EA Sports' NHL Predictions

[AD]

Relax, Leafs fans. There will be playoff hockey at the Air Canada Centre next spring.

That's the prediction from EA Sports, anyway, after playing the entire upcoming season with the company's NHL '08 video game. The results:

The Leafs will finish seventh in the Eastern Conference, win a seven-game first-round series with Ottawa but fall at the next hurdle to the Rangers in six.

The worst team in the league will be the Washington Capitals, last in the East with 67 points.

Martin St. Louis of Tampa Bay will win the scoring title, and Sidney Crosby will repeat as Hart Trophy winner for the league MVP.

The New York Rangers and the Anaheim Mighty Ducks will win their respective conferences, then run aground in the playoffs, the Rangers ousted by Pittsburgh in the East final and the Ducks bounced by Edmonton in the West semifinal.

Your Stanley Cup champion: The San Jose Sharks in six games over Sid Crosby and the Penguins.

[Booche]

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. Buffalo

2. Pittsburgh

3. Washington

4. Ottawa

5. Philadelphia

6. Toronto

7. NY Rangers

8. Montreal

9. Boston

10. Florida

11. Tampa

12. NY Islanders

13. Carolina

14. New Jersey

15. Atlanta

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. Detroit

2. Colorado

3. San Jose

4. Calgary

5. Minnesota

6. Vancouver

7. Nashville

8. Anaheim

9. St. Louis

10. Edmonton

11. Chicago

12. Los Angeles

13. Dallas

14. Phoenix

15. Columbus

[Guest Low Roller]

I think I was more surprised with Ecklund predicting that New Jersey will finish in 14th place in the conference...