Here’s a look at the chances each team in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs has of taking home the Cup.
Finally, the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs are upon us. For NHL fans, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. There’s nothing like playoff hockey. The best teams in the league go after one another, seven games at a time. Even if your favorite team didn’t make the postseason, chances are you’ll be watching.
It takes a lot to win a Stanley Cup. To win, it takes a ton of skill, a ton of effort, and yes, a pinch of good luck. Pucks don’t always bounce your way in the playoffs. A hot (or cold) goalie can help or ruin a team’s chances of winning.
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Winning the Stanley Cup is arguably the hardest thing to do in the world of sports. Not only do you have to undergo a grueling regular season, but you’ve also got to endure anywhere from 16 to 28 extra games against the best of the best. This season, the road to the Stanley Cup is wide open, especially in the Western Conference. Let’s rank each team’s chances of taking home Lord Stanley in 2019.
All stats are courtesy of Natural Stat Trick and Hockey Reference.
16. Colorado Avalanche
Why they can win: The Colorado Avalanche enter the Stanley Cup Playoffs as one of the hottest teams in the NHL. Since the start of March, their 64.7% point percentage is tied with the Boston Bruins for the fifth-highest in the league. The Avalanche have gone 10-5-2 during this span, including a ludicrous 8-0-2 run.
They’re playing as well as they did early in the season when they looked like legitimate Stanley Cup contenders. It took Philipp Grubauer a while to get going in goal, but he’s been phenomenal for them as of late.
Why they might lose: The Avalanche will need to get great goaltending to have a serious shot at winning the Stanley Cup. They’ve gotten it from Grubauer, but he’s not playoff tested, as he has just three starts. His two most recent ones were bad, as those were the two games the Capitals lost against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Also, the Avalanche need more guys other than Nathan MacKinnon and their top line to score. It’s encouraging they’ve gotten depth scoring lately, but if it dries out, they’re in deep trouble.