EASTERN CONFERENCE
Boston Bruins (1st in Atlantic Division) vs. Florida Panthers (2nd Eastern Conference wild card)
The Boston Bruins had a historic regular season, setting NHL records for most wins in a regular season (65) and most points (135). They face the Florida Panthers, who locked up the second wild card berth in the Eastern Conference. Last season, Florida was the NHL's top team in the regular season. This marks the first time in NHL history that one season's Presidents' Trophy winner met the previous season's Presidents' Trophy winner in the opening round of the playoffs. There was one other time that the Bruins and Panthers have met in the playoffs to date. That was in 1995-96, when Florida defeated Boston in the opening round. In the 2022-23 regular season, the Bruins and Panthers played each other four times, with Boston winning two, and Florida winning the other two.
Prediction: Boston in five games.
Carolina Hurricanes (1st in Metropolitan Division) vs. New York Islanders (1st Eastern Conference wild card)
The Carolina Hurricanes topped the Metropolitan Division for the third consecutive season. The New York Islanders return to the playoffs after a disappointing 2021-22 season which saw them miss the playoffs after making the Stanley Cup Playoffs and advancing three years in a row. The Islanders returned thanks to having some of the league's best goaltending from Ilya Sorokin. Sorokin had a 31-22-7 record, a 2.34 GAA, and a .924 save percentage. Carolina is going to hope that their offensive firepower, led by Martin Necas (75 points) and Sebastian Aho (67 points), delivers. Carolina won the lone previous playoff meeting between the two teams, where they swept the Islanders in four straight in the second round in 2019.
Prediction: Carolina in six games.
New Jersey Devils (2nd in Metropolitan Division) vs. New York Rangers (3rd in Metropolitan Division)
The New Jersey Devils qualified for the playoffs for the first time in five years, and set franchise records for most wins and points in a single season, meaning that their rebuilding period is now a thing of the past. The Devils will play the New York Rangers in the opening round of the playoffs. The Rangers and Devils have met in the playoffs six times to date. The Rangers have won four of those meetings, and the Devils the other two, including the most recent meeting in 2012. Both the Rangers and Devils play very similarly minded games, being solid offensive teams with strong goaltending, meaning this should be one of the closest matchups in the first round. The Rangers and Devils met four times in the regular season, with the Devils winning three of the four meetings.
Prediction: New York in seven games.
Toronto Maple Leafs (2nd in Atlantic Division) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (3rd in Atlantic Division)
The Tampa Bay Lightning had another strong season, and aim to make the Stanley Cup Final for the fourth year in a row. If they do that, they will be the first team to make the Stanley Cup Final four years in a row since the New York Islanders made the Stanley Cup Final five years in a row from 1980 to 1984. They will face the Toronto Maple Leafs in the opening round of the playoffs for the second straight season. Last year, the Lightning defeated the Leafs and eventually made the Stanley Cup Final, where they fell to the Colorado Avalanche in six games. The Leafs have the longest drought of not winning a playoff series, not having advanced beyond the opening round since 2004. Toronto won two of the three regular season meetings against Tampa Bay in the regular season.
Prediction: Tampa Bay in seven games.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Vegas Golden Knights (1st in Pacific Division) vs. Winnipeg Jets (2nd Western Conference wild card)
The Vegas Golden Knights rebounded from a disappointing 2021-22 campaign to finish with the best record in the Western Conference. They will face the Winnipeg Jets in the opening round of the playoffs. The Golden Knights won the lone previous playoff meeting against the Jets, which was in the 2017-18 Western Conference Final; Vegas defeated Winnipeg in five games before losing to the Washington Capitals in the Stanley Cup Final. Vegas defeated Winnipeg in all three regular season meetings this season.
Prediction: Vegas in five games.
Colorado Avalanche (1st in Central Division) vs. Seattle Kraken (1st Western Conference wild card)
The Seattle Kraken was the 2022-23 regular season's biggest surprise, having the biggest first to second season improvement in NHL history, and thus qualified for the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. In their first ever playoff appearance, the Kraken will play the defending Stanley Cup Champions, the Colorado Avalanche. Colorado had a rather disappointing start to the season, but in the second half, they totally turned things around, and ended up finishing first in the Central Division. The Kraken managed to win two of the three regular season meetings they had with the Avalanche.
Prediction: Colorado in seven games.
Edmonton Oilers (2nd in Pacific Division) vs. Los Angeles Kings (3rd in Pacific Division)
The Edmonton Oilers ended the 2022-23 regular season as the league's hottest team down the stretch, winning their last nine regular season games. They will hope to continue that hot streak in the playoffs. The team is led by Connor McDavid, who led the league in goals (64) and assists (89), finishing the season with 153 points. He is the first player to post over 150 points since Mario Lemieux scored 161 in 1995-96. The Los Angeles Kings have not won a playoff series since they won the Stanley Cup in 2014. The Kings and Oilers met in the first round last year, with the Oilers winning in seven games. The Kings and Oilers have met eight times in the playoffs to date, with the Oilers winning six of the previous meetings.
Prediction: Edmonton in six games.
Dallas Stars (2nd in Central Division) vs. Minnesota Wild (3rd in Central Division)
The Stars and Wild have met once before in the playoffs. That was in 2015-16, when the Stars defeated the Wild in the opening round. The Stars and Wild met four times in the regular season. Dallas won two of the games in regulation, whereas Minnesota won two games that were decided by a shootout. Dallas last advanced in the playoffs in 2020, when they reached the Stanley Cup Final, losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games. Minnesota have not won in a playoff series since 2014-15.
Prediction: Dallas in seven games.
Subject: The 2022-23 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs: First round predictions 
Sat Apr 15, 2023 12:08 pm
