2016 NHL Playoff Predictions

2016 NHL Playoffs

It’s that time of year again, the NHL playoffs are among us. This year however Canadian hockey fans do not have a Canadian team to cheer for as the final 16 teams are all US based teams.  This is only the second time in the history of the NHL that a Canadian team has not made the playoffs.

2016 NHL Playoff Tree

The Hockey Fanatic is ready to make predictions for the 2016 NHL Playoffs.  We begin with the Eastern Conference:

Eastern Conference Round One

Washington Capitals vs. Philadelphia Flyers.  – Washington Capitals in six games.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers – Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.

Florida Panthers vs.  New York Islanders – Florida Panthers in seven games.

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Detroit Red Wings – Tampa Bay Lightning in five games.

Western Conference Round One

Dallas Stars vs Minnesota Wild – Dallas Stars in five games.

St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks – Chicago Blackhawks in seven games.

Anaheim Ducks vs. Nashville Predators – Anaheim Ducks in six games.

Los Angeles Kings vs. San Jose Sharks – San Jose Sharks in seven games.

Eastern Conference Semi Finals

Washington Capitals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins – Washington Capitals in seven games.

Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning – Florida Panthers in seven games.

Western Conference Semi Finals

Dallas Stars vs. Chicago Blackhawks – Dallas Stars in six games.

Anaheim Ducks vs. San Jose Sharks – San Jose Sharks in seven games.

Eastern Conference Championship Series

Washington Capitals  Washington Capitals Statisticsvs.

 

 

 

Florida Panthers 

Florida Panthers

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winner:  Washington Capitals in six games.

Western Conference Championship Series

Dallas Stars

Dallas Stars Logo Current

 

vs.

 

 

 

 

 

San Jose Sharks

San Jose Sharks

 

 

 

 

 

Winner:  San Jose Sharks in six games.

 

Stanley Cup Finals

Washington Capitals vs. San Jose Sharks

2016 Stanley Cup Champion: San Jose Sharks (six games)

San Jose Sharks

 

 

 

 

 

The Hockey Fanatic is predicting that the San Jose Sharks will be the 2016 Stanley Cup Champions.  We definitely see a California team winning the Stanley Cup this year.  It’s too bad that the California teams play each other in the first two rounds, it would make for a great Western Conference final.  For the record Joe Thornton will win the Conn Smythe with an honorable menttion to Brent Burns.

Of course we always like to pick a darkhorse team from each conference.  This year our darkhorse picks for Stanley Cup Champions are:

Western Conference:  St. Louis Blues

Eastern Conference:  Pittsburgh Penguins (although we also like the Panthers)