Another Colorado Avalanche season is almost upon us, and the big question has been “can they run it back?” Well, thanks to the NHL 23 simulator we know they can at least get close to going back-to-back in the Stanley Cup Finals. Unfortunately, however, they fall short to a Sidney Crosby-led Pittsburgh Penguins team.
The #NHL23 Season Sim is here 🔮
— EA SPORTS NHL (@EASPORTSNHL) October 8, 2022
Congrats to the @penguins on taking home the 2023 Stanley Cup 🏆🐧
Pre-order now ➡️ https://t.co/bNdI1xedp3 pic.twitter.com/5hZ9t3epqe
I think I speak for everyone when I say that I’d be absolutely thrilled for a Nathan MacKinnon vs. Sidney Crosby matchup in the finals. Hockey’s best buds battling it out in a seven-game series for the greatest sports trophy of all time? Yeah, inject that matchup directly into my veins. I just don’t want to see the same outcome EA did, in which Sid and the Pens take down the Avs in Game 7.
Diving deeper into the simulation bracket, you’ll see that EA’s prediction also has the Avalanche beating the same teams they did in 2022 to win the cup–Predators in Round 1, Blues in the 2nd, and Oilers in the Western Conference Final.
In all honestly, that could very well be the teams that make it again as Edmonton got better in the net, the Blues still have a solid core, and the Predators are capable as long as Juuse Saros stays healthy. Looking at the other side, the Pens take out the New York teams with the Islanders and Rangers in Rounds 1 and 2, then face Toronto in the Eastern Conference Finals. I guess anything is possible, even in video game simulations.
What do you think? Is an Avalanche vs. Penguins Final coming to us in 2023? Can the Avs prove EA Sports NHL 23 wrong and win their 4th cup, or are we just going to live out the dream in a simulation?