2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs – First Round Predictions

by | May 1, 2022 | Soapbox | 10 comments

Well, it’s that time again when those of us who make a living covering the NHL attempt to predict which teams will win each postseason series. We’ll look at the stats, try to put personal biases aside, and make our best guesses.

Some years, we’ll look really shrewd by getting more selections right than wrong. In others, we’ll end up looking silly as our predictions go off the rails.

That’s the beauty of playoff competition. Some series will unfold as we expect but others will see upsets that few saw coming. The Montreal Canadiens’ underdog run to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final serves as a perfect example.

I’ve never taken this exercise too seriously and just have fun with this. No matter how much player and team info I digest, no matter how I crunch the stats data, it still comes down to gut feeling.

Without further ado, here’s my brief preview and predictions for the opening round of the Stanley Cup Final. Feel free to offer up your take in the comments section below.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

FLORIDA PANTHERS – WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Both clubs lack proven playoff goaltending. Nevertheless, the Panthers potent offense will be difficult to contain, especially Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau. Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin remains questionable with an upper-body injury. Panthers in five.

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS – TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

The back-to-back defending Stanley Cup champion Lightning remains a dangerous team. Nevertheless, the high-scoring Leafs are long overdue to win a playoff series. Time for Auston Matthews and company to finally prove themselves in postseason play. Leafs in seven.

CAROLINA HURRICANES – BOSTON BRUINS

Carolina starter Frederik Andersen is questionable with a lower-body injury while the Bruins lack experienced playoff goaltending. Both teams possess two solid scoring lines. The Hurricanes’ league-leading penalty kill could be the difference-maker here. Hurricanes in six.

NEW YORK RANGERS – PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

A clash between a rising power and an aging one that hasn’t won a playoff series since 2018. Never take Penguins stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin lightly. Rangers starter Igor Shesterkin has little playoff experience but he should carry his club to victory. Rangers in six.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

COLORADO AVALANCE – NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Career-best years from Roman Josi, Filip Forsberg, Matt Duchene and goalie Juuse Saros carried the Predators into the playoffs. Saros, however, is questionable with a leg injury. The Avs struggled down the stretch but stars like Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar will get the job done. Avalanche in five.

MINNESOTA WILD – ST. LOUIS BLUES

This could be the most entertaining series of the opening round. The Wild and Blues were in a tight race for second place in the Central. Minnesota has experienced goaltending in Marc-Andre Fleury and Cam Talbot but the Blues’ powerful offense will carry them to victory. Blues in seven.

CALGARY FLAMES – DALLAS STARS

The Stars are a team in transition as younger players like Jake Oettinger and Jason Robertson take on more important roles. They’ll put up a good fight but won’t be any match for the Flames’ well-balanced game led by Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk. Flames in five.

EDMONTON OILERS – LOS ANGELES KINGS

The Oilers won 26 of their last 38 games under interim bench boss Jay Woodcroft. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl provide the Oilers with a strong scoring punch. The rebuilding Kings will feel the absence of veteran defenseman Drew Doughty. Oilers in five.







10 Comments

  1. Lyle, your picks are good but: Tampa takes the Leafs in 7, prompting a mini-retooling in Toronto this summer. Two of their 6 biggest money makers get traded.

    • Yeah, I’m not keen on the logic in saying the Leafs are ‘overdue’ to win a series. It seems a bit like saying that the two-headed coin is bound to come up tails this time.

      I don’t think either the Leafs or the Oilers have fixed the issues that caused them to lose in the first round last time around. Playoffs are unkind to top-heavy teams with questionable defence.

  2. Panthers. Bolts. Bruins Nyr
    Avs oil flames wild

  3. Florida/ Tampa
    NYR/Boston
    Colorado/Minnesota
    Calgary/Edmonton

  4. Kyle agree with all your pics. Great write up!

    • Right on Lyle, that was my pick, too Avalanche in 5, maybe even 4? GO AVS!!!

  5. What is your record so far through the years doing this, Lyle…or know of anyone that kept track ? Just curious if you ever did and what the percentage was.

    • I used to keep track way back in the early years of this site (late-90s, early 2000s). Some years I did very well, such as 2002 when I got all but one series right (Montreal-Carolina), some years not.

      • I think you’re wrong about the b’s but if that does happen Sweeney’s gone. so there’s some bit of good news if you are right.

  6. I’m calling my big upset, Dallas takes out the Flames