NHL Playoffs 2015: Format, Stanley Cup Bracket and Predictions

If the NHL playoffs weren't unpredictably crazy enough, the recently adopted seeding structure kindles the chaos. 

Under the playoff formatting introduced last year, each division winner faces one of two wild-card teams. The champion with more points gets the wild-card club with the lower point tally.

Rounding out the other two opening matchups, each second-place squad will battle the third-place representative within the same grouping. Those rules particularly create some wacky matchups in the Western Conference.

Although the Nashville Predators and Chicago Blackhawks finished third and fourth in points, respectively, the two Central foes will clash. Meanwhile, the bottom-seeded Calgary Flames, who barely edged out the much more dangerous Los Angeles Kings, will encounter a Vancouver Canucks unit with only four more points on the year.

With no clear-cut favorite, anything can happen leading up to the 2015 Stanley Cup Final. Heading into the postseason, fans should prepare not to be surprised by any outcome.

East	Home Team	DIV	Road Team	DIV	Prediction
West	Home Team	DIV	Road Team	DIV	Prediction
	New York Rangers	M1	Pittsburgh Penguins	W2	Rangers
	Washington Capitals	M2	New York Islanders	M3	Islanders
	Montreal Canadiens	A1	Ottawa Senators	W1	Canadiens
	Tampa Bay Lightning	A2	Detroit Red Wings	A3	Lightning
	Anaheim Ducks	P1	Winnipeg Jets	W2	Jets
	Vancouver Canucks	P2	Calgary Flames	P3	Canucks
	St. Louis Blues	C1	Minnesota Wild	W1	Blues
	Nashville Predators	C2	Chicago Blackhawks	C3	Blackhawks

Predictions

Winnipeg Upsets Anaheim

Jonathan Kozub/Getty Images

Considering all eight Western Conference clubs are distanced by 12 points or fewer, picking an early exit for the top-seeded Anaheim Ducks isn't too bold.

Although perched on top of the bracket, Anaheim holds the worst goal differential (+10) among all conference participants. The exiled Kings also fare better at plus-15.

Few expected a playoff bid from the Jets, but they now enter this slate sporting advantages in significant stats. ESPN.com's Scott Burnside broke down the tale of the tape:

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In terms of controlling even-strength shot attempts, the Jets were ninth in the NHL, compared to 16th for the Ducks. Anaheim was slightly better in goals per game (11th compared to 16th for the Jets) and were seventh in goals scored on the road.

Interestingly, the Jets were much better in terms of 5-on-5 save percentage, ranking ninth compared to 21st for the Ducks. The Jets had the edge in goals allowed per game, finishing 11th, while the Ducks were 20th, a function in part to the injuries suffered early on by John Gibson and, later, to expected playoff starter Frederik Andersen and the forgettable period in which Ilya Bryzgalov was repatriated to the team.

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Ryan Getzlaf, who tallied 70 points during the season for Anaheim, is ready to get tested by a physical squad. Per the team's Twitter page: 

This marks the Jets' first playoff appearance since moving back to Winnipeg in 2011. While facing the reigning three-time Pacific champions seems an unfair draw, the Ducks' No. 17 Corsi percentage doesn't spark fear of a typical top seed.

A hot goalie makes anything possible in the playoffs, and Ondrej Pavelec has compiled three consecutive shutouts. At the very least, expect a long, grueling series.

Islanders Ice Capitals

Mike Stobe/Getty Images

John Tavares was two years old when the New York Islanders last won a playoff series. Despite losing the scoring title on the last day, the star is well-positioned to lead a team that squandered home-ice advantage during the Nassau Coliseum's final regular-season game.

This all sounds bad, but don't get fooled by misconceived notions of momentum. Winger Kyle Okposo doesn't sound overly concerned about forfeiting one home game against the Washington Capitals.

"You've got to win four games to win a series, so it doesn't matter if you're at home or on the road," Okposo told ESPN.com's Katie Strang after Saturday's 5-4 loss to close the season. "If we're going to go deep, we've got to win on the road."

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

The Islanders collected more wins (47) than the Capitals, but their Round 1 opponent held the tiebreaker along with an even 101 points. In Corsi percentage, however, the Islanders streak ahead with the sixth-best mark. Washington lags behind at No. 14.

New York attempts 5.5 more shots per game than the opposition, a mark nobody else tops. Such puck dominance bodes well for its postseason chances, but the Isles will have to corral an explosive Washington power play that converted an NHL-high 25.3 percent of its opportunities.

Blackhawks Make Deep Run

Jeff Curry/Getty Images

Despite their unfriendly road to the Stanley Cup, the Chicago Blackhawks will overcome a difficult first-round opponent to trek deep down the Western Conference bracket.

A four-game losing streak to close the season cost Chicago at least a chance of hosting its series with Nashville, which also slid down the stretch with three consecutive losses. The full picture, however, supports the perennial contender's status as a championship threat.

No team fired more shots (33.9) per game than the Blackhawks, who also yielded the second-fewest goals per game (2.27) behind co-Jennings Trophy winner Corey Crawford.

Scott Rovak/Getty Images

Their plus-40 goal differential ranks second in the West to the St. Louis Blues, making the Central side of the bracket far tougher than the Pacific quadrant. Yet Chicago's deadly combination of puck control, fierce attacking and electric defense can't be discounted after suffering a brief slump.

Last year, coach Joel Quenneville took Chicago to the Western Conference Final after notching 46 regular-season victories. If they can survive the Predators, the Blackhawks could return there for the third straight postseason.

Advanced stats courtesy of Stats.HockeyAnalysis.com.