Rafko-Wilson Fondly Remembers Miss America Reign

It's probably no coincidence that the theme of the 1987 Miss America Pageant was the Heart of America.

That's not only because the winner of that pageant, Monroe's own Kaye Lani Rae Rafko-Wilson, had already shown her heart to the people of the Wolverine State and beyond during her brief almost three months as Miss Michigan, but, also, because of words from her mother, Jackie, that, now, 33 years later, almost seem prophetic.

"Every one of them (the 50 other contestants vying for the title) worked hard and knowing them I knew that anyone of them could have won Miss America," Rafko-Wilson said in a recent phone interview where she spoke about her time as both Miss Michigan and ultimately as the national titleholder.

What her mom told her before the competition is that she had hoped that her daughter would "Let the judges see her heart." 

And that she did.

Not only did Rakfo-Wilson win the preliminary swimsuit competition in Atlantic City - a feat she also accomplished each of the three times she competed for the Miss Michigan crown - she, of course, impressed the judges with her heart and her devotion to her then-vocation as a registered nurse, to win the ultimate title, that of Miss America 1988.

Now, after having just recently celebrated 33 years since her triumph and that first walk down that famous Atlantic City runway, Rafko-Wilson reminisces about what got her to the national stage and philosophies that were beneficial to her not only back then, but even today.

For those who lived in the area, which includes Bedford, Monroe, and even across the boarder to Toledo, where Rafko-Wilson was working full time as a registered nurse in the Oncology wing at the St. Vincent Medical Center, it was a magical time, as her accomplishments, travel and, yes, heart, made her one of the most popular and well-traveled Miss Michigans and Miss Americas of all time.

Even before leaving for New Jersey to compete for the national crown, she said she traveled about 20,000 miles across Michigan making personal appearances, attending pageants and, most importantly, speaking about the need for more to follow her foot steps to the nursing profession.

"I had a car (donated by one of the sponsors of the Miss Michigan Pageant) and since I was 23, almost 24, I drove a lot. I drove everywhere," she said. "It was a fun summer as Miss Michigan."

It was also a busy summer, as Rafko-Wilson said she had time for only one mock interview, which are generally held for state titleholders ad nauseam in the months preceding the Miss America Pageant.

"I had no public speaking training," she said, "I just started talking about my family and nursing."

And, obviously Rafko-Wilson didn't need either the mock interviews or public speaking classes,

That's because the love for her vocation - and the ability to speak eloquently about it - enabled her to do exactly what her mother had said to do in the national interview.

And that was to show them her heart.

In fact, Rafko-Wilson credits winning the state crown and her many appearances across the state to preparing this self-described once "shy" girl for the scrutiny all Miss America contestants receive from the minute they step foot in Atlantic City.

The confidence she gained as Miss Michigan even impressed her mother so much so that she was no longer worried that her daughter's "shyness" might affect her judges' interview in New Jersey. In fact, after hearing her daughter speak at an appearance prior to her leaving for Atlantic City, Mrs. Rafko remarked that it was evident that the brief time Rafko-Wilson had traveled the state as Miss Michigan had noticeably helped her grow in both confidence and speaking ability.

The rest, as they say, is history, as Rafko-Wilson traveled approximately 20,000 miles a month as Miss America, not only speaking on behalf of the national organization and its sponsors, but also on her vocation. Her dedication to nursing and increasing awareness to hospice and the care for the terminally ill led Miss America officials to later implement a platform issue for future contestants, a part, of the pageant that remains to this day.

That's probably appropriate because if it hadn't been for Rafko-Wilson's nursing career, she might have not only not entered her first pageant, but also may not have even gone back to the Miss Michigan stage in 1987, after having been first runner up in the 1986 state competition.

A 1981 graduate of the-then St. Mary's Academy, she received her first semester bill to St. Vincent's School of Nursing at just about the same time the Miss Monroe County Pageant was to be held that year.

"I saw an ad and it mentioned the scholarship and I thought, oh, my gosh, I think I'm going to do this and signed up," she said.

As Miss Monroe County 1981, she ultimately became second runner up at the 1982 Miss Michigan Pageant. After competing at the 1984 Miss Ohio Pageant, as Miss Toledo, Rafko-Wilson went back to her home state as Miss Heart of Michigan for the 1986 state pageant.

That second-place finish in 1986 might have been the end of the road for Rafko-Wilson if not for two things, her actual nursing career and some, just, good fortune.

Even with a $5,000 nursing school debt still to pay, Rafko-Wilson thought her pageant days were over, as she she was working the midnight shift full time at St. Vs and was, quite frankly exhausted.

"I still had an overwhelming student loan and $5,000 back then was a lot of money, but I just thought I'd find another way to pay it off," she said.

That's where fate and her vocation collided to alter the course of Rafko-Wilson's life.

"One of my patients had leukemia and I overheard her husband saying they they wanted to go to Hawaii," she said, noting that she then had an idea that ultimately led to her decision to compete one last time.

Rafko-Wilson decided that since the woman was unlikely ever to realize her dream of traveling to the Aloha State, she decided to perform the same Hawaiian-Tahitian dance that she had used to compete in pageants for her, instead.

"She laughed and smiled more than I had ever seen," she said, noting that once she performed for that patients, the other nurses on the Oncology ward ended up having her dance for their patients, as well.

And that ended up not only bringing joy to the patients, but being beneficial to Rafko-Wilson, too, as it gave her continued practice for a talent she thought she would never use again in pageant competition.

"I remember her asking when is your next pageant," she said, noting that she told her she was done competing to which she said, "I think you should try one more time."

"I thought a lot about it," she said, adding that her mother had said to her "You can't give God an ultimatum. It's not your time, it's his," in reference to Rafko-Wilson thinking that since she didn't win the crown in 1986, perhaps, she was not destined to win it at all.

And that's where fate - or you might say good fortune - comes in.

While deciding whether to enter a local competition for the 1987 Miss Michigan Pageant, her parents bought Chinese food that night. The fortune cookie Rafko-Wilson opened that evening said five simple words: "Next Year is Your Year."

More prophetic words for a young woman who was destined to be Miss America, even if she didn't know it at the time.

After that fateful fortune, Rafko-Wilson entered and won Miss Monroe County a second time in the summer of 86 and diligently prepared for Miss Michigan while also working full time in Toledo.

Flash forward to September 1988 and even as she was one of six state winners remaining at the 1987 Pageant waiting to hear whose name Gary Collins would call out as the winner, Rafko-Wilson still didn't let her mind go there that she might possibly be the winner.

Her iconic reaction - arguably one of the best in the now-100-year history of the pageant - clearly showed she had no idea she was going to be the winner. In fact, it's a wonder she didn't pass out.

"I had no idea (she was going to win.) Quite honestly, I was so wrapped up by the love and affection (of family and friends.) I was just enjoying the ride," she said, adding, "Every one of us came prepared. I was in extreme shock. It didn't set in until a couple of days after."

As advice for future pageant aspirants, Rafko-Wilson offers these words that she took to heart when she competed. They basically were her mantra going in to the national pageant.

"It wasn't about me, this was something bigger than me, it is so much more than just yourself," she said, noting that you are representing your entire state and you want to be an exemplary role model for those people.

Despite a year that she said could be draining at times, Rafko-Wilson took this philosophy into her year of service and it served her well.

"I never got tired of it. I approached every appearance like it was the first and only one I would get," she said, adding that "I developed so many friendships through this program, too," then noting so many of the pageant "sisters" she competed with and their various accomplishments both in Atlantic City and after crowning their state successors.

Upon crowning her own successor, Rafko-Wilson has had a full life.

She has remained in Monroe where she is now the executive director of Gabby's Grief Center, formerly known as Gabby's Ladder, a bereavement center for children and their families, and has been married for 31 years to her husband, Chuck, who she started dating in 1983, They have three children, Nicholas, who with his wife, Lauren, has just made them grandparents for the first time when on Rafko-Wilson's own birthday, their granddaughter, Ivy Elizabeth, was born.

The Wilsons also have a daughter, Alana, 24, who has also followed in her mother's footsteps and is a former Miss Monroe County, too, and Joseph, 20, a sophomore at Grand Valley State University in Allendale Township.

Perhaps, Rafko-Wilson's legacy isn't really that she won Miss America, it might be what she accomplished after the crown that fall night 33 years ago.

As a former Miss America she was able to gain entry into places she might not, otherwise, have gotten into to continue advocating her own platform issue. However, this quote she gave is telling as to what type of person she is and that she has always kept things in perspective, even when competing.

"You have to have more goals than to just win the crown. I wanted to grow as a person and develop lifelong friendships," she said.

Obviously those are words Rafko-Wilson has lived by and are pieces of advice any young woman who wants to eventually join the elite Miss America sisterhood need to heed.

Actually, take out the word crown and those are words everyone should live by. 

One thing is for certain, though, those life lessons and words she took to her own heart led the humble, articulate and genuine Monroe County girl to capture the literal heart of America by her life-transforming win.

Touring Llanview, Bay City, Oakdale and Henderson, McCabe Leaves Her Mark On Genre

When a soap opera gets canceled, many actors scramble to find their next role, while some immediately get picked up by another soap. 

And then there are others who decide to take a break from the medium altogether 

Marcia McCabe took the latter route. 

After having played heroine Sunny Adamson on Search for Tomorrow for close to nine years, the acclaimed and popular actress said she was "frankly exhausted" and needed a little down time before rejoining the ranks of employed soap actors.

"It was very healthy for me to take some time off," McCabe said, noting that she was at the age where she wanted to just enjoy life and not get up at the crack of dawn each day to go to the studio.

It also helped her deal with the loss of both her parents in a house fire prior to joining Search.

"I had lost both of my parents and hadn't really had a chance to mourn for them," she said, explaining that the rigors of her full-time role on Search provided her with an escape and once she wasn't working she had time to properly mourn and reflect on the tragedy and their loss.

After recharging her batteries, McCabe was cast with much fanfare in the newly created role of Alicia Grande on the top-rated ABC sudser One Life to Live, a role she played for about nine months before the character was, unfortunately, a victim of plot twist and was killed off in order for the show to pursue a complicated baby switch storyline. 

"It was a great part," said McCabe in reference to Alicia "and I really wanted to work."

She does regret that then OLTL executive producer Paul Rauch never told her that the character was doomed from the start and not slated to last past her initial contract. Still, she does not regret taking the role and enjoyed the show. She does think in retrospect she might not have done all the publicity for the part had she known she wouldn't be a long-term fixture on the show.

As for doing an hour-long soap as opposed to the 30-minute Search, she said there wasn't a big difference because OLTL filmed by set rather than by the actual script.

"I didn't notice much of a difference because by the time I got to One Life, they had changed how the filmed it and so much was about where you were in the lineup," she said, noting that her apartment was in close proximity to the studio so she could even go home for lunch.

It also helped that her character didn't have a lot of interactions with the broad OLTL canvas and, rather, with only a select set of characters.

"It was very easy. I had very compartmentalized scenes," she noted.

In between her One Life and All My Children stints, McCabe actually had auditioned for another role on AMC, that ultimately went to actress Phyllis Lyons. Interesting to me and I pointed out to her during the course of our conversation that the role Lyons played was Arlene Vaughn, the alcoholic mother of Kelly Ripa's character, Hayley. So, at a relatively young age, which is common in soap casting, she could have played the future superstar's mother.

"I guess they just couldn't envision Sunny Adamson as an alcoholic," McCabe joked of her Search for Tomorrow alter ego.

Still, she enjoyed her time in the fictional town of Llanview and after a few years in between was cast as attorney Leslie Duprey on All My Children, a role she loved playing even though she knew going in that the character would be temporary and not a mainstay in Pine Valley.

"The hardest part of that role was learning the dialogue," she said of the legal terms that was required of her character as she was defending multiple-Emmy winning actor David Canary's character of Adam Chandler in a child custody suit.

Of working with the daytime legend Canary, McCabe had only wonderful things to say.

"David Canary was the consummate professional,"she said. "Very quite and studious and focused on his work. A pleasure to be on the set with."

Following AMC, McCabe went back to her Proctor and Gamble - which owned Search - roots and created the role of Bunny Eberhardt on the long-running NBC drama, Another World.

While at AW, her character was pretty much of an island and shared the majority of her scenes with leading man Tom Eplin, who she enjoyed working with and was a fun actor who kept performers fresh because he had an impromptu style that challenged people to keep up with him and do their best work. And the role was different enough from her previous characters that it provided an interesting challenge for the veteran actress.

She had little interaction with the rest of the storylines, though for Bay City loyalists, it's worth mentioning that McCabe noted how lovely lead heroine Victoria Wyndham, who played Rachel, was in her meetings with her before and after joining AW.

After a nearly 15-year hiatus from the genre, during which time she was raising her two children, Yvonne and Nick, McCabe, accepted a one-day role as Carolyn Wheatley on As the World Turns.

Even though it was a single-day shoot, the character was pivotal to the plot and fans were ecstatic to see the daytime legend back on their screen.

In between her start on Search and her work on ATWT, much had changed in the genre, though, which is reflective on how the industry had changed.

"The big difference between soaps from when I started on Search was that Search had cue cards. We were all theater trained and didn't want them," she said noting that the show eventually got rid of them. "I think it would have been different when it was still live."

She noted that obviously dropping ratings, which she directly attributes to the OJ Simpson Trial in 1994-95 when soaps were routinely pre-empted, as the beginning of the big change in the genre that necessitated lower budgets and therefore, less money the actors would make, For veterans who remained on their shows from that time forward until even today, they have had to all basically sign contracts for less money if they wanted to stay in the genre.

And, of course, the lower ratings and high costs of producing soaps eventually led to the mass exodus of all but four of the soaps from today's daytime landscape.

Having a soap career that spanned more than three decades, McCabe has worked with many daytime icons and became close friends with several of therm.

When asked which daytime star she would have loved to have had an opportunity to work with, but, unfortunately, never had the chance to, her answer was quick and simple.

"I never worked with (former Edge of Night, Guiding Light and All My Children star) Larkin Malloy, one of my dearest friends and I adored him as a person. That would have been a real treat."

In the final moments of our phone interview, McCabe showed just how much so many of her co stars meant to her.

When prompted to play a one-word association game with those she worked most closely with on Search, her fond memories were so extensive that she couldn't just limit it to a single phrase.

Here's her comments on some of the stars she worked with.

MARY STUART (Jo, Search) Icon, teacher, mother, friend, mentor.

LARRY HAINES (Stu, Search) Funny, unassuming, glue to the show, friend.

SHERRY MATHIS (Liza, Search) Regal, loving, hard worker, elegant, beautiful.

DAVID FORSYTH (Hogan, Search, John, AW...etc....) Brother, friend, funny, hard working, deep, loving. A joy to work with.

MARCUS SMYTHE (Dane, Search, Peter, AW) Funny, funny, funny! Like a big kid, a big puppy dog.

DOUGLAS STEVENSON (Lee, Search) Sweet, boyish, great friend.

ROD ARRANTS (Travis, Search) Handsome, sweet, kind, very supportive.

As for the actress she was closest to during her run on Search, Louan Gideon, who assumed the role of Liza in 1985, she had even more to say.

"She was such a special person," McCabe said, adding that even after Search ended, their friendship stayed "deep and abiding."

"She had a heart of gold, she was quirky, funny, adorable," McCabe said, adding that when Louan passed away in 2014 after a long bout with breast cancer, her funeral in Asheville, North Carolina, which Marcia attended, was a "five hour love fest. So many people loved her."

And more than four decades after her debut on Search, the same could be said of McCabe, especially from the legion of fans who remained devoted to her long after her soap days, we all love her.

Note: In addition to the Search for Tomorrow Memories Facebook page mentioned in Part One of my feature, there is also an Another World Memories Facebook Page, also run by my friend, Chad Dancer. Look for both groups in the search engine on the social media site.

Following The Search Led Daytime Legend To Fulfill Her Acting Dreams

Strong Group Of Young Women Vie For Miss USA Crown

 By Allan Brown

It's a go.

After being postponed from its usual late Spring date due to the pandemic, the 2020 Miss USA Pageant is set to go with preliminary presentation for both the Teen and Miss set for Friday at 6:45 p.m. The Miss USA finals will air on the FYI Network at 8 p.m. on Monday, November 9. 

With less than a week to go until a new Miss USA is crowned, I thought I'd blog on the contenders, the pretenders and everything in between. 

Having watched each contestant's individual video found on the Miss USA website, app and Facebook page, and also by viewing literally hundreds of photos (thank you good friend, Harold C. Brown, for always keeping me updated on the latest pictures posted!) in the past few months, here are who I think you should look out for in prelims and, of course, on finals night.

THE TOP TIER:

These are the ones, listed alphabetically, who I think have the best chance at taking home the crown:

FLORIDA : Not being a homer here, as I had my doubts on whether Monique could transform from a Miss America state titleholder (former Miss Texas in that program) to USA glam. She has done that, and more. Certainly worthy of giving the Sunshine State its first outright Miss USA winner. Note: Cheryl Patton of Florida became Miss USA in 1967 after the original winner, Sylvia Hitchcock, became Miss Universe. Exotic, well spoken and dressed to the nines in all her photos, Monique is certainly one of the standouts.

GEORGIA: Another former MAO girl, Alyssa, has sharpened her speaking skills since her time as Miss Georgia in that system and despite being a tad on the short side (Actually a trend among USA state winners this year), she could easily be the first Miss USA from the Peach State. I have never seen her in a bad evening gown in all her years of competing and definitely pushes the envelope in a good way in almost all of her fashion choices.

IDAHO: Another state that has never won the crown outright (Brandi Sherwood became Miss USA in 1997 when Brook Lee won Miss Universe), Kimberly Layne has it all, facial beauty, pageant savvy and intellect. Some of her wardrobe choices have under whelmed me, though I still think she's an upper tier contestant and one to watch.

MARYLAND: She may be the #1 one to watch right now, as she has brought her A game to Memphis, site of this year's pageant. For a while, she was in the middle status of my choices, but has definitely catapulted to my top 5 with her height, style and glamour in every picture she has posted.

MASSACHUSETTS: Also near my top, if not the top, and my clear favorite based solely on the video she posted. It wasn't even close. Wishing she could wear her state pageant-winning gown, which was killer, however, each contestant must wear a gown designed by Sherri Hill for the pageant (don't get me started on that.) Not worried, though, because this girl clearly has great taste when it comes to choosing wardrobe.

NEW YORK: Has been on fire in every photo I've seen. Top-notch interview outfit, terrific video and great wardrobe selections starting at state and going into events in Memphis. Certainly a strong possibility to give New York its fifth Miss USA and first since 1999.

OKLAHOMA: Just drop-dead gorgeous, with a great sense of fashion to match a terrific video and, obviously strong interpersonal communication skills. Could be the second Sooner in five years to win the title.

TEXAS: The most photogenic of all to me (Oklahoma is a close second), her interview suit was my absolute favorite of the bunch and she never disappoints in her fashion choices. Even when she is strictly casual, it works. Texas has always sent strong contestants and Taylor is definitely no exception. The Lone Star State hasn't won since 2008, is long overdue and this year could give the state its record 10th national winner.

DEFINITE POSSIBILITIES, THE MIDDLE TIER:

ALASKA: Hannah has pulled off the impossible, she's made an also-ran state (only 3 placements since 1972) a contender. One of my top three videos (that has to translate into a strong interview) and a great interview outfit to go with her speaking prowess, only two things make me put her in this tier instead of the top one, a few questionable fashion choices of late, and, quite frankly the state's poor track record of sending actual contenders. 

CONNECTICUT: Has turned it on with both her interview attire, video and wardrobe in Memphis, she has been on my radar since her crowning, though admittedly she sort of dropped some since her state crowning, but now that it's show time, she has emerged strong once more.

HAWAII: Definitely a strong possibility as a winner and Hawaii's first Miss USA in 23 years, my only thing holding me back from putting her into the Upper Tier is her youth, as she comes across a tad teen in her videos. Certainly one of the most glamorous women competing, though.

MISSISSIPPI: One of the most beautiful and one of my favorites, who I want to place in upper tier. What has made me put her here is only her conservative wardrobe choices, which may (or may not) hurt her. I feel like someone has forgotten to mention this is Miss USA and not Miss America (a pageant she competed in two years ago.) Very strong story and video, though.

NEW JERSEY: The only thing that underwhelmed me was her actual headshot, however, in candids, on video and in various social media postings, Gina has stood out. And as a judge in many systems, I'd rather see the contestant look more glamorous in person that in her photos anyway.

ON THE BUBBLE:

CALIFORNIA: Go back and forth with Allyshia more so than almost any contestant, one thing that works for her is her age and maturity, along with a great video and strong interview outfit, working against her is that sometimes she can look and style like she's 40, rather than 25.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: Another former winner in the Miss America system, Cierra may have the most bubbly personality of all and is clearly a strong speaker. A preliminary swimsuit winner at MAO, has one of the best bodies in one of the tiniest frames. If height isn't a problem, she could easily be up there.

ILLINOIS: Breathtakingly beautiful, Olivia fits the mold if the pageant were in another era. Needs more maturity and better fashion choices, though, to be a serious contender. Have said all along, Illinois sent her too soon, and I feel this is hurting her. Could still be in top 16 on straight beauty, tho, just mesmerizing.

MICHIGAN: Probably my #2 favorite video, she might get it done in interview, though her lack of all out glamour and fashion might make her fade into the woodwork in what is an extremely competitive year.

NEBRASKA: Another former MAO state titleholder, not the most glamorous, though something about her makes me think she could get in there. Great speaking skills and personality. Likeability factor is through the roof.

VIRGINIA: A former teen winner, Susie is a great speaker who waited the right amount of time to go to Miss USA at age 27. (see Illinois), not totally sold on her, though, based on recent photos, though do think she's articulate and was well put together for interview.

WASHINGTON: Was once in my top tier, tho she has sort of fallen off recently and is in the middling range. Great video and speaking skills could work in her favor if she pulls off a great presentation show.

Also of note: North Carolina (who could be a contender, though, who leaves for Miss USA in unironed jeans?) Clearly looks not interested, which is a shame, because originally she was a definite top 10 for me; Kansas (coming on strong so far in Memphis), Ohio (only because my friend, Harold, likes her and I trust his judgment and pageant savvy); Wisconsin (something about her I definitely like.)

So you can plainly see, with so many strong contestants,  this year's pageant is a virtual dead heat and certainly worth the wait.

My Top 4 Videos:

1. MASSACHUSETTS 

2 MICHIGAN 

3. ALASKA 

4. MISSISSIPPI 

TOP 5 INTERVIEW Outfits:

1. Texas

2. New York 

3 . New Mexico 

4 . Connecticut 

5.  Alaska

Top 5 departure and overall wardrobe in Memphis and Beyond.

1. Maryland 

2 . New York 

3. Florida 

4. Oklahoma 

5. Massachusetts 

For more information,  download the Miss USA app or go to www.MissUSA.com

Under Review: How The West Will Be Won

By Allan Brown 

Part Two

With the addition of four strong teams to the playoffs, the NHL's Western Conference teams look to be primed and loaded for bear in their quest to be the Stanley Cup champion.

However, if any of the teams out West are actually going to accomplish that feat, the first round of the revised playoffs will be key for the power house squads that will vye to enter the quarterfinals of the NHL tournament. 

While the first series to be previewed here looks like a sweep,  looks can be deceiving.

EDMONTON (2nd in Pacific Division,  83 points) vs. CHICAGO (7th in Central Division,  72 points)

The Oilers should be able to handle the less-than-balanced Blackhawks, but consider this, about 40 percent plus of all Edmonton goals this season have been scored by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.  Stop those two and Chicago at least has a fighting chance. 

Goaltending should be interesting in this matchup, as neither squad has a netminder in the top 10 of either save percentages or goals against average. 

The Oilers have the advantage in both the offensive and defensive rankings and, thus,  should win this series easily.

Give the Blackhawks one game, tho Edmonton takes the best of five series, 3-1.

Now to an interesting matchup that could go either way.

ARIZONA (5th in Pacific Division,  74 points) vs NASHVILLE  (5th in Central,  78 points)

Both teams have been up and down all season so this series should go the distance.

Nashville might have a slight edge in this series as far as history goes, though the team's erratic play this season is certainly suspect. A healthy Pekka Rinne in goal would certainly be a boost to the Preds' chances. At 37, age is not on his side.

Experience is, though.

For the Coyotes, netminder Darcy Kuemper has had an extraordinary season, placing second in goals against average and third in save percentage.  Not enough good has been said about his Herculean performance between the pipes. 

Also the experience of Phil Kessel and former league MVP, Taylor Hall, props up the Coyotes. Though, on the opposing team's side, Nashville has the star power of Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi to keep them competitive. 

The key here will be Arizona's third-ranked defense, which has only given up 2.67 goals per game. Nashville is all the way down in 21st place in that statistic. Either Rinne or Jusse Saros in goal might struggle against that solid Coyotes D.

The Preds certainly have the edge in playoff experience, though think this series goes to an underrated and rising Arizona team in four.

Another close series is looked at next. 

VANCOUVER (4th in Pacific, 78 points) vs MINNESOTA (6th in Central, 77 points)

Roll 'em in this series,  too.

Vancouver has overachieved this year, whereas the Wild have been inconsistent. 

With Alex Stalok in the midst of a 20-win, four shutout season, the Wild certainly have a chance. However, gotta lean toward the team that has the firepower of JT Miller and Quinn Hughes, both ranked in the top 20 in assists for the season, and the solid and promising play of both Brock Boeser and 2017 first round pick Elias Pettersson.

Going Canucks in four, maybe five. 

The final matchup features an epic battle of Canadian teams.

CALGARY (3rd in Pacific, 79 points) vs WINNIPEG  (in Central, 80 points)

This series couldn't be any closer.

Both teams have underachieved from last season, yet are still squads that could do some damage further along in the playoffs.

Most prognosticators are going with the Flames in this one.

Don't buy into it, though. 

Winnipeg ranks slightly ahead of Calgary offensively (19th place for the Jets vs 21st place in that ranking for the Flames.) And the Jets also have an advantage with a better-ranked defense (14-18).

The big difference is in goal, where Connor Hellebuyck will be the biggest factor if the Jets want to advance. He leads the league in shutouts and also is in the top 10 in both wins and save percentage. 

No Flames player is even in the top 20 in either goals or assists, making Hellebuyck's task seem even easier.

Points wise the teams seem about even, though, because of Hellebuyck and offensive stars Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor, this series is going to tip to the Jets in four.

And, then these first-round winners will have to deal with the real heavy hitters out West namely Vegas, Dallas, Colorado and the defending champion St. Louis Blues.

That's going to be a tall order for any of these squads that make it through the first round of this year's expanded playoffs.

Under Review: Eastern Conference First Round Playoff Picks

By Allan Brown 

Let the playoffs begin.

Although no timetable has been set, the seedings for the NHL playoffs have been set and there are some interesting first-round matchups that have been created by the addition of four extra teams per conference. 

This column will concentrate on the intriguing series in the Eastern Conference, where teams like the Canadians, Florida and the New York Rangers and Islanders were given an extra lease on life by the addition of the four additional teams.

The question is can those teams that wouldn't have made it to the dance outplay those who would have already been in the playoffs before the expanded format was implemented?

In one word, possibly, though definitely not in the first match-up to preview.

PITTSBURGH (3rd in Metropolitan Division, 86 points) vs MONTREAL  (5th in Atlantic Division,  71 points.)

This series looks to be a mismatch and it probably is.

The Habs can't rely totally on netminder Carey Price, who's not even having a particularly Vezina-like season, and the Pens lethal offense, actually ranked an unusually low 10th in the League, is stacked with superstars like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Patrick Marleau, Patric Hornqvust, Jason Zucker and, you get the picture.

Also, if a hopefully healthy Jake Guentzel returns to the lineup alongside Crosby, that only adds fuel to Pittsburgh's fire.

A one-two punch in net with Tristan Jarry and two-time Cup winner, Matt Murray, (20 wins apiece this season) and the tough Pens D led by Kris Letang and the knockout is complete.

There's just too much star power and playoff experience here for the Pens to struggle at all in this series.

Pens sweep.....Easily.

And, now, onto the more complicated series. 

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (6th in Metro, 80 points vs  FLORIDA PANTHERS (4th in Atlantic,  78 points)

The Islanders haven't been quite as dominant as they were last season, though they are still pretty tough.

In a battle of two great Cup-winning coaches, Barry Trotz and Joel Quenville, this one looks to go the whole five games.

The Panthers have the edge offensively, with the Isles still a middling team in goal scoring. Certainly some offensive juggernauts need to be obtained by the Isles in the off season. However,  New York certainly has the edge defensively allowing just 2.84 goals per game to Florida's hefty 3.30.

Advantage Isles, they win this 3-2.

Now, on to an intriguing matchup that could go to the mat games wise.

TORONTO (3rd in Atlantic,  81 points vs COLUMBUS  (5th in Metropolitan,  81 points)

The Maple Leafs were on a five-year plan to finally hoist Lord Stanley's Cup when they hired Mike Babcock in 2015.

That dream under his auspice ended when he was fired this season. However, the depth of the Leafs high-octane third-ranked offense, keeps them still in the running to win their first Cup in 53 years.

That's not likely to happen this year, though. 

That's because even though the Blue Jackets lost key components to their team when Sergei Bobosky and Artemi Panarin left for Florida and the Big Apple, respectively, they have kept pace with the teams in the ultra-competitive Metropolitan division

Under Head Coach John Tortorella, the Blue Jackets have persevered posting a fourth-ranked defense that looks to curtail the Leafs third-place offense.

Despite Toronto's offensive juggernauts,  Austin Matthews and Mitch Marner, Torts' experience and the sterling play of new Columbus netminder Elvis Merzlinkis tilt the balance in this one.

Columbus, which finally advanced past the first round of the playoffs last season, makes it two in a row this year.

Blue Jackets win series three games to two.

Now to the final matchup in the East.

CAROLINA (4th in Metro, 81 points) vs NEW YORK  RANGERS ( 7th in Metro, 79 points)

The Rangers were on a tear before the stop of the regular season. The question is can they pick up where they left off?

Possibly. 

Not likely, though, against a Carolina team hoping to go one step further from last year's runner-up status in the Eastern Conference. 

Hurricanes Head Coach Rod Brind'Amor may be the brightest new name in the League and has the playing experience that has translated into him being a premiere coach.

Despite Panarin's outstanding - and even MVP-caliber - season, the Rangers have some problems in net. Carolina has a solid duo, James Reimer and Petr Mrazek, between the pipes.

That, in addition to the Canes eighth-ranked defense, (NY struggles in that category) gives Carolina this series, three games to one.

All of these teams will have a Herculean task going forward,  though, as the top three teams in the East, Boston, Tampa Bay and Washington, look to be much more formidable once the quarter finals finally start.

Next time, the Western Conference playoff teams will be Under Review.