15 postseason predictions for this years Stanley Cup Playoffs

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are finally here again and this year is going to be one for the history books. We’ve got record-breaking players and highly skilled teams ready to battle for the cup, so here are 15 predictions for what’s going to unfold this postseason. 

The Maple Leafs haven’t advanced past the first round of the postseason since 2004. In fact, they’ve gotten wrecked in every first round for the last six years. But the team finally has the experience and talent to make the Maple Leafs a true Stanley Cup contender this year. 

If there’s one player that will make a difference in the Islanders' struggle against the Carolina Hurricanes, it will be Ilya Sorokin. With one of the top three save percentages in the league this year, Sorokin will be tough to beat. 

This was a prediction pitched by the hosts of NHL Tonight and they’re definitely not wrong. Hintz is the center of one of the best five-on-five lines this year and if the Dallas Stars are going to advance deep this year it's probably going to be because of #24. 

The hosts of NHL Tonight also picked out Kevin Fiala as another potential breakout star, citing his confidence levels. This could happen if Fiala is healthy, but you shouldn’t count on the Los Angeles Kings beating the Edmonton Oilers, it’s just not happening. 

With their strong offensive lines helmed by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, there’s probably no stopping Edmonton from making it to the Western Conference Finals.

The Avalanche have been a force to be reckoned with this year and it's unlikely either Dallas or Minnesota will be able to unseat Colorado on the road to the Western Conference Finals. 

The Rangers picked up a lot of talent before this year's trade deadline, but adding players like Patrick Kane, Niko Mikkola, and Vladimir Tarasenko is going to put a lot of pressure on the team to perform, something that could backfire in postseason play. 

It’s been 30 years since a Canadian team has won the NHL Playoffs, and this year we’ve got a couple of great teams that could finally bring the Stanley Cup north of the border again, though you shouldn’t count on it. 

With their record-breaking season, top-tier goaltending, and mix of young players with experienced veterans, there’s really no way the Boston Bruins won't win the Stanley Cup this year. Of course, this still is playoff hockey, so anything could happen. 

The Hurricanes could be a “genuine threat to go on a deep run in the coming weeks” according to The Hockey News Adam Proteau. Their speed and goaltending are similar to what Colorado looked like last year, and they went on to win the Cup. 

The Florida Panthers struggled to earn their spot in the playoffs this year and they’re going to struggle to stay in them. There’s a very good chance we see Boston sweep Florida in four games. 

This is a hot take but the Western Conference just doesn’t have the same feel as the East this year. Expect lackluster games in comparison, though that doesn't mean we're going to see a boring Stanley Cup Final. 

Whichever Western team makes it to the Stanley Cup Finals is going to have a knockdown, blowout fight with the Bruins—or the Oilers. If the West’s games prove tame then the final playoff matchup could see a well-rested Western team faceoff against an Eastern team that had to battle through three rounds against difficult opponents. 

Pastrnak had an amazing regular season with the Bruins this year and that play is going to carry over into the postseason, giving the 26-year-old the best performance he’ll have in his career up until this point. 

Not unlike Paternak, McDavid has been a goal-scoring beast of a season, which will absolutely carry over into postseason play. Expect great things from Edmonton’s captain this year.