That was a great first round for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Two of the most fun games seven I can remember, partially because they didn’t involve my preferred team. If they did, I would be in adrenal fatigue right now. I’d be choking down bananas and chugging sports bevs to get my electrolytes back.
We’re about to do predictions for round two, but let’s see where we stand so far. Me and Ian had very different picks last time, so we tied, which goes to show you what a coin flip the playoffs is. But the actual coin, Keith, a Coin, guessed just two series correctly. I’d say he is on tilt, but that would be a mixed metaphor.
Say, have you met Keith?
Meet Keith, a Coin
Keith, a Coin, is a coin. If you need to use a payphone, he cannot help you because they cost more than a quarter and they don’t exist anymore. I’m not sure there’s a viable business plan left on earth that needs a quarter. You could always get a 25-Cent Capsule Vending Machine, Commercial Big Capsule Gachapon Machine for Sale One-Piece Gumball Machine for Kids Great Attraction Mini Vending Machine (Ball Diameter 4.5-5.0cm/1.77-1.97in) (Green), but that feels more like a novelty than a profit-generating enterprise. If it isn’t making dollars, then it isn’t making sense. Keith is worth 25 cents.
The results so far
Using the universally understood 🚽/🌮 score-keeping system.
| First Round | Peter | Ian | Keith |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOR beat OTT | 🚽 | 🚽 | 🚽 |
| FLA beat TBL | 🌮 | 🌮 | 🚽 |
| WSH beat MTL | 🌮 | 🌮 | 🚽 |
| CAR beat NJD | 🚽 | 🌮 | 🌮 |
| WPG beat STL | 🌮 | 🚽 | 🌮 |
| DAL beat COL | 🚽 | 🌮 | 🚽 |
| VGK beat MIN | 🌮 | 🚽 | 🚽 |
| EDM beat LAK | 🚽 | 🚽 | 🚽 |
| Second Round | Peter | Ian | Keith |
| FLA vs TOR | |||
| CAR vs WSH | |||
| EDM vs VGK | |||
| WPG vs DAL | |||
| Third Round | Peter | Ian | Keith |
| TBD | |||
| TBD | |||
| Finals | Peter | Ian | Keith |
| TBD |
And now, our predictions.
Toronto 🍁 vs Florida 🐱
Peter: I don’t like how the Leafs played in round one. Even their very productive power play still allowed two shorthanded goals. I think goalie Anthony Stolarz was the difference, a continuation of his strong regular season. But after seeing what Hellebuyck has done this postseason, I can no longer trust a team that trusts its goalie for so much. Florida in seven.
Ian: It takes a powerful imagination to envision a world where the Toronto Maple Leafs go through both Tkachuk brothers in the first two rounds and Steve Dangle feels actual happiness. And sure, while I went to art school, my brain is in fact not this creative. Maybe, Toronto is for real and maybe Craig Berube is The Guy to get this team to the promised land, but I’m not buying it, especially against such a strong forechecking team in Florida. Like, can you really bet on a player like Max Pacioretty to score another series-winning goal? [Shakes head.] Florida in six.
Keith: Florida in six.
Carolina ☔️ vs Washington 🏛️
Peter: I want to be wrong, just as the predictive models are wrong about this series. These are the two opposite extremes of how the meta-game of hockey is played. Washington is an okay possession team with freak finishing talent; Carolina is a world-beating possession team with unspectacular finishing talent. I think the Caps can win this if they get their counterattack going against the Carolina forecheck, for example off Connor McMichael’s stick. Oh, and if Logan Thompson goes nutzo mode again. But I am not going to bet on that today. Carolina in seven.
Ian: My logic brain is telling me Carolina is going to win this series, but I’ve learned this season that there’s nothing that can defeat the Capitals’ power of friendship. Alex Ovechkin, at age 39, scored four times in the first round. FOUR TIMES. Logan Thompson was arguably the best goaltender in the entire NHL. Up and down the Capitals roster, there are a bunch of guys playing their roles excellently and pulling on that same rope (forgive me for the metaphor). I dunno how. I dunno why. Washington in seven.
Keith: Carolina in four.
Edmonton 🛢️ vs Vegas ⚔️
Peter: Both of these teams are so good; this feels like a classic second round matchup. I think there are depth issues for both, so this will come down to strength-on-strength. I kind of think Noah Hanifin could muffle Connor McDavid some times. That’s his best bet, but I don’t think it’ll be enough, but I admit I don’t feel very strong about this prediction. Edmonton in six.
Ian: This series will be about which team can own the big moments. And after a relatively quiet first round — an absurd 11 points (2g, 9a) in six games — I think Connor McDavid is going to absolutely go off in the second round. Same with Leon Draisaitl, too. Edmonton in five.
Keith: Edmonton in five.
Winnipeg ✈️ vs Dallas ⭐️
Peter: I don’t know when I’ll get over the games last weekend. If either of these teams was to face a different team this round, I’d predict a hangover defeat. Head-to-head, I think it’s hypothetically a coin toss. But if the Jets are as banged up as it seems – with Mark Scheifele and Josh Morrissey out, then this is a simpler calculation. Dallas in six.
Ian: The Winnipeg Jets pulled out one of the greatest comebacks in Game 7 history on Sunday. There is a certain swagger and confidence that comes with a victory like that, especially when you already finished the season as the league’s best team. Even if I think Jake Oettinger is one of the best goalies in the NHL, which I do, I just think the Jets are going to find a way. Winnipeg in seven.
Keith: Winnipeg in four.
Keith has picked the Carolina Hurricanes to sweep the Washington Capitals. I hate this guy. Now it’s your turn. Share your results below. I like this format: CITY in X games.
