Sportsnet NHL Insiders reveal Stanley Cup Playoffs picks

Steve Dangle looks at what the last five Stanley Cup winners had in common, and who is trending that way this season.

Is this finally the year for San Jose? What about Washington, or even St. Louis?

Will the Los Angeles Kings win it and continue the back and forth championship exchange with the Chicago Blackhawks — or will the Blackhawks be the first team to repeat since the Detroit Red Wings in 1997 and 1998?

How about the Pittsburgh Penguins, who come in hot? Or the Philadelphia Flyers? What about the upstart Florida Panthers, or the other Florida team — the Tampa Bay Lightning were just two wins from the Cup a year ago. How about a deep sleeper pick?

However the playoffs unfold, you need to pick your brackets before the games get going Wednesday night. Want to see how some of your selections compare to Sportsnet’s Insiders?


STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS:
First Round Series Previews | Broadcast Schedule
Stanley Cup Playoffs Fantasy Hockey


See who our collection of experts thinks will win it all.

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS vs. NEW YORK RANGERS

Corey Hirsch: Penguins in 6
Damien Cox: Rangers
Doug MacLean: Penguins in 6
Roger Millions: Rangers in 7
John Shannon: Penguins in 6
Chantal Desjardins: Penguins in 6
Mark Spector: Penguins in 6
Thomas Drance: Penguins in 6
Sean McIndoe (Down Goes Brown): Penguins in 5
Dan Murphy: Penguins
Nick Kypreos: Penguins in 6
Chris Johnston: Penguins in 5
Leah Hextall: Penguins in 6
Gene Principe: Penguins in 6
Luke Fox: Rangers in 6
Eric Engels: Penguins in 7

WASHINGTON CAPITALS vs. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

Corey Hirsch: Flyers in 7
Damien Cox: Capitals
Doug MacLean: Capitals in 5
Roger Millions: Capitals in 6
John Shannon: Capitals in 5
Chantal Desjardins: Capitals in 5
Mark Spector: Capitals in 5
Thomas Drance: Capitals in 5
Sean McIndoe (Down Goes Brown): Capitals in 5
Dan Murphy: Capitals
Nick Kypreos: Capitals in 5
Chris Johnston: Capitals in 6
Leah Hextall: Flyers in 7
Gene Principe: Capitals in 5
Luke Fox: Capitals in 5
Eric Engels: Capitals in 7

FLORIDA PANTHERS vs. NEW YORK ISLANDERS

Corey Hirsch: Panthers in 5
Damien Cox: Islanders
Doug MacLean: Panthers in 6
Roger Millions: Islanders in 7
John Shannon: Panthers in 6
Chantal Desjardins: Panthers in 7
Mark Spector: Panthers in 5
Thomas Drance: Panthers in 7
Sean McIndoe (Down Goes Brown): Panthers in 5
Dan Murphy: Panthers
Nick Kypreos: Panthers in 6
Chris Johnston: Panthers in 7
Leah Hextall: Panthers in 6
Gene Principe: Islanders in 6
Luke Fox: Panthers in 6
Eric Engels: Panthers in 7

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING vs. DETROIT RED WINGS

Corey Hirsch: Lightning in 5
Damien Cox: Lightning
Doug MacLean: Red Wings in 7
Roger Millions: Lightning in 6
John Shannon: Lightning in 6
Chantal Desjardins: Red Wings in 6
Mark Spector: Red Wings in 7
Thomas Drance: Lightning in 5
Sean McIndoe (Down Goes Brown): Lightning in 7
Dan Murphy: Red Wings
Nick Kypreos: Red Wings in 7
Chris Johnston: Lightning in 6
Leah Hextall: Lightning in 6
Gene Principe: Red Wings in 5
Luke Fox: Lightning in 5
Eric Engels: Red Wings in 7

LOS ANGELES KINGS vs. SAN JOSE SHARKS

Corey Hirsch: Kings in 7
Damien Cox: Kings
Doug MacLean: Kings in 7
Roger Millions: Kings in 7
John Shannon: Kings in 6
Chantal Desjardins: Kings in 4
Mark Spector: Kings in 7
Thomas Drance: Sharks in 6
Sean McIndoe (Down Goes Brown): Kings in 7
Dan Murphy: Kings
Nick Kypreos: Kings in 7
Chris Johnston: Kings in 6
Leah Hextall: Kings in 7
Gene Principe: Kings in 6
Luke Fox: Sharks in 7
Eric Engels: Kings in 7

ANAHEIM DUCKS vs. NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Corey Hirsch: Ducks in 5
Damien Cox: Ducks
Doug MacLean: Ducks in 6
Roger Millions: Ducks in 5
John Shannon: Ducks in 5
Chantal Desjardins: Predators in 7
Mark Spector: Ducks in 7
Thomas Drance: Ducks in 5
Sean McIndoe (Down Goes Brown): Ducks in 6
Dan Murphy: Ducks
Nick Kypreos: Ducks in 6
Chris Johnston: Ducks in 7
Leah Hextall: Ducks in 6
Gene Principe: Predators in 6
Luke Fox: Ducks in 5
Eric Engels: Ducks in 7

DALLAS STARS vs. MINNESOTA WILD

Corey Hirsch: Stars in 6
Damien Cox: Wild
Doug MacLean: Stars in 5
Roger Millions: Stars in 5
John Shannon: Stars in 5
Chantal Desjardins: Stars in 6
Mark Spector: Stars in 5
Thomas Drance: Stars in 5
Sean McIndoe (Down Goes Brown): Stars in 4
Dan Murphy: Stars
Nick Kypreos: Stars in 6
Chris Johnston: Stars in 5
Leah Hextall: Stars in 5
Gene Principe: Stars in 6
Luke Fox: Stars in 5
Eric Engels: Stars in 6

ST. LOUIS BLUES vs. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

Corey Hirsch: Blues in 7
Damien Cox: Blackhawks
Doug MacLean: Blues in 6
Roger Millions: Blackhawks in 6
John Shannon: Blues in 7
Chantal Desjardins: Blackhawks in 5
Mark Spector: Blues in 7
Thomas Drance: Blues in 6
Sean McIndoe (Down Goes Brown): Blues in 7
Dan Murphy: Blues
Nick Kypreos: Blues in 7
Chris Johnston: Blues in 6
Leah Hextall: Blues in 7
Gene Principe: Blackhawks in 6
Luke Fox: Blues in 7
Eric Engels: Blackhawks in 6

EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPION:
Corey Hirsch: Pittsburgh
Damien Cox: Capitals
Doug MacLean: Capitals
Roger Millions: Capitals
John Shannon: Penguins
Chantal Desjardins: Capitals
Mark Spector: Capitals
Thomas Drance: Penguins
Sean McIndoe (Down Goes Brown): Penguins
Dan Murphy: Capitals
Nick Kypreos: Capitals
Chris Johnston: Capitals
Leah Hextall: Penguins
Gene Principe: Penguins
Luke Fox: Capitals
Eric Engels: Penguins

WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPION:
Corey Hirsch: Ducks
Damien Cox: Ducks
Doug MacLean: Ducks
Roger Millions: Ducks
John Shannon: Ducks
Chantal Desjardins: Kings
Mark Spector: Blues
Thomas Drance: Ducks
Sean McIndoe (Down Goes Brown): Kings
Dan Murphy: Kings
Nick Kypreos: Blues
Chris Johnston: Ducks
Leah Hextall: Kings
Gene Principe: Blackhawks
Luke Fox: Ducks
Eric Engels: Kings

STANLEY CUP CHAMPION:
Corey Hirsch: Ducks
Damien Cox: Ducks
Doug MacLean: Capitals
Roger Millions: Ducks
John Shannon: Penguins
Chantal Desjardins: Kings
Mark Spector: Blues
Thomas Drance: Ducks
Sean McIndoe (Down Goes Brown): Kings
Dan Murphy: Kings
Nick Kypreos: Capitals
Chris Johnston: Capitals
Leah Hextall: Kings
Gene Principe: Penguins
Luke Fox: Capitals
Eric Engels: Kings

CONN SMYTHE WINNER:
Corey Hirsch: Corey Perry
Damien Cox: Ryan Kesler
Doug MacLean: Ryan Getzlaf
Roger Millions: Corey Perry
John Shannon: Sidney Crosby
Chantal Desjardins: Jonathan Quick
Mark Spector: Alex Steen
Thomas Drance: Corey Perry
Sean McIndoe (Down Goes Brown): Drew Doughty
Dan Murphy: Anze Kopitar
Nick Kypreos: Braden Holtby
Chris Johnston: Alex Ovechkin
Leah Hextall: Drew Doughty
Gene Principe: Sidney Crosby
Luke Fox: Alex Ovechkin
Eric Engels: Drew Doughty

When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.