The NHL isn’t back yet, but we’re going to pretend it is. Over the last month, we’ve run a simulation of how the NHL’s regular season might have played out if the league hadn’t been suspended on March 12. Now, the standings have been set and we’re carrying that forward through the playoffs. This time around, one of our beat writers from each team will be in charge of every lineup decision, the narrative for every playoff game and they’ll get to decide what “happened” in each game. Join us as we make our way through the simulated postseason to crown a virtual Stanley Cup champion.



For the last few seasons, the Predators have been the class of the Central Division, winning two straight division titles and making it to the Stanley Cup final the year prior. After last year’s first round, everything changed when the Predators were upset by the Stars and the Blues surged through the West, eventually winning the Stanley...