Since today is the start of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoff, I decided that I will share my predictions.
For the First Round, I predict the East will look like this: Philadelphia Flyers beat Montreal Canadiens in five games. The Tampa Bay Lightning defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets in six games. The Washington Capitals take down the New York Islanders in six games, and last but not least the Carolina Hurricanes will pull an upset and defeat the Presidents Trophy Winner Boston Bruins in seven games. Now the West: I believe the Vegas Golden Knights will defeat the Chicago Blackhawks in six games. The Colorado Avalanche will beat the Arizona Coyotes in five. An upset here as the Calgary Flames will take down the Dallas Stars in six games, and the St. Louis Blues will defeat the Vancouver Canucks in six games.
Now the Second Round, I think the East will look like this: The Carolina Hurricanes take down the best team in the East in this years playoff in the Philadelphia Flyers in six games, and the Tampa Bay Lightning will beat the Washington Capitals in seven games. Now the West: I think the Vegas Golden Knights will take down the Calgary Flames in six games, and the Colorado Avalanche will take down the defending Stanley Cup champs St. Louis Blues in seven games.
Now the Conference Finals, the East will look like this. The Carolina Hurricanes will beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games, and in the West the Vegas Golden Knights will beat the Colorado Avalanche also in seven games.
Then the Stanley Cup Final, the series that will define the whole 2020 NHL season. Both these teams are extremely powerful balanced teams, in the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes. I believe that the Hurricanes will win in six games. I feel that the Hurricanes have an experienced playoff lineup especially against who they have beaten, beating the Bruins, Lightning and Flyers, while the Golden Knights have beaten the Blackhawks, Avalanche and Flames. While both teams are extremely balanced I think that the Hurricanes are on a roll right now and have a great coach. This will be a great series none the less.