2022 NHL Playoffs: First Round, Stanley Cup predictions

The 2021-22 NHL regular season is finally over after that Seattle Kraken-Winnipeg Jets game that determined the final percentages for the upcoming draft lottery.

That means it’s Stanley Cup playoff time — a two-month grind where 16 teams will be whittled down to two, which will end with one champion. Will the Tampa Bay Lightning make it a three-peat? Can the Colorado Avalanche finally reach the top? How magical will this spring be for the Florida Panthers? Is a Stanley Cup “Storm Surge” in our future?

With the First Round beginning Monday night, it’s time for the ProHockeyTalk team to give their predictions and how we see the next few months unfolding.

[NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs 2022 First Round schedule, TV info]

Adam: Panthers in 7Jake: Panthers in 6James: Panthers in 6Michael: Panthers in 5Sean: Panthers in 5

Adam: Hurricanes in 6Jake: Bruins in 7James: Hurricanes in 7Michael: Bruins in 6Sean: Hurricanes in 6

Adam: Lightning in 6Jake: Lightning in 7James: Lightning in 7Michael: Maple Leafs in 7Sean: Lightning in 7

Adam: Rangers in 7Jake: Rangers in 6James: Rangers in 6Michael: Rangers in 7Sean: Rangers in 6

Adam: Avalanche in 5Jake: Avalanche in 5James: Avalanche in 5Michael: Avalanche in 4Sean: Avalanche in 5

Adam: Flames in 7Jake: Flames in 6James: Flames in 6Michael: Flames in 5Sean: Flames in 5

Adam: Wild in 6Jake: Blues in 7James: Wild in 7Michael: Wild in 7Sean: Blues in 7

Adam: Kings in 7Jake: Oilers in 7James: Oilers in 6Michael: Oilers in 6Sean: Oilers in 6

Adam: CAR over TB in 7 / COL over CGY in 6Jake: TBL over NYR in 6 / COL over EDM in 5James: TBL over CAR in 6 / COL over CGY in 6Michael: TOR over NYR in 7 / COL over CGY in 5Sean: FLA over NYR in 7 / COL over CGY in 6 

Colorado is, for me, the best team in