Our team of hockey experts give their predictions on who will be matching up in the Finals, along with a bold prediction or two.
There's nothing else like it in sports and we are beyond excited for what should be an incredible Stanley Cup Playoffs!
Who do you have taking it all this year?
Eric Himmelheber's Predictions
Stanley Cup Finals - Winnipeg Jets defeat Washington Capitals in seven games
Spare me the Presidents Trophy curse - this Jets team has everything going for them and has all the tools to go the distance. Anyone would be crazy to think they couldn't pull it off. Well, maybe not Bruins fans who thought their team would do so after putting up the best regular season (2022-2023) in NHL history.
However, the Capitals aren't a team that will go down without the most physical fight possible, especially as a squad that led the league in comeback wins. Is it easy to pick the two No. 1 seeds? Sure.
But the NHL's two top goal-scoring teams with arguably two of the best goaltenders in the league from this past season? This would be pure hockey cinema and there's nothing to say this couldn't be the matchup we see.
Bold prediction - Toronto Maple Leafs make the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since the 2000-2001 season
Yes, I'm joining the Maple Leafs fans in the delusion - this is the year they get past the second round. Toronto has a damn-good hockey team that finished with the most wins in the Eastern Conference.
I think they take down Ottawa in five games and go on to defeat the Lightning in seven games where they'll ultimately face Ovechkin and the Capitals for the Eastern Conference Finals crown.
Henri's Predictions
Stanley Cup Finals - Tampa Bay Lightning defeat Dallas Stars in six games
In the final spurt of the season, the Lightning once again showed what kind of power they have in offence and how willing they are to create scoring chances again and again.
They can beat anyone and I believe they will make a run in the playoffs, where they will face Dallas, who I think are currently the strongest team in the West despite their losing streak to end the season. Tampa ultimately takes the series and their third Stanley Cup in the past six years.
Bold prediction - Capitals blow it in the first round
Now that the hype surrounding Ovechkin's record-breaking goal has come to an end, the Capitals don't really seem to know how to bring their normal hockey to the ice.
The fire from the first half of the season is completely missing and I don't see the Caps winning “easily” against a Montreal team that gained momentum to end the season.
Martin Tomaides' Predictions
Stanley Cup Finals - Edmonton Oilers defeat Tampa Bay Lightning in six games
The Oilers will follow the path of the Florida Panthers and win the Stanley Cup one year removed from losing in the Finals. This ferocious Edmonton team, looking to finally touch greatness, will use all the experience from last year's run. Connor McDavid will be well-rested and unstoppable.
As for the Tampa Bay Lightning, the former champions from 2020 and 2021 had yet another amazing regular season despite losing Steven Stamkos in the summer. They´ve got a lot of experience, an elite goaltender, multiple goal scorers, and one of the best defenders in the league in Victor Hedman.
Bold prediction - Panthers lose to the Lightning in the first round
Andrei Vasilevskiy will completely outmatch opposing Russian goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, ultimately leading to a six-game defeat.