Postseason and Award Predictions

This season, the NHL is ushering in new divisions and a new way to get in the playoffs. The top three teams in each division make the playoffs, with a "wild card" team (meaning a team from either division with the best point total in the conference can take those spots) taking the seventh and eighth spots in both conferences. With all that in mind the matchups in the first round would be the division winner versus the wild card team and the number two team against the number three team.

With all that in mind, making postseason predictions was a little difficult. Lets give this a try:

Pittsburgh (1-Metropolitan Division) vs New York Islanders (WC)

New York Rangers (2) vs Washington Capitals (3)

Boston (1-Atlantic Division) vs Montreal (WC)

Ottawa (2) vs Detroit (3)

Los Angeles (1-Pacific Division) vs Nashville (WC)

San Jose (2) vs Vancouver (3)

Chicago (1-Central Division) vs Anaheim (WC)

St. Louis (2) vs Minnesota (3)

Stanley Cup Finals: Chicago over Ottawa

Award Winners:

Hart Trophy (MVP): John Tavares (NYI)
Vezina Trophy (top goaltender): Henrik Lundqvist (NYR)
Norris Trophy (top defenseman): PK Subban (MTL)
Calder Trophy (top rookie): Nathan MacKinnon (COL)


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