2014-15 NHL Predictions

2014-15 NHL PREDICTIONS

EAST STANDINGS                                             WEST STANDINGS

Atlantic                                                                 Central
1) New York R   107                                            1) Chicago          115
2) Pittsburgh       104                                            2) Colorado        109
3) New York I      93                                            3) Dallas             100

Metropolitan                                                         Pacific  
1) Boston            112                                            1) Anaheim         112
2) Tampa Bay     103                                            2) Los Angeles   110
3) Toronto            99                                             3) San Jose         107

Wild Card                                                             Wild Card
1) Montreal          96                                             1) St. Louis         97
2) Washington     91                                             2) Minnesota       95 
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3) Columbus        89                                            Vancouver            92
4) Philadelphia     87                                            Edmonton            90
5) Detroit             83                                             Nashville             77
6) New Jersey      79                                             Arizona               75
7) Carolina           77                                             Calgary               68
8) Ottawa             75                                             Winnipeg            67
9) Buffalo            70                                           
10) Florida           64


Hart (MVP)- Steven Stamkos
VEZINA (Goalie)- Henrik Lundqvist
Norris (Defenseman)- Drew Doughty
Calder (Rookie)- Seth Jones

EAST RECAP
Boston is clearly the most talented team in the conference and deepest. Physicality and toughness has them at the top despite losing a couple pieces. Considering not many teams got better in the East I like the Rangers to ride off their playoff run last year to capture the Metropolitan Division. The only competitive team last year to get better this year is Tampa Bay. Surprise team of this conference is the islanders. A healthy John Tavares and a nice addition of Boychuck will lead this team to a playoff appearance in their last year at Nassau Coliseum. Team that takes the biggest drop is Philly. Losing Hartnell will prove costly.  In the playoffs, I believe Tampa upsets heavily favored Boston. Pittsburgh finishes the job they couldn't last year against the Rangers (it pains me to predict that) but don't have enough to stop Tampa as the Lightning win the East.

WEST RECAP
In a conference where the rich get richer, the usual suspects continue to thrive. I actually predict the same 8 teams will make the playoffs this year just in a different order. The real surprises this year are Dallas and my dark horse Edmonton. The Oilers don't have enough depth and talent in their lines yet to crack into the postseason in a stacked conference but their future is bright as they get to 90 points. No Western teams really take a significant drop except that there's a clear gap between the playoff teams and those on the outside. I only really believe Vancouver has a shot to replace on those eight. The young and talented Avalanche win a first round series but don't have enough to take down Chicago. St. Louis pulls off an upset over Anaheim and San Jose but Chicago takes care of them to be crowned in the west once again. The defending champs get eliminated in the first round to the Sharks who should've put them away last year. Chicago eventually defeats Tampa due to too much talent as Tampa doesn't match up well against the team of the decade and Chicago is crowned another Stanley Cup Championship.


Stanley Cup Playoffs

BOS def WSH 4-2                                              CHI def MIN  4-2
NYR def MTL 4-2                                              STL def ANA 4-3
PIT   def NYI  4-1                                               SJ   def  LA     4-2
TAM def TOR 4-0                                              COL def DAL 4-1

TAM def  BOS 4-2                                               CHI def COL  4-3
PIT    def  NYR 4-2                                             STL def  SJ     4-3

TAM def PIT 4-2                                                 CHI def STL  4-1


STANLEY CUP FINAL

Chicago Blackhawks Def Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1