Before the playoffs of the Stanley 2025 Cup, Kyle Cushman, Kayla Douglas, Mike Dickson, Nick Faris, John Matisz, Sean O’Leary and Josh Wegman, the final of the Known Cup and Josh Wegman for the first round, the final of Stanley Cup and Josh Wegman.
Toronto is undefeated in the Battle of Ontario Playoff series, but it’s been 21 years since the last post-season match between these enemies. Do leafs still have the edge on the senses? Ottawa has had the regular season series against Toronto in the past two seasons, after all.
The Leafs are barely favored to go to the second round for the second time in the Auston Matthews era, with four of the seven publishers choosing the capital of Ontario on the capital of Canada. What is unanimous is that this series goes deep, because five have the match at the distance at seven games.
The two Florida teams have combined to win the Eastern Conference in the past five seasons. The issues are raised while Lightning has been looking to make the second round for the first time since it reached the Stanley Cup final in 2022, while the Panthers occupied a third consecutive final appearance.
The margins are thin razor. Tampa Bay is a slight favorite of the title champions, with four publishers who choose lightning, and the series should go deep. This one will be a bloodbath and an essential match.
Fifteen years ago, a Montreal Canadian, eighth head of eighth, shocked Washington’s capital winners of Washington Presidents on the way to the conference final. Can they start again? Most say no, but it was not unanimous. A publisher thinks that clothes can find this magic in playoffs for another big upheaval.
A healthy Hughes jack would considerably change the prospects of this series, but it is not the world in which we live. The devils are struck and the hurricanes are constantly gaining at least one turn in the playoffs. Carolina is not a winner of the division, but it is easily the largest favorite in the East among the publishers.
Jets are an almost unanimous choice, although it is not an easy series. Everyone has the series at least six games, with a publisher who chose the winners of the presidents to bow in the Tour 1. Dylan Holloway and Nikolaj Ehlers are two key players on the shelf who could have big impacts if they come back in the first round.
Jordan Binnington had the last laugh during the confrontation of the 4 nations, but it could be Connor Hellebuyck’s time to take revenge.
The injuries could alleviate what was announced as a first -round battle of all time. Miro Heiskanen should not be ready for the start of the series, and Jason Robertson was injured in the last match of the Dallas regular season. If the two went out for the stars, it could be a difficult path to the victory against an avalanche team which, against all odds, seems to recover Captain Gabriel Landeskog.
It may be the most unbalanced first round match, with two publishers who choose the Golden Knights to sweep the Savage and everyone picks Vegas to move forward. Minnesota experienced difficulties in the section and needed a goal of the last minute to Joel Eriksson Ek against Anaheim ducks just to get a place in the playoffs. A victory in the wild series against a team of Golden Knights who is in the leading position for another cup race would be an amazing.
Is it finally time for the Kings to drop the Oilers? In a slight surprise, six of the seven publishers advanced Los Angeles in front of the champions in title of the Western Conference. It’s bold to choose Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but there are many reasons to promote kings in it.
Darcy Kuemper could be a finalist in the Vezina trophy, while Stuart Skinner had a Rocky campaign. Edmonton’s best defensive defender, Mattias Ekholm, is absent with an injury. The oilers dismissed the for three years in a row. This race is serious in danger.
Six of the seven publishers believe that Florida team will win the Eastern Conference for the sixth consecutive season. What it will be divided is divided in the middle, with three choices for each of the Panthers and Lightning.
The Hurricanes are strongly favored to leave the metropolitan side of the support, the Caroline representing the division for six of the seven publishers. However, only one has the canes to cross to make the Cup final.
No publisher even has the return of the Oilers, winners of the west of the west, with a single publisher who chose Edmonton to get out of Tour 1.
The Golden Knights are a favorite to go to the Final Four and represent the division of the Pacific, although the central teams are the favorite choice to make the Cup final. The avalanche is the most common choice to win the West, jets and stars are also supported for a deep race.
It is the western world, and we live there. Each publisher has chosen a winner of the Western Conference to also win the Stanley Cup.
The Colorado, the favorite selection and Vegas would demand their second titles with their main current players. The stars have not won since 1999 and have lost twice in the last time since their triumph, more recently in 2020. And of course, the Winnipeg jets have never claimed the cup of Lord Stanley, neither in his original iteration nor in the history of the current Thrashers / Jets franchise.
A year after winning his first Hart trophy, Mackinnon is the marginal favorite to win the Smythe Conn among the publishers. A Makar victory would be a second MVP of historic playoffs for the defender of the stars, because only Bobby Orr accomplished the feat among the NHL rearguards.
Eichel and Stone also get a little love for the Golden Knights, while Johnston is favored for a race in the playoff series that would raise him in a star of the game. A victory for Conn Smythe for Hellebuyck would put his season among the greatest by a goalkeeper, especially in the modern era.
