2013-2014 NHL Predictions

There is no sitting around waiting for an ugly lockout to end this year. The puck will drop on the 2013-2014 NHL season on time. In a strange twist, the Pittsburgh Penguins are not the oddsmakers favorite to hoist the Cup. That title belongs to the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Chicago Blackhawks. Though the Pens are the favorite in the revamped Eastern Conference.

I have picked the Stanley Cup champion correctly before the last 3 seasons. Can I make it 4 in a row? Here is how I see the upcoming NHL season to shake out.

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division
1. Boston
2. Montreal
3. Detroit
4. Toronto
5. Ottawa
6. Tampa Bay
7. Buffalo
8. Florida

Metropolitan Division
1. Pittsburgh
2. NY Rangers
3. Washington
4. NY Islanders
5. Philadelphia
6. Columbus
7. New Jersey
8. Carolina

Western Conference

Central Division
1. Chicago
2. St. Louis
3. Minnesota
4. Dallas
5. Winnipeg
6. Nashville
7. Colorado

Pacific Division
1. Los Angeles
2. Vancouver
3. San Jose
4. Anaheim
5. Edmonton
6. Phoenix
7. Calgary

Stanley Cup Playoffs

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
Pittsburgh over Ottawa
NY Rangers over Washington
Detroit over Montreal
Toronto over Boston

Western Conference Quarterfinals
Los Angeles over Edmonton
San Jose over Vancouver
St. Louis over Minnesota
Anaheim over Chicago

Eastern Conference Semifinals
Pittsburgh over NY Rangers
Detroit over Toronto

Western Conference Semifinals
Los Angeles over San Jose
St. Louis over Anaheim

Eastern Conference Finals
Pittsburgh over Detroit

Western Conference Finals
St. Louis over Los Angeles

Stanley Cup Finals
St. Louis over Pittsburgh

The St. Louis Blues will finally hoist their first Stanley Cup!