NHL playoff bracket predictions, picks, odds & series breakdowns for 2020 Stanley Cup second round

With the first round now complete, the second round of the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs begins Saturday.

Eight teams have punched their ticket to the next stage and are one step closer to winning the sports world's greatest trophy. Remaining in the Toronto and Edmonton bubbles are six of the top eight teams when the coronavirus pandemic hit last March, a team you can never count out (the Islanders), and a dark horse that stands as the last remaining Canadian team (the Canucks).

The qualifying round was wacky; the first round was just good old playoff hockey with lots of action, including crazy last-second goals and big-time saves, and one of the longest overtime games in NHL history.

What will happen in the second round and beyond is anyone's guess. Will Vegas finally get its Cup? Can Boston avenge last year's Game 7 loss? Or will a dark-horse squad take hockey's top prize? The answer is, nobody knows — and that's even more evident this year.

Because anything goes in bubble hockey.

MORE: Full TV schedule for Round 2

NHL playoffs bracket 2020

NHL playoff predictions: Eastern Conference

Second round

Philadelphia Flyers (1) vs. (6) New York Islanders

The backstory

This will be a tactical matchup of mastermind coaches. The Islanders' Barry Trotz knows how to squeeze the best out of players up and down his roster, and the same is true of the Flyers' Alain Vigneault. If you go all the way back to the 2019-20 regular season, the season series belonged to the Islanders, who won all three meetings (a scheduled fourth matchup was canceled after the league shut down because of the pandemic). But the past is the past.

Considered a defensive-minded team under Trotz, the Islanders dominated the Capitals on the scoreboard in the first round, scoring 3.40 goals per game while also maintaining what they do best — keeping the puck out of their own net (1.67 goals against per game). For comparison's sake, they scored 2.78 GF/GP and allowed 2.79 GA/GP in the regular season.

For the Flyers, this series will be all about fast starts: They've led after the first period in six of their nine postseason games, and they've won all six. They're outscoring opponents 8-4 in the opening frame. Philadelphia features balanced scoring and one of the league's best young netminders in Carter Hart, who just happened to beat his childhood idol, Carey Price, in the first round.

MORE: Hart caps first playoff series win with 'special' moment

X-factor

If the Islanders want to advance past the Flyers, then their best player, Mat Barzal, will need to be their best player. Anthony Beauvillier has been a bright spot, but Barzal needs to step up his game. In five games against the Capitals, he had two goals and two assists and an Expected Goals For Percentage (xGF%) of 53.41 at 5v5 (per Natural Stat Trick), which put him below the likes of J.G. Pageau, Anders Lee and Josh Bailey. He'll need to bring his speed and scoring touch in this round.

The big number

Philadelphia's Claude Giroux has zero goals through nine postseason games, although it hasn't been for a lack of trying; he has 20 shots on net, one behind Kevin Hayes, who notched his first goal of the postseason in Game 6 against the Canadiens. Giroux scored 21 goals during the regular season, including a team-leading seven power-play goals (tied with Ivan Provorov). Imagine how lethal this Flyers lineup could be if their captain can get going, too.

SN's prediction: Flyers in 7.

Tampa Bay Lightning (2) vs. Boston Bruins (4)

The backstory

Two of the league's best teams will meet in an Atlantic Division rivalry series. The last time they saw each other in the regular season, a full-on line brawl broke out. Good times. Their round-robin matchup was more subdued, but expect this series to be a dogfight. 

It will be an evenly matched tilt between veteran rosters. They're mirror images, in fact: Boston averaged 3.00 GF/GP and allowed 2.20 GA/GP in the first round, while the Lightning averaged 2.80 GF/GP and allowed 2.40 GA/GP. Each team has depth scoring, role players, solid goaltending — Andrei Vasilevskiy is a Vezina Trophy finalist — and veterans on the blue line who can not only stop the opposition but also put points on the board. 

This series will also be a chess match between Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper and Boston coach Bruce Cassidy, the men behind the last two teams to win the Presidents' Trophy.

CASSIDY AND COFFEE: How NHL coaches stay warm in an ice-cold rink

X-factor

With Tuukka Rask leaving the bubble, all eyes will be on veteran netminder Jaroslav Halak, who shared the 2020 Jennings Trophy with Rask as the league leaders in fewest goals allowed.

In three first-round starts, Halak posted an impressive .932 save percentage, and among 16 goalies who started at least three games, he ranked fourth with a 1.67 goals-against average. He posted a .929 save percentage at even strength, stopping 52 of 54 shots. If he can maintain this against the Lightning's offense, then the series could tilt the Bruins' way.

The big number

But Halak will face a big test at even strength. The Lightning's Expected Goals For (xGF) through their first eight postseason games at 5v5 was 17.88 (according to Natural Stat Trick). Boston's xGF was 12.87. In their first-round meeting with the Blue Jackets, Tampa Bay posted a 12.46 xGF, second-best in the league. Boston's was only 8.14 in the first round against the Hurricanes. Tampa Bay even had a better xGF in the round-robin meeting (2.72-1.53). 

And look at this heatmap from that game (Natural Stat Trick). The Lightning dominated in front of the Bruins' net at 5v5. If they can do that again in Round 2, then this may be a short series.

SN's pick: Lightning in 6.

First-round predictions

Philadelphia Flyers (1) vs. Montreal Canadiens (8)

• SN's pick: Flyers in 5
• Series result: Flyers in 6

Tampa Bay Lightning (2) vs. Blue Jackets (7)

• SN's pick: Blue Jackets in 7
• Series result: Lightning in 5

Capitals (3) vs. Islanders (6)

• SN's pick: Islanders in 6 
• Series result: Islanders in 5

Bruins (4) vs. Hurricanes (5)

• SN's pick: Hurricanes in 7
• Series result: Bruins in 5

MORE: Everything to know about the NHL's bubble cities

NHL playoff predictions: Western Conference

Second round

Vegas Golden Knights (1) vs. Vancouver Canucks (5)

The backstory

The Canucks dismantled the defending champion Blues in impressive fashion; now they face an even tougher test in the Golden Knights. Regardless of the outcome, this series will be quite fun to watch.

Vegas has the best 1-2 punch in net with Robin Lehner and Marc-Andre Fleury; at the other end, Vancouver netminder Jacob Markstrom is building quite the resume following an impressive regular season with ridiculous acrobatic, diving saves in the playoffs.

Jacob Markstrom from outta nowhere! 😱#NHLonSN pic.twitter.com/IhS5ze9bx1

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 20, 2020

Both teams have depth scoring, speed, solid defense — Quinn Hughes continues to show maturity beyond his years, one of the reasons he's a Calder Trophy finalist — and savvy bench bosses in Travis Green (Vancouver) and Pete DeBoer (Vegas). Vegas' skill and size push it over the edge

X-factor

Travis Green. In his third season behind the Canucks' bench,  Green has shown an uncanny knack for getting the best out of his players. Not afraid to put his lines in a blender, he found the right combinations at the right times in pushing his team to knock off the Blues.

The big number

60.6 percent: That's the Golden Knights' Scoring Chances For percentage (per Natural Stat Trick). Basically, they've gotten way more scoring chances for than against: 209 Scoring Chances For to 139 Scoring Chances Against, to be exact. On the flip side, Vancouver has allowed 215 SCA, which could hurt it against the highly skilled team from Nevada. Markstrom will have to be on top of his game even more than he was against St. Louis if the Canucks are to keep the Golden Knights from moving on.

SN's pick — Vegas in 6.

Colorado Avalanche (2) vs. Dallas Stars (3)

The backstory

The Avalanche are rolling along. They won two of their three round-robin games, with the lone loss being in overtime to the No. 1-seeded Golden Knights, and then just dominated the Coyotes in a five-game first-round victory. Dallas is coming off two stunning comebacks in their series against the Flames. They'll definitely be flying high after winning Game 5 in overtime after scoring the game-tying goal with 12 seconds left in regulation and then winning Game 6 in a blowout after going down by three in the first seven minutes.

It looks as if Anton Khudobin will be in the crease for Dallas going forward as 2019 Vezina Trophy finalist Ben Bishop has been unfit to play for a number of games. Khudobin, who led the league with a .930 save percentage during the regular season, was in net for the Stars' round-robin matchup with the Avs, which Colorado won convincingly 4-0. As for the Avs' goaltending situation, coach Jared Bednar has relied heavily upon Philipp Grubauer, who was in net for all four wins against Arizona and posted a sparkling .953 save percentage.

Of course, it doesn't hurt that Grubauer has some of the most dynamic players in the game in front of him — such as 2020 Hart Trophy finalist Nathan MacKinnon — and other players who can bury the puck at a moment's notice. Colorado won four of its first eight games by three or more goals. Dallas is getting its offense from the likes of Joe Pavelski, Denis Gurianov and sophomore defenseman Miro Heiskanen. If they can get Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin going, then this could be a barnburner of a series.

X-factor

Nazem Kadri has finally arrived. He's known to put up numbers in the regular season, but the center has struggled to stay in postseason lineups, although not because of coaches' decisions or injury. The previous two postseasons, Kadri watched from the press box after being suspended by the league. 

A year removed from his second suspension and with a new franchise, a more mature Kadri has become a dominating figure for the Avalanche. He has 11 points (six goals, five assists) in eight postseason games, and his two markers in the series clincher against the Coyotes gave him back-to-back multigoal games. He is tied with four others atop the NHL's postseason goal-scoring list and leads the league with five power-play goals.

"Reflecting on the time I spent in Toronto, just looking back, obviously you want to learn from your mistakes and just trying to mature as a person and as a player and as a teammate," Kadri said after Game 5. "I think I'm no more valuable on the ice than I am in the penalty box or in the press box. So, just trying to stay calm out there and composed and, like I said, I just want to help my team win and I think staying in games would do that."

MORE: Ex-Leaf Nazem Kadri showing maturity, leading Avs playoff push

The big number

The Avalanche's power play is clicking, to say the least. Colorado is at a whopping 30.6 percent efficiency with the man advantage. Among the 16 teams that played bubble hockey in the first round, Dallas' penalty kill was tied for 13th (with Vancouver) at 72.2 percent. Needless to say, Stars coach Rick Bowness needs to make sure his guys stay out of the box, or else this will be a short series.

SN's pick: Avalanche in 6.

First-round predictions

Vegas Golden Knights (1) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (8)

• SN's pick: Golden Knights in 5
• Series result: Golden Knights in 5

Colorado Avalanche (2) vs. Arizona Coyotes (7)

• SN's pick: Avalanche in 4
• Series result: Avalanche in 5

Dallas Stars (3) vs. Calgary Flames (6)

• SN's pick: Flames in 5
• Series result: Stars in 6

St. Louis Blues (1) vs. Vancouver Canucks (5)

• SN's pick: Canucks in 7
• Series result: Canucks in 6

NHL playoff odds to win Stanley Cup

Courtesy of Sports Insider, here are the 2020 Stanley Cup Final odds for the remaining eight teams in the NHL playoff bubbles:

Stanley Cup Final picks

Eastern Conference champion: Philadelphia Flyers

Western Conference champion: Vegas Golden Knights

Stanley Cup champion: Philadelphia Flyers in seven games

Conn Smythe Trophy: Carter Hart