1 bold prediction for each 2018 Stanley Cup playoff team

PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 04: The Pittsburgh Penguins watch their 2017 Stanley Cup Championship banner rise to the rafters behind the Stanley Cup prior to a game agains the St. Louis Blues at PPG PAINTS Arena on October 4, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

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PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 05: Brian Elliott /

Philadelphia Flyers

Brian Elliott will struggle…again

Journeyman goaltender Brian Elliott has played in the playoffs for both the St. Louis Blues and the Calgary Flames, and now he’s going to start in goal for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Elliott missed a lot of the second half of the season due to injury and only played in two games leading up to the postseason. Last season in the playoffs, he lost all the games he started in the first round as he didn’t even have a .900 save percentage.

It’s going to be a bit of a challenge for him to play well this series, especially going up against the Penguins. Pittsburgh has lit up each goaltender it has faced in the playoffs the previous two seasons under Mike Sullivan, and it may be no different in this series. We could even potentially see Petr Mrazek get in this series if Elliott struggles like he did last season with the Flames.

So, in retrospect, maybe this prediction isn’t so bold after all. We can just expect Brian Elliott to do what he does in the postseason.

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