2013 NHL Predictions: Nothing Cures a Cup Hangover Like a Lockout

It used to be that when I published predictions for these so-called "winter sports" that begin in the fall of one year and end in the summer of the next, I would just refer to the season as the year in which the sport ended. The tags still do that, but as this Puck Daddy post notes, it's pretty disingenuous for the NHL to refer to this year as a "2012-13 season" when there was not a single game played in 2012. Instead, we spent those final months of last year watching week after week of negotiating, usually debating when the announcement would be made that the season was cancelled.

Fortunately, the two sides were indeed able to arrive at an agreement just in the nick of time. I guess this means we won't be cancelling our cable after all. If last year's shortened NBA season was any indication, then the forthcoming 48-game schedule should still provide a thrilling run to the playoffs.

I only wonder now if fewer games makes this year's predictions more likely or less likely to be accurate.

Usual text and layout issues, so forgive me for skipping the commentary. Here's the guesswork:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlantic
Pittsburgh Penguins

New York Rangers

Philadelphia Flyers

New Jersey Devils
 
New York Islanders

Northeast
Boston Bruins

Buffalo Sabres
 
Ottawa Senators
 
Toronto Maple Leafs

Montreal Canadiens

Southeast
Washington Capitals

Tampa Bay Lightning

Carolina Hurricanes

Florida Panthers

Winnipeg Jets

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Central
St. Louis Blues

Chicago Blackhawks

Detroit Red Wings

Nashville Predators

Columbus Blue Jackets

Northwest
Vancouver Canucks

Minnesota Wild

Edmonton Oilers

Colorado Avalanche

Calgary Flames

Pacific

Los Angeles Kings

San Jose Sharks

Dallas Stars

Phoenix Coyotes

Anaheim Ducks

Opening Round Playoffs
#1 Penguins over #8 Hurricanes in 5 games


#2 Bruins over # 7 Flyers in 6 games


#3 Capitals over #6 Sabres in 7 games


#5 Lightning over #4 Rangers in 6 games



#1 Blues over #8 Stars in 4 games


#7 Red Wings over #2 Canucks in 7 games


#3 Kings over #6 Wild in 6 games


#4 Blackhawks over #5 Sharks in 5 games

Conference Semifinals
#1 Penguins over #5 Lightning in 7 games


#2 Bruins over #3 Capitals in 5 games



#1 Blues over #7 Red Wings in 5 games


#3 Kings over #4 Blackhawks in 6 games

Conference Finals
#2 Bruins over #1 Penguins in 6 games



#1 Blues over #3 Kings in 7 games

Stanley Cup Final

St. Louis Blues over Boston Bruins in 7 games

While there is bound to be constant chatter about the possibility of the Kings becoming the first team in 15 years to repeat as Stanley Cup winners (and the subtitle to this post certainly suggests that I was going to go along with the logic, seeing as they are fielding pretty much the same team), I think that instead, the Blues will become the first team in five years to win both the President's Trophy and the Stanley Cup in the same season.