NHL Network Radio presents the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions – the Stanley Cup Final

So here we are.

After six months of 32 teams playing 82 games each.  After all the trades, goals, and hits, penalties, hirings and firings…we’re down to two teams.

The Florida Panthers and the Vegas Golden Knights. 

8^th seed vs. 1^st seed.

The upstart Panthers, who barely made the post-season cut in the Eastern Conference, facing off against the Golden Knights, who recorded the most points this season in the Western Conference.

Yes, Florida were the top regular season team last season…last season!  And Vegas missed the playoffs last season!  Yup, a lot can change in 12 months.

And in two weeks’ time, one of these two remaining franchises will lift the Stanley Cup for the first time in their respective histories.  Both teams have been here before; Florida came up short against Colorado back in 1996, while the Golden Knights lost to Washington in 2018.

This time around, who’s the favourite? As we know…this has not been a bumper year for accurate playoff predictions, with next to nobody in the known Solar System having predicted back in mid-April that it would be Vegas vs. Florida in this year’s Stanley Cup Final.

But here we are.

Tune in and Listen Live

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Keep in mind this has not been a bracket challenge.  We have submitted our predictions round by round.  Tune in to “Under Review” on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio Channel 91 every weekday at 11 am Eastern/8 am Pacific for the latest Fearless Playoff Predictions updates.

There is no tiebreaker formula, so currently, Ryan Paton and Dennis Bernstein are tied for the top spot.

2023 STANDINGS – AFTER 3 ROUNDS

• Ryan Paton                    15 Points (8 for 14)
• Dennis Bernstein          15 Points (7 for 14)
• Martin Biron                  14 Points (8 for 14)
• Joe Thistel                     14 Points (8 for 14)
• Jonathan Davis             14 Points (8 for 14)
• Mick Kern                      14 Points (8 for 14)
• Steve Kouleas               13 Points (8 for 14)
• Peter Berce                    12 Points (8 for 14)
• Linda Cohn                    12 Points (7 for 14)
• Bruce Bolton                 12 Points (7 for 14)
• Designated Listener    12 Points (7 for 14)
• Mike Lippa                    11 Points (7 for 14)
• Russ Cohen                   11 Points (7 for 14)
• Scott Laughlin               11 Points (6 for 14)
• Shane Malloy                10 Points (5 for 14)
• Jim Gordon                    9 Points (7 for 14)
• Tyler Madarasz             9 Points (5 for 14)
• Gord Stellick                  9 Points (5 for 14)
• Jesse Ralph                    8 Points (4 for 14)
• Mike McKenna             7 Points (5 for 14)
• Jake Hahn                      7 Points (4 for 14)
• Dave McCarthy             6 Points (4 for 14)
• Bernie Corbett              6 Points (4 for 14)
• Lucas Critelli                  6 Points (4 for 14)
• Victoria Matiash           3 Points (1 for 2)

FEARLESS PLAYOFF PREDICTION CHAMPIONS
2023 Champion – ?
2022 Champion – Steve Kouleas
2021 Champion – Bruce Bolton (2)
2020 Champion – Dennis Bernstein
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)
2007 Champions – Mike Ross & Mick Kern

46 points is the maximum number of points one can achieve. Mike Lippa set the record with 36 points back in 2016. Steve Kouleas set the record with 14 correct series picks out of 15 in 2022.

• 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 2023 Stanley Cup winner
• 2 points for correctly choosing the 2023 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 2023 Stanley Cup winner before the playoffs begin – NOBODY QUALIFIES FOR THIS
• 3 points for correctly choosing the 2023 Conn Smythe winner before the playoffs begin – NOBODY QUALIFIES FOR THIS

Our Fearless 2023 Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions – STANLEY CUP FINAL

Ryan Paton
Vegas in 5 games
Conn Smythe Winner: Jack Eichel

Dennis Bernstein
Vegas in 6
Jonathan Marchessault

Martin Biron
Vegas in 5
William Karlsson

Joe Thistel
Florida in 6
Sergei Bobrovsky

Jonathan Davis
Vegas in 6
William Karlsson

Mick Kern
Vegas in 7
Jonathan Marchessault

Steve Kouleas
Vegas in 5
Jonathan Marschessault

Peter Berce
Vegas in 6
William Karlsson

Linda Cohn
Vegas in 6
Jack Eichel

Bruce Bolton
Florida in 6
Sergei Bobrovsky

Designated Listener: Brad from Trail, B.C.
Florida in 7
Sergei Bobrovsky

Mike Lippa
Florida Panthers
Sergei Bobrovsky

Russ Cohen
Vegas in 6
Jonathan Marchessault

Scott Laughlin
Florida in 6
William Karlsson

Shane Malloy
Vegas in 7
Sergei Bobrovsky

Jim Gordon
Vegas in 7
Jack Eichel

Tyler Madarasz
Vegas in 5
Adin Hill

Gord Stellick
Vegas in 6
Mark Stone

Jesse Ralph
Vegas in 6
Sergei Bobrovsky

Mike McKenna
Vegas in 6
Jonathan Marchessault

Jake Hahn
Florida in 7
Sergei Bobrovsky

Dave McCarthy
Florida in 7
Sergei Bobrovsky

Bernie Corbett
Vegas in 6
Jack Eichel

Lucas Critelli
Florida in 6
Matthew Tkachuk

Victoria Matiash
Florida in 7Sergei Bobrovsky