After one of the strangest starts to the season in recent years, the NHL (and NHL betting) is finally back in full swing. So is the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 24 teams who made up the original post-season have been narrowed down to a total of 16. After the elimination qualifying round and a round-robin knocked out the Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets.
The first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs officially kicks off August 11th and we’re now well into the four-round journey to the iconic Stanley Cup. All of this season’s games are being played in two Canadian hub cities – Eastern Conference games in Toronto and Western Conference games in Edmonton – and we’re all set for some dramatic upsets, comebacks, star making performances, and memorable playoff moments.
With the Stanley Cup Final all set for late September, where are your favourites going to end up? Can the Tampa Bay Lightning overpower the Columbus Blue Jackets? Will 2020 be the year for the Colorado Avalanche, or will we see a repeat from the St. Louis Blues? Read on for our definitive guide to this year’s Stanley Cup and Conference picks.
A quick note on sports betting
Before we get on with our selections, here’s a quick reminder of our How-To Guide for NHL betting. The guide covers the different types of bets that you can place on Stanley Cup playoffs games, including puck lines and money lines.
It’s now been just over 2 years since sports betting was fully legalized in the States, and online sports betting has become a core part of the iGaming industry in the country, which also encompasses online casino table games like blackjack, as well as poker. Not every state has legalized online sports betting platforms, but Colorado, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Nevada are among the 12 that have. If you are going to place your bets online for this year’s Cup remember to only do so via a fully-regulated platform that has a licence to operate in your state.
2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Eastern Conference Picks
First Round
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Montreal Canadiens– Winner: Flyers
The Canadiens may be counting on ice legend Carey Price to get them through the first round, but the Flyers are frankly looking unbeatable right now.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Tampa Bay Lightning – Winner: Blue Jackets
With the combination of Zach Werenski, Seth Jones and Joonas Korpisalo back in goal after a sensational All-Star season in 2019, the Blue Jackets look well placed to advance over Tampa Bay to win their first round clash.
New York Islanders vs. Washington Capitals – Winner: Islanders
If there’s one thing Barry Trotz knows what to do it’s to dominate the Capitals, especially now that his former protégé Todd Reirden is in the Caps’ head coach spot.
Boston Bruins vs. Carolina Hurricanes – Winner: Hurricanes
While they may not be the most popular team in the league, there’s no doubt that the Hurricanes know how to play a solid game of hockey, especially against the depleted Bruins.
Second Round
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Philadelphia Flyers – Winner: Flyers
Make no mistake, the Flyers haven’t forgotten that they were the hottest team going in to the season earlier in the year and they are dead set on making Stanley Cup history in 2020.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Islanders – Winner: Islanders
Sebastian Aho, Teuvo Teravainen and Andrei Svechnikov may be the Hurricanes’ power trio, but rest assured Trotz will have a strong game plan that will ensure the Islanders emerge as the victors.
Conference Finals
New York Islanders vs. Philadelphia Flyers – Winner: Flyers
The current Philadelphia squad is one of the deepest, what with their balanced scoring and top shutdown centre, Sean Couturier. Although the Islanders will make short work during the conference playoffs, in the finals they’ll lack the secondary scoring needed to get the edge over the Flyers.
Western Conference
First Round
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Vegas Golden Knights – Winner: Golden Knights
Scoring? Check. Goaltending? Check. Defence? Check. The Knights are one of the best all-round teams this season; this first round meet should be an easy win.
Arizona Coyotes vs. Colorado Avalanche – Winner: Avalanche
With a now healthy squad, the firepower of the Avalanche will prove too much for the Coyotes to handle.
Calgary Flames vs. Dallas Stars – Winner: Flames
The Stars haven’t been looking great at all, and with Cam Talbot getting those saves in for the Flames they’re on their way to a standout performance.
St. Louis Blues vs. Vancouver Canucks – Winner: Canucks
This meet is sure to be a heavy one, but the Canucks will be able to grind through and take on all that St. Louis have to throw at them, thanks to the resurgent Brock Boeser and Jacob Markstrom.
Second Round
Calgary Flames vs. Vegas Golden Knights – Winner: Golden Knights
Much like the Flyers, the Knights are looking unstoppable right now, especially with Robin Lehner and Marc-Andre Fleury onboard.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Vancouver Canucks – Winner: Canucks
Here’s one of those Playoffs moments we’ll be reminiscing about for many seasons to come. It’ll be another grind for the Canucks, but this time it’s all skill against skill. We’ve already seen them pull it off during the regular season, and the Vezina Trophy Conference thanks to that memorable performance from Markstrom, so they’ve certainly got the firepower to pull off another victory.
Conference Finals
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Vancouver Canucks – Winner: Golden Knights
Having said that, the Knights are just unstoppable in the Western Conference. Despite their best efforts, after two grueling rounds the Canucks are unlikely to be able to pull off a third.
Stanley Cup Final
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Vegas Golden Knights – Winner: Flyers
It’ll be all-out warfare between these two teams, as one attempts to defend their first ever Stanley Cup title after winning in 2019 and the other will be attempting to end a 45-year drought. However, Alain Vigneault is dead set on executing his best game plan yet, and with Carter Hart all set to be the next Conn Smythe Trophy winner, our money’s on the Flyers to make history in 2020.
