New York, NY – The 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs have officially kicked off with the New York Rangers securing the Presidents’ Trophy for the best record in the 2023-24 regular season. The Rangers finished the regular season with a 55-23-4 record, just edging out the Dallas Stars for the top spot.
In the first round of the playoffs, the lower-seeded wild card team goes up against the division winner with the best record, while the other wild card team faces the other division winner. Meanwhile, the second and third-place teams from the divisions battle it out in the remaining playoff matchups. Home-ice advantage in the opening two rounds is given to the higher seed based on their regular season performance.
As the playoffs get underway, NHL experts have revealed their predictions for the first round and their picks for the Stanley Cup winner.
In the Western Conference, the top-seeded Stars are set to face off against the Vegas Golden Knights. The experts foresee a tough matchup between the defending champions and the dominant offensive force of the Stars, with predictions favoring the Stars to advance in a close series.
The second-seeded Winnipeg Jets will take on the third-seeded Colorado Avalanche in another challenging series to predict. Despite the Avalanche’s scoring prowess, the experts lean towards the Jets to come out on top in a hard-fought battle.
Over in the Eastern Conference, the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Rangers are gearing up to face the Washington Capitals, who barely made it into the postseason. With their offensive firepower and solid goaltending, the experts predict the Rangers to secure a decisive series victory over the Capitals.
Another intriguing matchup features the second-seeded Boston Bruins against the third-seeded Toronto Maple Leafs. Despite previous matchups favoring the Bruins, the experts see potential for the Maple Leafs to finally overcome their postseason struggles and come out on top in a closely contested series.
Looking ahead to the Stanley Cup Final, the experts anticipate a showdown between the Dallas Stars and the Carolina Hurricanes. While the Stars boast a lineup filled with talent and depth, the Hurricanes’ recent upgrades and scoring depth make them a formidable opponent. In the end, the experts predict the Stars to emerge victorious over the Hurricanes in a well-fought series.
As the excitement of the Stanley Cup Playoffs continues to unfold, hockey fans are in for an intense and thrilling postseason journey filled with unpredictability and fierce competition.