Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round Series Winner Predictions

Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round Series Winner Predictions

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are here, and hockey fans are in for a treat. A total of 16 teams have their eyes on hoisting the Stanley Cup, but first, they must advance past the first round. Each first-round matchup presents plenty of intriguing storylines to follow. 

In addition, each matchup brings a great opportunity to find value on the betting market. With that in mind, here are three first-round series winner predictions to consider placing before the action gets started on Saturday.

Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round Predictions

Pick #1: Colorado Avalanche -1.5 games over Los Angeles Kings (-170)

Pick #2: Minnesota Wild over Dallas Stars (+100)

Pick #3: Carolina Hurricanes over Ottawa Senators (-170)

Stanley Cup First Round Best Bet: Avalanche -1.5 games over Kings (-170)

There is no more lopsided first-round matchup than the one between the Colorado Avalanche and the Los Angeles Kings. Colorado paced the NHL with 121 points on the season, while Los Angeles squeaked into the postseason with 90 points. Furthermore, the Kings posted just 22 regulation wins throughout the course of the regular season, which is almost unheard of for a playoff team. 

No matter where you look on each team’s respective lines, Colorado has the advantage. Colorado’s offensive core is deeper, their D-core is more elite, and their goaltending is more reliable. The Kings have some solid pieces in place, but they simply don’t match up well against this Colorado team that has been dominating the league from start to finish this season.

The Avalanche easily swept the season series between these teams, winning by scores of 4-2, 5-2, and 4-1. As long as they don’t take their foot off the gas, the Avs should win this series by multiple games with relative ease.

Stanley Cup First Round Prediction: Minnesota Wild over Dallas Stars (+100)

Perhaps the most evenly-matched and intriguing matchup of the first round features the Dallas Stars going up against the Minnesota Wild. The Stars have home ice advantage, which could bode well, but the injury to superstar defenseman Miro Heiskanen is hard to ignore. 

Heiskanen put forth a spectacular regular season in which he collected 63 points on seven goals and 54 assists. He also posted a rating of +9 and led the team with 25:28 minutes of ice time per game. Needless to say, his absence would be a big one. He is officially listed as questionable, but even if he plays, there are doubts about him being 100%. That could put Dallas’ D-core behind the 8-ball when going up against Quinn Hughes and Brock Faber. 

The Wild went out and got Hughes for moments like this, and I expect Minnesota to get it done in a series that could very well go all seven games.

Stanley Cup First Round Pick: Carolina Hurricanes over Ottawa Senators (-170)

The road to the Stanley Cup in the Eastern Conference could very well have to go through Carolina. For the past two seasons, it has gone through the Florida Panthers, but they are not in this year’s playoff field and nobody is happier about it than Rod Brind’Amour and the Hurricanes.

Carolina possesses an excellent blend of scoring depth and stout defensive play. They trailed only the Avalanche in goals per game this season with 3.55, and held their opponents to a league-best 23.9 shots on goal per game. The Senators like to use their physicality, but Carolina has no problem with that. Look for Ottawa’s go-to game plan to be neutralized by Carolina’s strong forechecking and defensive structure. The Hurricanes also have a significant advantage in this series when it comes to playoff experience. This is Carolina’s eighth straight season making the postseason, and the main core of players have been along for the ride. 

The Senators were among the worst teams in the NHL for the first half of the season before they caught fire en route to a postseason appearance. However, they also have the Detroit Red Wings to thank for orchestrating a historic collapse. Overall, the Hurricanes are the more reliable team in this matchup.