NHL predictions and rankings - September 6, 2020
The semi-finals start tonight so I thought I should publish an update. I’m surprised the Stars beat the Avalanche but surprised are to be expected in NHL playoffs.
Predictions for the 2019-20 season
In the East, the Islanders are slightly favoured over the Lightning. I’m a bit surprised by that as the Lightning have been playing well. I do not agree with my own model here and I consider the Lightning the favorite to reach the finals and win the Cup. One thing my model does not factor in is that the Lightning is rested compared to the Islanders who needed 7 games to beat the Flyers.
In the West, the Golden Knights are favoured over the Stars. The two teams needed 7 games to move to the semi-finals.The Golden Knights are favorites to win the Cup according to my model.
Table 1: Predictions for end of season standings in the NHL
Power ranking
The Avalanche is still on top although it was eliminated. The next three teams are in the semi-finals. The other team, the Stars, is 11th in the power ranking.
Table 2: Power ranking of NHL teams