We are currently less than 4 months till the end of the NHL season, so I thought now would be a great time to release my first Stanley Cup Playoffs predictions. This is how the playoffs would look if they started right now. Keep in mind that no team has clinched the playoffs yet, but we have an idea of which teams will make it.

 Western Conference

Round 1

C1. Dallas Stars vs WC1. Las Angeles Kings 

I think this series will be pretty straightforward forward with the Stars only needing 4 games to win it. The Stars are currently the 2nd best team in the West and also made the Conference Finals last year. The Kings have been pretty strong recently, but I just doubt their ability to take down the Dallas Stars. The last time these two teams played the Stars won 5-1.

C2. Colorado Avalanche vs C3. Winnipeg Jets 

This series will be one of my favorite games to watch. These two teams have been great this year, and I could see both making a deep run. The last time these two teams played was twice in November, and the Jets won both of those games. I just find it difficult to bet against the Avalanche and Cale Makar, so I have the Avalanche winning in 6 games. I would love this game to go to seven games or even see the Jets win, but I haven’t been impressed by Winnipeg these past two months.

P1. Vancouver Canucks vs WC2. St. Louis Blues 

This series will not even be close! Canucks in 4! Vancouver has just been an amazing hockey team, and despite them losing their past three games I expect them to turn it around, and be a contender not a pretender in the playoffs. The Blues are barely even in the Wild Card position, so they might not even be in the playoffs in 4 months.

P2. Las Vegas Golden Knights vs P3. Edmonton Oilers 

Another great series that will produce some amazing hockey. The Golden Knights recently stopped the Oilers from tying the 92-93 Pittsburgh Penguins for most consecutive wins, so the Oilers will be out on a mission to get the Golden Knights. The Golden Knights are looking to go back to back, as they won the Stanley Cup last season, but I just see the Oilers winning this in game 7! Never doubt Connor McDavid especially since he 100% wants to get the Golden Knights back.

ROUND 2

C1. Stars vs C2. Avalanche 

1 point is all that separates these two teams points-wise. I like the way the Avalanche play more than the way the Stars play, and even though the Avalanche haven’t won a game this month I just can’t see them losing to the Stars. The stars will give it their all and give the Avalanche some trouble, but I think they will fall short. The last time these two teams played it required overtime, where the Avalanche won. I think this is how this series will go as the game goes, and having to be settled in game 7, where the Avalanche will win and advance to the Conference finals.

P1. Cancuks vs P3. Oilers 

I think that McDavid is the best player in the NHL and that the Oilers are real contenders for the Stanley Cup, but once this Vancouver team gets going it will just be too much for the Oilers. The Canucks have one of the top offenses with Elias Pettersson leading the way, and they also have a great defense. I expect this series to only go to 5 games with the Cancuks winning and clinching a spot in the Conference Finals.

Conference Final

P1. Canucks vs C2. Avalanche 

Canucks in 5! I’m a big fan of this Cancuks team especially with all the star power they have. Two players who I think will be key in this series are Elias Lindholm and Quinn Hughes. I think that Elias Lindholm will finally find his footing with the Canucks and show why the Cancuks gave up so much to acquire him from the  Calgary Flame. Quinn Hughes will hold the defense down and prevent the Avalanche from having too much control of the puck and from getting easy goals. Cale Makar will try his best to take down this Canucks team but he can only defend so many players, and with the amount of impactful players on the Cancuks team, It’ll just overwhelm him.

ROUND 1/ Eastern Conference

A1. Boston Bruins vs WC. Tampa Bay Lighting 

The Bruins will win this game, but I expect the lighting to give them some competition. The Bruins have been debatably the best team in the NHL, and are heavy cup favorites. The Lighting is always a team that will fight tooth and nail when it comes to the playoffs. The Bruins are just gonna be too much for the Lighting, so Bruins in 5.

A2. Florida Panthers vs A.3 Toronto Maple Leafs 

Another year, another Maple Leaf playoff loss. I’ll enjoy watching the Panthers claw the Leafs to shreds and being able to go another playoff year without having to hear about how this is their year from Leafs’ fans. The Panthers are the better team and will do quick work of the pretender Leafs in four games.

M1. New York Rangers vs CW2. Detroit Red Wings 

The Rangers have been a surprisingly good Team this year! The Rangers will beat the Red Wings in 5, with the Red Wings taking one game especially since Patrick Kane is starting to play better. the Red Wings are good, but putting the puck past Igor will just be too difficult for them.

M2. Carolina Hurricane vs M3. Philadelphia Flyers 

I like this Hurricanes team and have high hopes for them this year. The Flyers have been a surprise since they were in the bottom of the league last year, and now are most likely going to be in the playoffs. The Hurricane will win this in 6, and the absence of Jamie Drysdale will be felt by the Flyers.

ROUND 2

A1. Bruins vs A2. Panthers 

Both of these teams are at the top of the NHL. The Panthers made the Stanley Cup Finals last year, and I think they will once again. The Bruins are an amazing team but the Panthers are on a mission and no one will stop. Florida Panthers in 6

M1. Rangers vs M2. Hurricane 

Igor is one of the best goalies in the NHL, and scoring on him is insanely difficult. The Hurricane scored 6 on Igor the last time they played, and I think they will be able to do it again. Give me Carolina and Sebastian Aho in 6!

Conference Final

A2. Panthers vs M2. Hurricane 

The Florida Panthers are on a Mission to go back to the Stanley Cup Final and bring it home. No one especially not the Carolina Hurricane and Sebastian Aho will be able to stop the Panthers. They might get one or two wins against them but that’s all. Florida in 5!

THE STANLEY CUP FINAL

P1.Vancouver Canucks vs A2.Florida Panthers

Both the Vancouver Canucks and the Florida Panthers have never won a Stanley Cup, so either way we’re gonna get a new champion. The Canucks and Panthers will go game for game and will have to come down to a game 7. As much as I love this Canucks Team I feel like they will fall short once again like they did in 2011 against the Boston Bruins in 7 games. The Panthers will play like they’ve never played before in game 7, and lift the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history.