2025 playoff predictions
HodgePodge by Charlie Hodge
Put on your helmet it’s time to get serious about hockey.
Yup it’s the start of Silly Season (late April) and likely trying to rain as you read this. If there isn’t an NHL playoff hockey game on the tube then there’s probably a baseball one on. Turn off the baseball.
Traditionally, the silly season also means it’s time to present my ridiculous HodgePodge NHL predictions – which you get to make fun of.
It’s a simple ‘fun with fridge magnets’ game. Simply cut out these predictions, clip them to your beer fridge and then chuckle as my predictions crumble. The following predictions were boldly scribed Saturday morning (to meet the Capital News deadline). I’ve not changed any predictions so I’m probably already looking embarrassingly wrong – but here goes.
As always, injuries and goaltending will be key factors in who celebrates with cheers or mourn in tears when the games are finished.
Here’s the big picture:
Eastern Division:
Toronto-Ottawa – Toronto in seven
Tampa Bay – Florida – Florida in seven
Carolina – New Jersey – Carolina in five
Washington – Montreal – Montreal in seven
In Eastern semi finals Toronto beats Florida in six while Carolina thumps Montreal in five.
Toronto then takes the Eastern Division title beating Carolina in five.
Western Division:
Winnipeg – St. Louis – Winnipeg in seven
Dallas – Colorado – Colorado in six
Vegas – Minnesota – Vegas in five
LA – Edmonton – Edmonton in seven
In the Western semi finals Winnipeg defeats Colorado in six, while Edmonton edges Vegas in six
In the Western final Winnipeg beats Edmonton in seven games
Winnipeg face Toronto in the Stanley Cup final with the Toronto Maple Leafs prevailing in seven games. Nylander or Tavares score the winning goal of the game.
Just for fun here is an expanded brief glimpse of the first round.
Toronto Maple Leafs versus Ottawa Senators. This will be a total edge of your seat, rough and tumble series that will go six games or perhaps seven games. These two teams do not like each other, and the intensity of their meeting in the playoffs will only add to the agitation. For the Leafs to advance to the second round they will need their top guns gunning including Auston Mathews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares. In addition, the Leafs will need to count on their goaltending (Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll) to be solid and consistent. Ottawa will be leaning on Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, grinder Claude Giroux and sensational goalie Linus Ulmark if they hope to defeat the Leafs.
Edmonton Oilers versus Los Angeles Kings. The Oilers are under pressure to take home the cup from a lot of pundits and fans, however unless they remain injury free and play tremendous hockey at all positions they may have a tough time getting that glory. In fact they may have a hard time getting pass the Kings.
The latter have been on a roll the past six weeks receiving point production above expectation from a number of players. If star Anze Kopitar and veteran star defenceman Drew Doughty (just recently back from season long injury) can provide leadership and Quinton Byfield, Adrian Kempe Kevin Fiala and goalie Darcy Kuemper can continue to shine then the Kings could upset the Oil.
Connor McDavid is an absolute stud of a player and former Kelowna Rocket Leon Draisaitl the same. They must be on their game every night if the Oil want full success. Certainly, Zach Hyman and defenceman Evan Bouchard are also star players that need to show up. The Oilers must hope that they avoid any further injuries. Their biggest soft spot is goaltending which is weak in the best of terms. Management may pay the price in the summer if the Oil fail as it is that goaltending position which may prove their number one failure.
Tampa Bay Lightning versus Florida Panthers. These are two of top four teams in the playoffs and it’s a shame they must face each other in the first round. Both deserve a chance to play a minimum of two rounds. Both have superstar netminders and a solid lineup.
On paper Tampa is probably more impressive, however on the ice Florida has shone slightly brighter this season. I’m predicting Florida in seven if they can avoid major injuries. Goalie Andrei Vasilevsky, superstar Nikita Kucherov and defenceman Victor Hedman lead the star-studded Tampa cast which includes Brandon Hagel, Brayden Point and Jake Guentzel.
Dallas Stars versus Colorado Avalanche. Dallas is in trouble with too many key injuries late in the season and players still trying to mend. Dallas has been slumping the past month and Colorado has got hot again.
The Carolina Hurricane – New Jersey Devils match-up is the least interesting to me, with neither team capturing my imagination. Carolina star Sebastian Aho will prove to be the difference against the Devils whose star player Hughes is out for the playoffs.
Vegas Golden Knights have Jack Eichel in their lineup, and he’s been waiting a few years to have the right stage to strut his stuff. Eichel is a force to be reckoned with and now is that time.
Who better than the Montreal Canadians to pull off a hockey miracle. The team with a history of glory will pull off the upset of the playoffs dumping the highly favoured Washington Capitals in six or maybe seven games. Watch for their 18-year-old Russian rookie Ivan Demidov to turn the hockey world on his head during his first month in North America. This will be the playoff story for 2025.
There you go fans – cut this out and pin it to your fridge. (No running with the scissors)!
