The best time of year for hockey fans is almost here: the Stanley Cup playoffs.
We’ve followed our teams all season, wishing and hoping that this could be their year. Since the beginning of this year, we’ve religiously watched highlights, followed stats, injury and trade updates to see which teams have the best chances.
And which teams will be our team’s biggest foe in the playoffs.
Now the time is almost here. The playoffs aren’t set just yet, with spots still to be clinched in both conferences.
However, we have a pretty good picture of which teams will be there. So who has the best chance of winning the Cup this year?
Statistically, the Canucks have dominated the West and the Flyers have dominated the East. However, teams like the San Jose Sharks and Pittsburgh Penguins have shown signs that they won’t go down without a fight.
Here’s a ranking of which team has the best chance at the Cup this year and what their biggest strength will be on the way there.