Stanley Cup Playoffs 2nd round predictions by NHL.com writers, editors

The Carolina Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche are overwhelming choices in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, according the NHL.com writers and editors who made their predictions. 

Of the 15 staff members who made predictions, 13 picked the Hurricanes to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers in the Eastern Conference Second Round, while 12 picked the Avalanche to defeat the Minnesota Wild in the Western Conference Second Round. 

The other West series between the Vegas Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks is a completely different story, with eight staffers taking Vegas and seven taking the Ducks. 

The other East series is still undecided, with the Buffalo Sabres taking on either the Tampa Bay Lightning or Montreal Canadiens, who play Game 7 of the first round at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa on Sunday (6 p.m. ET; The Spot, HBO MAX, truTV, TNT, SN, TVAS, CBC). 

The Hurricanes and Flyers play Game 1 of the second round on at Lenovo Center in Raleigh on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; ABC, SN, TVAS), while the Wild and Avalanche open their series at Ball Arena in Denver on Sunday (9 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, truTV, TNT, SN360, SN, TVAS, CBC). 

The rest of the second-round schedule will be released at some point this weekend. 

Here are NHL.com staffers' picks for the second round.

Amalie Benjamin, senior writer

First-round record: 3-4 (TBL over MTL)

Eastern Conference Second Round

CAR vs. PHI: Carolina Hurricanes
BUF vs. TBL: Tampa Bay Lightning 
BUF vs. MTL: Montreal Canadiens

Western Conference Second Round

COL vs. MIN: Colorado Avalanche
VGK vs. ANA: Vegas Golden Knights

Brian Compton, managing editor

First-round record: 4-3 (TBL over MTL)

Eastern Conference Second Round

CAR vs. PHI: Carolina Hurricanes
BUF vs. TBL: Tampa Bay Lightning
BUF vs. MTL: Buffalo Sabres

Western Conference Second Round

COL vs. MIN: Minnesota Wild
VGK vs. ANA: Anaheim Ducks

Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

First-round record: 5-2 (TBL over MTL)

Eastern Conference Second Round

CAR vs. PHI: Carolina Hurricanes
BUF vs. TBL: Tampa Bay Lightning
BUF vs. MTL: Buffalo Sabres

Western Conference Second Round

COL vs. MIN: Colorado Avalanche
VGK vs. ANA: Vegas Golden Knights

William Douglas, staff writer

First-round record: 6-1 (TBL over MTL)

Eastern Conference Second Round

CAR vs. PHI: Philadelphia Flyers
BUF vs. TBL: Buffalo Sabres
BUF vs. MTL: Buffalo Sabres

Western Conference Second Round

COL vs. MIN: Colorado Avalanche
VGK vs. ANA: Anaheim Ducks

Tom Gulitti, senior writer

First-round record: 4-3 (TBL over MTL)

Eastern Conference Second Round

CAR vs. PHI: Carolina Hurricanes
BUF vs. TBL: Tampa Bay Lightning
BUF vs. MTL: Buffalo Sabres

Western Conference Second Round

COL vs. MIN: Colorado Avalanche
VGK vs. ANA: Anaheim Ducks

Pete Jensen, senior director, fantasy

First-round record: 4-3 (TBL over MTL)

Eastern Conference Second Round

CAR vs. PHI: Carolina Hurricanes
BUF vs. TBL: Buffalo Sabres
BUF vs. MTL: Buffalo Sabres

Western Conference Second Round

COL vs. MIN: Colorado Avalanche
VGK vs. ANA: Vegas Golden Knights

Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor

First-round record: 6-1 (TBL over MTL)

Eastern Conference Second Round

CAR vs. PHI: Carolina Hurricanes
BUF vs. TBL: Tampa Bay Lightning
BUF vs. MTL: Buffalo Sabres

Western Conference Second Round

COL vs. MIN: Colorado Avalanche
VGK vs. ANA: Vegas Golden Knights

Mike G. Morreale, senior draft writer

First-round record: 5-2 (TBL over MTL)

Eastern Conference Second Round

CAR vs. PHI: Carolina Hurricanes
BUF vs. TBL: Tampa Bay Lightning
BUF vs. MTL: Buffalo Sabres

Western Conference Second Round

COL vs. MIN: Minnesota Wild
VGK vs. ANA: Vegas Golden Knights

Tracey Myers, staff writer

First-round record: 3-4 (MTL over TBL)

Eastern Conference Second Round

CAR vs. PHI: Carolina Hurricanes
BUF vs. TBL: Buffalo Sabres
BUF vs. MTL: Buffalo Sabres

Western Conference Second Round

COL vs. MIN: Colorado Avalanche
VGK vs. ANA: Anaheim Ducks

Bill Price, Editor-in-Chief

First-round record: 4-3 (TBL over MTL)

Eastern Conference Second Round

CAR vs. PHI: Philadelphia Flyers 
BUF vs. TBL: Buffalo Sabres 
BUF vs. MTL: Buffalo Sabres

Western Conference Second Round

COL vs. MIN: Minnesota Wild
VGK vs. ANA: Vegas Golden Knights

Shawn Roarke, senior director of editorial

First-round record: 4-3 (TBL over MTL)

Eastern Conference Second Round

CAR vs. PHI: Carolina Hurricanes
BUF vs. TBL: Tampa Bay Lightning
BUF vs. MTL: Buffalo Sabres

Western Conference Second Round

COL vs. MIN: Colorado Avalanche
VGK vs. ANA: Anaheim Ducks

Dan Rosen, senior writer

First-round record: 6-1 (MTL over TBL)

Eastern Conference Second Round

CAR vs. PHI: Carolina Hurricanes
BUF vs. TBL: Buffalo Sabres
BUF vs. MTL: Montreal Canadiens

Western Conference Second Round

COL vs. MIN: Colorado Avalanche
VGK vs. ANA: Vegas Golden Knights

David Satriano, staff writer

First-round record: 4-3 (TBL over MTL)

Eastern Conference Second Round

CAR vs. PHI: Carolina Hurricanes
BUF vs. TBL: Buffalo Sabres
BUF vs. MTL: Buffalo Sabres

Western Conference Second Round

COL vs. MIN: Colorado Avalanche
VGK vs. ANA: Anaheim Ducks

Derek Van Diest, staff writer

First-round record: 3-4 (TBL over MTL)

Eastern Conference Second Round

CAR vs. PHI: Carolina Hurricanes
BUF vs. TBL: Tampa Bay Lightning
BUF vs. MTL: Buffalo Sabres

Western Conference Second Round

COL vs. MIN: Colorado Avalanche
VGK vs. ANA: Anaheim Ducks

Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

First-round record: 5-2 (TBL over MTL)

Eastern Conference Second Round

CAR vs. PHI: Carolina Hurricanes
BUF vs. TBL: Tampa Bay Lightning 
BUF vs. MTL: Buffalo Sabres

Western Conference Second Round

COL vs. MIN: Colorado Avalanche
VGK vs. ANA: Vegas Golden Knights