NHL Playoffs... Who's Watching and Who You Got?

[metalheadycigarguy]

The 2025 NHL Playoffs are under way, and as always it should be another 7-8 weeks of great hockey followed by the crowing of Lord Stanley's Cup. As a huge sports fan playoff hockey is awesome to watch, and there is nothing better than game 7's, especially in the Finals. As a long time Colorado Avalanche fan, I'm hoping the Avs can repeat the magic of the 2022 season. Who else is watching and who you rooting for?


As for the Playoff Bracket, I see it playing out like so...

1st Round:
Winnipeg Jets over St. Louis Blues (4-2)
Colorado Avalanche over Dallas Stars (4-2)
Las Vegas Golden Knights over Minnesota Wild (4-2)
Edmonton Oilers over Los Angeles Kings (4-3)

Toronto Maple Leafs over Ottawa Senators (4-3)
Tampa Bay Lightning over Florida Panthers (4-3)
Washington Capitals over Montreal Canadians (4-2)
Carolina Hurricanes over New Jersey Devils (4-3)

2nd Round:
Colorado Avalanche over Winnipeg Jets (4-3)
Las Vegas Golden Knights over Edmonton Oilers (4-2)

Tampa Bay Lightning over Toronto Maple Leafs (4-2)
Washington Capitals over Carolina Hurricanes (4-2)

Conference Finals:
Colorado Avalanche over Las Vegas Golden Knights (4-3)
Washington Capitals over Tampa Bay Lightning (4-3)

Stanley Cup Finals:
Colorado Avalanche over Washington Capitals (4-3)


GO AVS!!!

 

[andrew]

Winnipeg jets.

 

[AcesAndEights]

Go Knicks!

 

[Servant King]

Lifelong Kings fan here...and sorry @metalheadycigarguy but I still hate Patrick Roy, even after all these years... ...but no lingering hatred of the Avs, or indeed any non-Canadian team.

I'm hoping my boys can use this gift of home ice advantage (only their 4th such instance in the last 30 years) to finally defeat the Oilers, a task they haven't accomplished since the USSR still existed. Fun fact: in addition to eliminating the Kings the last three straight years, they also gave them the same three-year treatment from '90 to '92. Here's to hoping they can stay strong defensively, and who knows, maybe even score a goal or two. Oh, and....STAY OUT OF THE PENALTY BOX for cryin' out loud!!

I'm going to refrain from setting myself up for the ignominy of bracket prognostication failure, but I will say that I see @ssjones celebrating a Stanley Cup victory in his new digs, at the expense of the nearby Dallas Stars. I don't see my Kings making it past the second round, something they've only done four times in franchise history. Which is just as well, because the period of time between 2012 and 2014 must have caused the emergence of at least two-thirds of the grey hairs I currently sport.

Regardless of what happens, I love the Kings' move to go back to the Gretzky-era jerseys. I feel like a kid again! Well, except for the extended line brawls and the fact that you could score eight goals in a game and still lose!

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

Lifelong Kings fan here...and sorry @metalheadycigarguy but I still hate Patrick Roy, even after all these years... ...but no lingering hatred of the Avs, or indeed any non-Canadian team.

I'm hoping my boys can use this gift of home ice advantage (only their 4th such instance in the last 30 years) to finally defeat the Oilers, a task they haven't accomplished since the USSR still existed. Fun fact: in addition to eliminating the Kings the last three straight years, they also gave them the same three-year treatment from '90 to '92. Here's to hoping they can stay strong defensively, and who knows, maybe even score a goal or two. Oh, and....STAY OUT OF THE PENALTY BOX for cryin' out loud!!

I'm going to refrain from setting myself up for the ignominy of bracket prognostication failure, but I will say that I see @ssjones celebrating a Stanley Cup victory in his new digs, at the expense of the nearby Dallas Stars. I don't see my Kings making it past the second round, something they've only done four times in franchise history. Which is just as well, because the period of time between 2012 and 2014 must have caused the emergence of at least two-thirds of the grey hairs I currently sport.

Regardless of what happens, I love the Kings' move to go back to the Gretzky-era jerseys. I feel like a kid again! Well, except for the extended line brawls and the fact that you could score eight goals in a game and still lose!

Before 1994, I was a casual hockey fan with no real team. I would usually pull for the Kings or the Canucks as they were the two closest teams to me at the time, but had no real fandom for either. Living near Portland, OR we would go watch the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL, and one of my favorite players was Adam Deadmarsh. You know who I'm talking about. When he got drafted by Quebec Nordiques I became a Nordiques fan for about 5 minutes until the franchise moved to Colorado and became the Avs. That's how I became an Avs fan.

I was really sadden by Deadmarsh being traded to the Kings, but I still rooted for him even though he was no longer an Av. It was unfortunate his career was cut short. He was a key part of the Avs 1996 Stanley Cup Championship, and was a big contributor during the 2001 Stanley Cup season before being traded. Of course he played a big role for the Kings during their 2001 playoff run, but I felt really bad for him that his former team won the Championship without him. I'm sure he got a ring for his early season efforts, though his name would not be placed on the Stanley Cup for a second time. Funny thing, he's the first person in NHL history to have his name mis-spelled on the Stanley Cup and later changed and corrected. He's still my all-time favorite player. The jersey I'm wearing in the picture above is a Deadmarsh jersey.

Good luck to your Kings. Their series with Edmonton should be a good one to watch.

 

[Duane Cartmill]

Go! Leafs! Go!

 

[Servant King]

Before 1994, I was a casual hockey fan with no real team. I would usually pull for the Kings or the Canucks as they were the two closest teams to me at the time, but had no real fandom for either. Living near Portland, OR we would go watch the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL, and one of my favorite players was Adam Deadmarsh. You know who I'm talking about. When he got drafted by Quebec Nordiques I became a Nordiques fan for about 5 minutes until the franchise moved to Colorado and became the Avs. That's how I became an Avs fan.

I was really sadden by Deadmarsh being traded to the Kings, but I still rooted for him even though he was no longer an Av. It was unfortunate his career was cut short. He was a key part of the Avs 1996 Stanley Cup Championship, and was a big contributor during the 2001 Stanley Cup season before being traded. Of course he played a big role for the Kings during their 2001 playoff run, but I felt really bad for him that his former team won the Championship without him. I'm sure he got a ring for his early season efforts, though his name would not be placed on the Stanley Cup for a second time. Funny thing, he's the first person in NHL history to have his name mis-spelled on the Stanley Cup and later changed and corrected. He's still my all-time favorite player. The jersey I'm wearing in the picture above is a Deadmarsh jersey.

Good luck to your Kings. Their series with Edmonton should be a good one to watch.

Gettin' all nostalgic over here...someone get me a tissue!

I'll never forget that trade. Rob Blake was their stalwart D-man, but the lesser known element of that trade, Aaron Miller, filled his skates quite nicely. I'll never forget what 'Marsh did for them against the Wings. He was never the same after getting concussed by Jovanovski in the '96 Finals. He almost won the cup in 2OT, rang a redirection off Vanbiesbrouck's crossbar before Krupp won it with that seeing-eye point shot in 3OT.

Good luck to your Avs as well. Looks like they got off to a fine start. Speaking of concussions, my Kings will need to bring some thicker helmets, lest Nurse send them all to the DL before the puck even drops in Game 1...

 

[Dave760]

My predictions: Edmonton wins the cup. And despite Boston not being in the playoffs, the Leafs find the most painful way to lose leaving poor Steve Daniels miserable once again.

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

Gettin' all nostalgic over here...someone get me a tissue!

I'll never forget that trade. Rob Blake was their stalwart D-man, but the lesser known element of that trade, Aaron Miller, filled his skates quite nicely. I'll never forget what 'Marsh did for them against the Wings. He was never the same after getting concussed by Jovanovski in the '96 Finals. He almost won the cup in 2OT, rang a redirection off Vanbiesbrouck's crossbar before Krupp won it with that seeing-eye point shot in 3OT.

Good luck to your Avs as well. Looks like they got off to a fine start. Speaking of concussions, my Kings will need to bring some thicker helmets, lest Nurse send them all to the DL before the puck even drops in Game 1...

You sir are definitely a hockey fan. That's some knowledge right there. I remember Deadmarsh having been concussed a few times, but I couldn't tell you when or by even who. That's some hockey knowledge right there. You would think I would remember that being a Avs and Deadmarsh fan, but I didn't. LOL

Now when it comes to my New York Mets and Seattle Seahawks, I have plenty of dumb stats, and player info tuck away in my brain that is taking up space that could be used for more important knowledge, but what's the fun in that!

 

[rsshreck32]

Nothing beats playoff hockey! My Pens are on a slide, I would love to see Carolina get a Cup. I'm most concerned with extending the Canadian drought I can't wait to see how the Leafs blow it this year!

 

[troutface]

Not watching because I don't have cable, but go Avs ! My friend's boss has club level seats at the Pepsi Center, so hoping he can't make one of the games because my friend and I will gladly fill those seats.

 

[ashdigger]

This is easy

 

[Kobold]

Caps!

 

[prairiedruid]

Well my Wild are finally healthy, at least until Kaprizov trips getting off the bus and breaks both legs.

 

[chilllucky]

I don't think they're going to pull off an upset, but I'm rooting for my Blues anyways.

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

I don't think they're going to pull off an upset, but I'm rooting for my Blues anyways.

They played a heck of a game 1. The Jets were lucky to survive that game.

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

This is easy

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For an "Expansion Team" they sure don't play like it, and have been a tough team to beat every year. I hate it when the Avs play the Knights. Always a tough game. If my prediction works out, and it's the Avs vs. Knights in the Conference Finals, it's going to be a heck of a series.

 

[chilllucky]

They played [two thirds of] a heck of a game 1. The Jets were lucky to survive that game until they completely took over.

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

Well, they played a really tough two periods, but yes, the Jets did get the better of them down the stretch in the 3rd period, but the Blues had some good moments. They'll play tough and should make it an interesting series.

 

[Servant King]

Watching old clips of NHL fights from the 90s on YouTube right now. Probert vs. McSorley in '94...unbelievable.