NHL playoff predictions 2023: Every series winner including Bruins over Oilers in Stanley Cup Finals

The most entertaining time of the year is about to commence. 

The 2023 NHL playoffs kick off on Monday, as 16 teams get ready to battle it out for the Stanley Cup. 

As is the case every year, there are so many intriguing storylines heading into the postseason. In the Eastern Conference, the Maple Leafs are (still) looking to win a playoff series in the salary-cap era, the Bruins are aiming to prove that their regular season dominance can translate into the postseason and the Lightning are looking for a fourth consecutive Prince of Wales Trophy. 

In the Western Conference, the Avalanche have targets on their back, entering the playoffs as the defending champions. The Kraken are trying to win the franchise its first playoff series, while Connor McDavid is still looking to reach his first Stanley Cup Final. 

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The Sporting News gives out its predictions for the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs. 

The Sporting News 2023 NHL playoff predictions

Eastern Conference

First round

Second round

Conference final

In the first round, the Bruins and Hurricanes make quick work of the Panthers and Islanders, respectively. The Maple Leafs and Lightning series will go the full seven games and while I could very easily see this series going Toronto's way, I just cannot pick a team with such a poor track record in the playoffs. The Devils and Rangers give us an all-time classic, but the boys on Broadway come out on top in seven. 

For the second round, the Bruins finally get to avenge the playoff losses in 2018 and 2020 to the Lightning, snapping Tampa's three-year run of coming out of the East. The Hurricanes and Rangers face off for the second consecutive year in the second round, but this time the Hurricanes take care of business. 

The Hurricanes are the one team that I think matches up quite well against the Bruins, but with the losses of Max Pacioretty and Andrei Svechnikov at forward, I don't see the Carolina offense keeping up with Boston. So for the second time in five years, the Bruins are your Eastern Conference champions. 

Western Conference

First round

Second round

Conference final

I think the Western Conference is going to disappoint a bit in the first round. I have all the top seeds advancing to the second round, and none of the series go the full seven games. The Avalanche are going to roll over the Kraken, as the Oilers are with the Kings. The Wild put up a great fight against the Stars, but Dallas prevails, and while Connor Hellebuyck steals a couple of games, it's not enough for the Jets against the Golden Knights. 

In the second round, things start to get interesting. If there is one team that I think pairs very well against Colorado, it's Dallas. This is why I see the Stars being the team to knock off the defending champs before they get a chance to defend their title. I don't see the Golden Knights being able to contain Connor McDavid enough, resulting in a second-straight Western Conference Final appearance for Edmonton. 

The Oilers are going to learn from their mistakes from last year. This Edmonton team is so much stronger in its own zone and is getting the goaltending it needs. McDavid is going to get his first taste of Stanley Cup Final action, as the Oilers make quick work of the Stars. 

Stanley Cup Final

The best duo in the NHL going against the best team in the NHL. A Bruins-Oilers championship series would be sensational. The two only met twice in the regular season, but both games were close contests that did not lack action. 

A series like this is where the Edmonton defense will truly be tested. The focus this season has been a lot on Boston's defense, but the offense is just as potent. The Bruins were right behind the Oilers in goals scored per game this year, ranking second in the league. 

McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are going to win the Oilers at least a couple of games, but the Bruins do enough defensively to stop McDavid from getting his first Cup. After a magical regular season, the Bruins cap it all off by bringing the Stanley Cup back to Boston. 

Prediction: Bruins in six

Conn Smythe Award winner

The 2022-23 season has been a whacky one. NHL records were broken and new salary-cap era marks were set. 

Let's add one more wrinkle to the mix, shall we? Picking one Bruin is going to be difficult. There's David Pastrnak, Linus Ullmark, Hampus Lindholm, Brad Marchand, you get it. 

So what if it didn't go to a Bruin at all?

If there is a player in the NHL capable of putting up insane enough numbers that voters overlook a finals loss, it's McDavid. His 2022 playoff performance was enough to place him in the top-25 on the all-time single-playoff scoring list, so imagine what he'll do playing in all four series.

I think the Bruins win the Cup, but I would not be surprised to see McDavid become the first player since Jean-Sebastien Giguere in 2003 to get the Conn Smythe as a member of the losing team. 

Prediction: Connor McDavid, Oilers

2023 NHL playoffs odds

According to Sports Interaction, the Bruins are the favorite to win the Stanley Cup, entering the postseason at +336.