NHL, NHL Network Stanley Cup Final predictions

The 2013 Stanley Cup Final starts Wednesday night between the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins at the United Center with Game 1 (8 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC, RDS). It appears from a panel of experts from NHL Network and NHL.com that we are in for the long haul.

Of the 19 voters on the panel, 18 felt that the series would go at least six games and 11 believe that the Final will go seven games for the second time in three years.

There was far less agreement, though, on which team will claim the Stanley Cup.

A dozen of the voters opted for the Blackhawks, while seven selected the Bruins as the eventual champion.

Shawn Roarke, NHL.com Senior Managing Editor -- Bruins in 6

Brian Compton, NHL.com Deputy Managing Editor -- Bruins in 6

Tal Pinchevsky, NHL.com staff writer -- Blackhawks in 7

Corey Masisak, NHL.com staff writer -- Blackhawks in 5

Dan Rosen, NHL.com senior writer -- Blackhawks in 6

Arpon Basu, LNH.com managing editor -- Blackhawks in 7

Mike Morreale, NHL.com staff writer -- Blackhawks in 7

Adam Kimelman, NHL.com Deputy Managing Editor -- Blackhawks in 7

John Kreiser, NHL.com Managing Editor -- Blackhawks in 7

Billy Jaffe, NHL Network analyst -- Bruins in 7

Kevin Weekes, NHL Network analyst --Bruins in 7

EJ Hradek, NHL Live host -- Blackhawks in 7

Mike Johnson, NHL Network analyst -- Bruins in 6

Jamie McLennan, NHL Network analyst -- Blackhawks in 7

Neil Smith, NHL Network analyst -- Blackhawks in 7

Craig Button, NHL Network analyst -- Blackhawks in 6

Barry Melrose, NHL Network analyst -- Bruins in 7

Kathryn Tappen, NHL Network host -- Bruins in 6

Kelly Chase, NHL Network analyst -- Hawks in 6