The 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs are here.

After the long grind of an 82-game regular season, there are 16 teams left standing. The march for Lord Stanley’s Cup begins this weekend with eight terrific matchups.

The Washington Capitals, led by Alex Ovechkin’s record-breaking season, were the first team to clinch a playoff berth back on March 20. The Montreal Canadiens secured the final playoff spot on April 16.

In this article, we’ll be taking a look at each series in Round 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs and giving our predictions. Of course, given the nature of the sport, anything can happen on the ice — especially in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Here are our Round 1 predictions for the 2025 NHL Playoffs:

Western Conference Round 1 Predictions

Winnipeg Jets vs. St. Louis Blues Prediction

The Presidents’ Trophy-winning Winnipeg Jets are looking to finally make it past Round 1 of the playoffs. They’ve lost in the first round in each of the last two seasons, with just one win in each series. However, this year might be different.

Connor Hellebuyck is not only the runaway favorite for the Vezina Trophy but also a favorite for the Hart Trophy. Winnipeg’s top line has been great, and its blue line has been solid as well.

The Blues made a terrific push in the second half of the season to secure a playoff spot. They’ve gone 34-18-7 under Jim Montgomery after letting Drew Bannister go. However, the Jets won three of the four regular-season meetings, and that usually bodes well for playoff success. Furthermore, the Blues limped into the playoffs with losses in three of their last four games — including a 3-1 loss getting outshot 26-15 in Winnipeg — after a 12-game winning streak.

Prediction: Jets in 5

Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche Prediction

This is a Round 1 series, but it might determine who wins the whole Western Conference. The Stars had the fifth-most points in the entire league while the Avalanche had the eighth-most, and yet, due to the nature of the NHL’s playoff setup, they’re facing off in the first round.

The Stars have home-ice advantage but are also limping into the playoffs with seven straight losses. It doesn’t help that top defenseman Miro Heiskanen has been out for a while and is expected to miss at least the first few games of the playoffs, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Heiskanen missed the entire first round. Dallas’ forward depth is strong after adding former Avalanche winger Mikko Rantanen, but I’m not sure if they can flip the switch on after struggling to end the season, especially with Jason Robertson injured now as well.

Meanwhile, the Avalanche are healthy and have looked like a different team since making some key in-season trades. Mackenzie Blackwood has been terrific in net. Trading Mikko Rantanen for Martin Necas (and other pieces) has paid off well on the top line. Adding veteran centers Brock Nelson and Charlie Coyle, and other depth pieces, at the trade deadline solidified the Avalanche as a true contender.

The Avs won two of three meetings this season, including their only matchup after the trade deadline.

Prediction: Avalanche in 6

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Minnesota Wild Prediction

The Vegas Golden Knights are once again entering the playoffs as a formidable squad. They won the Pacific Division with the third-most points in the league and have a relatively easy matchup in the first round.

Sure, the returns of Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek should boost the Wild, and adding Zeev Buium certainly won’t hurt, but the depth might not be there this year for Minnesota to keep up with Vegas. Filip Gustavsson has been great when healthy, but he allowed four goals in his lone start against Vegas this year.

Jack Eichel leads the Knights into the playoffs with a healthy squad for Vegas. The Knights took down the Wild 5-1 in Minnesota on March 25 to sweep the season series. This series may not be a sweep, but the Wild don’t stand much of a chance.

Prediction: Golden Knights in 5

Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers Prediction

Is this the year that the Kings can take down the Oilers in the playoffs? It just might be.

The Kings lost to the Oilers in seven games in 2022, in six games in 2023, and in five games last year. If the trend continues, we could be in for an Oilers sweep. But trends don’t exactly mean much.

The Oilers have been beat up all season long, and although Connor McDavid returned to reach 100 points in just 67 games, he can’t be 100%. Neither can Leon Draisaitl, who’s missed the last handful of games for the Oilers. We know Draisaitl can turn it on in the playoffs, though, as he was in a similar position last year. However, the injury to top defenseman Mattias Ekholm might be the dagger for Edmonton. He’s the anchor on the Oilers’ blue line, and the Kings might be able to exploit that.

The Kings have bridged the gap well between veterans Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty to youngsters led by Quinton Byfield. Add in another shutdown center in Phillip Danault and defensive depth, and the top-heavy Oilers might get toppled in the first round.

Los Angeles won three of four against Edmonton this season, including the last two by a combined 8-0 score. Now, those two games didn’t mean much for either side, and the Oilers sat some players, but the Kings come into the playoffs red hot. They finished the season 17-5-0 since the trade deadline.

Prediction: Kings in 7

Eastern Conference Round 1 Predictions

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators Prediction

The Toronto Maple Leafs had a great regular season to win the Atlantic Division for the first time since its creation (they did win the North Division in the shortened 2020-21 season), and their reward is a matchup against an Ottawa Senators squad that has played them tough in recent years.

The Senators won all three matchups this season and are 5-0 against the Leafs since December 27, 2023. The Sens have outscored the Leafs 18-8 in that span despite being underdogs in every single game.

The offseason addition of Linus Ullmark transformed Ottawa’s goalie situation, and the Sens also added Dylan Cozens at the trade deadline. The Leafs made a few additions of their own, but it might not be enough to get it done this year.

The Battle of Ontario is going to be a great series that could really go either way.

Prediction: Senators in 7

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers Prediction

We have another regional matchup with the Battle of Florida in the other Atlantic Division series in the first round. The rivalry between the Lightning and Panthers has ramped up in recent years, with the Cats overtaking the Bolts last season.

The teams split their four-game series this season, with each team winning once on the road and once at home. They also met in Round 1 last year, with the Panthers taking down the Lightning in just five games.

The Cats come into this series a bit shorthanded as Aaron Ekblad is serving the final games of his suspension, and Matthew Tkachuk has missed a good chunk of time with a groin injury. On the flip side, the Lightning have looked like one of the best teams in hockey in the second half of the season and are ramping up at the right time.

Prediction: Lightning in 7

Washington Capitals vs. Montreal Canadiens Prediction

The Montreal Canadiens turned things around this season to make the playoffs for the first time since 2021. They match up against a Washington Capitals team that has seen everything go right for them this season.

The Capitals took a chance on a few players last offseason and it’s paid off big time with Pierre-Luc Dubois and Jakob Chychrun playing key roles. Dylan Strome has turned into a legit center, and the goaltending tandem of Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren has been top-notch.

The Canadiens have a bunch of great young talent led by Nick Suzuki, Lane Hutson, and Ivan Demidov, who immediately made an impact for the Habs. However, there are plenty of question marks after Montreal lost three of its last four games to force a win-and-in situation in Game 82.

It’s been a good story this season for Montreal, but all good things must come to an end.

Prediction: Capitals in 5

Carolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils Prediction

Another year, another great regular season for the Carolina Hurricanes. The Canes have become the model of consistency in the NHL thanks to their forechecking game, but that’s fallen apart in the playoffs in recent years.

The Devils pose a tough challenge on paper for the Hurricanes. That is until you remember that Jack Hughes is out, Jonas Siegenthaler is still working his way back, and Dougie Hamilton returned but is nowhere near 100%.

The Hurricanes haven’t had many issues in the early rounds of the playoffs, including a gentleman’s sweep against the Islanders last year. We very well may see a similar outcome against another Metropolitan Division foe.

Prediction: Hurricanes in 5