They have the cap space to make additions but also dress their best roster now, Cody Glass will be up and he can be a difference maker matching up vs our middle 6. They'll sic Stone on our big line and just suck the life out of us 5 on 5. Our PP would have to dominate and our PK would have to be at least average (for the league not for them) to have a chance to get into 6-7 games. I'd much rather face any of the Canadian teams, none of them are deep at all and best on best we have a chance. STL, Vegas and Colorado are real tough matchups IMO.
The line for Vegas that has given us trouble is Karlsson's. That's who they would match up against Scheifele.
So it would Connor-Copp-Laine or (Ehlers-Wheeler) vs. Pacioretty-Stastny-Stone. I think Jets would matchup alright. None of those guys are particularly great skaters anymore. 3rd line is pretty even. Good chance for Roslovic and Appleton. Eakin was a 3rd liner there, probably one here. I would think that you see Eakin/Copp-Lowry-Roslovic healthy, and either Harkins or Perreault, with Apples/Lowry and Shore on the 4th. I could see the argument for another forward, though I wish we would give Harkins-Shore-Chibisov a shot, it's chemistry that has already been built.
Special teams Jets have been good of late, mostly because of opponents, it's 5 on 5 where they have been weaker.
We may need another defenseman. And that defenseman could be Samberg. For Hellebuyck getting past Fleury is a hump. We don't have a #2 we have confidence in, which could precipitate a move.
I do agree that a Smythe matchup would be best, but expect Vegas to be the #1 in Pacific. If Nashville takes the #1 WC, that's a trip through the Central, which will be a lot harder.
You can never predict what is going to happen in the playoffs though. Columbus showed that. Just have to make them.