The 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs begin Saturday, April 20, 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:

Metropolitan Predictions

Washington Capitals (WC2) vs. New York Rangers (1)

TFP Panel

Series Winner

Series MVP

Bamford

 in 4 Chris Kreider

Belle

 in 5 Artemi Panarin

Bernstein

 in 5 Artemi Panarin

Di Marco

 in 5 Artemi Panarin

Gaffar

 in 5 Artemi Panarin

Hutcheon

 in 5 Artemi Panarin

Kelly

 in 4 Artemi Panarin

LaRocco

 in 5 Chris Kreider

Lack

 in 6 Mika Zibanejad

Pagnotta

 in 5 Artemi Panarin

Paton

 in 6 Artemi Panarin

People's Insider

 in 4 The House DJ, Mika Zibanejad

Ward

 in 4 Chris Kreider

New York Islanders (3) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (2)

TFP Panel

Series Winner

Series MVP

Bamford

 in 5 Seth Jarvis

Belle

 in 7 Sebastian Aho

Bernstein

 in 6 Jake Guentzel

Di Marco

 in 7 Jake Guentzel

Gaffar

 in 6 Jake Guentzel

Hutcheon

 in 5 Seth Jarvis

Kelly

 in 5 Jake Guentzel

LaRocco

 in 6 Seth Jarvis

Lack

 in 6 Sebastian Aho

Pagnotta

 in 6 Jake Guentzel

Paton

 in 6 Frederik Andersen

People's Insider

 in 5 Jake Guentzel

Ward

 in 5 Seth Jarvis

Atlantic Predictions

Tampa Bay Lightning (WC1) vs. Florida Panthers (1)

TFP Panel

Series Winner

Series MVP

Bamford

 in 6 Nikita Kucherov

Belle

 in 6 Aleksander Barkov

Bernstein

 in 7 Matthew Tkachuk

Di Marco

 in 6 Sergei Bobrovsky

Gaffar

 in 7 Andrei Vasilevskiy

Hutcheon

 in 6 Matthew Tkachuk

Kelly

 in 7 Sergie Bobrovsky

LaRocco

 in 6 Sergei Bobrovsky

Lack

 in 6 Sergei Bobrovsky

Pagnotta

 in 7 Carter Verhaeghe

Paton

 in 7 Brayden Point

People's Insider

 in 7 Matty Tkachuk

Ward

 in 7 Brayden Point

Toronto Maple Leafs (3) vs. Boston Bruins (2)

TFP Panel

Series Winner

Series MVP

Bamford

 in 6 David Pastrnak

Belle

 in 7 Brad Marchand

Bernstein

 in 6 Auston Matthews

Di Marco

 in 7 Auston Matthews

Gaffar

 in 7 Auston Matthews

Hutcheon

 in 7 Pavel Zacha

Kelly

 in 6 Jeremy Swayman

LaRocco

 in 7 Auston Matthews

Lack

 in 7 David Pastrnak

Pagnotta

 in 6 Brad Marchand

Paton

 in 6 Auston Matthews

People's Insider

 in 7 Pasta

Ward

 in 6 Brad Marchand

Central Predictions

Vegas Golden Knights (WC2) vs. Dallas Stars (1)

TFP Panel

Series Winner

Series MVP

Bamford

 in 5 Jake Oettinger

Belle

 in 7 Joe Pavelski

Bernstein

 in 6 Wyatt Johnston

Di Marco

 in 7 Jake Oettinger

Gaffar

 in 7 Miro Heiskanen

Hutcheon

 in 7 Joe Pavelski

Kelly

 in 6 Roope Hintz

LaRocco

 in 7 Roope Hintz

Lack

 in 6 Jack Eichel

Pagnotta

 in 6 Joe Pavelski

Paton

 in 6 William Karlsson

People's Insider

 in 6 Roope Hintz

Ward

 in 7 Jake Oettinger

Colorado Avalanche (3) vs. Winnipeg Jets (2)

TFP Panel

Series Winner

Series MVP

Bamford

 in 6 Nathan MacKinnon

Belle

 in 7 Cale Makar

Bernstein

 in 6 Connor Hellebuyck

Di Marco

 in 4 Nathan MacKinnon

Gaffar

 in 7 Nathan MacKinnon

Hutcheon

 in 7 Connor Hellebuyck

Kelly

 in 6 Connor Hellebuyck

LaRocco

 in 7 Nathan MacKinnon

Lack

 in 6 Nathan MacKinnon

Pagnotta

 in 6 Connor Hellebuyck

Paton

 in 6 Mikko Rantanen

People's Insider

 in 7 The Dogg

Ward

 in 6 Connor Hellebuyck

Pacific Predictions

Nashville Predators (WC2) vs. Vancouver Canucks (1)

TFP Panel

Series Winner

Series MVP

Bamford

 in 7 Juuse Saros

Belle

 in 7 Thatcher Demko

Bernstein

 in 6 Brock Boeser

Di Marco

 in 7 Roman Josi

Gaffar

 in 5 J.T. Miller

Hutcheon

 in 7 Roman Josi

Kelly

 in 6 Quinn Hughes

LaRocco

 in 6 Juuse Saros

Lack

 in 6 Elias Pettersson

Pagnotta

 in 6 J.T. Miller

Paton

 in 7 Juuse Saros

People's Insider

 in 6 Huggie Bear Hughes

Ward

 in 6 J.T. Miller

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

TFP Panel

Series Winner

Series MVP

Bamford

 in 7 Quinton Byfield

Belle

 in 5 Connor McDavid

Bernstein

 in 6 Zach Hyman

Di Marco

 in 6 Leon Draisaitl

Gaffar

 in 6 Leon Draisaitl

Hutcheon

 in 6 Connor McDavid

Kelly

 in 5 Connor McDavid

LaRocco

 in 6 Leon Draisaitl

Lack

 in 5 Connor McDavid

Pagnotta

 in 6 Connor McDavid

Paton

 in 6 Leon Draisaitl

People's Insider

 in 6 McJesus

Ward

 in 5 Zach Hyman

TFP Experts:

Tab Bamford - Columnist, Chicago
Shawn Belle - Former NHLer, Host of Hello Hockey
Dennis Bernstein - Sr. Writer
Anthony Di Marco - Lead NHL Reporter
Irfaan Gaffar - Host, TFP Playoffs
Shawn Hutcheon - Boston Correspondent
Shane Kelly - Data Analyst
Anthony LaRocco - New York Correspondent
Eddie Lack - Former NHL goalie; NHL Analyst
David Pagnotta - Editor-in-Chief
Ryan Paton - Host, The Hot Stove on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio
Jordan Schmaltz - The People’s Insider; Former NHLer, NHL Analyst
Aaron Ward - NHL Analyst, 3-time Stanley Cup Champion