Arizona Coyotes (40/1) have the least chance of lifting the precious trophy among the 16 qualifying teams.
MICHEL BERGERON
Columnist, Journal de Québec
Philadelphia
Six
Columbus
Six
Washington
Six
Caroline
Six
Las Vegas
In five
Colorado
In five
St. Louis
Six
Calgary
In five
JONATHAN BERNIER
Journalist, Journal de Montréal
Philadelphia
Six
Columbus
Six
NY Islanders
In seven
Boston
In seven
Las Vegas
Six
Colorado
In five
St. Louis
Six
Dallas
In seven
MATHIEU BOULAY
Journalist, Journal de Montréal
Philadelphia
Six
Columbus
In seven
Washington
In seven
Caroline
In seven
Las Vegas
In five
Colorado
In five
St. Louis
Six
Dallas
In seven
LOUIS BUTCHER
Journalist, Journal de Montréal
Philadelphia
Six
Tampa bay
Six
Washington
In five
Boston
Six
Las Vegas
Six
Colorado
In five
St. Louis
Six
Dallas
In seven
STÉPHANE CADORETTE
Journalist, Journal de Québec
Philadelphia
Six
Tampa bay
In five
NY Islanders
Six
Boston
In five
Las Vegas
In five
Colorado
In five
St. Louis
Six
Dallas
In seven
JEAN-FRANÇOIS CHAUMONT
Journalist, Journal de Montréal
Philadelphia
Six
Tampa bay
Six
NY Islanders
In seven
Boston
Six
Las Vegas
Six
Colorado
In five
Vancouver
In seven
Calgary
Six
MARC DE FOY
Columnist, Journal de Montréal
Philadelphia
Six
Tampa Bay
In seven
Washington
Six
Caroline
Six
Las Vegas
Six
Colorado
In five
St. Louis
Six
Dallas
Six
LUC GRENIER
Sports Director, Journal de Québec
Montréal
In seven
Tampa bay
In seven
Washington
Six
Caroline
In seven
Las Vegas
Six
Colorado
In five
St. Louis
Six
Calgary
Six
YVON PEDNEAULT
Columnist, Journal de Québec
Montréal
In seven
Columbus
Six
Washington
Six
Caroline
Six
Las Vegas
In seven
Colorado
In five
St. Louis
Six
DENIS POISSANT
Sports Director, Journal de Montréal
Montréal
Six
Columbus
In seven
Washington
Six
Caroline
In seven
Las Vegas
In five
Colorado
In five
St. Louis
Six
Calgary
In seven
FRANÇOIS-DAVID ROULEAU
Journalist, Journal de Montréal
Philadelphia
Six
Tampa bay
Six
NY Islanders
In seven
Caroline
Six
Las Vegas
In five
Colorado
In five
St. Louis
Six
Calgary
Six
JOSÉ THEODORE
Columnist, Journal de Montréal
Montréal
In seven
Columbus
Six
NY Islanders
In seven
Caroline
In seven
Las Vegas
In five
Colorado
Six
St. Louis
In five
Calgary
In seven
REJEAN TREMBLAY
Columnist, Journal de Montréal
Montréal
In five
Tampa bay
In seven
Washington
In seven
Caroline
Six
Las Vegas
Six
Colorado
Six
St. Louis
In seven
Dallas
Six
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