Best of Yardbarker: Don't sleep on the Stanley Cup Playoffs

It's not uncommon for the NFL to own the news cycle, particularly during the NFL Draft, which just so happens to be going on in Philadelphia at present. However, there are some tremendous playoff games going on in both the NHL and NBA, with the Stanley Cup Playoffs providing particular intrigue.

Not only has the NHL postseason been full of surprises, like the Nashville Predators sweeping the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round, but virtually every game has been close across both conferences.

In case you missed the first round, we have you covered. The aforementioned Blackhawks are among the teams we tackled this week, checking in on where it went wrong for the Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 1 exits : "The veterans looked tired, the young'uns looked in over their heads, and nobody seemed to know how to stop the Predators' surging o-line of Viktor Arvidsson, Ryan Johansen and Filip Forsberg. Anyone looking for a recipe to not win in the playoffs should give the current Chicago squad a call."

Now in the second round, we also have you covered with what to expect in the conference semifinals. The West is full of surprises: "If Nashville is the Cinderella of Round 2, Anaheim is the Wild Card. Many were expecting their first round series against Calgary to be a tough back-and-forth affair, but the confident Ducks swept the Flames straight out of contention in a four-game set."

What about the East? It's where Eastern rivalries take center stage: "It's not just Ovechkin that is doing all of the goal-scoring these days. That depth will be needed against Pittsburgh, whose secondary scoring in last year's conference semifinals topped Washington's."

As for the NBA playoffs, the first round is wrapping up this weekend. The Warriors and Cavaliers still look to be on a collision course for an NBA Finals three-peat, but it's far from a certainty. There are a few teams who have looked tough, including a couple that are battling it out on the court and in the media.

No one has exemplified that more than the Atlanta Hawks and Washington Wizards, namely Markieff Morris and Paul Millsap. The two have been going at it so much physically and vocally that the Atlanta All-Star took to the NBA Referee Hotline Bling, where Paul Millsap needs a twin phone: "We’re just going to come out and say it: We’ve been having problems with twins this year. First Robin Lopez fought Serge Ibaka. Now Mr. Morris is wrestling you, calling you a 'cry baby' and threatening 'double MMA,' whatever that is. And while we have never had a hint of trouble with Cliff Paul, his brother Chris is always complaining, getting technicals and punching people in the groin. Maybe he needs glasses?"

By the time Monday rolls around, we'll know all the second-round NBA matchups, and before weekend is through, we'll also know each and every player drafted in 2017 NFL Draft. We'd be remiss if we glossed over the draft, so here's everything you need for the 2017 NFL Draft.

That includes 20 of the best NFL Draft red carpets looks over the years: