Second City Hockey’s 2021-22 NHL season predictions

The 2021-22 Chicago Blackhawks season gets started on Wednesday night, with the team out in Denver to face the Colorado Avalanche in the season opener.

Oh ... what’s that?

There was hockey on Tuesday night?

Oops.

Two regular-season games have been played. There are still 1,310 to go. Those games didn’t tell us much, so here’s how the the ‘21-22 NHL season will unfold according to the members of the SCH staff. Feel free to add your own predictions in the comments for future ridicule consideration.

Teams are listed in order of the projected standings with only playoff qualifying teams listed below:

Central Division

Dave: Avalanche, Blues, Wild

LBR: Avalanche, Jets, Blues

Mil: Avalanche, Stars, Jets

Shepard: Avalanche, Jets, Wild

Pacific Division

Dave: Golden Knights, Oilers, Canucks

LBR: Golden Knights, Kraken, Oilers

Mil: Golden Knights, Edmonton, Canucks

Shepard: (My) Golden Knights, Oilers, Kraken

Western Conference wild card picks

Dave: Jets, Blackhawks

LBR: Wild, Blackhawks

Mil: Wild, Blackhawks

Shepard: Stars, Blues

Atlantic Division

Dave: Lightning, Panthers, Maple Leafs

LBR: Lightning, Maple Leafs, Bruins

Mil: Lightning, Maple Leafs, Panthers

Shepard: Maple Leafs, Panthers, Lightning

Metropolitan Division

Dave: Hurricanes, Penguins, Islanders

LBR: Islanders, Hurricanes, Penguins

Mil: Hurricanes, Islanders, Penguins

Shepard: Islanders, Hurricanes, Flyers

Eastern Conference wild card picks

Dave: Bruins, Capitals

LBR: Panthers, Rangers

Mil: Devils, Rangers

Shepard: Bruins, Penguins

Stanley Cup Final

Dave: Panthers def. Avalanche

LBR: Avalanche def. Islanders

Mil: Avalanche def. Panthers

Shepard: Golden Knights def. Islanders