Playoff Predictions as a Leaf fan

Team: 2023-24 Custom Team

Initial Creation Date: Apr. 17, 2024

Published: Apr. 18, 2024

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Round 1

New York Rangers vs Washington Capitals: NYR in 4
This will probably be the most boring series, the Capitals do not deserve to be here and I could see this going 5 but I settled on a sweep.

Carolina Hurricanes vs New York Islanders: CAR in 7
The Islanders are the hottest team coming into playoffs, have a top 3 goalie tandem and not much else going for them. So while I do see it going 7, I don't see Carolina losing.

Florida vs Tampa Bay: FLA in 6
Rematch from a few years ago but Florida is a brand new team but Tampa isn't going to make it easy on them.

Boston vs Toronto: BOS in 7
I want to say the Leafs so so bad but these last 4 games aren't helping. I think it will be the best series maybe of the entire playoffs. Leafs offence will keep them in the series but in the end I think Bruins will be to much for the Leafs. The core needs to step up, Matthews needs to take over a series like Drai and that is how the Leafs COULD win this series but I haven't seen that from him yet.

Dallas Stars vs Los Angeles Kings: DAL in 5
Kings just do not match up well with Stars, they just won't be able to contain them, LA needed a goalie they didn't do that and Otter is going to be huge for the stars.

Winnipeg Jets vs Colorado Avalanche: WPG in 7
Obviously Jets don't have the star power of the Avalanche. This will be an insane series, Winnipeg has #1 defence, #15 offence. And the Avalanche have #2 offence, #16 defence. So it is insanely close but the difference is Hellebuyck and I think he'll give the Jets an edge.

Vancouver Canucks vs Nashville Predators: VAN in 6
Over their hot stretch, I thought that the preds looked like a team that could just go on a run but they've cooled off and the Canucks are too good to lose this series.

Edmonton Oilers vs Vegas Golden Knights: EDM in 6
Rematch of last year and it is going to be a good one. This time it's going the other way and Oilers are going to be one of three Canadian teams advancing. All of those moves just to play the best player to ever lace em up and Draisaitl who always steps up come playoff time. My only concern is Skinner, you need Skinner to be at the top of his game against a pretty loaded Vegas squad.

Round 2

New York Rangers vs Carolina Hurricanes: CAR in 6
Should be a fun one, both teams top 10 defensively and offensively. Freddy Andersen has been on absolute fire and they have such a good lineup top to bottom. Panarin is a game changer, he is the best player in this series and he needs to play like it but if we see the Panarin from last year playoffs then yeah Canes for sure.

Florida Panthers vs Boston Bruins: FLA in 5
I don't like the Bruins this year and I don't think they'll cause any problems for Florida. They'll beat the Leafs but that's about it.

Dallas Stars vs Winnipeg Jets: DAL in 6
Otter needs to play at a similar level to Hellebuyck or I could see this going either way but if he is like even 80% of Hellebuyck then Stars are going to win.

Vancouver Canucks vs Edmonton Oilers: VAN in 7
Canucks have just shown so much dominance against the Oilers. McDavid and Drai are going to make this a fun series but I got the Canucks this time.

Round 3

Carolina Hurricanes vs Florida Panthers: FLA in 6
Panthers are just too much, they are assholes and that is what the playoffs are all about and like last year the Panthers get the better of them.

Dallas Stars vs Vancouver Canucks: DAL in 5
Stars have been here before multiple times and the Canucks on the other hand haven't hardly sniffed the conference finals.

Finals

Dallas Stars vs Florida Panthers: DAL in 6
The Panthers will make this series absolute hell for the Stars but once again they'll lose in the finals. It would be a series that would change in one bounce. I think once again Otter has to be the goalie that we know he can be.

Overall this playoffs are going to be really fun to watch.