2024 NHL Playoffs: B/R Staff 1st-Round Predictions

For 16 teams, the long slog of the regular season leads to the 2024 NHL playoffs.

And now the race to 16 wins begins.

The matchups couldn't be any better for diehard and casual fans alike. From Boston vs. Toronto to the Battle of Florida to Edmonton vs. LA Part III, the postseason will feature some of the most dramatic, physical and heart-stopping moments in any sport.

With all that in mind, the excited B/R NHL Staff came together to make predictions for every first-round series.

Disagree with the team's selections? Submit your thoughts in the comments section of the app.

A surge in the standings down the stretch landed the Capitals the final Eastern playoff berth. Their reward is the Presidents' Trophy-winning Rangers.

An upset is possible for the underdog Capitals if the Rangers take them lightly. That won't happen, though, as the Blueshirts are a determined bunch with a deep roster that should overpower Washington.

Prediction: Rangers in 5

- Lyle Richardson

The Caps are rolling and feeling good. And yet, here are the Rangers with Artemi Panarin and Igor Shesterkin waiting for them. For years, these teams were fated to meet in the playoffs and everything old is new again.

Sure, the Presidents' Trophy is more of a cursed object than it is a reason to celebrate, but the Rangers are very good and I just can't buy into the Capitals.

Prediction: Rangers in 5

- Joe Yerdon

Every year, there's a team that surges toward the postseason, secures a low seed and subsequently gives a giant push to a favorite, sometimes finishing the job with an upset. Among the candidates for that billing, this time is the Caps, whose 4-1-1 finish vaulted them past a muddled pack and into a first-round date with the Rangers.

The thing is, I don't see the momentum carrying them beyond where it's already gotten. Unless Alex Ovechkin goes berserk and Charlie Lindgren is otherworldly, there's not a spot where Washington is superior.

Prediction: Rangers in 4

- Lyle Fitzsimmons

If I'm being rational, I know the Rangers have the best chance of winning this objectively mismatched matchup.

Ultimately, though, New York feels pressure to beat the first-round exit allegations. Pound for pound, top to bottom and metric by metric, it's a significantly better team than the Capitals.

Yet, despite it all, Washington is here for some reason. It's got a clean slate and the same seven games to do something that the Rangers have to do. One can look to the Florida Panthers-Boston Bruins last season and know there's nothing scarier than a team that has had to claw its way into a playoff spot, especially a team with a hot goalie. And especially a team that had only two losses in one-goal games this season.

I'm prepared to get dunked on when I'm wrong, but I'm going rogue.

Prediction: Capitals in 7

- Sara Civian

The Washington Capitals might be, at least statistically, the worst team to make the playoffs during the NHL's salary-cap era. At least, their minus-37 goal differential reflects as much. They don't drive play, their special teams are mediocre, and Ovechkin aside, their finishing isn't that great. Their one strength is their goaltender, Charlie Lindgren.

But the Rangers match that with Shesterkin. They're not a perfect team, but their power play is electric, their penalty kill is highly efficient and their finishing is phenomenal.

There may be some tough questions to ask about this team later in the playoffs, but the Rangers should cruise past the Caps in Round 1

Prediction: Rangers in 5

- Adam Herman

I am not completely convinced this Rangers team has enough to go all the way, especially during 5-on-5 play, but I am convinced that they are significantly better than this Washington Capitals team.

I know the Capitals put together some impressive wins down the stretch to get themselves in the playoffs, but a minus-37 goal differential speaks louder than those few wins and they don't have the players to match up with the Rangers. Igor Shesterkin alone will be enough to get the Rangers through this series without much of a sweat.

Prediction: Rangers in 5

- Adam Gretz

The Islanders battled inconsistency for most of this season but rode an 8-1-1 streak down the stretch into clinching third place in the Metropolitan Division. They'll have their hands full with the Hurricanes, who bolstered their roster at the trade deadline with forwards Jake Guentzel and Evgeny Kuznetsov.

The Isles will put up a good fight, but the Hurricanes' roster depth will make the difference.

Prediction: Hurricanes in 5

- Lyle Richardson

It feels like the Islanders are in the same spot the Capitals are in. They finished the year strong and it's the era of good feelings with Patrick Roy at the helm. But here are the Hurricanes waiting for them.

They've been outstanding after a slow start. Please don't buy into the nonsense that the Canes' goaltending is questionable because it's not. Their whole lineup is deep and they're sneakily suffocating to play against.

Prediction: Hurricanes in 6

- Joe Yerdon

There's a reason why the Hurricanes are the betting favorites heading into the entire tournament. They're that good. They were already that good before March. And they've been the league's best team since Jake Guentzel and Evgeny Kuznetsov got into the lineup after the deadline.

Does that mean they'll waltz to a Cup? No. But they also won't stumble more than once or twice against a team like the Islanders.

Prediction: Hurricanes in 5

- Lyle Fitzsimmons

The Hurricanes are finally the best version of themselves after half a decade of being a pretty good version of themselves. Jake Guentzel has fit in seamlessly and adds the scoring edge they've needed while still willing to buy into head coach Rod Brind'Amour's defense requirements.

We aren't talking enough about how good Freddie Andersen has been since returning, and how much his fresh legs could benefit the team compared to his usually heavy regular-season workload. Pyotr Kochetkov is a solid No. 2 option if needed, but his antics and lack of experience are slightly worrying.

At the end of the day—and I say this lovingly—the Islanders and their fans are too obnoxious to get swept. Add Patrick Roy into the mix and the change in tune since he took over behind the bench, and this will not be easy for the Hurricanes.

Prediction: Hurricanes in 6

- Sara Civian

The Hurricanes, as always, are a dominant possession team. Their past failures could be chalked up to two nagging issues; goaltending and goal-scoring.

Frederik Andersen looks as good as ever in net, while the addition of Guentzel from Pittsburgh directly addressed their finishing problems.

The Islanders have played better under midseason hire Roy, but they're still a fairly average team. Goaltending is a super strength as either Ilya Sorokin or Semyon Varlamov could steal a series. There is upset potential here, but the 'Canes should find four wins against the Isles.

Prediction: Hurricanes in 6

- Adam Herman

This series scares me because even though Carolina is a better team, the Islanders have the one position that can turn a series upside down:

Goaltending.

I am not convinced the Hurricanes have it.

That is how upsets happens.

Ultimately I do think Carolina has enough to get through, but it is not going to be easy and it is going to have to sweat it out through some really tough games.

Prediction: Hurricanes in 7

- Adam Gretz

"The Battle of Florida" pits the Panthers against the Lightning for the second time in three years. It should be a closely contested series as the fading but still dangerous Lightning takes on a Panthers team with Stanley Cup aspirations.

Tampa Bay possesses enough experience to pull off the upset, but the hungry Panthers should prevail.

Prediction: Panthers in 6

- Lyle Richardson

To borrow a classic Rick Jeanneret line: the Panthers are good, scary good. When the Lightning bumped them off during their Presidents' Trophy season two years ago, it felt inevitable because they were still that team. What's freaky about the Bolts now is they've still got an aura about them. Who wants to deal with them in the postseason?! But if there's a team that can handle them and do so effectively, it's Florida. It seems poised for a deep run again.

Prediction: Panthers in 6

- Joe Yerdon

The Panthers were a 122-point team two seasons ago and a Cup finalist last season. They're a division champion and a No. 2 seed this year. But they've not exorcised their in-state demons just yet. And the Lightning won't make it easy this time given how well they've been playing down the stretch.

However, it does seem inevitable that Tampa Bay cedes the stage at some point, and this Florida team seems good enough to make it happen.

Prediction: Panthers in 5

- Lyle Fitzsimmons

As Lyle stated, the Panthers have been a consistently successful team. The scoring is deep, the top scorers are stars, the defense is a wagon when healthy, and Sergei Bobrovsky has shocked the world by being generally worth his gigantic paycheck.

The battle of Florida will be epic. The Lightning are not going down easy, but they will still be going down.

Prediction: Panthers in 6

- Sara Civian

The headlines will be written by the likes of Kucherov and Point vs. Barkov and Reinhart but I think this series comes down to depth.

Both teams have high-end talent at every position, but Tampa Bay looks thin on its third and fourth lines and will have to lean on Victor Hedman. Florida will get strong two-way play from its third line and every defensive pairing can turn the tide in its favor.

This is a brutal opponent for Florida to find in Round 1 despite winning the division but, as the stars on both teams trade moments, the Panthers' well-roundedness should get them over the finish line.

Prediction: Panthers in 7

- Adam Herman

The Lightning are the forgotten team in the Eastern Conference here, but they are going to remind everybody they are not done just yet. They played some of their best hockey of the season down the stretch and after the trade deadline, but they were a 98-point team despite getting some atrocious goaltending throughout the season.

If Andrei Vasilevskiy shows up in this series (and he showed some signs of being big-game Vasilevskiy over the past two months) that could be enough to swing this.

And I think it will. The Lightning might have some flaws, but elite scorers and an elite goalie can take a team a long way.

Prediction: Lightning in 7

- Adam Gretz

The Bruins finished higher in the standings this season and won the previous two playoff series between these clubs in 2018 and 2019. However, this version of the Leafs is a more seasoned team and led by high-scoring stars Auston Matthews and William Nylander.

This series could go the distance like the last two, but the outcome will be different.

Prediction: Maple Leafs in 7

- Lyle Richardson

This series is going to get all the attention and rightly so. It's a heavyweight bout between two really strong teams with a load of history against each other. Everyone loves drama and, boy do both teams have it.

Is Toronto buoyed by finally escaping the first round last year? Is Boston going to avenge getting booted out in the first round by Florida after winning the Presidents' Trophy? This series is either going to seven or someone is getting swept for maximum drama and humiliation for the opposing side.

Prediction: Bruins in 7

- Joe Yerdon

There's got to be an upset in here someplace, no? This one would certainly qualify as the lower-case variety, but it still qualifies.

The Bruins were the top team in the division into the final week but couldn't hold the edge, and outside of consistently terrific goaltending, they seem to be an overachieving bunch.

Toronto doesn't have a foolproof resume, either, but it's more powerful and that's what matters. Maybe.

Prediction: Maple Leafs in 6

- Lyle Fitzsimmons

The narratives surrounding this rivalry are as exhausting as they are pervasive. Sure, they have some merit, and plenty of key players from the first time these cores faced off still play on these teams.

The Leafs have a long losing streak in the postseason against the Bruins and put up some pretty pathetic performances against them this regular season.

But things are just as different as they were the same. The Bruins are without Patrice Bergeron and David Krejčí, and they had a devastating first-round collapse last season. But they're still around the top of the Atlantic, with the best goalie tandem in the league, consistently beating the Leafs.

Meanwhile, on Toronto's end, there's a new GM, a "tougher" vibe and finally a first-round win. There's Auston Matthews and his 69-goal season.

This Bruins-Leafs matchup feels different than years past.

The Bruins will win because they have the best goaltending tandem in the league and the experience of what not to do with it from last season's playoffs. The Leafs will lose because they made a huge point of getting "tougher" with no real function and uncertain goaltending.

It'll be the same result for new and exciting reasons.

Prediction: Bruins in 7

- Sara Civian

Two teams that are as scary as they are flawed.

Boston was decimated by the departures of some key players last summer, while the Leafs made some bizarre decisions about how to supplement their star players.

A Zacha-Coyle center tandem in Boston won't intimidate anyone, but Jeremy Swayman or Linus Ullmark offers more certainty than Ilya Samsonov or Joseph Woll.

It's close, but I'll pick Toronto for two reasons. First, its star power is ridiculous. Secondly, while I'm not big on narratives, the Leafs have more to play for.

Boston went all-in last season and this is a transition year for them. Toronto has heavy expectations, and drastic changes could come if it fails again.

Prediction: Maple Leafs in 7

- Adam Herman

I hate this matchup for Toronto, and I fear it is going to result in another of playoff disappointment for the Maple Leafs. This time it might spark some real change on the roster.

I think this is a terrible matchup for them. The Bruins have two fantastic goalies and have also had the Maple Leafs' number all season. I don't trust Toronto's defensive play or goaltending, and it will be enough to swing it in the Bruins' favor.

Boston has its share of flaws at center and on defense, but it has enough to get through the Maple Leafs.

Prediction: Bruins in 6

- Adam Gretz

The Golden Knights are the Stanley Cup champions, while the Stars conquered the Western Conference this season with one of the best-balanced teams in the league. Their depth could prove too much for Vegas to contain.

Prediction: Stars in 5

- Lyle Richardson

A conference finals rematch in the first round? It's probably not good news for the Golden Knights, who are surely dangerous but haven't been on Dallas' consistent level all season.

Is it possible that beginning the playoffs kick-starts the banner-hanging mojo? Sure. But it's more likely the top seeds won a grinder.

Prediction: Stars in 6

- Lyle Fitzsimmons

I know Vegas is going to be getting healthy and getting people back in the lineup, and I know they spent big and went all in, but I think Dallas is the best team in the league. They have one of the league's best offenses, a top-tier defenseman in Miro Heiskanen, and a potential game-changing goalie in Jake Oettinger who is starting to get on a roll.

I think they win it all, and it starts by eliminating the defending Stanley Cup champions.

Prediction: Stars in 6

- Adam Gretz

Imagine being a beastly team like the Stars and you have to deal with the defending champion Golden Knights in the first stinkin' round of the playoffs. By the way, it's the same team you lost in last year's Western Conference Final. Dallas is a beastly team that's learned every lesson since last season and they feel destined to apply it to go deep this year. Vegas is equally terrifying, but they've been so inconsistent of late. Still, they're like a zombie, the Stars better be sure to double-tap them, or else.

Prediction: Stars in 7

- Joe Yerdon

Pound-for-pound, the Dallas Stars have been the best, most consistent team in the league this season. They have unique strength and depth down the lineup, and so many reinforcements when any of the best players happen to have an off night. Jake Oettinger has had a killer ending to the season as well, and that's a terrifying prospect for any opponent headed into the playoffs.

I commend the Golden Knights for their boldness, and the defending champions won't go down easy. But this time, it's the Stars' series to lose.

Prediction: Stars in 7

- Sara Civian

Dallas finishes first in the Western Conference and their reward is an opening matchup against the defending Stanley Cup champions. Vegas may have only accrued 98 points but injuries hurt them all season and they added Noah Hanifin, Tomas Hertl, and Anthony Mantha at the trade deadline. Tough break for the Stars.


I still like them to prevail. They're the best team in the West and the addition of Logan Stankovan to a third line with Jamie Benn and Wyatt Johnston is overpowering. Miro Heiskanen and Chris Tanev are the types of defensemen you ride for a long playoff stretch. And goaltender Jake Oettinger, after struggling for much of the season, returned to top form over the final six weeks of the season.
Prediction: Stars in 7
- Adam Herman

The Avalanche's high-octane offense had them spending most of this season among the top-five teams, but they struggled down the stretch in part because of shaky goaltending and sloppy defensive play.

Meanwhile, the Jets have been red-hot of late, overtaking the Avs in the Central Division standings with goalie Connor Hellebuyck in Vezina Trophy-winning form.

Prediction: Jets in 6

- Lyle Richardson

It's easy to hate how the Avalanche looked as the season wound down. It's just as easy to get hyped on Winnipeg for how they stepped up at the end and took home-ice advantage for this round.

These teams are close and both have massive difference-makers: Nathan MacKinnon for Colorado and Hellebuyck for the Jets. The Avs have the pedigree and the Jets' reclamation this year is a great story. Gah, this is hard...

Prediction: Avalanche in 7

- Joe Yerdon

How great is this series? And how hard is it to forecast? There have been times when the Avs have looked ready to seriously contend for a second Cup in three years, and times when they've been ordinary too. No team made them look the latter more than the Jets, which swept the season series and hung a 7-0 on them last week. Somehow, though, it still feels like an aberration.

I won't believe Winnipeg wins until the handshake line.

Prediction: Avalanche in 6

- Lyle Fitzsimmons

In any just world, this is a conference final.

Anyway, you've got a team with the best goaltender in the league and skaters who rarely, if ever, make mistakes in the Winnipeg Jets. Then you've got MacKinnon's passionate and fun Hart Trophy campaign of a season.

This is a series where regular-season matchups matter and the Jets handily swept. This is also one of the most even contests we'll see in the first round: The Avalanche have the offensive firepower while the Jets have the defensive edge.

I'm tempted to go with the Avalanche because of MacKinnon's performance alone, but that's not how all of this works, especially against Hellebuyck. The Jets also have home ice.

Prediction: Jets in 7

-Sara Civian

There are several reasons this series could go either way, but I can't get past the goaltending.

The Jets have Hellebuyck, who's the most consistently great goaltender of this generation. The Avs have Alexandar Georgiev, who's a borderline top-10 goaltender in the NHL when he's on and awful when his focus and confidence are shaken. Recently, he's been awful.

Prediction: Jets in 6

- Adam Herman

The Avalanche have the better team on paper, but the Jets have the biggest potential series-changing advantage. That would be in net where Connor Hellebuyck is not only one of the league's best goalies, he should be a legitimate MVP candidate this season.

The Avalanche, meanwhile, have major question marks in goal and have had season-long issues at the position.

That will be enough to end their season here.

Prediction: Jets in 7

- Adam Gretz

This could end up being a goaltending duel between Juuse Saros and Thatcher Demko, who's just returned from a knee injury. The Canucks were among this season's dominant clubs while the Predators rode a hot streak down the stretch into a wild-card spot.

If the Predators can't contain the Canucks' potent offense, it'll be a short series.

Prediction: Canucks in 5

- Lyle Richardson

Any team that goes 16-0-2 and plays .600 hockey is legit and can win a series, particularly with a goaltender like Saros.

Unlike others, though, this is a matchup where I can't get past the one-sided nature of the season series. The Canucks owned it and scored 13 goals in three games to Nashville's six. That's a tough stat to unsee.

Prediction: Canucks in 5

- Lyle Fitzsimmons

Of course, the season series here matters, with the Canucks coming out on top. But something about the nature of this matchup also makes me think about both teams' floors.

The Predators deserve respect for the season they put together, as does GM Barry Trotz for believing in them and buying at the deadline when they were at a crossroads.

But the Canucks' floor is so much higher than the Predators' has been. Everything has come together finally for Vancouver. Its best players are its best players, and it's got those "best players" at every position on its squad.

Prediction: Canucks in 5

-Sara Civian

This series is trickier to project than it looks. The Predators have been one of the top teams in the NHL since the trade deadline, ranking second by expected goals at five-on-five over that span, per Evolving Hockey.

The Canucks' record early in the season was something of a mirage created by an absurdly high shooting percentage. Thatcher Demko is the real deal in net, though. With Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes, and J.T. Miller among others, the Canucks are just more talented than the Predators.

Prediction: Canucks in 6

- Adam Herman

Teams that rely heavily on shooting percentage and save percentage scare me in the playoffs, and that is exactly what the Canucks did all season. They are good. They have some special high-end players. Their goaltending is strong. But I think there was a lot of smoke and mirrors here and Nashville is a sneaky good team with a great goalie.

This is the big Western Conference first-round upset.

Prediction: Predators in 7

- Adam Gretz

This feels like a possible nightmare matchup for Vancouver. The Predators have been on fire the entire second half of the season and they've done that without even having Juuse Saros playing at his peak best. Still, the Canucks have the kind of offense and goaltending that should have everyone in the West terrified. But the Predators, particularly with Filip Forsberg rolling, play with a don't-give-a-crap mentality. This is tough.

Prediction: Canucks in 7

- Joe Yerdon

The last two series between the Kings and Oilers saw the latter prevail in both.

While the Kings hope for a better ending this time, they're facing an opponent determined to win the Stanley Cup while their window of opportunity is still open. It's tough to bet against a motivated duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

Prediction: Oilers in 6

- Lyle Richardson

Three straight years of Oilers-Kings is reminiscent of the old days in the Smythe, when L.A. was (usually) Edmonton's warmup for bigger things. The matchup is closer these days, but still tipped in the McDavid/Draisaitl direction.

The Kings could make things terrifying in Alberta with a Game 1 win, but beyond Cam Talbot skunking his former team over the long haul, it seems too big an ask.

Prediction: Oilers in 5

- Lyle Fitzsimmons

I really like this Kings team a lot, and I had extremely high hopes for them at the start of the season. But having to go through Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in the first round (again) is not going to be easy. Unfortunately for the Kings, the third time will not be the charm here as Edmonton has too much offense to be stopped in the first round.

The Oilers have some flaws that might hold them back later, but I think they do just enough here to get through a good, but not-yet-great Kings team.

Prediction: Oilers in 6

- Adam Gretz

Well, well, well. The Kings, who took an honest crack at the Oilers last season and extended the series to seven games, are set to face Edmonton again in the first round.

Los Angeles has gotten better, but so has Edmonton. The way the team performed while McDavid was struggling early on, plus the improvements on defense, have shown me everything I need to see.

Prediction: Oilers in 5

- Sara Civian

The Kings are a strong possession team but they lack the star power and goaltending necessary to keep up with a team like Edmonton. Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty are still very good but no longer superstars. Adrian Kempe and Kevin Fiala don't match Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
The Oilers still have some of the same problems that have killed them for years; depth at forward and defense is lacking. However, Mattias Ekholm and Evan Bouchard are the best defensive pairing the Oilers have held during the McDavid Era and goaltender Stuart Skinner had a robust second half of the season. Oilers fans have to be nervous about the possibility that depth and goaltending destroy the team from within yet again but they should get past Los Angeles.
Prediction: Oilers in 5
- Adam Herman

Staff members from the B/R Open Ice and editorial teams also provided their picks for the upcoming first round.

Evan Sporer, Brand Strategy Manager, B/R Open Ice

Rangers vs. Capitals – Rangers in 5

Hurricanes vs. Islanders – Hurricanes in 6

Panthers vs. Lightning – Lightning in 7

Bruins vs. Maple Leafs – Maple Leafs in 6

Canucks vs. Predators – Canucks in 6

Oilers vs. Kings – Oilers in 5

Stars vs. Golden Knights – Stars in 7

Avalanche vs. Jets – Avalanche in 6

Mathieu Schneider, B/R Associate Manager, B/R Open Ice

Rangers vs. Capitals – Rangers in 6

Hurricanes vs. Islanders – Islanders in 7

Panthers vs. Lightning – Panthers in 6

Bruins vs. Maple Leafs – Bruins in 6

Canucks vs. Predators – Canucks in 5

Oilers vs. Kings – Kings in 7

Stars vs. Golden Knights – Stars in 6

Avalanche vs. Jets – Avalanche in 7

Jason Dunbar, Staff Editor, Bleacher Report

Rangers vs. Capitals – Rangers in 5

Hurricanes vs. Islanders – Hurricanes in 4

Panthers vs. Lightning – Panthers in 7

Bruins vs. Maple Leafs – Bruins in 5

Canucks vs. Predators – Predators in 6

Oilers vs. Kings – Oilers in 5

Stars vs. Golden Knights – Stars in 5

Avalanche vs. Jets – Jets in 7

Lucky Ngamwajasat, Associate Editor, Bleacher Report

Rangers vs. Capitals – Rangers in 7

Hurricanes vs. Islanders – Hurricanes in 6

Panthers vs. Lightning – Lightning in 7

Bruins vs. Maple Leafs – Bruins in 7

Canucks vs. Predators – Canucks in 7

Oilers vs. Kings – Oilers in 6

Stars vs. Golden Knights – Stars in 5

Avalanche vs. Jets – Jets in 5