Stanley Cup Playoffs staff predictions

Experts from NHL Network, NHL.com favor Capitals, Blackhawks to win Stanley Cup

Ovechkin Capitals Toews Blackhawks 2 41117
By NHL.com @NHLdotcom

Experts from NHL.com and NHL Network have made their Stanley Cup Playoff picks, and the winner will be the Washington Capitals. Or the Chicago Blackhawks. Or maybe even the Montreal Canadiens.

A total of 21 analysts, writers and editors made their predictions; 11 picked the Capitals to win it all, and nine picked the Blackhawks. LNH.com Senior Managing Editor Arpon Basu picked the Canadiens to win.
Of the 21 experts, 16 picked a Stanley Cup Final between the Capitals and Blackhawks.
Here are the first-round picks for the experts from NHL Network and NHL.com:

EJ Hradek, NHL Network Analyst

Round 1: Eastern Conference
WSH vs. TOR: Washington Capitals
PIT vs. CBJ: Pittsburgh Penguins
MTL vs. NYR: Montreal Canadiens
OTT vs. BOS: Ottawa Senators
Round 1: Western Conference
CHI vs. NSH: Chicago Blackhawks
MIN vs. STL: St. Louis Blues
ANA vs. CGY: Anaheim Ducks
EDM vs. SJS: Edmonton Oilers
Stanley Cup Final:Capitals over Blackhawks
Conn Smythe Trophy:Braden Holtby, Capitals

Brian Lawton, NHL Network Analyst

Round 1: Eastern Conference
WSH vs. TOR: Washington Capitals
PIT vs. CBJ: Pittsburgh Penguins
MTL vs. NYR: Montreal Canadiens
OTT vs. BOS: Boston Bruins
Round 1: Western Conference
CHI vs. NSH: Chicago Blackhawks
MIN vs. STL: St. Louis Blues
ANA vs. CGY: Anaheim Ducks
EDM vs. SJS: Edmonton Oilers
Stanley Cup Final:Blackhawks over Capitals
Conn Smythe Trophy:Duncan Keith, Blackhawks

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© Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Tony Luftman, NHL Network Host

Round 1: Eastern Conference
WSH vs. TOR: Washington Capitals
PIT vs. CBJ: Pittsburgh Penguins
MTL vs. NYR: Montreal Canadiens
OTT vs. BOS: Boston Bruins
Round 1: Western Conference
CHI vs. NSH: Chicago Blackhawks
MIN vs. STL: St. Louis Blues
ANA vs. CGY: Anaheim Ducks
EDM vs. SJS: Edmonton Oilers
Stanley Cup Final:Capitals over Blackhawks
Conn Smythe Trophy:Alex Ovechkin, Capitals

Michelle McMahon, NHL Network Host

Round 1: Eastern Conference
WSH vs. TOR: Washington Capitals
PIT vs. CBJ: Columbus Blue Jackets
MTL vs. NYR: New York Rangers
OTT vs. BOS: Boston Bruins
Round 1: Western Conference
CHI vs. NSH: Chicago Blackhawks
MIN vs. STL: St. Louis Blues
ANA vs. CGY: Anaheim Ducks
EDM vs. SJS: Edmonton Oilers
Stanley Cup Final:Blackhawks over Capitals
Conn Smythe Trophy:Patrick Kane, Blackhawks

Dave Reid, NHL Network Analyst

Round 1: Eastern Conference
WSH vs. TOR: Washington Capitals
PIT vs. CBJ: Pittsburgh Penguins
MTL vs. NYR: Montreal Canadiens
OTT vs. BOS: Ottawa Senators
Round 1: Western Conference
CHI vs. NSH: Chicago Blackhawks
MIN vs. STL: St. Louis Blues
ANA vs. CGY: Anaheim Ducks
EDM vs. SJS: Edmonton Oilers
Stanley Cup Final:Capitals over Blackhawks
Conn Smythe Trophy:Nicklas Backstrom, Capitals

Kevin Weekes, NHL Network Analyst

Round 1: Eastern Conference
WSH vs. TOR: Washington Capitals
PIT vs. CBJ: Pittsburgh Penguins
MTL vs. NYR: Montreal Canadiens
OTT vs. BOS: Ottawa Senators
Round 1: Western Conference
CHI vs. NSH: Chicago Blackhawks
MIN vs. STL: Minnesota Wild
ANA vs. CGY: Anaheim Ducks
EDM vs. SJS: Edmonton Oilers
Stanley Cup Final:Blackhawks over Capitals
Conn Smythe Trophy:Patrick Kane, Blackhawks

Arpon Basu, LNH.com Senior Managing Editor

Round 1: Eastern Conference
WSH vs. TOR: Washington Capitals
PIT vs. CBJ: Pittsburgh Penguins
MTL vs. NYR: Montreal Canadiens
OTT vs. BOS: Ottawa Senators
Round 1: Western Conference
CHI vs. NSH: Nashville Predators
MIN vs. STL: St. Louis Blues
ANA vs. CGY: Calgary Flames
EDM vs. SJS: Edmonton Oilers
Stanley Cup Final:Canadiens over Oilers
Conn Smythe Trophy:Carey Price, Canadiens

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Amalie Benjamin, NHL.com Staff Writer

Round 1: Eastern Conference
WSH vs. TOR: Washington Capitals
PIT vs. CBJ: Pittsburgh Penguins
MTL vs. NYR: Montreal Canadiens
OTT vs. BOS: Boston Bruins
Round 1: Western Conference
CHI vs. NSH: Chicago Blackhawks
MIN vs. STL: Minnesota Wild
ANA vs. CGY: Anaheim Ducks
EDM vs. SJS: Edmonton Oilers
Stanley Cup Final:Capitals over Wild
Conn Smythe Trophy:Nicklas Backstrom, Capitals

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© Len Redkoles/Getty Images

Tim Campbell, NHL.com Staff Writer

Round 1: Eastern Conference
WSH vs. TOR: Washington Capitals
PIT vs. CBJ: Pittsburgh Penguins
MTL vs. NYR: Montreal Canadiens
OTT vs. BOS: Boston Bruins
Round 1: Western Conference
CHI vs. NSH: Chicago Blackhawks
MIN vs. STL: Minnesota Wild
ANA vs. CGY: Anaheim Ducks
EDM vs. SJS: Edmonton Oilers
Stanley Cup Final:Blackhawks over Penguins
Conn Smythe Trophy:Jonathan Toews, Blackhawks

Brian Compton, NHL.com Deputy Managing Editor

Round 1: Eastern Conference
WSH vs. TOR: Washington Capitals
PIT vs. CBJ: Pittsburgh Penguins
MTL vs. NYR: New York Rangers
OTT vs. BOS: Boston Bruins
Round 1: Western Conference
CHI vs. NSH: Chicago Blackhawks
MIN vs. STL: Minnesota Wild
ANA vs. CGY: Anaheim Ducks
EDM vs. SJS: Edmonton Oilers
Stanley Cup Final:Capitals over Blackhawks
Conn Smythe Trophy:Braden Holtby, Capitals

Nick Cotsonika, NHL.com Columnist

Round 1: Eastern Conference
WSH vs. TOR: Washington Capitals
PIT vs. CBJ: Pittsburgh Penguins
MTL vs. NYR: Montreal Canadiens
OTT vs. BOS: Ottawa Senators
Round 1: Western Conference
CHI vs. NSH: Chicago Blackhawks
MIN vs. STL: St. Louis Blues
ANA vs. CGY: Anaheim Ducks
EDM vs. SJS: Edmonton Oilers
Stanley Cup Final:Capitals over Blackhawks
Conn Smythe Trophy:Braden Holtby, Capitals

Matt Cubeta, Director, NHL.com International

Round 1: Eastern Conference
WSH vs. TOR: Washington Capitals
PIT vs. CBJ: Pittsburgh Penguins
MTL vs. NYR: New York Rangers
OTT vs. BOS: Boston Bruins
Round 1: Western Conference
CHI vs. NSH: Chicago Blackhawks
MIN vs. STL: Minnesota Wild
ANA vs. CGY: Anaheim Ducks
EDM vs. SJS: San Jose Sharks
Stanley Cup Final:Capitals over Wild
Conn Smythe Trophy:Nicklas Backstrom, Capitals

Lisa Dillman, NHL.com Staff Writer

Round 1: Eastern Conference
WSH vs. TOR: Washington Capitals
PIT vs. CBJ: Pittsburgh Penguins
MTL vs. NYR: Montreal Canadiens
OTT vs. BOS: Boston Bruins
Round 1: Western Conference
CHI vs. NSH: Chicago Blackhawks
MIN vs. STL: Minnesota Wild
ANA vs. CGY: Anaheim Ducks
EDM vs. SJS: Edmonton Oilers
Stanley Cup Final:Capitals over Blackhawks
Conn Smythe Trophy:Braden Holtby, Capitals

Tom Gulitti, NHL.com Staff Writer

Round 1: Eastern Conference
WSH vs. TOR: Washington Capitals
PIT vs. CBJ: Pittsburgh Penguins
MTL vs. NYR: Montreal Canadiens
OTT vs. BOS: Boston Bruins
Round 1: Western Conference
CHI vs. NSH: Chicago Blackhawks
MIN vs. STL: St. Louis Blues
ANA vs. CGY: Anaheim Ducks
EDM vs. SJS: San Jose Sharks
Stanley Cup Final:Blackhawks over Capitals
Conn Smythe Trophy:Patrick Kane, Blackhawks

Adam Kimelman, NHL.com Deputy Managing Editor

Round 1: Eastern Conference
WSH vs. TOR: Washington Capitals
PIT vs. CBJ: Pittsburgh Penguins
MTL vs. NYR: New York Rangers
OTT vs. BOS: Boston Bruins
Round 1: Western Conference
CHI vs. NSH: Chicago Blackhawks
MIN vs. STL: Minnesota Wild
ANA vs. CGY: Anaheim Ducks
EDM vs. SJS: Edmonton Oilers
Stanley Cup Final:Capitals over Blackhawks
Conn Smythe Trophy:Nicklas Backstrom, Capitals

Robert Laflamme, LNH.com Senior Writer

Round 1: Eastern Conference
WSH vs. TOR: Washington Capitals
PIT vs. CBJ: Pittsburgh Penguins
MTL vs. NYR: Montreal Canadiens
OTT vs. BOS: Ottawa Senators
Round 1: Western Conference
CHI vs. NSH: Chicago Blackhawks
MIN vs. STL: St. Louis Blues
ANA vs. CGY: Anaheim Ducks
EDM vs. SJS: San Jose Sharks
Stanley Cup Final:Blackhawks over Capitals
Conn Smythe Trophy:Patrick Kane, Blackhawks

Mike Morreale, NHL.com Staff Writer

Round 1: Eastern Conference
WSH vs. TOR: Washington Capitals
PIT vs. CBJ: Pittsburgh Penguins
MTL vs. NYR: New York Rangers
OTT vs. BOS: Ottawa Senators
Round 1: Western Conference
CHI vs. NSH: Chicago Blackhawks
MIN vs. STL: St. Louis Blues
ANA vs. CGY: Anaheim Ducks
EDM vs. SJS: Edmonton Oilers
Stanley Cup Final:Capitals over Blackhawks
Conn Smythe Trophy:Braden Holtby, Capitals

Bill Price, NHL.com Editor-in-Chief

Round 1: Eastern Conference
WSH vs. TOR: Washington Capitals
PIT vs. CBJ: Columbus Blue Jackets
MTL vs. NYR: Montreal Canadiens
OTT vs. BOS: Ottawa Senators
Round 1: Western Conference
CHI vs. NSH: Chicago Blackhawks
MIN vs. STL: Minnesota Wild
ANA vs. CGY: Calgary Flames
EDM vs. SJS: Edmonton Oilers
Stanley Cup Final:Blackhawks over Canadiens
Conn Smythe Trophy:Corey Crawford, Blackhawks

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© Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

Shawn P. Roarke, NHL.com Director of Editorial

Round 1: Eastern Conference
WSH vs. TOR: Washington Capitals
PIT vs. CBJ: Pittsburgh Penguins
MTL vs. NYR: Montreal Canadiens
OTT vs. BOS: Boston Bruins
Round 1: Western Conference
CHI vs. NSH: Chicago Blackhawks
MIN vs. STL: St. Louis Blues
ANA vs. CGY: Calgary Flames
EDM vs. SJS: San Jose Sharks
Stanley Cup Final:Blackhawks over Capitals
Conn Smythe Trophy:Duncan Keith, Blackhawks

Dan Rosen, NHL.com Senior Writer

Round 1: Eastern Conference
WSH vs. TOR: Washington Capitals
PIT vs. CBJ: Pittsburgh Penguins
MTL vs. NYR: Montreal Canadiens
OTT vs. BOS: Boston Bruins
Round 1: Western Conference
CHI vs. NSH: Chicago Blackhawks
MIN vs. STL: St. Louis Blues
ANA vs. CGY: Anaheim Ducks
EDM vs. SJS: Edmonton Oilers
Stanley Cup Final:Blackhawks over Capitals
Conn Smythe Trophy:Patrick Kane, Blackhawks

Dave Stubbs, NHL.com Columnist

Round 1: Eastern Conference
WSH vs. TOR: Washington Capitals
PIT vs. CBJ: Pittsburgh Penguins
MTL vs. NYR: Montreal Canadiens
OTT vs. BOS: Ottawa Senators
Round 1: Western Conference
CHI vs. NSH: Chicago Blackhawks
MIN vs. STL: Minnesota Wild
ANA vs. CGY: Anaheim Ducks
EDM vs. SJS: Edmonton Oilers
Stanley Cup Final:Capitals over Blackhawks
Conn Smythe Trophy:Nicklas Backstrom, Capitals

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