2016 NHL Playoff Bracket: Who Will Win it All?

It’s that time of year again where the best teams in the NHL go head-to-head in the playoffs. Who will take home the Stanley Cup this year?

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NHL Playoff Bracket Who Will Win it All?

The NHL playoffs are upon us and it looks to be another wide open tournament with no true favorite. In the past few seasons we have seen some surprise teams make deep runs, including the Los Angeles Kings winning it all as an 8th seed in 2012. With that in mind, let’s take a look at this year’s playoff field and make some predictions.

In the Eastern Conference the Washington Capitals once again come in as the top seed They have been one of the best teams in the league all season long and should be considered a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. However, they have been known to struggle in the playoffs and will need to get past a tough first round matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs The Leafs are a young and talented team that is capable of giving anyone a run for their money. I think the Capitals will ultimately prevail, but it will not be easy.

In the Western Conference there is no clear-cut favorite. The Chicago Blackhawks are once again a top seed, but they have been inconsistent all season and are not nearly as dominant as they have been in years past. The Anaheim Ducks had a great regular season but they have struggled in recent years when it matters most. The Dallas Stars are my pick to come out of the West. They have one of the best offenses in hockey and should be able to outscore their way to victory in most games.

So there you have it, my 2016 NHL Playoff predictions. I think the Washington Capitals and Dallas Stars will meet in the Stanley Cup Finals, with the Stars coming out on top in seven games.

The Favorites

There are a few NHL Teams that always seem to find success in the playoffs. These teams have what it takes to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals and hoist the trophy at the end of the playoffs. This year, there are a few teams that stand out as the favorites to win it all.

The Chicago Blackhawks are one of the favorites every year. They have won three Stanley Cups in the last six years and have some of the best players in the league. They are a strong team from top to bottom and will be a tough out for any team they face in the playoffs.

The Los Angeles Kings are another team that is always near the top of the standings. They have won two Stanley Cups in the last four years and have a deep roster full of playoff experience. They will be a tough opponent for any team in this year’s playoffs.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are always considered a favorite when they make the playoffs. They have some of the best players in the league, including Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. They also have a deep roster with a lot of playoff experience. The Penguins will be a tough out for any team in this year’s playoffs.

The Washington Capitals are another team that is always near the top of the standings. They have won three Presidents’ Trophies (given to the team with the best regular season record) in the last six years but have not been able to find success in the playoffs. This year, they will be looking to change that and finally win a Stanley Cup

The Underdogs

The 2016 NHL playoffs are upon us, and this year’s field is wide open. There are several teams that have a legitimate chance to win it all, and it should be an exciting tournament. In this article, we’ll take a look at the underdogs of the 2016 NHL Playoffs

The first team we’ll look at is the Nashville Predators The Predators finished the Regular Season with 101 points, good for fifth in the Western Conference They’re led by defenseman Shea Weber, who is one of the best blueliners in the game. They also have goaltender Pekka Rinne, who is one of the best goalies in the NHL. The Predators have a real chance to make some noise in the playoffs.

Another team to keep an eye on is the Detroit Red Wings The Red Wings finished sixth in the conference with 100 points. They’re led by forward Henrik Zetterberg, who had 50 points in 82 games this season. They also have a good young goaltender in Jimmy Howard. The Red Wings are a dark horse team that could make a run at the Stanley Cup

The final team we’ll look at is the New York Islanders The Islanders finished seventh in the conference with 101 points. They’re led by John Tavares, who is one of the best players in the league. They also have a solid goaltender in Jaroslav Halak. The Islanders are a team that no one wants to play in the playoffs.

So, who will win it all? It’s tough to say, but don’t count out any of these underdogs. It should be a great tournament!

The Wildcards

The 2016 NHL playoffs are upon us, and there is no shortage of contenders for the Stanley Cup In the East, the Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers and Pittsburgh Penguins are all looking dangerous, while in the West the Dallas Stars, Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings are poised to make a run at the Cup. But what about the underdogs? Who are the wildcard Teams to Watch out for in this year’s playoffs?

In the East, the Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders are both dangerous teams that could make a run at the Cup. The Red Wings have been red-hot lately, winning their last six games, while the Islanders have shown they can hang with the best of them by taking two out of three from the Penguins in their most recent matchup. Keep an eye on these two teams in the 2016 NHL playoffs

In the West, there are three teams that could be considered dark horses: the St. Louis Blues Nashville Predators and Calgary Flames The Blues have been one of the hottest teams in hockey over the second half of the season, while Nashville has proved they can compete with anyone by beating Chicago twice in their last four meetings. And don’t sleep on Calgary: they may be a lower seed, but they’ve got plenty of firepower up front and could make Things Interesting in the Western Conference playoffs.

The Sleepers

As we enter the 2016 NHL playoffs there are a few teams that have flown under the radar but could make some noise in the postseason. These are our sleepers to watch out for in the 2016 playoffs.

The Anaheim Ducks finished the regular season with the best record in the Western Conference but they haven’t gotten a lot of love from the pundits. The Ducks have a deep and talented roster, and they should be able to make a deep run in the playoffs.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are another team that could surprise some people in the playoffs. The Lightning had a bit of a down year in 2015-16, but they’re still a dangerous team with plenty of offensive firepower.

The Dallas Stars are another team to keep an eye on in the West. The Stars struggled down the stretch, but they have a lot of talent and could be a tough out in the playoffs.

The Longshots

In the 2016 NHL playoffs there are a few teams that could be considered longshots. These are the teams that may not have the best record, but have what it takes to make a deep run in the playoffs.

The Longshots:
-Anaheim Ducks
-Dallas Stars
-Florida Panthers
-Minnesota Wild

The Dark Horses

The 2016 NHL playoffs are just around the corner, and there are a lot of strong teams vying for the Stanley Cup But which team is the dark horse that could surprise everyone and take home the trophy?

There are a few contenders for the title of dark horse in this year’s playoffs. The Nashville Predators are a team that has been flying under the radar for most of the season, but they have the potential to make a deep run in the playoffs. Another team to watch out for is the Detroit Red Wings who have experienced a resurgence in recent years and could be a force to be reckoned with in the postseason.

No matter who you’re rooting for, it’s shaping up to be an exciting playoff season So buckle up and get ready for some thrilling hockey action!

The X-Factors

The Stanley Cup playoffs are here, and it’s anyone’s guess who will take home the title this year. But there are a few teams that seem to have a better shot than others. Here are the x-factors that could make or break each team’s chances:

The Washington Capitals have been near the top of the NHL Standings all season long, and they have one of the best players in the world in Alex Ovechkin. But they’ve also been inconsistent at times, and they’ll need to be at their best if they want to win it all.

The Chicago Blackhawks are a perennial playoff team, but they’re also getting up there in age. They’ll need to rely on their experienced core players to lead the way if they want to hoist the Cup again.

The Los Angeles Kings have been one of the best teams in the Western Conference for years now, but they’ve never quite been able to get over the hump and win it all. This could be their year, but they’ll need goalie Jonathan Quick to be at his best if they want to make a deep run.

The Pittsburgh Penguins always seem to find a way to be in contention, thanks in large part to superstar Sidney Crosby But they’ve been dealt a few injuries this season, and it remains to be seen if they have enough depth to make a run at the title.

The Dallas Stars appear primed for a deep playoff run, but they’ll need goalie Kari Lehtonen to step up his game if they want to make it all the way. Lehtonen has struggled at times this season, but he’s also shown glimpses of brilliance. If he can put it all together for the playoffs, the Stars could be tough to beat.

The Intangibles

Who will hoist the Stanley Cup this year? It’s a question that’s on the minds of hockey fans everywhere as the postseason gets underway. There are a lot of teams with a legitimate shot at winning it all, but there are also a lot of factors that can’t be measured by statistics. Here are some of the intangibles that could make all the difference in who comes out on top.

-Team chemistry: A close-knit group of players can be a major asset come playoff time. They’ll be more likely to make sacrifices for each other and they’ll have an extra level of motivation to win it all for their teammates.
-Experience: Winning a championship is tough, and it’s even tougher if you’ve never done it before. Players who have been through the playoffs before know what it takes to win, and that could give them an advantage over teams with less postseason experience.
-Coaching: A Good Coach can be worth his weight in gold come playoff time. A coach who knows how to motivate his players and put them in position to succeed can make all the difference in a tight series.
-Intangibles: Sometimes it just comes down to things like luck and timing. A team might get hot at the right time or they might benefit from having an easy matchups early on. Either way, these things can make a big difference in who ends up winning it all.

The Bottom Line

The NHL playoffs are finally here, and the bracket is set. After a long Regular Season the 16 best teams in the league have been seeded and are ready to battle it out for the ultimate prize: the Stanley Cup

There are a few things to keep in mind when making your predictions. First, home ice advantage is huge in the playoffs. Second, experience matters – teams with deep playoff runs in recent years tend to do well. Third, goaltending is critical – a hot goalie can carry a team far.

With that said, here’s a look at the bracket and some predictions for who will win it all.

Eastern Conference

(1) Washington Capitals vs. (WC2) Philadelphia Flyers
The Capitals are the clear favorites here. They had an incredible regular season racking up 120 points, and they have home ice advantage. They also have plenty of experience – this is their third straight year in the playoffs. However, they will be without star forward Nicklas Backstrom, who is injured. The Flyers are a solid team, but they’re not on Washington’s level. Prediction: Capitals in 5 games.

(2) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (3) Detroit Red Wings
This is a tough one to call – both teams are strong and experienced. The Lightning have home ice advantage and they’re coming off a great regular season but the Red Wings have been here before and they have goalie Jimmy Howard playing at an elite level right now. This could go either way, but I’m going with Tampa Bay to take it in 7 games.