Matt McDermott,#9 for Park Regional, takes a face off against Mountain Lakes-Boonton.

It has been three months of regular season hockey, but finally we have found ourselves in the second season, the state playoffs are here. There are five rounds before the state championship. Tonight starts the first round, called the plane round. We will predict all of the winners in the north and nonpublic for play in teams.

PUBLIC PLAY IN

#17 West Orange @ #16 Millburn

Winner advances to play #1 Randolph

These two teams for most of the regular season seemed to be the two best teams in the McMullen division. Dominic Locricchio has blossomed into a great goal scorer. That being said, Milburn did better in the tournament going to the final, as well as being the better team for most of the year and also understanding how to orchestrate blowouts, I’m going to go with the Millers in this one.

Peter’s Pick-Millburn 5-3

#19 Mahwah @ #14 Madison 

Winner advances to play #3 Chatham

The Dodgers had a strong finish to a tumultuous season, the Gero cousins continue to improve and become great goalscorer, Jonathan Erickson also has become a great two-way player, and that statement upset against West Milford – Pequannock has really helped their growth of a team. The Thunderbirds are not going to go away quietly, They have solid goaltending, but I’m really fond of the way Madison is playing. I’m going to have to go with the Dodgers.

Peter’s Pick-Madison 5-4 OT

#18 Roxbury @ #15 Montville

Winner advances to #2 Northern Highlands 

Roxbury deserves to be here no doubt about it, for a team that has gone through a lot of growing pains as a young hockey club. They have bit and clawed their way here and they have done well with Ryan VanZile. Their road gets exponentially harder, though, with a strong Montville team, the Mustangs did not get the result they desired in the hot cup, but with Cole Riley, as the leader on offense, and his sister, Alexis leading this team from the goal crease, I favor Montville.

Peter’s Pick-Montville 7-1

CO-OP PLAY IN

#17 Clifton United @ #16 Newton Lenape Valley

Winner advances to play #1 Tenafly-Cresskill Tigers

This is a good matchup to start the playoffs between two physical teams that can score. NLV is just coming off an electric Charette Cup victory, which they are hoping will propel them through the playoffs. Clifton United had a great top line this year and they have a big propensity to score goals. As well as NLV has played this year, there is something special about this Clifton United team, I will go with them for an upset.

Peter’s Pick-Clifton United 5-2

#20 Kearny-North Arlington-Secacus Kardinals @ #13 Fair Lawn-Dumont-Bergenfield Cutters

Winner advances to play #4 Verona-Glen Ridge

It is very hard to beat a team that has nothing to lose and plays with an iron wheel. Right now that is the Kardinals. Aidan Stamm has scored nine points, six goals and three assists in the past two games and route to a McMullen Cup. They’re still the underdogs, though, dealing with that prolific defense of the Cutters with the transitional game of the Fairlawn tri-op, I have to go with the Cutters in this one.

Peter’s Pick-Fair Lawn-Dumont-Bergenfield Cutters 6-2

#19 Mountain Lakes-Boonton @ #14 Park Regional

Winner advances to play #3 Pascack Hills Pascack Valley

A fatigued but feisty MTLB team has truly played with the heart of a champion in their race to the playoffs. Now that they are here in the second season, the Wenzel brothers can really lead them to some success. They meet a real challenge, though in Park Regional. Chase Olzewski and Michael Capozzi have led Park through the Hass ahead of MTLB with their foundational offense, I favor Park here.

Peter’s Pick- Park Regional 7-3

#18 Killcats @ #15 MOHOHA

Winner advances to play #2 KJS United

Talon Muscolino has been such a stalwart as a goaltender for MOHOHA and Daniel McGary has helped as a scorer as well. This playoff game will be incredible, familiarity breeds contempt, and that is definitely true here. MOHOHA needed to win their final game against the Killcats to even make the playoffs and were able to do so 5–3. The Killcats though bring out a great level of feistiness and goals, scoring, and will be great competition. After the sour feeling in their mouth of the loss in the Charette final, there is definitely a collective thought of if we were not able to keep MOHOHA out of the playoffs, we can knock them out in the playoffs, I agree with that brand of thought, and will be favoring the Killcats.

Peter’s Pick-Killcats 7-5

NON PUBLIC PLAY IN

#17 Gill St.Bernards @ #16 St.Peter’s Prep

Winner advances to play #1 Don Bosco Prep

The Knights are feeling such a rush of jubilation right now with their incredible overtime victory over West Morris Central in the Haas Cup Final. Julian Tramontano had the big golden goal against West Morris, and he is going to be needed in a big way along with his young goaltender against the marauders Saint Peter’s Prep. Despite their record, plays a large amount of physical and speedy opponents and has gone through so many great teams. It will be a very tough task for Gill St. Bernards. I still favor the Knights as I do not think that St. Peter’s Prep has played a team with this level of speed.

Peter’s Pick- Gill St. Bernards 6-0

#19 Paramus Catholic @ #14 Notre Dame

Winner advances to play #3 St. Augustine

Paramus Catholic has really grown since the opening stretch of the season. They’ve begin to define depth of their team, collected deeper bench, and really utilize their goaltending. Notre Dame though can roll four lines exclusively, and are one of those grinding teams that can wear on a blue line. I favor Notre Dame in this one.

Peter’s Pick- Notre Dame 10-1

#18 Oratory Prep @ #15 Paul VI

Winner advances to play #2 Delbarton

When you talk about smash mouth hockey, Oratory Prep is no doubt in the conversation. You’re going through the hot tub time machine of 1980s hockey in this matchup, both of these teams like to hit. Both of these teams can goaltend well and both of these teams have solid defenseman, however the Eagles have two defined liners that can change the output of a game, and I think Paul VI could be one of the dark horses to go really far in the tournament.

Peter’s Pick- Paul VI 5-1

Check next week for our predictions on the 1st round matchups.