Posted October 6th at 4:00pm.

The puck is almost ready to drop on the latest NHL season and EA SPORTS NHL is continuing its annual tradition of simulating the upcoming season. Will Sidney Crosby lead the scoring race? Will Auston Matthews win the Calder Trophy? Who will have the best odds to draft first overall in 2017? Can Connor McDavid take the Oilers into the Playoffs for the first time in a decade? And, most importantly, who will win the Stanley Cup? EASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS

A healthy Carey Price leads the Montreal Canadiens back to the postseason while the Tampa Bay Lightning dominate and finish atop the Eastern Conference standings. After a full-on rebuild, the Toronto Maple Leafs manage to squeak into the Playoffs, leaving the Detroit Red Wings on the outside looking in. The New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings are the only teams from the Eastern Conference to not return to the Playoffs. 1. Tampa Bay Lightning – 107 pts

2. Montreal Canadiens – 99 pts

3. Washington Capitals – 97 pts

4. Pittsburgh Penguins – 93 pts

5. Florida Panthers – 93 pts

6. Philadelphia Flyers – 93 pts

7. New York Islanders – 92 pts – Wild Card

8. Toronto Maple Leafs – 91 pts – Wild Card

9. New York Rangers – 89 pts

10. Detroit Red Wings – 87 pts

11. Ottawa Senators – 87 pts

12. Buffalo Sabres – 85 pts

13. Boston Bruins – 84 pts

14. Carolina Hurricanes – 81 pts

15. New Jersey Devils – 79 pts

16. Columbus Blue Jackets – 76 pts METROPOLITAN DIVISION

The Washington Capitals, while not as dominant as last season, win the Metropolitan Division thanks to strong performances from Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Ovechkin, who both finish top 10 in league scoring. 1. Washington Capitals – 97 pts

2. Pittsburgh Penguins – 93 pts

3. Philadelphia Flyers – 93 pts

4. New York Islanders – 92 pts

5. New York Rangers – 89 pts

6. Carolina Hurricanes – 81 pts

7. New Jersey Devils – 79 pts

8. Columbus Blue Jackets – 76 pts ATLANTIC DIVISION

Detroit’s impressive streak of 25 consecutive Playoff berths comes to an end as they fall just short of landing a Wild Card spot. Multiple injuries to core players hamper the Boston Bruins, while the Buffalo Sabres improve slightly on their last season. 1. Tampa Bay Lightning – 107 pts

2. Montreal Canadiens – 99 pts

3. Florida Panthers – 93 pts

4. Toronto Maple Leafs – 91 pts – Wild Card

5. Detroit Red Wings – 87 pts

6. Ottawa Senators – 87 pts

7. Buffalo Sabres – 85 pts

8. Boston Bruins – 84 pts WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS

In the wild Western Conference, the dominant Nashville Predators’ blue line leads the team to their first Presidents’ Trophy win in franchise history. Connor McDavid carries the Edmonton Oilers into the Playoffs, narrowly making it in on the final day of the season. 1. Nashville Predators – 110 pts

2. Dallas Stars – 107 pts

3. San Jose Sharks – 107 pts

4. Chicago Blackhawks – 102 pts

5. St. Louis Blues – 95 pts – Wild Card

6. Los Angeles Kings – 93 pts

7. Minnesota Wild – 87 pts – Wild Card

8. Edmonton Oilers – 85 pts

9. Calgary Flames – 84 pts

10. Arizona Coyotes – 83 pts

11. Winnipeg Jets – 82 pts

12. Anaheim Ducks – 77 pts

13. Colorado Avalanche – 74 pts

14. Vancouver Canucks – 63 pts CENTRAL DIVISION

The Central Division features three of the top four teams in the NHL, with Nashville, Dallas and Chicago all finishing with over 100 points. 1. Nashville Predators – 110 pts

2. Dallas Stars – 107 pts

3. Chicago Blackhawks – 102 pts

4. St. Louis Blues – 95 pts

5. Minnesota Wild – 87 pts

6. Winnipeg Jets – 82 pts

7. Colorado Avalanche – 74 pts PACIFIC DIVISION

The Anaheim Ducks get off to a slow start and are the only team from the Western Conference to not return to the Playoffs. The Vancouver Canucks finish in last place in the NHL, landing the best odds to select first overall in the 2017 NHL Draft. 1. San Jose Sharks – 107 pts

2. Los Angeles Kings – 93 pts

3. Edmonton Oilers – 85 pts

4. Calgary Flames – 84 pts

5. Arizona Coyotes – 83 pts

6. Anaheim Ducks – 77 pts

7. Vancouver Canucks – 63 pts STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

STANLEY CUP FINAL: MONTREAL CANADIENS VS. NASHVILLE PREDATORS

After perhaps one of the biggest one-for-one deals in NHL history, Shea Weber and the Montreal Canadiens find themselves against P.K. Subban and the Nashville Predators. The Nashville Predators continue their regular season dominance and win the Stanley Cup Finals in Game 6. Filip Forsberg takes home the Conn Smythe Trophy as Playoff MVP after registering 26 points in the postseason. STANLEY CUP WINNERS: Nashville Predators

END OF SEASON AWARD WINNERS