After an exciting and entertaining 2023-2024 regular season, the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are set to begin this Saturday, April 20th.
While fans anticipated witnessing Auston Matthews reach his 70th goal and the unnerving eastern wild card race, the tail end of the regular season did not disappoint.
The Eastern Conference and Western Conference matchups are set and fans can now make their predictions on who will lift Lord Stanley’s Cup. These are my 2023-2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff First Round Predictions.
2023-2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions – First Round
In the Eastern Conference, the matchups are…
M1 New York Rangers vs WC2 Washington Capitals
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs M3 New York Islanders
A1 Florida Panthers vs WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning
A2 Boston Bruins vs A3 Toronto Maple Leafs
In the Western Conference, the matchups are…
C1 Dallas Stars vs WC2 Vegas Golden Knights
C2 Winnipeg Jets vs C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vancouver Canucks vs WC1 Nashville Predators
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs P3 Los Angeles Kings
The Eastern Conference
M1 New York Rangers vs WC2 Washington Capitals
Winner: New York Rangers
The New York Rangers were the best team in the regular season as they clinched the president’s trophy. With Artemi Panarin having an MVP-caliber season, the rise of Matt Rempe, and Shesterkin finding his game, I think the Rangers get this done in 5 games. Washington went through a huge battle in the Wild Card race but when matching these teams together, it doesn’t look very close. If Washington wants to win this series, they’re going to have to play the best hockey of their lives to beat the New York Rangers.
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs M3 New York Islanders
Winner: Carolina Hurricanes
Hurricanes versus Islanders part II. Last year at this time, these two teams met in the first round where the Hurricanes got the better of them in 6 games. With the additions of Jake Guenztel and Evgeny Kuznetsov, I think we will see a repeat of last year as I have the Hurricanes winning in 6 games once again.
A1 Florida Panthers vs WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning
Winner: Tampa Bay Lightning
For the third time in four consecutive playoffs, the Battle of Florida is once again upon us. Tampa won the last two meetings in the playoffs winning the first in 6 games and the second in 4 games. I’ve said it before, Tampa is a dark horse in these playoffs and I think with Kucherov’s MVP-caliber season, I think Tampa upsets the Panthers in 5 games.
A2 Boston Bruins vs A3 Toronto Maple Leafs
Winner: Boston Bruins
Ah yes, an original six matchup in the playoffs. The Boston Bruins versus the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the playoffs, who doesn’t love that? This rivalry is one of the best in the NHL and I have no doubt this series goes all the way to Game 7. Boston’s time is running out to make a run here as they don’t have a lot of picks or prospects and the team is getting older so they need this win. As for the Maple Leafs, they are looking to do what they did last year and get past the first round but against a desperate Boston team and looking at the history between these two, I think the Bruins will win in 7 games.
The Western Conference
C1 Dallas Stars vs WC2 Vegas Golden Knights
Winner: Dallas Stars
After winning the Stanley Cup last season, the Vegas Golden Knights find themselves in the second wild card spot facing a really tough Dallas Stars team. Vegas had a very strong trade deadline adding Noah Hanifin and Tomas Hertl, but I do not think it’ll be enough to take down the Dallas Stars. This team has all the right pieces to go on a run and win the Stanley Cup so for that reason, I’m going to take the Dallas Stars in 7 games.
C2 Winnipeg Jets vs C3 Colorado Avalanche
Winner: Colorado Avalanche
The Winnipeg Jets this season have been dominant over the Colorado Avalanche winning three of three matchups in convincing fashion. The last game in particular where the Winnipeg Jets went into Colorado and smoked them 7-0. Do I think this will happen again in the playoffs? No. I think the Avalanche and Nathan Mackinnon are going to take everything that has happened to them this season and use it as fuel and punish the Winnipeg Jets where they’ll win in 5 games.
P1 Vancouver Canucks vs WC1 Nashville Predators
Winner: Vancouver Canucks
After a season no one expected them to have, the Vancouver Canucks surprised everybody by not only making playoffs but also by clinching the Pacific Division title in the process. I think the Canucks have the pieces and the advantage over Nashville with forward depth, defense, and goaltending. Considering the Canucks have not been in the playoffs since the bubble season, I’m going to go with Vancouver to win this series in 6 games.
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs P3 Los Angeles Kings
Winner: Edmonton Oilers
For the third consecutive playoffs in a row, the Edmonton Oilers will match up in the first round against the Los Angeles Kings. The Edmonton Oilers were projected to win the Stanley Cup this year heading into the season but after a rough start, things were not looking so hot. They ended up going on a really impressive run and fought for that Pacific Division title but ended up taking the second spot. Considering how the first two series went between these two teams, I think we’re going to get a repeat and see the Oilers win in 5 or 6 games.
These are my 2023-2024 Stanley Cup Playoff predictions for round one.
Tweet me your picks @anthonycarb0ne.
Photo by Josh Appel on Unsplash
