PTR 44 - Pleasant & Not So Pleasant Surprises

PUCKING THOUGHTS RADIO: EDITION 44

(Photo Credit: Las Vegas Review Journal)

We're just over three weeks in to the season, and PTR is back. We'll get in to teams that have pleasantly surprised (like the above Vegas Golden Knights), teams that are disappointing surprises (looking at you Rangers). Adam & JC also go some other squads that are meeting high expectations early on, plus more in Short Shifts. It's all a part of the latest PTR!

PTR IS BACK THIS WEEK!!

(Photo Credit - USA Today Images)

Pucking Thoughts Radio will return on Thursday night October 26th! Adam is back from his honeymoon, the Santa Rosa PT offices are safe and sound, and there's plenty to talk about. Adam & JC will get in to their pleasant and no-so-pleasant surprises of the season so far. Rookie sensations Nico Hischier & Will Butcher of the New Jersey Devils would certainly qualify as a pleasant surprise. 

The picks have also been updated. While JC has been holding his own and maintaining home ice, Adam loses his excuse for sucking the past week and a half. We'll see if Adam's honeymoon slump lasts as long as JC's from last season.  

ADAM & JC's 2017-18 DIVISIONAL PICKS, CONFERENCE FINAL MATCH-UPS & STANLEY CUP WINNERS

It's the eve of the 2017-18 NHL season, and Adam &  JC have made their picks for how the divisions will shape up. They've also made their choices for the Conference Finals match-ups and who they think will win the Stanley Cup. 

        

ADAM	JC
METROPOLITAN DIVISION	METROPOLITAN DIVISION
Pittsburgh Penguins	Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals	Pittsburgh Penguins
Columbus Blue Jackets	New York Rangers
New York Rangers*	Columbus Blue Jackets*
Philadelphia Flyers	Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes	Philadelphia Flyers
New York Islanders	New York Islanders
New Jersey Devils	New Jersey Devils
ATLANTIC DIVISION	ATLANTIC DIVISION
Tampa Bay Lightning	Tampa Bay Lightning
Toronto Maple Leafs	Toronto Maple Leafs
Ottawa Senators	Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens*	Boston Bruins*
Buffalo Sabres	Florida Panthers
Boston Bruins	Ottawa Senators
Florida Panthers	Buffalo Sabres
Detroit Red Wings	Detroit Red Wings

ADAM	JC
CENTRAL DIVISION	CENTRAL DIVISION
Minnesota Wild	St. Louis Blues
Chicago Blackhawks	Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars	Nashville Predators
St. Louis Blues*	Chicago Blackhawks*
Nashville Predators*	Minnesota Wild
Winnipeg Jets	Winnipeg Jets
Colorado Avalanche	Colorado Avalanche
PACIFIC DIVISION	PACIFIC DIVISION
Anaheim Ducks	Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers	San Jose Sharks
Calgary Flames	Anaheim Ducks
Los Angeles Kings	Calgary Flames*
San Jose Sharks	Los Angeles Kings
Arizona Coyotes	Arizona Coyotes
Vancouver Canucks	Vancouver Canucks
Vegas Golden Knights	Vegas Golden Knights

*Denotes Wild Card teams

ROUND	AB	JC
EASTERN CONF FINALS	Washington over TB	Washington over TB
WESTERN CONF FINALS	St. Louis over Edmonton	Edmonton over Dallas
STANLEY CUP FINAL	Washington over St. Louis	Washington over Edmonton

EASTERN CONFERENCE 2017-18 OVER/UNDERS

On the last edition of Pucking Thoughts Radio, Adam & JC went though the Eastern Conference and gave their over/under point totals for all 16 teams. PTR will be back next week with our division winners and Stanley Cup picks!

Here are our predictions in case you missed PTR 43:

ATLANTIC DIVISION TEAM	PROJECTED 2017-18 POINT TOTAL (courtesy of  Westgate)	ADAM’S PICK	JC’S PICK
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING	102.5	UNDER	OVER
MONTREAL CANADIENS	100.5	UNDER	UNDER
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS	94.5	OVER	OVER
OTTAWA SENATORS	92.5	OVER	UNDER
BOSTON BRUINS	92.5	UNDER	OVER
BUFFALO SABRES	87.5	OVER	OVER
FLORIDA PANTHERS	85.5	OVER	OVER
DETROIT RED WINGS	78.5	UNDER	UNDER

METROPOLITAN DIVISION TEAM	PROJECTED 2017-18 POINT TOTAL (courtesy of  Westgate)	ADAM’S PICK	JC’S PICK
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS	104.5	OVER	OVER
WASHINGTON CAPITALS	103.5	OVER	OVER
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS	96.5	OVER	OVER
NEW YORK RANGERS	95.5	OVER	OVER
CAROLINA HURRICANES	93.5	UNDER	OVER
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS	91.5	UNDER	UNDER
NEW YORK ISLANDERS	88.5	OVER	UNDER
NEW JERSEY DEVILS	74.5	OVER	UNDER