Playoff hockey is in full swing today as 16 teams battle for Lord Stanley’s Cup. Will the Washington Capitals, hot off the heels of a dominant regular season, finally ascend to the top? Or will teams like the Dallas Stars or the New York Rangers find championship glory? Will the Cinderella-esque Philadelphia Flyers keep their hot streak going? WSN Sports presents its predictions.

Rachel Ruecker, Deputy Sports Editor

Although it pains me greatly that no Canadian teams are competing for the crown — while I find Montreal and Winnipeg to be the only suitable options after my Vancouver Canucks — I have to go with the hype and the team that makes the most compelling narrative: the Chicago Blackhawks. Teams like the Dallas Stars and Florida Panthers will make the conversation interesting. The Los Angeles Kings will hope to rebound from last year’s failure to make the postseason while Washington of course will be out to prove that they can deliver in the regular and postseason — something that haven’t tended to do in the past. But at the end of the day, the Blackhawks’ proven skill and tenacity in the postseason will be more than any team can handle. Pepper in Patrick Kane’s scoring title and Hart Trophy-worthy season, and the Hawks have repeat Champions written all over them. Hawks over Caps in six. 

Eli Edwards, Contributing Writer

The Kings have been gritty all year but have successfully managed to live up to their championship squad history. Dustin Brown, Drew Doughty and Jonathan Quick make up their winning cast and have successfully proven their potential throughout their careers. It will be a tough road with a few down to the wire series, but the Kings will be the 2016 Stanley Cup champions.

Bobby Wagner, Managing Editor

Looking up and down the lineup, it’s awfully hard to pick against the Blackhawks. They’re loaded with talent, and Patrick Kane has proven that he has the ability to singlehandedly sway the balance of a playoff series. However, having come off a long playoff run last year, I think fatigue will knock off some of their edge. The Kings, who missed the playoffs in 2015, are primed to make another championship run and I think the rest of the West knows it. As for the East, the Caps have shown all season that they deserve to be the favorite. However, a team that starts out hot and teeters at the end scares me almost as much as Washington’s faulty playoff history. I think the Caps are terrified of the Rangers or Penguins later in the playoffs. Whoever wins that series will come out of the East.

Abbey Wilson, Copy Chief
I predict that the Washington Capitals will win the Stanley Cup. I’m aware of the so-called President’s Trophy curse, but all that tells me is that the Caps are really good. The statistics back me up on this. Speaking of backing up, goalie Braden Holtby is on fire this season, tying legend Martin Brodeur for most wins in a single season. I also want the Caps to win for a more selfish reason: Alexander Ovechkin isn’t getting any younger and I would love to see him raise the Cup and solidify his place in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

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