While the Colorado Avalanche are out of the race for the Stanley Cup, Avs fans still have predictions for the playoffs.
The Colorado Avalanche’s not being in the playoffs makes creating my bracket easier. When the Avalanche are in the playoffs, I feel honor-bound to choose them to win the Stanley Cup. It’s also a matter of superstition.
I’m well looking forward to facing that quandary again as the Colorado Avalanche become contenders. Since that’s not the case this year, though, here are my genuine playoff predictions.
Round 1 Quarterfinals
Western Conference
Dallas Stars vs Minnesota Wild
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I keep joking with my friends that I’m going to pick the (hated) Minnesota Wild to win all. However, there’s always a sweep in the first round, and I think the Dallas Stars could well effect it. Granted they don’t have the defense to go all the way, but they certainly have the defense to stop a Wild team without its best scorers — Zach Parise, Erik Haula and Tomas Vanek are all out with injuries. Likewise, watch Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin make mincemeat out of Minnesota goalie Devan Dubnyk or Darcy Kuemper. The off-season addition of two Chicago Blackhawks (Johnny Oduya and Patrick Sharp) further ensure dominance over the Wild.
Prediction: Dallas in 4
St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks
I want to see the Chicago Blackhawks dethroned. A St. Louis Blues team that perennially chokes in the playoffs vs a Hawks team that only comes alive in the spring? Nope, they’re not going to be the king-slayers. St. Louis has enough grit — something Chicago lacks even with the addition of Andrew Ladd — to grind out a couple wins, but there’s no way they’re taking the series.
Prediction: Chicago in 6
Anaheim Ducks vs Nashville Predators
You can knock the Ducks over, but you can’t keep them down. Two years ago, the Ducks’ mantra was “unfinished business” after a too-early playoff exit. They were again knocked out last season by the eventual champion Blackhawks. There is nothing but sheer determination in this team — I expect them to roll right over the Nashville Predators and their waning Pekke Rinne. I see Nashville getting only one win, probably a home win.
Prediction: Ducks in 5
LA Kings vs San Jose Sharks
The only way this series could be more contentious would be with the addition of the Ducks over the Sharks, and maybe not even then. The Kings and Sharks hate each other. The Sharks are unlikely to ever get over the Kings historically coming back from a 3-1 series deficit to win, and the Kings squad that made the historic march is still largely intact. Not only do I think this series will go a full seven, I think we may see double and even triple overtime in some games. And blood — lots of blood.
Prediction: Kings in 7
Eastern Conference
Washington Capitals vs Philadelphia Flyers
Two words: Alex Ovechkin. Ok, that’s a name not two words, but that name signifies what the Washington Capitals present — a winning force. The Capitals are one of those teams that are machine-like in their precision on the ice. Besides, I’ll take Washington’s Braden Holtby over Philadelphia’s Steve Mason any day of the week.
Prediction: Washington in 6
Pittsburgh Penguins vs New York Rangers
Every hockey fan has a snooze series — one they don’t care about — and this is it for me. I’m pretty ambivalent about both the Penguins and Rangers. True, the Rangers are aging, and you should never bet against Sidney Crosby and his Russian cohort Yevgeny Malkin. That said, goalies can take a playoff series, and New York’s Henrik Lunqvist is a sharp upgrade on Marc-Andre Fleury, especially since the latter is rumored to be injured.
Prediction: Rangers in 6
Florida Panthers vs New York Islanders
This is an engaging playoff series, and not because of that weird Spacey in Space tradition. Neither the Panthers nor the Islanders has won a playoff series since the 1990s — 1993 for the Islanders and 1996 for the Panthers. (Yes, that’s the year Patrick Roy and the Colorado Avalanche ended the waterfall of rats and won the Stanley Cup.) Here we also get to see youth vs experience in play. The Islanders are following their captain’s lead, 25-year-old Jonathan Tavares. The Panthers are following veteran and future Hall of Famer Jaromir Jagr. I’m betting on the latter, but it won’t be easy.
Prediction: Panthers in 7
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Detroit Red Wings
I made my bracket before I realized Tampa star Steve Stamkos was out with an injury. That said, it doesn’t really change my prediction that the team that made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals last season is going to trump an aging team. Plus, as a Colorado Avalanche fan, I can’t really bet on the Red Wings.
Prediction: Tampa in 6
More avalanche: Avs Should Overpay for Boedker
Round 2 Semifinals
Western Conference
Dallas Stars vs Chicago Blackhawks
Here is where experience and defense are going to win the day. The Blackhawks know how to win in the playoffs. The Stars have spent years not qualifying. Plus, Dallas’ best defenseman is a man who didn’t make Chicago’s roster (Oduya). Benn and Seguin are good but they’re no Jonathan Toews and, much as it pains me to say, Patrick Kane.
Prediction: Chicago Blackhawks
Anaheim Ducks vs LA Kings
These two teams are going to grind this series out. We’re going to see two elite teams working that puck possession, defense and goal tending. While Kings goalie Jonathan Quick is a better goalie than the Ducks’ Frederik Andersen, I think the intangible of iron will is going to take this series.
Prediction: Anaheim Ducks
Eastern Conference
Washington Capitals vs New York Rangers
I predict the Rangers are barely going to limp past the Penguins, mostly on the strength of Lundqvist. That’s not going to get them past the machine-like Capitals.
Prediction: Washington Capitals
Florida Panthers vs Tampa Bay Lightning
If the Rangers are going to limp into the second round, I think the Lightning are going to have to crawl. They know better how to be playoff-hardened, but that’s not going to count against a young (Jagr notwithstanding) and frisky Cats club.
Prediction: Florida Panthers
MHS writer Will Radke’s bracket:
Round 3 Conference Finals
Western Conference
Chicago Blackhawks vs Anaheim Ducks
Rematch from 2015! I had the Anaheim Ducks to win that series, and I’m going to back them again, even though I was wrong. At a certain point playing that much playoff hockey has to grind a team down, and the Blackhawks just can’t be that hungry anymore. I know you should never bet against the Chicago Blackhawks in the playoffs, but…
Prediction: Anaheim Ducks
Eastern Conference
Washington Capitals vs Florida Panthers
Frankly, this is a bit of a weird matchup for me to consider. The Washington Capitals have all the advanced stats on their side — better goals against per game (2.33 vs. 2.44), better penalty kill percentage (85.16 vs 79.48) and better point percentage (3.17 vs 62.80). However, I’m inclined to use some non-statistical reasons for choosing the Panthers — the President’s Trophy curse on the Caps, the Spacey in Space effect (the Rat Trick did take the Cats to the Finals), and the team’s rally around Jagr.
Prediciton: Florida Panthers
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Stanley Cup Finals
Anaheim Ducks vs Florida Panthers
In real life, a duck would never have a chance against a cat, much less a panther. In the Stanley Cup Finals, I think the intangibles are finally going to succumb to the tangible. The Anaheim Ducks are a solid puck possession team with the grit and determination to follow through. If they can get past the Chicago Blackhawks, I think nothing’s going to stop them.
Prediction: Anaheim Ducks as 2016 Stanley Cup champions