Stanley Cup Playoffs Guidebook
Mike Leitao ~ 04/25/2025
It’s the best time in the sporting world right now. It’s time for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Although events like the Super Bowl and March Madness garner more attention, the pinnacle of sporting events for me will always be the NHL playoffs. The 16 best teams in the NHL playing in grueling 7 game series as they chase the greatest trophy in professional sports. As an avid hockey fan, even through this dogshit version of the Flyers, it only feels right to share my Stanley Cup predications so that when I am fully right I can use this post as proof that I deserve a contract with ESPN for hockey coverage (spoiler alert, it’s already cooked). The playoffs are a little under a week in, but the below predictions were put together on 4/18, the day before the playoffs started, so I promise to all 3 people who care that I did not cheat. Without further ado, time for the perfect NHL playoff bracket.
Winnipeg Jets vs St. Louis Blues: Jets in 5
The presidents trophy winner vs the team that barely snuck in at the last second. In truth, I find in the NHL that underdogs normally have a decent shot at pulling off the upset, mostly due to the fact they have been playing ultra intense hockey for a while as they fight for the last playoff spot compared to the team who has been locked into the playoffs for a while so they didn’t have much to play for. Also, the Jets are historical playoff chokers and this season shares some similarities to the Blues incredible run in 2019 that led to a Stanley Cup. However, it ain’t 2019. The Jets have the best goalie in the NHL who should also be named as the league MVP this year. This team is deep and set for a deep run to get rid of their playoff demons while the Blues should have been sellers at the deadline to attempt to grow out of mediocrity. Hellebuyck gets his revenge on Binnington from the 4 Nations, yet somehow Canada wins again.
Dallas Stars vs Colorado Avalanche: Stars in 7
The Stars got Rantanen from Carolina who got him from the Avalanche, so that instantly adds a unique layer to this game. The Stars are missing arguably their two best players including their star defenseman and star forward. But, Dallas has been my pick to at least make the finals 3 years in a row and I can’t choose against them now. Colorado’s goaltending is not reliable in my opinion and they are too reliant on their couple of star players while Dallas relies on their elite goaltending and elite depth. The series will be a bloodbath, and I think the Stars limp away as victors.
Las Vegas Golden Knights Minnesota Wild: Knights in 4:
Sorry Flower, your farewell season is going to end in a sweep. Minnesota is weak, even with getting some key players back from injury towards the end of the season, they seriously fell off in the second half of the year and really has no momentum heading into the playoffs. I see Vegas taking care of business in ease and sending their former star goalie into retirement with a whimper.
Los Angeles Kings vs Edmonton Oilers: Kings in 6
This is a matchup that has happened a lot of late. It is reminiscent of the old Maple Leaf vs Bruins game that was always happening out in the East. These two teams don’t like each other and this is definitely going to be a violent series. Edmonton has arguably the two greatest players in the world, but unfortunately for them that’s about it. They have no real defense, no real depth, and no real goaltending. Meanwhile the Kings have a good goalie and good depth and this is the year they get over the Oiler hump and make it past them finally, which most likely leads to some major changes to Edmonton, probably both in the front office and the actual players.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Ottawa Senators: Senators in 7
So, this doesn’t look great. Currently, the Senators are down 3-0 in the series after back to back overtime losses. But I am a man of my world, and I had faith in seemingly the wrong team. However, I have no regrets with my choice. Toronto is a well known playoff choker with goaltending that is way above what was expected from their current tandem. Meanwhile, Ottawa is a team that has underperformed in past seasons but finally made it to the playoffs and has a deep group of forwards and defenseman and a good goalie. It felt like an upset in the making. It looks like I was wrong here, but if Ottawa comes back from down 0-3 I will go out to Ottawa for a playoff game.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Florida Panthers: Panthers in 6
The two Florida teams who have been dominating the East for a while play in the first round this year. These teams are powerhouses going in different directions. The Panthers are still on the upswing and look poised to continue to compete for the cup. Meanwhile, the Lightning are slowly getting worse and less recognizable from the team that made it to 3 Stanley Cup Finals in a row. The Panthers are very good and a Cup favorite even as the 3 seed in Atlantic, and I don’t see this team bowing out in round 1.
Washington Capitals vs Montreal Canadiens: Capitals in 4
I think the Canadiens are actually pretty bad. I would’ve much rather seen the Blue Jackets, Red Wings, or Rangers make it here to have taken on the Capitals. Playoff hockey in Montreal will be electric no doubt, but Washington is just the clear cut better team and no one Montreal has the talent or skill to take over a game and steal one. If I’m Montreal, keeping the series competitive in each game and maybe stealing one would be a big success in my eyes.
Carolina Hurricanes vs New Jersey Devils: Hurricanes in 5
Similarly to the Knights and Wild series, this Devils team just has no momentum heading into the playoffs against a really complete Hurricanes team. I think Markstrom can maybe steal a game for the Devils, but all in all I think this will be a pretty painless series for the Hurricanes as they look to finally meet lofty expectations.
So that’s the first round, I’ll give the rest but not in much detail since if the first round is wrong that makes everything after that worthless.
Jets vs Stars: Stars win
Sorry Jets, Stars are too complete and Jets are too good at choking.
Golden Knights vs Kings: Kings win
Momentum from finally beating the Oilers helps the Kings to beat their other biggest opp in the Knights.
Senators vs Panthers: Senators win
I don’t really want to talk about this one…
Capitals vs Hurricanes: Hurricanes win
I just think the Hurricanes are really good and the Capitals will have already exceeded expectations at this rate.
Stars vs Kings: Stars win
Kings momentum isn’t enough to beat the deepest team in these playoffs. Stars are in the finals looking to avenge their finals lost from a few years ago and establish themselves as elite.
Senators vs Hurricanes: Hurricanes win
Senators Cinderella story ends here. A deep Hurricanes team meets expectations finally and makes it to the cup finals.
Stanley Cup Finals: Stars vs Hurricanes
All the media will be about their trade this year when Rantanen was moved from the Hurricanes to the Stars and he will either look like the biggest winner or the biggest loser depending on how it goes. It will be a tight series, but Dallas has slightly better depth and a better goaltender, so Dallas avenges their last finals trip and wins the Stanley Cup.
So, this will probably age very poorly when the finals ends up being Avalanche vs Panthers or something, but if by some miracle I get this even remotely right, I told you so.
