The 48-game intraconference schedule makes predictions a trickier business than usual. With divisional rivals playing a larger portion of the season strictly against each other (37% as opposed to 29% in an 82-game season), will that make it more difficult for one division to field 4 playoff teams, like the Central and Atlantic did last year?
So here’s who George & I are picking to make the playoffs (in order), and take home the hardware:
| George | Dirk | ||
| West | East | West | East |
| San Jose | Pittsburgh | St. Louis | Pittsburgh |
| St. Louis | Washington | Los Angeles | Boston |
| Vancouver | Montreal | Vancouver | Florida |
| Minnesota | Philadelphia | San Jose | New York Rangers |
| Chicago | New York Rangers | Chicago | Carolina |
| Nashville | Boston | Phoenix | Washington |
| Phoenix | Buffalo | Detroit | Philadelphia |
| Detroit | Carolina | Nashville | Ottawa |
| Stanley Cup champs | New York Rangers | Los Angeles Kings | |
| Hart Trophy | Alex Ovechkin | Sidney Crosby | |
| Norris Trophy | Ryan Suter | Alex Pietrangelo | |
| Vezina Trophy | Henrik Lundqvist | Pekka Rinne | |
Feel free to submit your own picks in the comments below!