The 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs begin Monday, April 17, with the first round, and as we do every year, The Fourth Period’s panel of experts weigh in with their Predictions and Series MVPs. Here are our picks for Round 1:

Atlantic Predictions

Florida Panthers (WC2) vs. Boston Bruins (1)

TFP Panel

Series Winner

Series MVP

Bamford

 in 7 Patrice Bergeron

Bernstein

 in 5 Brad Marchand

Di Marco

 in 4 David Pastrnak

Gaffar

 in 6 Brad Marchand

Hoven

 in 4 Linus Ullmark

Hutcheon

 in 5 David Pastrnak

Kelly

 in 5 David Pastrnak

Lack

 in 5 David Pastrnak

Nichols

 in 7 David Pastrnak

Pagnotta

 in 6 Brad Marchand

Paton

 in 5 David Pastrnak

Ward

 in 6 David Krejci

Tampa Bay Lightning (3) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (2)

TFP Panel

Series Winner

Series MVP

Bamford

 in 7 Mitch Marner

Bernstein

 in 6 Auston Matthews

Di Marco

 in 6 Ilya Samsonov

Gaffar

 in 6 Auston Matthews

Hoven

 in 7 Nikita Kucherov

Hutcheon

 in 7 Auston Matthews

Kelly

 in 6 Mitch Marner

Lack

 in 5 Ilya Samsonov

Nichols

 in 6 Nikita Kucherov

Pagnotta

 in 6 William Nylander

Paton

 in 6 Ilya Samsonov

Ward

 in 6 William Nylander

Metropolitan Predictions

New York Islanders (WC1) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (1)

TFP Panel

Series Winner

Series MVP

Bamford

 in 6 Martin Necas

Bernstein

 in 6 Brock Nelson

Di Marco

 in 6 Ilya Sorokin

Gaffar

 in 7 Ilya Sorokin

Hoven

 in 6 Brent Burns

Hutcheon

 in 6 Sebastian Aho

Kelly

 in 7 Sebastian Aho

Lack

 in 7 Sebastian Aho

Nichols

 in 6 Ilya Sorokin

Pagnotta

 in 6 Mathew Barzal

Paton

 in 7 Sebastian Aho

Ward

 in 7 Ilya Sorokin

New York Rangers (3) vs. New Jersey Devils (2)

TFP Panel

Series Winner

Series MVP

Bamford

 in 5 Patrick Kane

Bernstein

 in 7 Mika Zibanejad

Di Marco

 in 7 Patrick Kane

Gaffar

 in 6 Igor Shesterkin

Hoven

 in 7 Patrick Kane

Hutcheon

 in 7 Igor Shesterkin

Kelly

 in 7 Igor Shesterkin

Lack

 in 7 Igor Shesterkin

Nichols

 in 7 Jack Hughes

Pagnotta

 in 7 Timo Meier

Paton

 in 7 Jack Hughes

Ward

 in 7 Nico Hischier

Central Predictions

Seattle Kraken (WC2) vs. Colorado Avalanche (1)

TFP Panel

Series Winner

Series MVP

Bamford

 in 5 Nathan MacKinnon

Bernstein

 in 5 Mikko Rantanen

Di Marco

 in 5 Nathan MacKinnon

Gaffar

 in 6 Mikko Rantanen

Hoven

 in 6 Evan Rodrigues

Hutcheon

 in 5 Mikko Rantanen

Kelly

 in 5 Nathan MacKinnon

Lack

 in 6 Nathan MacKinnon

Nichols

 in 5 Mikko Rantanen

Pagnotta

 in 5 Mikko Rantanen

Paton

 in 6 Nathan MacKinnon

Ward

 in 4 Mikko Rantanen

Minnesota Wild (3) vs. Dallas Stars (2)

TFP Panel

Series Winner

Series MVP

Bamford

 in 7 Ryan Hartman

Bernstein

 in 6 Jake Oettinger

Di Marco

 in 7 Jake Oettinger

Gaffar

 in 6 Jason Robertson

Hoven

 in 6 Jason Robertson

Hutcheon

 in 7 Jason Robertson

Kelly

 in 6 Jake Oettinger

Lack

 in 7 Jake Oettinger

Nichols

 in 6 Jake Oettinger

Pagnotta

 in 7 Jason Robertson

Paton

 in 7 Jamie Benn

Ward

 in 6 Joe Pavelski

Pacific Predictions

Winnipeg Jets (WC2) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (1)

TFP Panel

Series Winner

Series MVP

Bamford

 in 5 Jack Eichel

Bernstein

 in 5 Jonathan Marchessault

Di Marco

 in 7 Jack Eichel

Gaffar

 in 7 Jack Eichel

Hoven

 in 5 Shea Theodore

Hutcheon

 in 5 Jack Eichel

Kelly

 in 6 Jack Eichel

Lack

 in 6 Jack Eichel

Nichols

 in 7 Jack Eichel

Pagnotta

 in 5 William Karlsson

Paton

 in 6 Jack Eichel

Ward

 in 5 Jonathan Marchessault

Los Angeles Kings (3) vs. Edmonton Oilers (2)

TFP Panel

Series Winner

Series MVP

Bamford

 in 6 Connor McDavid

Bernstein

 in 6 Connor McDavid

Di Marco

 in 6 Connor McDavid

Gaffar

 in 6 Leon Draisaitl

Hoven

 in 7 Mikey Anderson

Hutcheon

 in 7 Leon Draisaitl

Kelly

 in 5 Connor McDavid

Lack

 in 5 Connor McDavid

Nichols

 in 7 Connor McDavid

Pagnotta

 in 7 Connor McDavid

Paton

 in 7 Zach Hyman

Ward

 in 7 Zach Hyman

TFP Experts:

Tab Bamford - Columnist, Chicago
Dennis Bernstein - Sr. Writer
Anthony Di Marco - NHL Correspondent
Irfaan Gaffar - Host & Lead Reporter
John Hoven - Special Contributor, MayorsManor.com
Shawn Hutcheon - Boston Correspondent
Shane Kelly - Data Analyst
Eddie Lack - NHL Analyst
James Nichols - NJ, NYI Correspondent
David Pagnotta - Editor-in-Chief
Ryan Paton - Host, The Hot Stove on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio
Aaron Ward - NHL Analyst, 3-time Stanley Cup Champion