NHL Playoffs Random Tournament

At long last, the most exciting time of the sports year is here.  That’s right, it is the National Hockey league playoffs.  If you follow a team, then nothing beats the NHL playoffs for drama and an increased risk of suffering a heart attack.  I am still haunted by my Bruins double overtime loss to the Blackhawks in game 5 of the 2013 Stanley Cup.  My heart will not be at risk this year because the Bruins won’t be gracing the playoffs with their presence.  But for everyone else who has a team in the playoffs, it’s time to make sure your heart medication is nearby and perhaps start attending yoga classes to help you relax and unwind after each game. 

You never know what will happen.  As some of you know, I like to run a random tournament before playoffs or finals and the NHL is no exception.  Since people say the NHL playoffs are like a crapshoot, what better place for a completely random tournament.  The predictions made here have nothing whatsoever to do with records, home ice, history or anything remotely resembling good analysis.  The results are purely random.  However, as we shall see, the predicted random NHL playoff winner has a very good chance of winning the real thing, so perhaps you should run to your nearest gambling outlet, be it online or at a physical location, and wager your house on the winner.  So here goes.

Round 1

In the east we have the following.

Senators	2-4	Canadiens
Islanders	4-2	Capitals
Penguins	2-4	Rangers
Red Wings	2-4	Lightning

While in the West:

Blackhawks	4-3	Predators
Flames	1-4	Canucks
Wild	3-4	Blues
Jets	2-4	Ducks

No real shockers here.  The Penguins put up a good battle against the Rangers, probably more than I would expect, but otherwise, the East is positively predictable.  In the West again no real shockers.  Personally I would like to attend a Calgary Vancouver game in either arena because I imagine it will be war.  And I can’t help but think Montréal will get special joy out of inflicting the inhabitants of Canada’s capital with misery and disappointment.  But really, no surprises despite the completely random nature of the tournament.

Round 2

In the East

Islanders	1-4	Rangers
Lightning	4-0	Canadiens

Meanwhile in the West:

Canucks	4-1	Ducks
Blackhawks	3-4	Blues

We have some surprises here.  That Tampa Bay defeats Montréal is not really surprising especially when we consider that in the real world, the Lightning seem to have their number.  But a sweep?  To see Lightning dominance actually reflected in a random tournament is kind of frightening.  And I would say round 2 gives us our first real upset with Vancouver knocking off Anaheim.  Meanwhile the Blackhawks go down fighting as we would expect.

The all New York series proves pretty one sided.  If this situation arises in the real world, I’m all Islanders, all the way in terms of who I want to win, but I think the Rangers would win the series just as the random tournament predicts.

Conference Finals

Lightning	2-4	Rangers
Canucks	2-4	Blues

I believe the winners here would actually be favoured if this situation eventuates.  No one can seem to stop the Rangers this year and the Blues are kind of the team no one really thinks too much about but here they are representing the West in the Stanley Cup final.  Vancouver experiences another frustrating year and must still wait in hope for their first Cup.

Stanley Cup Final

Blues

1-4

Rangers

In a somewhat lopsided series, the Rangers are able to take the final step they failed to take last year and win their first Cup in forever.  This sucks!  I hate the Rangers.  But there it is, your 2015 Stanley Cup champions the Rangers.  Of course, in the real world, the Rangers are the one seed in the East and have the most points in the NHL this year so despite the fact these predictions are completely random, the top team emerges the winner.  This is why you should put the house on the Rangers.  If they can win a random tournament, they can certainly win the real thing.  And though I hate to admit it, my prediction in the real playoffs is that the Rangers will win it all this year.  May this not happen.  But regardless of what happens, may the fun and stress begin!