How 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs shake out in our NHL 20 simulation

Share

In our 2020 Stanley Cup playoff simulations, the Blackhawks dropped a heartbreaking seven-game series to the Blues in the first round. After the Blackhawks took a demanding 3-1 series lead, the defending champions stormed back with back-to-back overtime wins before a resounding Game 7 victory.

With the Blackhawks eliminated, we simulated the rest of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Let’s take a look at the results.

First round:

Western Conference
St. Louis def. Chicago, 4-3
Dallas def. Colorado, 4-3
Vegas def. Nashville, 4-1
Edmonton def. Vancouver, 4-0

Eastern Conference
Boston def. Columbus, 4-2
Toronto def. Tampa Bay, 4-3
Washington def. Carolina, 4-0
Philadelphia def. Pittsburgh, 4-3

Round 1 was filled with its fair share of drama. Half of the series went to seven games, including rivalry matchups between the Blackhawks and Blues, and the Flyers and Penguins. For the second consecutive year, one of the Eastern Conference favorites in Tampa Bay was upset in the first round. The Lightning followed up last season's loss to the Blue Jackets with a seven-game loss to the Maple Leafs.

The Capitals completed one of the two first-round sweeps, getting revenge on the Hurricanes from last year’s defeat, while Connor McDavid and company took out the Canucks in four games. Behind strong goaltending, the Golden Knights easily dispatched the Predators in just five games.

Second round: 

Western Conference
Dallas def. St. Louis, 4-1
Vegas def. Edmonton, 4-3

Eastern Conference
Boston def. Toronto, 4-3
Philadelphia def. Washington, 4-1

For the third consecutive season, the Maple Leafs fell to the Bruins in seven games. Riding the momentum of their series win against their in-state rival Penguins, the Flyers rolled through the Capitals in five games to punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals.

For the second straight season, the Stars and Blues met with a trip to the Western Conference Finals on the line. After dropping last year’s series in seven games, the Stars breezed by the Blues in just five games, eliminating the reigning Cup champs. The last conference final bid went to the Golden Knights, as they outlasted the Oilers in seven games. It’s the second appearance in three seasons for Vegas in the Western Conference Finals.

Conference Finals

Western Conference
Dallas def. Vegas, 4-0

Eastern Conference
Philadelphia def. Boston, 4-3

The Flyers begin the 2020s the same way they began the 2010s - with a trip to the Stanley Cup Final. I think we all remember that time Patrick Kane snapped a 49-year Cup drought for Chicago. Philadelphia won a hard-fought seven-game series over Boston, once again leaving Brad Marchand and the Bruins in tears. You just hate to see it.

Out West, the conference finals were not nearly as dramatic. Led by Tyler Seguin and Ben Bishop, the Stars cruised past the Golden Knights en route to their first Stanley Cup Final since 2000. 

Stanley Cup Final
Dallas def. Philadelphia, 4-1

After going the distance with the Avalanche in Round 1, the Stars never really faced much drama in the next three rounds. In their last three series, Dallas went 12-2 on their way to their first Stanley Cup win since 1999. James van Riemsdyk was the goal-scoring leader in the playoffs, but the Flyers just couldn’t get enough out of their bottom-six and goaltending to get over the hump. 

Bishop went 16-4-1 with a 2.10 goals against average and a dazzling .929 save percentage in net for Dallas. Seguin chipped in with 11 goals and 30 points in 21 games. The Dallas duo received a majority of the Conn Smythe votes for playoff MVP, with Seguin barely edging out Bishop.

While Bishop was outstanding, Seguin was the only Stars skater that averaged a point-per-game and carried the load for Dallas offensively. It’s an impressive end of the season for Seguin, who went 17 games without a goal after the turn of the calendar. You can expect the Central Division to once again be ultra competitive in the 2020-21 season.

Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Blackhawks easily on your device.
Contact Us