NHL Network Radio Presents the 2021 Fearless Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions

Didn’t we just do this?

Time once again for the World Famous SiriusXM NHL Network Radio Stanley Cup Playoff Prediction Pool.  This is the 15^th year we’ve foolishly laid everything on the line.  There are 17 participants, all looking to hoist the “Cup”.

Dennis Bernstein took home the honours last time around and looks to snare the rare repeat.  Steve Kouleas finished a point back, and after five recounts, still finished a point back.  As did Gord Stellick.  Both have their sights set on DB.

More than any other year, almost any of the 16 teams left standing to have a legitimate shot at winning the Stanley Cup this summer.  Most observers expect the series to be long ones, though we do have some sweeps predicted.

Keep in mind this is not a bracket challenge.  We will submit 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.

2020 FINAL RESULTS

1. Dennis Bernstein 30 points
2. Steve Kouleas 29
3. Gord Stellick 29
4. Jonathan Davis 28
5. Mike Lippa 25
6. Jesse Ralph 21
7. Tyler Madaraz 21
8. Jake Hahn 21
9. Bruce Bolton 18
10. Jim Gordon 18
11. Peter Berce 17
12. Mick Kern 17
13. Scott Laughlin 15
14. Joe Thistel 15

FEARLESS PLAYOFF PREDICTION CHAMPIONS

2021 Champion – ??????????
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

We are back to our “normal” scoring system. 46 points is the maximum number of points one can achieve. Mike Lippa set the record with 36 points back in 2016.

• 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 2021 Stanley Cup winner
• 2 points for correctly choosing the 2021 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 2021 Stanley Cup winner before the playoffs begin
• 3 points for correctly choosing the 2021 Conn Smythe winner before the playoffs begin

As for favoured teams this time around, here is the statistical breakdown (17 votes in all):

2021 Stanley Cup Champion

2021 Conn Smythe Trophy Winner

Teams that nobody picked to win a playoff series

Nashville Predators
St. Louis Blues
Montreal Canadiens

And Now…Our Fearless 2021 Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions

Dennis Bernstein
Pittsburgh in 7
Boston in 7
Carolina in 4
Florida in 7
Vegas in 6
Colorado in 6
Toronto in 4
Edmonton in 5
Cup Winner: Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe Winner: Nathan MacKinnon

Steve Kouleas
Pittsburgh in 6
Boston in 7
Carolina in 5
Tampa Bay in 7
Colorado in 6
Vegas in 6
Toronto in 7
Edmonton in 5
Cup Winner: Vegas Golden Knights
Conn Smythe Winner: Mark Stone

Gord Stellick
Pittsburgh in 7
Washington in 6
Carolina in 5
Tampa Bay in 6
Vegas in 6
Colorado in 6
Toronto in 5
Winnipeg in 6
Cup Winner: Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe Winner: Nathan MacKinnon

Jonathan Davis
Pittsburgh in 6
Boston in 7
Carolina in 6
Tampa Bay in 6
Colorado in 6
Vegas in 5
Toronto in 5
Edmonton in 7
Cup Winner: Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe Winner: Philipp Grubauer

Mike Lippa
Pittsburgh in 7
Boston in 6
Carolina in 4
Florida in 7
Colorado in 7
Vegas in 5
Toronto in 5
Edmonton in 6
Cup Winner: Vegas Golden Knights 
Conn Smythe Winner: Marc-Andre Fleury

Jesse Ralph
Pittsburgh in 7
Boston in 6
Carolina in 5
Tampa Bay in 7
Colorado in 6
Minnesota in 7
Toronto in 7
Winnipeg in 6
Cup Winner: Carolina Hurricanes
Conn Smythe Winner: Jaccob Slavin

Tyler Madaraz
Pittsburgh in 6
Boston in 7
Carolina in 5
Tampa Bay in 7
Colorado in 6
Vegas in 7
Toronto in 6
Edmonton in 6
Cup Winner: Carolina Hurricanes
Conn Smythe Winner: Sebastian Aho

Jake Hahn
NY Islanders in 7
Boston in 6
Carolina in 4
Florida in 6
Colorado in 5
Vegas in 7
Toronto in 5
Edmonton in 6
Cup Winner: Carolina Hurricanes
Conn Smythe Winner: Vincent Trocheck

Bruce Bolton
NY Islanders in 7
Washington in 7
Carolina in 4
Tampa Bay in 6
Colorado in 5
Minnesota in 6
Toronto in 4
Winnipeg in 6
Cup Winner: Tampa Bay Lightning
Conn Smythe Winner: Andrei Vasilevskiy

Jim Gordon
NY Islanders in 7
Boston in 7
Carolina in 5
Florida in 7
Colorado in 7
Vegas in 7
Toronto in 5
Edmonton in 5
Cup Winner: Carolina Hurricanes
Conn Smythe Winner: Sebatian Aho

Peter Berce
NY Islanders in 6
Washington in 7
Carolina in 5
Tampa Bay in 6
Colorado in 6
Minnesota in 7
Toronto in 6
Winnipeg in 7
Cup Winner: Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe Winner: Cale Makar 

Mick Kern
NY Islanders in 7
Boston in 7
Carolina in 6
Tampa Bay in 6
Colorado in 7
Vegas in 7
Toronto in 5
Edmonton in 6
Cup Winner:  Carolina Hurricanes
Conn Smythe Winner: Dougie Hamilton

Scott Laughlin
Pittsburgh in 6
Boston in 7
Carolina in 5
Florida in 7
Colorado in 6
Vegas in 6
Toronto in 5
Edmonton in 6
Cup Winner: Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe Winner: Cale Makar

Joe Thistel
Pittsburgh in 5
Boston in 6
Carolina in 6
Tampa Bay in 7
Colorado in 7
Vegas in 6
Toronto in 6
Edmonton in 6
Cup Winner: Tampa Bay Lightning
Conn Smythe Winner: Nikita Kucherov

Dave McCarthy
Pittsburgh in 7
Boston in 6
Carolina in 5
Tampa Bay in 7
Colorado in 7
Vegas in 6
Toronto in 5
Winnipeg in 7
Cup Winner: Vegas Golden Knights
Conn Smythe Winner: Mark Stone

Bernie Corbett
Pittsburgh in 6
Boston in 6
Carolina in 5
Tampa Bay in 7
Colorado in 6
Vegas in 6
Toronto in 6
Edmonton in 6
Cup Winner: Carolina Hurricanes
Conn Smythe Winner:  Sebastian Aho

Shane Malloy
Pittsburgh in 6
Boston in 6
Carolina in 5
Tampa Bay in 7
Colorado in 6
Vegas in 6
Toronto in 5
Edmonton in 6
Cup Winner: Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe Trophy Winner: Nathan McKinnon