Hockey is back!
Yes, the pursuit of the greatest trophy in sports, the Stanley Cup, begins Wednesday night with the 2015-16 NHL season officially beginning.
The Chicago Blackhawks are the defending champions, a position they’ve now found themselves in three times since 2010. Will they finally overcome one of the most difficult challenges in sports: winning back-to-back Stanley Cup titles?
Check out my season predictions below to find out.
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division (full division preview)
1) Tampa Bay Lightning
2) Montreal Canadiens
3) Boston Bruins
Metropolitan Division (full division preview)
1) Washington Capitals
2) New York Rangers
3) Pittsburgh Penguins
Wild Card
1) New York Islanders
2) Detroit Red Wings
Conference Quarterfinals
Tampa Bay Lightning defeat Detroit Red Wings
Boston Bruins defeat Montreal Canadiens
Washington Capitals defeat New York Islanders
New York Rangers defeat Pittsburgh Penguins
Conference Semifinals
Boston Bruins defeat Tampa Bay Lightning
Washington Capitals defeat New York Rangers
Conference Final
Washington Capitals defeat Boston Bruins
Western Conference
Central Division (full preview here)
1) Chicago Blackhawks
2) St. Louis Blues
3) Nashville Predators
Pacific Division (full preview here)
1) Anaheim Ducks
2) Los Angeles Kings
3) San Jose Sharks
Wild Card
1) Winnipeg Jets
2) Minnesota Wild
Conference Quarterfinals
Anaheim Ducks defeat Minnesota Wild
Chicago Blackhawks defeat Winnipeg Jets
Los Angeles Kings defeat San Jose Sharks
St. Louis Blues defeat Nashville Predators
Conference Semifinals
Anaheim Ducks defeat Los Angeles Kings
Chicago Blackhawks defeat St. Louis Blues
Conference Final
Anaheim Ducks defeat Chicago Blackhawks
Stanley Cup FinalÂ
Washington Capitals defeat Anaheim Ducks
Yes, Alexander Ovechkin will lead the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup championship. This Caps team is loaded, and after coming up one goal short of the conference finals last season, adding two important pieces in forwards T.J. Oshie and Justin Williams without losing any significant players (sorry, Mike Green) will push them to the next level. Starting goalie Braden Holtby has become a legitimate star and owns the best playoff save percentage among active goalies with 20-plus postseason starts.
Ovechkin and Holtby will lead a determined Washington team over former head coach Bruce Boudreau and the Ducks in six games.
Thumbnail photo via Matt Marton/USA TODAY Sports Images
