The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs begin on Saturday, April 20, and it is set to be entertaining for sports fans, especially in the tri-state area. 

The Rangers and Islanders both made the playoffs, while the Devils fell short. If all three teams had made the playoffs, it would have been the first time since 2007 that all three teams made the postseason. If the Rangers and Islanders meet in the playoffs, it will be the first time in 30 years that they do so.

Before jumping to the playoffs, the regular season was filled with storylines

Arizona Coyotes will be moving to Salt Lake City next season

The Arizona Coyotes announced that they have sold their franchise and all of their assets to Ryan and Ashley Smith, the owners of the Utah Jazz. The Coyotes will move from a 5,000-seat college hockey rink to Salt Lake City, Utah. The move will be immediate at the start of the 2024-25 season, and they will play as a new franchise. 

Alex Ovechkin is close to Wayne Gretzky’s goal record

Alex Ovechkin, the Capitals’ first-overall pick in 2004, is just 41 goals away from tying Wayne Gretzky’s record for most career goals in the NHL. Gretzky ended his career with 894 career goals, and Ovechkin just ended the season with 853 in his career. He still has time left on his contract, and 41 goals in one season is a probable goal. He has scored 40 or more goals in a single season 13 times in his career, tied for the most all-time.

Austin Matthews scores the most goals in a season since 2008

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Austin Matthews ended his season with 69 goals this season. This is the most goals in a single season since Alex Ovechkin, who recorded 65 goals in the 2007-08 season. 

Eastern Conference

New York Rangers (M1) vs. Washington Capitals (WC2)

First game: Sunday, 4/21 at 3:00 pm

The Rangers are taking on the Capitals in round one of the playoffs. These two teams are familiar foes in the Metropolitan Division, mostly after Capitals winger Tom Wilson made a play on the Rangers winger Artemi Panarin, which the Rangers called a ‘horrifying act of violence’ in a statement released after the play.

The teams split the season series 2-2, two of the games being close scores, and the other two being blowouts. With the Rangers having the most points in the league, it will be a tough challenge for the Capitals to prevail in the series.

The Capitals last won the Stanley Cup in 2018, but have not won a playoff series since. The Rangers have not won the Stanley Cup since 1994, however, they clinched the Presidents Cup on Tuesday for the most points in the regular season. Only 22% of Presidents Cup winners have gone on to win the Stanley Cup.

Prediction: New York Rangers

With the Rangers winning the Presidents Cup, it seems likely that they would go far in the playoffs. According to The Athletic, they have a 70% chance of winning the first round and a 4% chance of winning the Stanley Cup.

Carolina Hurricanes (M2) vs. New York Islanders (M3)

First game: Saturday, 4/20 at 5:00 pm

The New York Islanders, in their 51st season in the NHL, have made the playoffs six times in the last 10 seasons, most recently losing in the first round to Carolina last season. The Hurricanes won last year’s series in 6 games, and the rematch should be similar as both teams are close in the standings.

The Islanders notably won the Stanley Cup four times in their franchise history, with all four being in consecutive years between 1980 and 1983.

The Hurricanes have made the playoffs every year for the past six years. Last year, they made it to the conference finals but fell to the Florida Panthers.

My Prediction: New York Islanders

The Islanders are a promising team this season, and though Carolina is hugely favored in this matchup, many want to see the Rangers play the Islanders in the playoffs.

Boston Bruins (A2) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (A3)

First game: Saturday, 4/20 at 8:00 pm

The Boston Bruins, led by David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand, are taking on the Toronto Maple Leafs, who haven’t won a Stanley Cup since 1967.

Boston has made the playoffs in each of the last seven years and won the Stanley Cup in 2011, its first since 1972. 

Toronto is also an original six franchise, with its first season in 1917. However, it has not been able to win the Stanley Cup in over 50 years. However, Austin Matthews has the ability to take this team far. 

My Prediction: Boston Bruins

This is a super tough matchup for Boston, but Toronto has been unsuccessful in the postseason as of late so it is really difficult to pick the Bruins.

Florida Panthers (A1) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (WC1)

First game: Sun, 4/21 at 12:30 pm

The Tampa Bay Lightning, who won the Stanley Cup two years in a row in 2020 and 2021, are taking on the Florida Panthers, one of 11 teams that have never won a Stanley Cup. Both stadiums are just under four hours away, so this will be an intense Florida-state rivalry game.

The Lightning have been a dominant franchise in the NHL, reaching the playoffs eight times in the last 10 years. They are also led by some of the top players in the game statistically: Nikita Kucherov, one of the top leaders in points, Brayden Point, who came top 10 in goals this season, and Victor Hedman, who had the fifth-most points among defensemen this season.

My Prediction: Tampa Bay Lightning

With all of Tampa Bay’s success this season, on top of all of their points leaders, they have a super good chance to upset Florida in the first round.

Western Conference

Dallas Stars (C1) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (WC2)

First game: Monday, 4/22 at 9:30 pm

The reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Vegas Golden Knights, are taking on the points leader in the Western Conference, the Dallas Stars.

Vegas, in its seventh season, has only missed the playoffs once in the franchise’s existence. The team is coming off its first-ever Stanley Cup last season.

Dallas has had success in the playoffs recently, with a run to the conference finals last season and a trip to the finals in 2020. The team has won the Stanley Cup once in its 30 years in Dallas.

My Prediction: Vegas Golden Knights

The Golden Knights also made the conference finals in 2020 and 2021, so their playoff experience and confidence should be through the roof.

Winnipeg Jets (C2) vs. Colorado Avalanche (C3)

The Winnipeg Jets have never won a Stanley Cup in their 24 years as a franchise, both in Atlanta and Winnipeg. Colorado, however, has three cup wins, most recently in 2022 when they defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Winnipeg only made the playoffs once during the franchise’s time in Atlanta from 2000 to 2011 but has been more successful since it moved to Winnipeg. In the last ten seasons, the Jets have made the playoffs six times. Even with that, the team has only won three playoff series.

My Prediction: Winnipeg Jets

Though Winnipeg has struggled in the postseason, it is a strong team. In its season series against Colorado, it outscored them 17-4 in just three games.

Vancouver Canucks (P1) vs. Nashville Predators (WC1)

First game: Sunday, 4/21 at 10:00 pm

Vancouver, the Pacific Division leader in points, is taking on the top wildcard team, the Nashville Predators.

Neither team has ever won a Stanley Cup, but Nashville has had success in the playoffs, unlike Vancouver. The Predators have made the playoffs eight times in their last 10 seasons and reached the Stanley Cup finals. Similar to this year, they also made the playoffs as a wild card team during that run.

Vancouver has had little success in the playoffs, only making the postseason twice in their past 10 seasons, and only winning two playoff series in that stretch.

My Prediction: Vancouver Canucks

With Vancouver winning the Pacific Division, it shouldn’t be too difficult of a job to beat a wild card, but Nashville can be sneakily difficult in the postseason.

Edmonton Oilers (P2) vs. Los Angeles Kings (P3)

First game: Monday, 4/22 at 10:00 pm

The Edmonton Oilers, led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, two players in the top 10 in points, are taking on the Los Angeles Kings, two-time Stanley Cup champions.

Los Angeles won the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014 but hasn’t won a single playoff series since. They’ve made the playoffs four times since the 2014 season but still haven’t advanced past the first round.

Even though Edmonton has two of the top points scorers in the league, it has still had trouble in the playoffs. It hasn’t reached the finals since 2006 and hasn’t won the Stanley Cup in over 30 years. While Los Angeles has had better success in that time range, it has still not been great in the playoffs within the last 10 years.

My Prediction: Edmonton Oilers

Both teams don’t have much playoff history to base a prediction on, but Edmonton won the season series, 3-1 and outscored the Kings 11-9 in those four games.