#minnie doughty

[stijlw]

#find #new england #mittens #boiled mittens #knitting #craft #upload #america #fishing #fishing village #maine #minnie doughty

[bulletproofscales]

What if after a really hard breaks up Jimin puts on a hecc Ton of weight,the other band members notice and tease him till he breaks out in sobs n tells them y?

— THIS REQUEST WAS EVERYHING i am trying a new type of writting though, i hope its an improvement!!!–

“Uh, Jimin?” Silence. “Are you- Are you in there?” He heard Hoseok’s voice from across the closed door. He didn’t know why he wasn’t coming in, this was technically his room too. But he appreciated the gesture of fake privacy. “Jimin?” Hoseok asked again. Right, an answer; he has to answer something, anything. He didn’t even bother opening his mouth as a weak hum erupted from the back of his throat. He felt kind of bad as he heard Hoseok groan defeatedly at the other side of the door, before he spoke again. “We were going to get something to eat.” The older stated.

There was a minute of silence between the two. Jimin sighed and slowly and with difficulty sat up on his bed.

“Comin’” He said tired. Food seemed to be the only thing that got him out of bed these past days.

Or well. These past, months; the past year? Jimin had lost track of time after his days had become ridiculously monotonous: he woke up, he ate breakfast he went back to bed, eat some snacks throughout the day, have lunch, go back to bed, take a nap, eat dinner, go to bed. Though he never got much sleep, he kept getting these flashbacks whenever he tried to close his eyes. It had turned into a routine too, trying to sleep, failing miserably, and automatically waddling to the kitchen to eat. Eat until food was the only thing occupying his mind.

He opened the door where Hoseok was still standing at the corridor, his smile beaming yet sympathetic. He mustered to smile softly at the older as he wrapped an arm over his shoulders affectionately.  Jimin could practically feel his excitement, they hadn’t gone out to eat the seven of them out in ages. It wasn’t his intentions to shut his friends out entirely, but he did. Guilt swelled up at his chest, he hadn’t even explained to the six what had happened. They knew he had gone through a pretty bad breakup; just because Hoseok coaxed it out of him, and he probably told the other 5 baffled men. They didn’t know all the other details…He shook his head, he didn’t want to think about this, not now. Not when things were finally going back to the way they used to be. Not when Jimin was finally feeling comfortable on his own skin again; happy by the way his body did not have any resemblance to the one he had when he first got himself into that toxic relationship.

He knew Hoseok had noticed the changes, Jimin saw it on the older’s pitiful eyes as he saw him try to get his old clothes to fit.

“I could go with you to buy new clothes.” He suggested hesitant. Though Jimin didn’t even have to consider it.

“I’ll order some online.” Those days, the younger barely had enough emotional energy to have a proper conversation; but he knew Hoseok didn’t budge at his coldness so he couldn’t say he felt bad. But now, that he was out their room with the promise of going out to with the six of them, eh could feel Hoseok get more comfortable around his new shape as the hand on his shoulder gently squished the layer of soft fat underneath his skin. It was an unsettling feeling, the older was not completely used to Jimin’s size and he had been the person he had talked to the most during his shutdown form the world. What would the others think?  He tried his to busy his mind.

“Where are we eating?” He asked, surprising himself with how cheerful his voice sounded. Almost like he did before.

“Oh we agreed on going to Seokjin’s. We discuss it in the groupchat…” Hoseok answered mindlessly a hint of awkwardness in his voice.

“Right.” He’d be lying if he said he remembers the last time he used his phone, let alone check their groupchat.   

They walked until they were outside their apartment and Jimin couldn’t help but swallow initiated as he stared at Hoseok’s tiny car. During all this time, he had barely left the house, and when he did it was through an uber where he could sit at the back, alone, with no constricting space.  He had only travelled with Hoseok once when the older had gotten a pretty bad muscle strain from dancing; though he is much smaller at the time. He prepared himself for a cramped ride as he squished himself at the front seat. His stomach covered most of his lap, and his thighs were to big for him to be able to spread them to give his doughty middle some room. Jimin clasped the seatbelt around him, flinching the tightness of it sinking into the crease in between two fat rolls. He blushed as he saw the older notice Jimin’s uncomfortableness.

“Don’t worry Jiminie! It’ll be a short ride.” He said with a playful smile as he patted lightly the top of his massive dome. The younger felt his heart sink; sudden shame and embarrassment spread across his body. He knew this feeling; Jimin tried to force himself to continue the conversation. But he didn’t find energy within himself to so, opting to make himself as small as he could, eyes blank on the road ahead of them; mind overflowing with scenarios of his best friends being judgemental and teasing of him. All he can do now though, is hope that by the time they got there Jimin had regained enough energy to face all six of them at the same time. The ride was shorter than he had wanted. Well, in a sense he did want to get out of the cramped space; but he didn’t feel quite ready to face the other five men. He felt warmth spread across his chest as Seokjin opened the door to his place.

“Hoseokie you did it!!” The eldest yelled with excitement bringing him closer for tight embrace. Jimin timid at the sidelines.

“Did…what?”

“He brought you!” Seokjin took JImin by the hands the older’s long arms sinking into his plush waist. He couldn’t help the bubbly giggly erupting from his lips. He missed him.

“It’s been so long!” The younger found himself genuinely excited.

“Yeah, too loong.” Seokjin said with eyes travelling up and down his body quickly. Jimin felt himself shy away from the eldest touch; but convince himself to not do so. It could have been nothing, just a facial gesture to accentuate his words. He pushed the thought at the back of his head as he walked further into the apartment and to the dining room; where he saw only Yoongi on his phone. It was weird he was the only one, maybe he has finally moved into seokjin’s home? Wow, it really has been a long time. He was going to introduce himself though Hoseok’s voice spoke first.

“Oh Yoongi-hyung!” Hoseok’s sing song voice made the older  hum as a response “Look who I brought to come with me!” He sounded happy, too happy. It made him feel guilty after being away for so long, they had missed him too and he just… shut them out. Guilt was soon replaced with excitement as he saw his youngest hyung look up eyes open wide as his jaw dropped in the least discreet manner. He felt heat rise to his cheeks.

“Jimin!” Yoongi stood up abruptly, running towards and wrapping him around his arms firmly. Jimin felt the soft fat covering his entire body squished against the older man’s firm torso. Although the position made him aware of the size difference between him and the older, they stayed like that for a while. Against popular belief, Yoongi did give amazing hugs. After finally separating, or more like Yoongi peeling his lithe body from Jimin’s doughty frame, he spoke again. “I missed you.” His voice was raspy and he could feel his heart melt.

“I missed you too.” He stated simply with a small smile. He didn’t feel like saying anything more, but the idea of an uncomfortable silence between someone who Jimin had considered his best friend for ages was worse than forcing a small talk out of him. “So you moved in with Seokjin-hyung?” He asked and as soon as he saw the older’s reaction; he knew the answer. It was written all over him, and his bashful timid smile and the pink dust adorning his cheeks.

“Yeah, though it hasn’t been long. But I spent most of my time here anyway, so it wasn’t that big of a change.” Jimin felt his eyes widen, it has really been a while.

“It feels like there have been too many changes happened while I wasn’t here.” Although he was calm there was a sad undertone to the younger’s voice

“I’d say there have been a lot of changes to you oto Minnie.” Yoongi said with his cold sarcastic humor. It was typical of him, but for obvious reasons, today it hit differently, making him shrink into his seat. As much as his large form allowed him to. He was at a loss of words, he felt the energy drain from his system at the comment. Luckily though they small talk was interrupted by the doorbell.

“Ah that must be Jungkook and Taehyung.” Seokjin said beginning to stand up, though stopping half way through. “Jimin, you should go greet him instead!” The enthusiasm on his voice even made him excited to see the two youngest. Yet as soon as he stood up with the loud creak of his chair as he stood up and walked in front of everyone to see, he felt himself wanting to shrink again. He walked dejectedly towards the entrance, he could hear the two boys talking to each other across the door. And although he couldn’t make out any words, yet Jimin’s mind begun to spiral. Where they talking about him? What if the other boys had already told him he was there? What if they weren’t excited he came? What if they felt uncomfortable? What if they were mad at him for what he had done? Jimin’s stopped himself before he broke down; tonight was about reconciliation, he was not about to make this about him; he had to make it up to them.

“Hey! Is anyone going to open up or what?” He heard Taehyung’s loud yell across the door clearly, alongisde several loud bagns against it; snapping JImin out of his trance he opened the door hurriedly. He had taken so long that know the two men were standing right in front of the door closely. And now with the door fully open where standing their face barely inches apart from Jimin’s. There was a moment of silence, where he could see form up close the way their eyes widen ridiculously; they take a few steps back slowly, eyes still fixed comically on JImin. FOr a moment, the older considered they were not glad to see him there. Though his worries dissolved when he fell down under both of their weight in a bone crushing hug. The thud his body made against the ground was louder than he had expected; he still wasn’t used at the impact his new body had on the world around him; and although his ass and back where cushioned by a thick layer of fat, it still hurt like a bitch. Though his pain was drowned under the youngers’ calls of his name.

“Jimin!” They screamed too loud for the time and place they were in, earning a genuine giggle form the older. Which made not only his entire mass jiggle, but also Jungkook and Taehyung who were sinking into his doughty flesh.

“Hey, its hyung to you!” He tried to sound as mad as he possibly could. But suddenly, he felt guilt. Jimin hadn’t talked to his “dosa sings” in about a year, could he still consider himself something even remotely close to a “hyung”? What if they thought that too?

“Hyungie” Taehyung whined happily nuzzling into his girthy neck. Jimin felt his heart melt, Taehyung had always been the affectionate with him, it had been so long yet the younger’s touch and affection still felt warm and familiar.

“Hyungie.” Jungkook followed him, nuzzling his face in the other size of JImin’s neck right under his double chin. Now, he was scared. See, when Jungkook was sickeningly sweet it meant something terrible was about to happen; most likely to him…But things were different know,he hasn’t seen Jungkook in a year and maybe the youngest really truthfully wanted to be all lovey dove-

“Gu-guys…” Jimin’s shaky voice left stern as he could sound with both the older larger hands reaching for his sides and armpits. Their free hand gripping tightly each of Jimin’s fat arms. The hands that had reached down to his sides and armpits began to tickle slowly, and he got desperate. “Nohoho Oh NO GUYS! GUYS NOHO HAHAHA” Soon his loud cackles blended in with the ones Jungkook and Taehyung were letting out, they had the older trapped right where they wanted him. Even without them holding his arms, Jimin didn’t believe he’d have the strength to get both of the boys off his large body. He could hear himself laughing, it was such an odd sound after so long, he can’t remember the last time he laughed as much as in the past 10 minutes he had been in Seokjin’s and Yoongi’s house. Jimin allowed himself to forget close his eyes and laugh alongside with them.

“Kookie look! His body jiggles for a while even after he laughs!” He heard him exclaim. And automatically his laughter died down.

“You’re right! Look at it go!” Jungkook’s ñarge hand settled at the side of his ballooned stomach and palmed it gently. Jimin couldn’t bare look at them, he felt the shame crip up his insides choking him up.

“Yah you guys coming or should we start without you?!” Seokjin came to his rescue as the two youngest stood up hurriedly, not without grabbing each of JImin’s chubby hands helping him up with a struggle.

“We missed you.” Jungkook said warmly.

“Enough cheesiness, lets go. You must be hungry.”

“We can say the same for you eh Jiminie!” Taehyung exclaimed jokingly as the trio walked towards the kitchen. Jimin’s face heated up under the younger’s teasing tone. Jimin shyly walked up to his seat next t Yoongi who offered a caring smile towards him. The table was silent as the two youngest expectedly look around to each other person sitting at the table.

“Weren’t we just threatened that there was going to be no food left if we didn’t hurry up?” Jungkook asked Taehyung, with an overly exaggerated annoying tone; it was good to know they haven’t changed.

“Oh why yes Jungkook, I believe we were!” His deep voice rising comically.

“Well, we aren’t going to start without Namjoon here aren’t we? We always wait until the seven of us are here.” Hoseok started with mocking eyes towards them. Although the atmosphere was light and playful Jimin’s mind went straight to Namjoon; if the last time he had talked with the seven of them hadn’t been awful enough, the last time he and Namjoon had talked was even worse. Along with guilt, the amount of times Jimin had told Hoseok he’s try to make it, form the door of their room; he imagined the six of them sitting in silence. Witing only to see if he’d show up. He unconsciously bit the inside of his mouth as to force himself to swallow any upcoming tears.

“Jimin you look constipated.” the short man next to him stated jokingly.

“Yoon! Don’t be rude, of course he’ll be constipated with the amount of food he-” The doorbell cut him mid sentence, Seokjin standing up excited towards the door. He stood petrified. Though he ken who was at the door, so Jimin used all the strength within him to make himself feel comfortable and act natural. They always used to tease each other like this, about everything. But this change was something so heavily influence for what had happened between them Jimin couldn’t help but plead they would just go back to teasing him for his height. He was able to compose himself before the two tall men stood in front of the table.  “Well! That makes seven of us!” Cheers erupted from all around the table, though Jimin’s eyes were glue to his youngest hyung, who was looking straight back at him too. Mouth slightly agape, a timid smile taking over his full lips; of course, it wasn’t in Namjoon’s nature to be resentful. But that didn’t mean Jimin was free of guilt; though he mustered a a small smile himself for the older. Luck was on Jimin’s side though, as the only remaining seat was between Jungkook and Hoseok. And just like that, they began to feast; talking loudly overtopping each other’s voices like they always did. Jimin was too hungry to talk, the nerve wrecking situation only making his appetite grow; so he allowed himself to dig in.  See, the thing with food is that it had become such a vital copying mechanism for Jimin, he got completely lost when he binged, depersonalized from his surroundings. The only feeling being the food sliding down his throat rapidly. He didn’t notice he was already on his third serving when Hoseok exclaimed.

“Woah! Jimine! You are going to choke! We get that you are hungry but slow down!” Jimin felt completely stuck, petrified. Hoseok out of all people, he had seen him eat,h he heard him break down at early hours of the morning food wraps as his only consolation. Why did he have to says something, JImin couldn’t bring himself to answer. He just stood there, chopsticks halfway to his mouth. He only knew he was crying when saw the six pairs of eyes around him change with worry. Hoseok was about to open his mouth again but Jimin stood up instantly, the feeling of his entire body jiggling at the sudden movement didn’t help the hot tears streaming down his face.

“I know! Alright?” He yelled with a shaky voice. “I know that I am fat! I know that I wasn’t always fat! And I’m trying to convince myself that you have every right to tease me about it, ‘cause you do… I mean, I should already be grateful you guys don’t hate me…”

“Jiminie…” Namjoon began to talk but Jimin had just opened up and there was nothing he could do to stop the words from flooding out.

“No no! You do have every right to be mad at me… You kept warning me about him, that what he was doing to me wasn’t healthy. And I didn’t listen!” His words came out in between choke dup sobs. “Even when I got him out of my life, I couldn’t bring myself to talk to you guys again; even when I know you guys would forgive me. I just, didn’t feel like I deserved it.” Jimin couldn’t control the loud sobs and whimpers leaving his mouth in between words, or the hot stream of tears running over his round cheeks; memories form his friends, concerned about him telling him to dump his boyfriend. Jimin continuously snapping at them until it got into a full on argument. He ran away from them but Namjoon ran after, stopping him to calmly tell him; they just wanted to help. But Jimin snapped at him too, running back home, back to him. “I- I just isolated myself, I didn’t want it come back to you guys until I had fix what I was feeling about myself after him. And what helped me with that was, gaining weight… I know its weird, but- I came to love how different I look than when I was with him. And I know, if I’m so happy with the way that I look I shouldn’t be so self conscious about your teasing. But I guess I’m just still thinking you guys have every right to hate me for what I did , and I’m ranting and I’m sorry that this was supposed to be happy but I just ruined it.” His vision was blurry though it didn’t matter because his eyes were glued to the floor, or his big dome that covered most of his vision form the floor.  He heard shuffling, but he couldn’t bring himself to look up. It was a choked up sob that wasn’t erupting from his lips which raised his head up.

It broke his heart to see Taehyung already crying in front of him, or to see all six of them in front of him in that matter. Painful yet understanding eyes, pouring affection; the moment alone made JImin’s eyes well up with tears again.

“I’m- I’m so sorry. I should have listened, I should have came back to you I-” He is cut off by Namjoon.

“Jiminie, we forgive you.” His tone was gentle and he couldn’t help leaning towards him burying his face in the taller man’s chest; sobbs shaking his core once more. Quickly after, he felt more firm body sinking around his soft sides. Pairs upon pairs of arms wrapping around his expanded waist. They stood like that for a while, Jimin’s tears soaking up Namjoon’s sweater, in any other situation JImin would get anxious in the silence; but this time, it was comforting.

“OK, but we can’t actually just separated from this and continue eating like nothing has happened!” Jungkook exclaimed.

“Agreed. Everyone grab a dish we are moving to the living room!” They all did Jimin doing so too. “Not you Jimin, you seem like you could use a break. You too Taehyung, go settle in.” His voice was gentler but the pair did as told. They walked into the living room,both of them with shaky breaths as an aftermath from crying. Jimin sat on the middle of the large couch, Taehyung settling real close next to him, their bodies touching entirely as the younger promptly rested his head on JImin’s softened shoulder. Again, no words were needed between the two.

“It really hurt you know?”

“What? That I told you he was my soulmate?”

“That too but, that you had through this whole year a-alone.” Jimin didn’t know what to answer, no matter how many times he’d explain it had been him who cut them out, a part of them would still feel guilty.

“Though don’t worry Taetae! He isn’t alone any more!” Jungkook’s voice piped from the dining room as he settled a couple of dishes he was bringing on handing one to Taehyung and keeping one to himself before climbing up on the couch and reting on its headrests, his muscular things in between his head. Strong hands instantly running his hands slowly and with care through the older’s hair. Soon after Hoseok came with a plate on each hand and automatically going to sit at Taehyung’s lap. Then came Seokjin and Yoongi with the remaining plates, the eldest letting the rapper sit comfortably on his lap. Following behind them was Namjoon with two large bottles of sodas in his strong arms, he walked until he was in front of Jimin.

“Make some room for me?” The younger blushed noticing how much of his lap was being occupied by his heavy stomach; he spread his thighs apart letting it fall in between and that was all Namjoon need before he sat shyly on his fattened lap.

“Minnie.” Hoseok called cautiously, guilt from the fat man’s outburst still evident on his voice “How about we feed each one of us a bite at a time? Would you like that?” Although the situation was overwhelming, the closeness from all the six men; it felt oddly right. And the idea of being taken care by them in sich an intimate way, was appealing to Jimin in more ways than he dared to admit; so he nodded.

“I’ll go first!” Namjoon yelped a little to enthusiastically earning hard to repress laughter from the others. “What? After all these crying he must be dehydrated!” The way he got defensive over it was adorable to everyone. And as cute as it would have been to keep on flustering him, they allowed him to start. Opening the bottle excited as he held it with firm arms up to Jimin’s parted lips. The gassed liquids slid down him easily filling him with just as much ease. Then went Hoseok feeding him a mouthful of one of the two plates he was holding and then the next one, Taehyung continued feeding a large piece of his plate; He had to look up to eat Jungkook’s bite leaving his thick neck exposed. Which all Namjoon Yoongi and Hoseok saw as an unpasable opportunity as they ñeaned in nuzzling it at first yet not long after a soft gentle kisses being placed all over him. He had to look back down to eat off Seokjin’s hand, though the three of them were pressing much closer to him than before. And by the time Yoongi’s turn had arrived all the flavours were mixing up in the his mouth.

But Jimin couldn’t bring himself to care about the flavour, the vicious cycle starting over with Namjoon. The feeling of being cared for and looked after bringing heat to his chest, that and the amount of food being forced into his hardening belly. Or perhaps it was the thought at the back of his mind that all their gentle caring touches were far more romantic than any platonic explanation could justify; scared by the fact of how much he was enjoying said actions from his friends. He didn’t let the worry ruin his fun too much, as it was easy to get lost in the other men’s attention on him. Jungkook began to place soft kisses to the crown of his head; large hands sliding from the back of his neck to massage his fattened breast like pecs. Taehyung’s hot lips kept mouthing on his girthy neck leaving sloppy kisses. Hoseok’s dainty hands found their way to the rolls adorning Jimin’s sides pinching and grabbing from his muffin top or his love handles. Namjoon continued to grind on the younger’s lap, even though he was nowhere near his crotch, he was directly pushing into Jimin’s bloating stomach; earning waves of pleasure flood him. Yoongi’s large hands found a place on Jimin’s heavy overhang jiggling it strongly or groping it allowing him to let some gass out in between mouthfuls. Or Seokjin’s hot breath against his ear and the way he bit into his earlobe softly. The pleasure was intense and overwhelming, so much so Jimin didn’t even noticed his ballooned stomach, not until every plate was scooped clean. A scrunched up expression taking over his face. As soon as his uncomfortableness was shown sixs pairs of hands were rubbing his swollen middle.

They had all physically relaxed when he was done, the only noise being his hard breaths and the occasional quiet praise form one of the others towards him. Soft nothings spoken barely above a whisper. “You did so well Minnie.” “So proud of you”

The questions about this whole situation where crawling back to him, but he didn’t let him bother him for long. He was full, warm, and finally eating for a different reason

#BTS #OT7 #Feedrism #chubby #bangatn chub #feedee jimin #chubby jimin #fat jimin #feedeer seokjin #feeder namjoon #feedeer yoongi #feeder hoseok #feeder taehyung #feeder jungkook #jimin x everyone #slight yoonjin

[rosstalksabouthockey]

NHL PLAYOFF PRIMER 2018

It’s that time of year again when we take the last 6 months of hard-fought regular season and chuck it straight out the window - PLAYOFFS PLAYOFFS PLAYOFFS

This season in the NHL featured zero surprises and happened exactly as we all expected, with Vegas winning their division and Colorado and New Jersey making the playoffs. Nothing unusual there.

Likewise, the playoffs will be extremely easy to predict, so without further ado:

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

#1 Tampa Bay Lightning vs WC2 New Jersey Devils

The league’s top offense by a mile will face the league’s most criminally-underrated goaltender, Corey Schneider, who after years of toiling with a terrible Devils team, will finally get his chance to shine - wait, I’m being handed something here...yes, okay, scratch all that, as the Devils are reportedly starting Keith Kincaid between the pipes, who I’m pretty sure is actually Keanu Reeve’s character in Point Break. Nevertheless, with an unproven goaltender who may actually be a fictional character standing up to the onslaught of Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov, it’s tough to pick New Jersey in this one - Lightning in five.

#2 Boston Bruins vs #3 Toronto Maple Leafs

The NHL’s weird playoff format results in the #4 team in the league playing the #7 team in the league in the first round. Toronto’s young talent have taken the next step this year, with Auston Matthews, Mitchell Marner, and William Nylander leading the charge and bringing the Leafs back to relevance. Boston, meanwhile, has ridden an aging core and new young talent of their own back to the playoffs. Tuukka Rask is playing lights-out in Boston’s net, but will 40-year-old Zdeno Chara be able to keep up with the speedy Leafs? An absolute must-watch series goes the distance and the young Leafs pull the upset (and get revenge for 2013) over a legit Cup contender in Boston - Leafs in 7. Metropolitan Division

#1 Washington Capitals vs WC1 Columbus Blue Jackets

Ah, our good friends the Washington Capitals advance to the playoffs once more. Alex Ovechkin put up 49 goals to win his 7th Rocket Richard Trophy, and the Capitals are icing a team deep at all positions, albeit arguably not as good as past years. They get a relative unknown in the Blue Jackets, who TOTALLY DIDN’T LOSE THEIR LAST GAME ON PURPOSE TO AVOID PITTSBURGH. THAT DIDN’T HAPPEN. DO NOT INSINUATE THAT NHL TEAMS LOSE GAMES ON PURPOSE. DON’T DO IT. Anyway, the Blue Jackets put the usual first-round scare into the Capitals by taking Game 1 in Washington, but the Caps figure it out and take this series in 6.

#2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs #3 Philadelphia Flyers

Again, the NHL playoff structure is fucking weird - though they’re the #2 & #3 seeds in their division, Pittsburgh and Philly finished with the 10th and 13th best records in the league, respectively. In fact, I wonder if Pittsburgh has set a record here for being the worst team to have home ice. That said, they still had 47 wins and 3 players finish in the top 10 in point scoring - plus, they’re the 2-time defending champions with the best player in the world on their roster, so yeah, Pittsburgh in 6. Philly will make it interesting and this is another must-watch series because it will be old-school bloody hockey, but the Flyers lack the depth to come out of this one.

Western Conference

Central Division

#1 Nashville Predators vs WC2 Colorado Avalanche

The President’s Trophy-winning Predators take on a team that posted 48 points last year. Pretty hard to pick the Avalanche in this one, Hart Trophy candidate Nathan MacKinnon’s game-breaking play notwithstanding. Colorado got in to the playoffs on their last game, beating St. Louis in a game that sent the winner to the playoffs, so they’ll be fired up and ready to go, while Nashville locked up their playoff spot weeks ago and stormed their way to the league’s best record. Last year’s runner up will likely go back to the Finals again, and given that Colorado is a weak team aside from MacKinnon, Nashville wins in 5.

#2 Winnipeg Jets vs #3 Minnesota Wild

Poor Minnesota - after years of being beat down by Chicago in the playoffs, the Wild finally go to the dance in a year that the Blackhawks are out, and Minny’s reward is that they play the second-best team in the league. Winnipeg’s scoring is positively terrifying, with Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifle, and Patrik Laine tearing it up all year and center Paul Statsny joining the team at the deadline from St. Louis. Minnesota brings resurgent performances from Zach Parise and Erik Staal, but lost their #1 defenseman, Ryan Suter, to a freak ankle injury late in the season. Suter’s out for the playoffs, meaning Minnesota won’t be able to prevent Winnipeg from loading the net. Jets in 5.

Pacific Division

#1 Vegas Golden Knights vs WC1 Los Angeles Kings

Surpassing literally everyone’s expectations, the Vegas Golden Knights got out of the gate fast and barely slowed down all season, finishing with the NHL’s 5th-best record and winning the Pacific Division in their first year as a team. It’s absolutely unheard-of for an expansion team, and that’s what makes this series so hard to pick. Vegas goes into the playoffs as a complete unknown, and they face a Kings squad only 4 years removed from winning 2 Cups in 3 years. A lot has changed for the Kings in the interim, but Jonathan Quick, Anze Kopitar, and Drew Doughty still have championship talent and aspirations. This should be a fun one - Knights in 7.

#2 Anaheim Ducks vs #3 San Jose Sharks

Once more, all three California teams make the playoffs, which virtually guarantees a California matchup in the first round. The Sharks and Ducks form one of the most heated rivalries of the first round (Pittsburgh-Philly is maybe the only bloodier series) and both these teams know how to bring the pain. Expect a lot of close games and probably the most penalty minutes of any series. It’s also a match-up that could go either way, but I’ll pick San Jose in 7.

SECOND ROUND

Eastern Conference

#1 Tampa Bay Lightning vs #3 Toronto Maple Leafs

This year’s bluest matchup pits a battle-hardened, experienced Lightning squad against the upstart young-stars of the Maple Leafs. This will be one of the highest scoring series this year; both teams are better at putting the puck in the net than keeping it out. Goaltenders Andrei Vasilevskiy and Frederick Andersen will have their hands full. Tampa Bay’s offense and experience will win out after Toronto takes a 3-2 series lead. Lightning in 7.

#1 Washington Capitals vs #2 Pittsburgh Penguins

The now-annual event you’ve all been waiting for. Is this the year the Capitals finally exorcise their demons, get over the hump, and get past the hated Penguins and the hated second round? Short answer: no. Long answer: Pittsburgh is one of those teams that has an extra gear in the playoffs. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are capable of taking over series, Matt Murray is able to steal games in net when the offense isn’t there, and with Kris Letang healthy, Pittsburgh’s defense corps is elite. Washington is a good team and I would love to pick them, but it’s Pittsburgh in 7 (meaning once again Washington loses Game 7 at home).

Western Conference

#1 Nashville Predators vs #2 Winnipeg Jets

Two absolute powerhouse teams go at it with a trip to the conference finals on the line. This will be a hell of a series, with both squads capable of lighting the lamp in droves while delivering huge, game-changing hits (Dustin Byfuglien and Ryan Hartman in the same series? Yes please). The star power here will be lights out - PK Subban and Patrik Laine are two of the game’s brightest young studs. A back-and-forth series that sees multiple multi-overtime games will go the distance - Predators in a rocking Game 7 after coming back from down 3-2.

#1 Vegas Golden Knights vs #3 San Jose Sharks

San Jose is almost the Washington Capitals of the West - great regular-season team, underwhelming in the playoffs, with a long-time, charismatic-and-at-times-controversial star in Joe Thornton that’s never won a Cup. Thornton’s at least been to the Final, losing to the Penguins just a couple years ago, but if he never wins it, it would be fair to say he and Ovechkin would be two of the best players not to win. It would also be fair to say that if Vegas won a Cup before San Jose and Washington, expansion franchises themselves, that the collective saltiness of their fans would turn the Great Lakes into the Dead Sea. Knights in 6.

CONFERENCE FINALS

Eastern Conference

#1 Tampa Bay Lightning vs #2 Pittsburgh Penguins

A re-match of the 2016 Eastern Conference Final, this will be a series for the ages with the Lightning looking to avenge their loss two years ago and the Penguins looking for a chance at a three-peat. Tampa Bay will look to overwhelm with their speed and scoring, but Pittsburgh can match speed with guys like Carl Hagelin and Kris Letang and are no slouches at putting in pucks. A back-and-forth series will need all seven games, but this year the Lightning emerge victorious, ending Pittsburgh’s title defense and returning the Lightning to the Final after a 3-year absence.

Western Conference

#1 Nashville Predators vs #1 Vegas Golden Knights

Last year’s runner up versus this year’s Cinderella story. In a way, this series represents the future of the NHL - Nashville took some time but have evolved into a premier franchise and a for-real hockey market, while Vegas hit the ground running and have driven home the idea of hockey in non-traditional markets. The luck will run out for Vegas, though (how many of those puns are you going to hear in the playoffs? I’ll take the over); Nashville is a complete squad top-to-bottom, while Vegas is a team largely of unknowns and cast-offs. The Knights have had an admirable first season and a trip to the Conference Finals is a success beyond what any could have imagined, but the Predators’ championship window is wide open and they’re going to break through to a consecutive Finals appearance. Nashville in 6.

STANLEY CUP FINAL

#1 Nashville Predators vs #1 Tampa Bay Lightning

The final showdown pits two recent losers against each other - Nashville last year and Tampa Bay in 2015. Both teams have legitimate star power, depth at every position, and great storylines. PK Subban and Steven Stamkos chasing their first Cups, Nikita Kucherov and Filip Forsberg putting on dazzling moves, and Pekka Rinne and Andrei Vasilevskiy trading highlight reel saves - what more do you want? It’s really hard to predict this one, but I’m sticking to my guns and calling it for Nashville as the Predators win their first Stanley Cup in a thrilling 6-game series, eventually throwing the rowdiest Stanley Cup parade in league history. Pekka Rinne wins the Conn Smythe as MVP of the playoffs.

#NHL #NHL Playoffs #Stanley Cup Playoffs