EA Sports simulated the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs with NHL 18. The simulation predicts the Winnipeg Jets will win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history, beating the Boston Bruins 4-2 in Game 7.
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Last year, the NHL 17 simulation, predicted the Nashville Predators as champions. However, the Pittsburgh Penguins ended up beating them to capture back to back championships.
Check out some of the top stories from the NHL 18 simulation below.
- Patrik Laine took home the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP after recording 15 goals and 24 points along route to the Jets’ Stanley Cup® victory. Laine, along with Mark Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers and captain Blake Wheeler were four of the top scorers throughout the entire Stanley Cup Playoffs. Mathieu Perreault was the unsung hero for the Jets after he recorded 15 points and was a catalyst on the Jets’ power play.
- The Winnipeg Jets Stanley Cup victory made them the first Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup since 1993, ending a 25 year Stanley Cup drought in Canada.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
- The best match-up of the entire Stanley Cup® Playoffs happened when the Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets battled it out in the second round. The Jets narrowly edged the Predators in seven games and it seemed like whoever won this pivotal match-up would go on to win the Cup
- The Vegas Golden Knights proved that their regular season success wasn’t just a fluke, as William ‘Wild Bill’ Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault led the team to the Western Conference Final before exiting out in Game 6 to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Winnipeg Jets.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
- The Boston Bruins were led by rookie defenseman Charlie McAvoy through two tightly contested series against the Toronto Maples Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning. The top line of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak provided the majority of the offensive punch.
- After many years of failing to get past the second round, the Washington Capitals managed to reach the conference final against the Bruins after they defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in Round 2. Alex Ovechkin was a scoring machine the entire post-season, however the Boston Bruins were able to overcome his offense and the Caps were sent home in the third round.
- The Pittsburgh Penguins failed to three-peat as Stanley Cup® Champions. The Penguins struggled to produce offense all playoffs long, and eventually were overpowered by the Washington Capitals.
