The second round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs is here and it’s time for some predictions. We’re now with the last eight teams as the search for the trophy is almost halfway home. Let us know your NHL playoff predictions in the comments.
We’ll have a new champ this season after the Canucks sent the Blues in the first round. Which of these eight teams will win the Stanley Cup next month?
[NHL Second Round playoff schedule]
Flyer against islanders
Sean Leahy, NHL Writer: Flyer in Jan.. If Carter Hart is to continue his magical journey, the islanders will make him work for it. New York scored the seventh smallest goals in the regular season with even strength but scored one goal in the playoffs. Hart was good. Semyon Varlamov was even better. What gives? New York’s crime dries up here at the wrong time.
Adam Gretz, NHL author: Flyer in 6. The Flyers weren’t perfect in the first round and maybe a better team will beat them (and they will certainly play one now), but I still like the position they are in here. Carter Hart is the goalkeeper they needed and I’m confident that their top scorers will break through. You need to. If they do, it will be a lot for the islanders, and I’m not sure they can. I know the islanders just closed the capitals, but I like the way the Flyers played a lot more than the capitals were in this matchup.
James O’Brien, NHL writer:: Flyer in 7. Woof, this one is tough, especially since the islanders looked downright demonstrative when they dismantled an almost disinterested Capitals team. But the Flyers’ versatility gives them that little edge, including a power play that (during the fight) seems to get Philly across the finish line rather easily in this case.
Michael Finewax, Senior Hockey Writer / Editor, Rotoworld:: Islanders in 7th I agree with James that this will be the toughest streak of the second round. I love the Flyers defenders, but I think the islanders’ amazing work ethic will prevail overall. Look for Semyon Varlamov to have another great streak and Mathew Barzal to give New York enough offensive punch to win the low-scoring series.
Jake Abrahams, Managing Editor, NHL Content:: Flyer in 6. We haven’t seen this postseason matchup since 1987 and I can’t wait. These two teams are intrigued. The Islanders are an improved roster over last year’s version – especially on the offensive – but these Flyers earned the top seed and entered the second round without their top players scoring goals. That needs to change. Assuming Carter Hart keeps up the good work, I think Philly can outdo the islands.
Lightning against Bruins
Sean Leahy, NHL Writer: Lightning in 6. The Bruins live with Jaroslav Halak after sleeping through the round robin. Tampa, however, faced a lively Columbus team with a timely hit and superb game from Andrei Vasilevskiy. The possible return of Steven Stamkos as another weapon would pose another threat to Bruins.
Adam Gretz, NHL writer:: Lightning in 7. I still think this will ultimately be the year Tampa does, so I’m sticking with them. This squad is so talented – even if Steven Stamkos continues to fail – and they still have all the possible ingredients a winning team could need. With all due respect to Jaroslav Halak, the Lightning have the better goalkeeper and I like the way their line Blake Coleman-Barclay Goodrow played against Columbus. That line just gives them another dimension and level that they didn’t have a year ago.
James O’Brien, NHL writer:: Lightning in 6. As mentioned before, do I stick to my preseason tips as much as possible so that Blitz as Master and Brayden Point as Conn Smythe are still alive, while the Blues as finalist? Erp. This depends on the lightning playing loosely and confidently after killing this Tortorella dragon, even if the Bruins present a completely different animal. Get ready for the best matchup in the East, and perhaps the best matchup in the NHL.
Michael Finewax, Rotoworld Senior Hockey Author / Editor: Lightning in 5. The Bruins looked fine in the last three games against Carolina, but the Lightning are a different story. Boston lost a big chunk when Tuukka Rask was eliminated last week, and while Jaroslav Halak played well in Round 1, he’s not a Rask. The Lightning have a ton of firepower and have yet to get Steven Stamkos back into the line-up. Brayden Point was a star in the last streak while the Bolts in Andrei Vasilevskiy boast the best goalkeeper in the NHL and possibly the best blueliner in Victor Hedman.
Jake Abrahams, Managing Editor, NHL Content:: Lightning in 7. The flash was my first choiceand I’m not changing now, even though they face the defending Eastern Master Bruins. Tampa exorcised its demons by defeating the Blue Jackets and found various ways to win these four games. The absence of Tuukka Rask will make a bigger difference than that of Steven Stamkos. Very slight edge to lightning.
[NBC 2020 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF HUB]
Golden Knights versus Canucks
Sean Leahy, NHL writer:: Golden knight in 6. Vegas even dominates strength like no other team this postseason. Taking a break before the second round will help, even if they are up against a Canucks team playing pressure free hockey. Robin Lehner versus Jacob Markstrom will be a fun watch.
Adam Gretz, NHL writer: Golden Knights in 6. I think this has the potential to be a really fun series. Vegas are the better and deeper team on paper, but Vancouver has some of the most exciting young talent in the league and is playing with a lot of confidence right now. I didn’t expect the Canucks to be at this point now. The Golden Knights are a force however, and if they can score a good goal from Robin Lehner and / or Marc-Andre Fleury they will be a tough challenge for any opponent.
James O’Brien, NHL writer:: Golden knight in 6. Wow, the Canucks looked great, but the Golden Knights are a saw. Once again I feel that versatility is important. Vegas has a wild pre-exam that can cause problems for most teams. In addition, they not only have a qualified top line, but also parts of a formerly very good top line to support them. I would be absolutely stunned if this wasn’t the most entertaining series of the second round.
Michael Finewax, Rotoworld Senior Hockey Author / Editor: Golden knight in 6. This might come as a surprise if it ever comes to a Game 7. The Canucks were my surprise at the start of the postseason as I thought they might be among the top 4 seeds in the west. They did that when they beat Stanley Cup champions St. Louis Blues in Round 1, but the Golden Knights seem just a bit stronger than the Canucks. The Golden Knights may be suspicious on the net with Robin Lehner replacing Marc-Andre Fleury, but the Canucks core is young and may not be able to penetrate Vegas’ defenses. Vancouver is maybe a year away so I’m going with Vegas.
Jake Abrahams, Managing Editor, NHL Content:: Golden knight in 6. The Canucks are set to bring a big mojo to this streak after knocking out the defending champions and scoring 22 goals in the process. The biggest difference I see between the Blues and this Vegas roster is between the pipes: I just can’t see the rock star tandem Robin Lehner-Marc-Andre Fleury being as porous as Jordan Binnington (for three starts) and Jake Allen (for a start) were for St. Louis. Despite Vancouver’s dynamic, I give Vegas the edge on paper.
Avalanche against stars
Sean Leahy, NHL writer: Avalanche in 5. Nathan MacKinnon will continue to be out of this world and the stars will face one of the deepest teams in the NHL. Rantanen, Landeskog, Kadri, Donskoi, Burakovsky, Compher. Dallas may not have enough answers about what Colorado will send them.
Adam Gretz, NHL writer: Avalanche in 6. The Stars Offensive came through in a way I didn’t expect in the first round against the Calgary Flames, and they’ll likely find an even higher level against the Colorado Avalanche. They have the superstars at the top of the lineup and with Nazem Kadri, Andre Burakovsky and all of their other additions from last year they now have the secondary rating to complement them. The forwards are as dominant as any other team in the NHL, the defense has a rising superstar in Cale Makar and some solid players, and the goal is better than it deserves. This team is loaded. I’m not sure anyone in the west will beat them this season. The stars need a Herculean effort from Miro Heiskanen and her goalkeepers to stop this avalanche team.
James O’Brien, NHL writer:: Avalanche in 6. The Avalanche did a great job turning their team into more than just “Nathan MacKinnon’s lineage does amazing things,” and Nathan MacKinnon’s lineage still does amazing things. However, this will be an intriguing test for the aspiring Avs as the stars have the makeup of a team that could give them a huge headache. On the other hand, the stars have to prepare for an avalanche team that can bend and break a defense in a way that fumbling flames rarely could. I’ll go with the team that has impressed me more times, even though Dallas showed me something in the first round.
Michael Finewax, Rotoworld Senior Hockey Author / Editor: Avalanche in 4th My Stanley Cup pick, the Avs, looked strong against Arizona, led by Nathan MacKinnon and Nazem Kadri, who gives Colorado points and vivacity, two key ingredients in playoff hockey. The stars looked okay beating Calgary but will have a tough time Colorado unless Ben Bishop returns on the net and is upside down.
Jake Abrahams, Managing Editor, NHL Content:: Avalanche in 6. The avs rolled the coyotes with steam. They look like the complete package. But the stars are still a threat even without Ben Bishop. Heck, they reached that point without a single goal from Tyler Seguin. In the end, however, I think that the team with Nathan MacKinnon will prevail in this series. He’s just so good.
