Prediction time, just in time for Game 1 of the NHL’s Stanley Cup Final.
We found 54 expert picks last year and they were split down the middle between the Blackhawks and Bruins. This year we found 64 and the Kings are the overwhelming favorites. So of course we’re going against the grain. At least we have a couple of Blue Jays to back us up. That’s right, we found a few extra “experts.” Overall, 48 picked L.A. That left only 16 in favor of the Rangers. We’ll see what happens starting tonight.
Scoreboard Page: Rangers in 7. If Game 7 was in New York, it’d be hard not to pick L.A. How backward is that? With 21 games and 3 Game 7 road wins, the Kings are on an amazing journey. But we think they run out of gas one game short and the NHL gets back to ending Cup droughts.
CBS Sports
Brian Stubits: Kings in 5
Chris Peters: Kings in 6
Dennis Dodd: Kings in 7
Sports Illustrated
Allain Muir: Kings in 7
Fox Sports
John Manasso: Kings in 6
Yahoo Sports
Greg Wyshynski: Kings
USA Today
Kevin Allen, USA TODAY Sports: Kings in 7
Mike Brehm, USA TODAY Sports: Kings in 7
Rick Roos, DobberHockey.com: Kings in 6
Jimmy Hascup, USA TODAY Sports: Rangers in 7
Andrew Forbes, The Hockey Writers: Kings in 6
Kristen Shilton, USA TODAY Sports: Kings in 7
ESPN
John Buccigross: Kings in 6
Scott Burnside: Kings in 5
Linda Cohn: Rangers in 7
Craig Custance: Kings in 6
Paul Grant: Kings in 6
Tim Kavanagh: Kings in 5
Pierre LeBrun: Kings in 7
Steve Levy: Rangers in 6
Barry Melrose: Kings in 6
Katie Strang: Rangers in 7
NHL.com
Mike Morreale, NHL.com staff writer: Rangers in 7 games
Tal Pinchevsky, NHL.com staff writer: Kings in 6 games
Adam Kimelman, NHL.com deputy managing editor: Rangers in 6 games
Corey Masisak, NHL.com staff writer: Kings in 5 games
Dan Rosen, NHL.com senior writer: Kings in 6 games
Shawn Roarke, NHL.com editorial director: Kings in 6 games
Arpon Basu, LNH.com managing editor : Kings in 6 games
Barry Melrose, NHL Network analyst: Kings in 6 games
Mike Johnson, NHL Network analyst: Kings in 6 games
Jamie McLennan, NHL Network analyst: Kings in 7 games
Martin Biron, NHL Network analyst: Kings in 7 games
Steve Mears, NHL Live host: Kings in 6 games
Kathryn Tappen, NHL Network host: Kings in 6 games
NBC’s ProHockeyTalk
Jason Brough: Kings in 7
Mike Halford: Rangers in 7
Joe Yerdon: Kings in 7
James O’Brien: Kings in 6
Ryan Dadoun: Kings in 6
Cam Tucker: Kings in 6
The Associated Press
Jim Litke: Kings in 6
Larry Lage: Kings in 6
Toronto Blue Jays
Mark Buehrle: Kings
Josh Thole: Rangers
Brett Cecil: Rangers
Tim Leiper: Kings
CBC Sports
Tim Wharnsby: Rangers in 7
Mike Brophy: Kings in 5
Sirius XM
JOE THISTEL: Rangers in 6
NICK ALBERGA: Kings in 6
PHIL DeLAND: Kings in 6
JIM GORDON: Kings in 5
BEN MINER: Rangers in 6
JEFF LEAKE: Kings in 6
MIKE BENTON: Kings in 6
BRUCE BOLTON: Kings in 6
MICK KERN: Kings in 6
SCOTT LAUGHLIN: Kings in 6
PETER BERCE: Kings in 6
MIKE ROSS: Rangers in 7
DOMINIC HENNIG: Rangers in 7
MIKE LIPPA: Rangers in 6
(Note: These were a last-minute addition and are not reflected in our graphic. But we did include them in our totals at the top.)
2014 NHL Stanley Cup Final schedule
Game 1: Wednesday, June 4, at Kings (NBC), 8 p.m. ET
Game 2: Saturday, June 7, at Kings (NBC Sports), 7 p.m. ET
Game 3: Monday, June 9, at Rangers (NBC Sports), 8 p.m. ET
Game 4: Wednesday, June 11, at Rangers (NBC), 8 p.m. ET
*Game 5: Friday, June 13, at Kings (NBC), 8 p.m. ET
*Game 6: Monday, June 16, at Rangers (NBC), 8 p.m. ET
*Game 7: Wednesday, June 18, at Kings (NBC), 8 p.m. ET
* If necessary