NHL Playoff Preview

It's time for the best playoffs in all of professional sports.The NHL season has come and gone and while I am sad the Capitals didn’t make it to the postseason, we are still in for an exciting couple of months as the 16 remaining teams begin the quest for the Stanley Cup. Here are the matchups and my predictions.

Western Conference 

Avalanche vs. Kings

Domination! That’s the only way to describe Colorado this season. The Avalanche finished with 121 points, the best record in hockey, and a +90+ goal differential that shows just how badly they overwhelmed teams all year. Nathan MacKinnon led the league with 53 goals and 127 points, putting together an MVP-level season. Night after night, Colorado dictated pace, scoring nearly four goals per game and suffocating opponents defensively. The Kings barely got in as a wild card and now run into the league’s most complete team. This won’t last long.

Avalanche in five. 

Stars vs. Wild

This won’t be domination—this will be a war. Dallas finished with 110 points, while Minnesota wasn’t far behind at 104, making this one of the tightest matchups in the bracket. These are in my mind the second and third best teams in the NHL and they have to face each other in round one.  Every game feels like it’s going to be decided by one goal, one bounce, or one mistake. The Stars don’t always overwhelm teams, but they find ways to win, whether it’s special teams or late-game execution. Minnesota will push them to the edge with physical play and timely scoring. Seven games, chaos, and Dallas barely survives

Stars in seven

Golden Knights vs. Mammoth 

Let’s be real—Vegas won the worst division in hockey this season. There are teams in the Eastern Conference that would love to be playing in the Pacific with how mediocre it was top to bottom. Because of that, their record looks better than it actually is, and this isn’t the same dominant Vegas team we’ve seen in past years. That said, playoff experience still matters, and the Golden Knights know how to win when the games get tighter. Utah might make this uncomfortable and expose some flaws early. But in the end, Vegas leans on that experience and finds a way to close it out.

Golden Knights in six

Oilers vs. Ducks

Upset alert! Everyone will talk about Connor McDavid, who just put up 138 points to lead the NHL, but playoff hockey isn’t won by one player. Anaheim comes in with nothing to lose and momentum after snapping a long playoff drought. If the Ducks can slow McDavid down even a little, this series flips fast. The Ducks play loose, fast, and aggressive—exactly the kind of style that can frustrate Edmonton. Anaheim shocks the bracket and takes it in six. Also JOHN CARLSON BABY!

Ducks in six

Eastern Conference

Sabers vs. Bruins

It finally happened. After years of rebuilding, frustration, and near misses, Buffalo is back on the big stage and actually looks like they belong. This isn’t just a feel-good story anymore—the Sabres have real speed, real scoring, and real belief. The question now isn’t whether they can compete, it’s how far they can push it. Boston brings the recent playoff history and structure, but Buffalo brings the urgency. And in six games, that urgency wins out.

Sabres in six

Lightning vs. Canadiens

Montreal is younger, faster, and very tired of watching Florida represent the East every single year since 2020. The Canadiens feel like a team that’s been waiting for this moment, ready to finally break through the noise in the Atlantic. There’s a hunger here that goes beyond talent, a chip on their shoulder that shows up every shift. Tampa still has pedigree and playoff scars, but they don’t feel as untouchable as they once did. Montreal turns that frustration into fuel and steals this series in six.

Canadiens in six 

Hurricanes vs. Senators

Is this finally the year the local team (well, local to me at Elon) takes that next step? Carolina has been a contender, a favorite, a “safe pick”—but the results haven’t matched the expectations when it matters most. They’re still structured, still relentless, still one of the hardest teams to play against in hockey. Ottawa has talent and energy, but this is a different level of discipline and pressure. If Carolina is ever going to prove it, this is the type of series they’re supposed to dominate. And in five games, they take care of business.

Hurricanes in five

Penguins vs. Flyers 

This may be the Pens last real shot with Crosby. Every playoff run from here on out feels like it carries that weight—every shift, every game, every moment potentially the final chapter of a legendary era. The Flyers will make it ugly, physical, and emotionally draining, exactly what a rivalry series should be. Pittsburgh doesn’t have the same margin for error anymore, but greatness still shows up in big moments. And if this is the last ride, they’re not going down quietly. Penguins survive in seven brutal fight-filled games.

Penguins in seven