2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview

Eastern Conference

1. Philadelphia Flyers vs. 8. Montreal Canadiens

Players to Watch: G Carter Hart and G Carey Price

Who Wins: Flyers in 5 games

2. Tampa Bay Lightning vs. 7. Columbus Blue Jackets

Players to Watch: F Nikita Kucherov and D Seth Jones

Who Wins: Lightning in 6 games

3. Washington Capitals vs. 6. New York Islanders

Players to Watch: G Braden Holtby and D Ryan Pulock

Who Wins: Islanders in 7 games

4. Boston Bruins vs. 5. Carolina Hurricanes

Players to Watch: F David Pastrnak and F Sebastian Aho

Who Wins: Hurricanes in 7 games

Western Conference

1. Vegas Golden Knights vs. 8. Chicago Blackhawks

Players to Watch: G Robin Lehner and G Corey Crawford

Who Wins: Golden Knights in 6 games

2. Colorado Avalanche vs. 7. Phoenix Coyotes

Players to Watch: D Cale Makar and F Taylor Hall

Who Wins: Avalanche in 6 games

3. Dallas Stars vs. 6. Calgary Flames

Players to Watch: G Ben Bishop and F Sean Monahan

Who Wins: Flames in 6 games

4. St. Louis Blues vs. 5. Vancouver Canucks

Players to Watch: D Alex Pietrangelo and D Quinn Hughes

Who Wins: Blues in 7 games

Central Division

1. Nashville Predators

Their defense is still stacked, but will the offense match?

2. St. Louis Blues

Coming in as defending Stanley Cup champions shouldn’t have any effect on this team.

3. Colorado Avalanche

They were a dark horse team last year, but they should be legit contenders this year.

4. Winnipeg Jets

The loss of a few key players will hurt, but this team is too talented to not make the playoffs.

5. Dallas Stars

If they remain a defensive stalwart they’ll be playing in the playoffs once again.

6. Minnesota Wild

They seem to always be a player or two away from making a leap in a stacked division.

7. Chicago Blackhawks

They could certainly make strides this year, but everyone above them is better by far. Continue reading →

Stanley Cup Prediction

Eastern Conference

1. Tampa Bay Lightning vs. 4. New Jersey Devils

2. Toronto Maple Leafs vs. 3. Boston Bruins

1. Washington Capitals vs. 4. Florida Panthers

2. Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 3. Carolina Hurricanes

Western Conference

1. Nashville Predators vs. 4. Dallas Stars

2. St. Louis Blues vs. 3. Colorado Avalanche

1. Vegas Golden Knights vs. 4. Winnipeg Jets

2. Calgary Flames vs. 3. San Jose Sharks Continue reading →

Stanley Cup Semifinals Preview

Eastern Conference

Wild Card #2 vs. Atlantic Division #2

Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Boston Bruins

Players to Watch: G Sergei Bobrovsky and F Brad Marchand

Who Wins: Bruins in 6 games

Wild Card #1 vs. Metropolitan Division #2

Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Islanders

Players to Watch: F Sebastian Aho and G Robin Lehner

Who Wins: Islanders in 7 games

Western Conference

Wild Card #2 vs. Pacific Division #2

Colorado Avalanche vs. San Jose Sharks

Players to Watch: F Mikko Rantanen and F Tomas Hertl

Who Wins: Avalanche in 6 games

Wild Card #1 vs. Central Division #3

Dallas Stars vs. St. Louis Blues

Players to Watch: G Ben Bishop and G Jordan Binnington

Who Wins: Stars in 6 games

2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview

Eastern Conference

Wild Card Team #2 vs. Atlantic Division Winner

Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

Players to Watch: F Artemi Panarin and F Nikita Kucherov

Who Wins: Lightning in 6 games

Atlantic Division #3 vs. Atlantic Division #2

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Boston Bruins

Players to Watch: D Morgan Rielly and F David Pastrnak

Who Wins: Bruins in 7 games

Wild Card Team #1 vs. Metropolitan Division Winner

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Washington Capitals

Players to Watch: G Petr Mrazek and F Evgeny Kuznetsov

Who Wins: Capitals in 5 games

Metropolitan Division #3 vs. Metropolitan Division #2

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Islanders

Players to Watch: F Jake Guentzel and G Robin Lehner

Who Wins: Penguins in 6 games

Western Conference

Wild Card Team #2 vs. Pacific Division Winner

Colorado Avalanche vs. Calgary Flames

Players to Watch: F Nathan MacKinnon and D Mark Giordano

Who Wins: Flames in 7 games

Pacific Division #3 vs. Pacific Division #2

Vegas Golden Knights vs. San Jose Sharks

Players to Watch: F Mark Stone and D Erik Karlsson

Who Wins: Golden Knights in 6 games

Wild Card Team #1 vs. Central Division Winner

Dallas Stars vs. Nashville Predators

Players to Watch: G Ben Bishop and F Viktor Arvidsson

Who Wins: Predators in 6 games

Central Division #3 vs. Central Division #2

St. Louis Blues vs. Winnipeg Jets

Players to Watch: G Jordan Binnington and F Mark Scheifele

Who Wins: Jets in 6 games