2023 NHL Playoffs Round 2 Preview and Predictions

Written by: Kameron LeTexier | Published: May 2, 2023

                The NHL playoffs have already produced some shocking results and we have only been through one round. Get ready for the entertainment factor to turn up as we enter into the later rounds when things get even more competitive. With that, lets go through our predictions for the second round of the NHL playoffs.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Florida Panthers

Maple Leafs win 4-3 

Mike Ehrmann via Getty Images

                The most surprising series of round 2 for sure. The Florida Panthers pulled off the biggest upset in NHL history and the Maple Leafs have escaped the first round for the first time since Drake was still an actor. The edge in this series does go to Toronto, though its narrow. Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews have finally arrived in the playoffs, and they are poised for another big series against a worse goalie in Sergei Bobrovsky. Florida is no small task. Their gritty lineup stars Matthew Tkachuk playing some of his best hockey. The Panthers will grind down the Leafs for a full seven games, but it will be Matthews and his deep Toronto team who get the job done. Home ice in game 7 is where the Leafs will punch their ticket to the 3rd round. 

 

Carolina Hurricanes vs New Jersey Devils

Devils win 4-2

Jamie Squire via Getty Images
                The New Jersey Devils are coming off a series win against one of the game's elite goalkeepers in Igor Shesterkin who posted a .931 save percentage in the series. The Carolina Hurricanes were able to knock out the stingy New York Islanders defence while struggling to score. With how great the rookie Akira Schmid has been in net for the Devils, those goal scoring struggles could carry over into round 2. New Jersey is the much deeper offence due to the injured goal scoring wingers on the Hurricanes. This series will be a track meet filled with goals and the Devils are the better team at finishing. Carolina will pull off a couple of wins, but their goaltending is questionable and was not fully tested against the Islanders. New Jersey will finish the job on home ice and head back to round 3 for the first time since their trip to the finals in 2012. 

 

Edmonton Oilers vs Vegas Golden Knights

Oilers win 4-1

Ronald Martinez via Getty Images
                Despite how the series may have looked on paper, the Vegas Golden Knights had a tough time handling the Winnipeg Jets. Their goaltending and defensive structure was a cause for concern. Leon Draisaitl and the Edmonton Oilers are coming off a series that looked closely contested but was not. A quieter series for Connor McDavid and the Oilers still flew by the LA Kings in six. With how high powered their offence is, the Knights will not be able to keep up and do not have the goaltending to bail them out. Edmonton will make quick work and be on to the Western Conference Finals in five games.  

 

Dallas Stars vs Seattle Kraken

Stars win 4-3

Tom Pennington via Getty Images
               This is where Seattle’s luck may finally run out. Their band of misfits dethroned the defending cup champions with a plethora of goal scorers; however, it took a perfect effort in every game to narrowly dodge defeat. The Dallas Stars are where they have met their match. Jake Oettinger has been a game changer between the pipes yet again and can steal this series on his own. With how red-hot Roope Hintz and Miro Heiskanen are and with the depth of the Stars, the Kraken will only be able to keep up for so long. They will not make it easy, and this series will go seven games, but Dallas will remove the immovable object. 

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