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NHL playoff predictions for second round: Who goes to conference finals?

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NHL playoff predictions for second round: Who goes to conference finals?

The Hurricanes and the Colorado Avalanche swept their first round opponents and Carolina made it five wins in a row with a victory against the Philadelphia Flyers in the teams’ second round opener.

The Avalanche might have a tougher time in their second round series because the Minnesota Wild are among the best teams in the league.

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The Vegas Golden Knights are taking on the upstart Anaheim Ducks and the Buffalo Sabres are still waiting to find out their opponent as the Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens are playing in Game 7 on Sunday, May 3.

Here are USA TODAY Sports’ predictions for who advances to the conference finals (the Sabres series prediction will be provided once their opponent is known):

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Mike Brehm: Hurricanes in 5. The Flyers are better than the Ottawa Senators, but the Hurricanes are much better than the Pittsburgh Penguins. Philadelphia will avoid a sweep, but the Hurricanes play too aggressively and too well defensively for the Flyers to get more than one win.

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Jace Evans: Hurricanes in 5. The Flyers could find a way to muck things up, and goalie Dan Vladar — coming off a sterling first round — could always steal a game. But the Canes are just a cut above this Flyers squad. Too deep and too talented to bow out vs. a team that has probably overachieved.

Kevin Skiver: Hurricanes in 6. Underestimate the Flyers at your own peril. I did. Philadelphia came out and completely handled the Penguins, digging a 3-0 hole for Pittsburgh to bury itself in. But the Hurricanes are coming off a dominant showing against the Senators, rested and playing some of their best hockey. The Flyers put up a better fight, but ultimately Carolina sends Philly to a very hopeful offseason.

Colorado Avalanche vs. Minnesota Wild

Mike Brehm: Avalanche in 7. This will be the best series of the second round and perhaps the playoffs with Minnesota’s Quinn Hughes and Colorado’s Cale Makar showing why they have won Norris trophies. There’s tons of talent on the top lines and both teams beefed up their forward depth at the deadline. This evenly matched series might just come down to home-ice advantage in Game 7.

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Jace Evans: Avalanche in 6. Let the rest vs. rust debate begin! For this series, I lean on the side of rest. Minnesota is certainly battled-hardened after dispatching the Stars, but this Colorado core is championship tested. I don’t think the Avs will be caught flat-footed at the outset of this series.

Kevin Skiver: Wild in 7. The Wild are rewarded for an impressive win over a Central Division foe with … an even tougher Central Division foe. The Avs dispatched the Kings with ease, but the Wild are scorching hot right now and Quinn Hughes looks like one of the best players remaining in this postseason. Like the series before, this one is kind of a coin flip on paper. But the Wild seem to be playing with weighted coins.

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Anaheim Ducks

Mike Brehm: Golden Knights in 6. The Ducks seemed to score at will against the Oilers but coach John Tortorella has the Golden Knights playing better defensively. Vegas’ penalty kill is superior to Anaheim’s. The Golden Knights’ core is more experienced, too.

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Jace Evans: Golden Knights in 6. My Western Conference champion pick came down to a battle between the Golden Knights and Oilers. I went with the Oilers. Whoops! The Ducks were flat-out better and are a fascinating team, with young high-level talent buoyed by a collection of seasoned veterans (a few holding championship rings). The Golden Knights, the 2023 champions, are plenty seasoned themselves and their big guns showed up in the first round. I think that collective keeps it rolling.

Kevin Skiver: Golden Knights in 5. Shoutout to the Ducks, who did something their Highway Series rivals have struggled with so mightily: beating the Oilers in the first round. Anaheim looked really impressive in the first round, but Vegas has completely reformed itself with John Tortorella behind the bench. Losing momentum in the playoffs seemed like a distinct possibility. But against an upstart Utah team, it seems like the Golden Knights are only picking up steam.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL playoff predictions: Which teams advance out of second round?

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