Put on your helmet as it’s time to get serious about hockey - the NHL playoffs are here.
In true Hodge Podge tradition, the 'Silly Season' arrival means it’s time to present my ridiculous NHL predictions.
It’s a simple ‘fun with fridge magnets’ game. Simply cut out these predictions, clip them to your beer fridge and then chuckle as my predictions crumble.
The following predictions were boldly scribed last Saturday morning (to meet the Capital News deadline).
I’ve not changed any predictions so I’m probably already looking embarrassingly wrong as the playoffs are now underway – but here goes.
As always, injuries and goaltending will be key factors in who celebrates with cheers or mourn in tears when the games are finished.
Here’s the big picture:
Eastern Division:
Toronto-Ottawa - Toronto in seven
Tampa Bay - Florida – Florida in seven
Carolina - New Jersey - Carolina in five
Washington – Montreal – Montreal in seven
In Eastern semi finals Toronto beats Florida in six while Carolina thumps Montreal in five.
Toronto then takes the Eastern Division title beating Carolina in five.
Western Division:
Winnipeg – St. Louis - Winnipeg in seven
Dallas – Colorado - Colorado in six
Vegas – Minnesota - Vegas in five
LA – Edmonton – Edmonton in seven
In the Western semi finals Winnipeg defeats Colorado in six, while Edmonton edges Vegas in six
In the Western final Winnipeg beats Edmonton in seven games
Winnipeg face Toronto in the Stanley Cup final with the Toronto Maple Leafs prevailing in seven games.
William Nylander or Jon Tavares score the winning goal for the Leafs in Game 7.
Just for fun, here is my expanded brief glimpse of the first round.
Toronto Maple Leafs versus Ottawa Senators. This will be a total edge of your seat, rough and tumble series that will go six games or perhaps seven games.
These two teams do not like each other, and the intensity of their meeting in the playoffs will only add to the agitation.
For the Leafs to advance to the second round, they will need their top guns gunning – Auston Mathews, Mitch Marner, Nylander and Tavares.
In addition, the Leafs will need to count on their goaltending (Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll) to be solid and consistent.
Ottawa will be leaning on Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, grinder Claude Giroux and sensational goalie Linus Ulmark if they hope to defeat the Leafs.
Edmonton Oilers versus Los Angeles Kings. The Oilers are under pressure to take home the cup from a lot of pundits and fans, however, unless they remain injury free and play tremendous hockey at all positions, they may have a tough time getting that glory.
In fact, the Oil may have a hard time getting past the Kings.
The Kings have been on a roll the past six weeks receiving point production above expectation from a number of players.
If star Anze Kopitar and veteran star defenceman Drew Doughty can provide leadership and Quinton Byfield, Adrian Kempe Kevin Fiala and goalie Darcy Kuemper can continue to shine, then the Kings could be in line for an upset.
Connor McDavid is an absolute stud of a player and former Kelowna Rocket Leon Draisaitl is the same.
But to help those two superstars, other players such as Zach Hyman and defenceman Evan Bouchard also need to step up, and what has been weak goaltending for the team all season needs to suddenly get better.
Tampa Bay Lightning versus Florida Panthers. These are two of top four teams in the playoffs and it’s a shame they must face each other in the first round.
Both deserve a chance to play a minimum of two rounds. Both have superstar netminders and a solid lineup.
On paper, Tampa is probably more impressive, but Florida has shone slightly brighter this season and is coming off two straight appearances in the Stanley Cup finals, winning it all last year against Edmonton in seven games.
I'm predicting Florida in seven if they can avoid major injuries.
Dallas Stars versus Colorado Avalanche. Dallas is in trouble with too many key injuries late in the season and players still trying to mend.
Dallas has been slumping the past month and Colorado has got hot again.
The Carolina Hurricane - New Jersey Devils match-up is the least interesting to me, with neither team capturing my imagination.
Carolina star Sebastian Aho will prove to be the difference against the Devils, now missing their star forward Jack Hughes due to injury.
Vegas Golden Knights - Minnesota Wild. The Knights have Jack Eichel in their lineup, and he’s been waiting a few years to have the right stage to strut his stuff.
Eichel is a force to be reckoned with and now could be his time to dominate the playoffs.
Montreal Canadiens - Washington Capitals. Who better than the Montreal Canadians to pull off a hockey miracle.
The team with a history of glory will pull off the upset of the playoffs dumping the highly favoured Capitals in six or maybe seven games.
Watch for their 18-year-old Russian rookie Ivan Demidov to turn the hockey world on his head during his first month in North America. I think Demidov could be the surprise story of the 2025 playoffs.
There you go fans – cut this out and pin it to your fridge. And no running with the scissors in your hand!
