2020 NHL FEARLESS PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS

Mick Kern
August 9, 2020

Even though it’s mid-summer, it’s time for our 14^th Annual Fearless NHL Playoff Predictions.

We asked the staff here at SiriusXM NHL Network Radio the following questions…

Which team will win the Stanley Cup this time around?
Which team will be the Stanley Cup runner-up?
Which player will win the Conn Smythe Trophy?
Which team will draft first overall in the 2020 Entry Draft?
Which team will finish first in the Eastern Conference round robin series?
Which team will finish first in the Western Conference round robin series?
Pick the WINNER of each of the eight Play-In series
Pick the correct number of games (3, 4, or 5) each Play-In series will go

This is NOT a bracket. We will make new picks with each subsequent playoff round.

Here is this year’s unique point system; 68 points would constitute a perfect score.
(Under our “normal” scoring system, 46 points was the maximum one could achieve. Mike Lippa set the record with 36 points back in 2016).

1 point for correctly choosing the winner of each Play-In Series
2 points for correctly choosing the 1^st place finisher in each round robin group
1 point for correctly choosing the winner of each 1^st round series
2 points for correctly choosing the winner of each 2^nd round series
2 points for correctly choosing the winner of each 3^rd round series
3 points for correctly choosing the 2020 Stanley Cup winner
2 points for correctly choosing the 2020 Conn Smythe winner
1 point for correctly choosing how long a series goes, but only if one also correctly picks that series’ winning team
3 points for correctly choosing the 2020 Stanley Cup winner before the playoffs begin
3 points for correctly choosing the 2020 Conn Smythe winner before the playoffs begin
2 points for correctly choosing which team gets to draft first in the 2020 Entry Draft

FEARLESS PLAYOFF PREDICTION CHAMPIONS OVER THE YEARS

2019 Champion – Jim Gordon
2018 Champion – Joe Thistel (3)
2017 Champion – Peter Berce (2)
2016 Champion – Mike Lippa
2015 Champions – Peter Berce & Nick Alberga
2014 Champion – Joe Thistel (2)
2013 Champion – Bruce Bolton
2012 Champion – Mick Kern (4)
2011 Champion – Joe Thistel
2010 Champions – Scott Laughlin (2) & Shawn Lavigne
2009 Champions – Scott Laughlin & Mick Kern (3)
2008 Champion – Mick Kern (2)

STEVE KOULEAS

Tampa Bay over Colorado
Andrei Vasilevsky
Calgary
Tampa Bay
Colorado
Pittsburgh in 3
Toronto in 5
Rangers in 5
Islanders in 4
Edmonton in 4
Arizona in 5
Vancouver in 5
Winnipeg in 5

SCOTT LAUGHLIN

Vegas over Washington
Marc-Andre Fleury
Montreal
Washington
Vegas
Pittsburgh in 3
Columbus in 5
Rangers in 4
Islanders in 4
Edmonton in 4
Nashville in 4
Vancouver in 5
Winnipeg in 4

GORD STELLICK

Tampa over Winnipeg
Andrei Vasilevsky
Boston
Vegas
Montreal
Pittsburgh in 3
Toronto in 4
Carolina in 5
Islanders in 4
Did Not Submit Western Picks

PETER BERCE

Washington over Colorado
TJ Oshie
Montreal Canadiens
Washington Capitals
Colorado Avalanche
Penguins in 3
Toronto in 4
Rangers in 5
Islanders in 4
Edmonton in 5
Nashville in 4
Minnesota in 4
Winnipeg in 4

MICK KERN

Colorado over Philadelphia
Nathan MacKinnon
Minnesota
Tampa Bay
Vegas
Pittsburgh in 3
Toronto in 5
Rangers in 5
Islanders in 4
Edmonton in 5
Nashville in 4
Vancouver in 5
Winnipeg in 4

BRUCE BOLTON

Colorado over Philadelphia
Nathan MacKinnon
Montreal
Tampa Bay
Colorado
Pittsburgh in 4
Toronto in 4
Carolina in 5
Islanders in 5
Edmonton in 3
Arizona in 5
Minnesota in 4
Calgary in 5

MIKE LIPPA

Boston over Colorado
Patrice Bergeron
Montreal
Philadelphia
Vegas
Pittsburgh in 3
Toronto in 5
Rangers in 5
Islanders in 4
Edmonton in 4
Nashville in 3
Vancouver in 5
Calgary in 4 Games

JIM GORDON

St. Louis over Philadelphia
Jordan Binnington
Chicago Blackhawks
Tampa Bay
Colorado
Pittsburgh in 4
Toronto in 4
Carolina in 5
Islanders in 4
Edmonton in 5
Nashville in 4
Minnesota in 4
Calgary in 5

JAKE HAHN

Washington over Colorado
Alex Ovechkin
Columbus Blue Jackets
Tampa Bay
Colorado
Pittsburgh in 4
Toronto in 4
Carolina in 5
Islanders in 3
Edmonton in 5
Nashville in 4
Vancouver in 5
Winnipeg in 4

TYLER MADARAZ

Winnipeg over Philadelphia
Connor Hellebuyck
Edmonton
Washington
Colorado
Penguins in 3
Toronto in 5
Rangers in 5
Islanders in 4
Chicago in 4
Nashville in 4
Minnesota in 5
Winnipeg in 5

JESSE RALPH

Vegas over Philadelphia
Mark Stone
Montreal
Tampa Bay
Vegas
Pittsburgh in 4
Toronto in 5
Carolina in 5
Islanders in 5
Edmonton in 4
Nashville in 4
Vancouver in 5
Winnipeg in 4

DENNIS BERNSTEIN

Tampa Bay over Colorado
Brayden Point
Montreal
Philadelphia
Colorado
Pittsburgh in 3
Columbus in 5
Rangers in 5
Islanders in 4
Chicago in 4
Nashville in 5
Vancouver in 3
Winnipeg in 5

JONATHAN DAVIS

Vegas over Tampa Bay
Mark Stone
Montreal
Tampa Bay
Colorado
Pittsburgh in 3
Columbus in 4
Carolina in 5
Islanders in 3
Edmonton in 3
Nashville in 4
Vancouver in 4
Winnipeg in 4

JOE THISTEL

Philadelphia over Colorado
Claude Giroux
Edmonton
Washington
Dallas
Pittsburgh in 4
Columbus in 5
Rangers in 4
Islanders in 5
Chicago in 4
Nashville in 4
Minnesota in 5
Winnipeg in 5