The first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs is almost complete, with a Game 7 remaining Sunday night to decide the Dallas Stars vs. Vegas Golden Knights clash.
Three of the four matchups are set, which means it’s time for another set of predictions from the reporters, analysts and broadcasters of the ESPN hockey family!
Note: Picks for the Central Division series between the Colorado Avalanche and either the Dallas Stars or Vegas Golden Knights will be added here when that matchup is finalized.
More: Playoff schedule
Updated bracket
Playoff lessons
Offseason keys for ousted teams
Atlantic Division
Sean Allen: Panthers in six
John Buccigross: Panthers in five
Ryan Callahan: Panthers in six
Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Panthers in five
Sachin Chandan: Panthers in seven
Ryan S. Clark: Panthers in seven
Linda Cohn: Panthers in six
Ray Ferraro: Panthers in six
Leah Hextall: Panthers in six
Emily Kaplan: Panthers in seven
Tim Kavanagh: Panthers in six
Hilary Knight: Panthers in five
Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Panthers in six
Steve Levy: Bruins in seven
Vince Masi: Panthers in six
Victoria Matiash: Panthers in six
Sean McDonough: Panthers in seven
Mark Messier: Panthers in five
AJ Mleczko: Panthers in six
Arda Öcal: Panthers in five
Kristen Shilton: Panthers in five
P.K. Subban: Panthers in six
Bob Wischusen: Panthers in seven
Greg Wyshynski: Panthers in five
Consensus prediction: Panthers (23 of 24 picks)
Metropolitan Division
Sean Allen: Hurricanes in six
John Buccigross: Rangers in seven
Ryan Callahan: Rangers in six
Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Rangers in six
Sachin Chandan: Rangers in six
Ryan S. Clark: Hurricanes in seven
Linda Cohn: Rangers in seven
Ray Ferraro: Rangers in seven
Leah Hextall: Hurricanes in six
Emily Kaplan: Rangers in seven
Tim Kavanagh: Rangers in six
Hilary Knight: Rangers in seven
Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Hurricanes in seven
Steve Levy: Rangers in five
Vince Masi: Hurricanes in seven
Victoria Matiash: Hurricanes in six
Sean McDonough: Hurricanes in six
Mark Messier: Rangers in six
AJ Mleczko: Hurricanes in seven
Arda Öcal: Rangers in five
Kristen Shilton: Hurricanes in seven
P.K. Subban: Rangers in seven
Bob Wischusen: Hurricanes in seven
Greg Wyshynski: Rangers in seven
Consensus prediction: Rangers (14 of 24 picks)
1:24
Bucci breaks down the Rangers’ Cup chances with McAfee
John Buccigross analyzes the Rangers’ sweep of the Capitals and notes things will get much more difficult starting in the second round.
Pacific Division
Sean Allen: Oilers in five
John Buccigross: Oilers in six
Ryan Callahan: Oilers in five
Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Oilers in six
Sachin Chandan: Oilers in five
Ryan S. Clark: Canucks in seven
Linda Cohn: Oilers in seven
Ray Ferraro: Oilers in six
Leah Hextall: Oilers in six
Emily Kaplan: Oilers in six
Tim Kavanagh: Oilers in five
Hilary Knight: Oilers in seven
Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Oilers in six
Steve Levy: Oilers in five
Vince Masi: Oilers in six
Victoria Matiash: Oilers in five
Sean McDonough: Oilers in six
Mark Messier: Oilers in six
AJ Mleczko: Oilers in five
Arda Öcal: Oilers in five
Kristen Shilton: Oilers in six
P.K. Subban: Oilers in six
Bob Wischusen: Oilers in seven
Greg Wyshynski: Oilers in seven
Consensus prediction: Oilers (23 of 24 picks)