With about 10 games left for each team in the NHL, here are my playoff predictions.

Eastern Conference:

Atlantic: 1.Tampa Bay Lightning 2.Florida Panthers 3.Detroit Red Wings

Metropolitan: 1.Washington Capitals(best record in NHL) 2.Pittsburgh Penguins 3.New York Rangers

Wildcard: 1.Boston Bruins 2. Philadelphia Flyers 

The Lightning are the defending East champions, but will not defend that title successfully. The Capitals will tie or break the record for most wins in a season, which is held by Detroit with 62. The T-second hottest team in the league based on last 10, Pittsburgh, will make some noise,and the the team tied for No.1 with LA,Philly,will knock the New York Islanders out of the playoffs late in the season.The Red Wings will make the playoffs for the 25th straight year,and the Rangers,Eastern finalists last year and league leqaders,will say goodbye in the first round.

Western Conference:

Central: 1.Dallas Stars 2. St.Louis Blues 3. Chicago Blackhawks

Pacific: 1.Los Angeles Kings(best record in conference) 2.Anaheim Ducks 3.San Jose Sharks

Wildcard: 1.Nashville Predators 2.Colorado Avalanche 

The Kings won the cup two years ago and are ready to take it back. The defending champion Blackhawks don’t last long. Nathan MacKinnon comes back from injury to lead the Avalanche against LA.The Ducks and Sharks fight it out in a close battle,and the Wild finish a point behind Colorado,coming ever so close to a berth.Dallas puts up a fight to lead the NHL’s best division.

Playoffs:

East first round: Capitals 4-2 Flyers, Lightning 4-2 Bruins, Red Wings 4-2 Predators, Penguins 4-1 Rangers

The Flyers and Bruins fight tooth and nail, but can’t come up against the league’s best.The Wings take a few road wins to beat Nashville, and Pittsburgh demolishes NY.

West first round:Kings 4-0 Avalanche, Stars 4-0 Predators, Blues 4-2 Blackhawks, Ducks 4-3 Sharks

The Avalanche and Predators can’t get past some of the best teams in the NHL.The Blues prove to much for the ‘Hawks, and the Ducks outlast San Jose in a classic Game 7.

East Semifinals: Penguins 4-2 Capitals,Red Wings 4-3 Lightning 

The semifinals are both stunners, with Pittsburgh overwhelming Washington, and the Wings stunning Tampa Bay late in Game 7.

West Semifinals: Kings 4-1 Ducks, Stars 4-3 Blues

The Kings roll over division rival Ducks in five games, and after six games with the Blues nipping at their heels, the Stars shake off the Blues in a close Game 7.

East Finals: Red Wings 4-3 Penguins

After taking a 3-1 lead, the Penguins let it all hang out. Detroit forces Game 7,with Henrik Zetterberg scoring the winner, fittingly coming back from down 3-1 in the game to win 4-3 to cap a series in which they overcame a 3-1 deficit to win 4-3.

West Finals: Kings 4-2 Stars

The Kings take care of business in Game 6, looking like the sure fire champion. 

Stanley Cup Finals:

Red Wings 4-3 Kings

The Wings cap off a stunning postseason with an OT win in Game 7. The Conn Smythe trophy goes to Zetterberg, with a hat trick in the decider.

NHL MVP: Sidney Crosby,Penguins 

Vezina Trophy(Best keeper):Ben Bishop,Lightning

Ted Lindsay Award(Best player as chosen by the players):Sidney Crosby,Penguins

Norris Trophy(Top Defender): P.K. Subban,Montreal Canadiens

Art Ross Trophy(Most Points): Patrick Kane, Blackhawks

Calder Memorial Trophy(Top rookie):  Shayne Gostisbehere,Flyers

Jack Adams Award(best coach): Jeff Blashill,Red Wings

Conn Smythe Trophy(Stanley Cup Playoffs MVP): Henrik Zetterberg