Kirill Kaprizov did the almost impossible in the last regular season of the NHL, taking the milestone of 100 points and becoming the top scorer among the Russians.

Can he, along with the Minnesota, repeat the club’s achievement seven years ago? The chances are higher than ever.

Colorado – Nashville

Forecast Sportbox.ru: 4-1

Photo: © REUTERS / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Colorado didn’t win the President’s Trophy, but they still dominated the entire season. It is the “avalanches” with the Russian Valery Nichushkin in the composition that are the favorites of the Stanley Cup according to bookmakers and experts. Comparing rivals is meaningless: the Predators scored almost 60 fewer goals in a season than the Colorado, led by Nathan McKinan. Considering the loss due to injury of the main goalkeeper Juuse Saros, which weakened the already not the strongest position of Nashville, the series is in danger of ending in four games.

However, despite the difference in the quality of the game that the rivals demonstrated throughout the season, the Avalanches were able to beat the Predators in only one match out of four. Maybe not everything is so clear?

Minnesota – St. Louis

Forecast Sportbox.ru: 4-3

Photo: © REUTERS / Harrison Barden-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota, led by leader Kirill Kaprizov, updated the club record for the number of wins this season, winning 51 games out of 82. Thanks to the appearance of a Russian forward who inspired the team and the entire city, the Wild have a real chance to repeat the achievement of seven years ago when they last won a playoff series. In order to do this, Minnesota will have to pass the test of St. Louis, an opponent that the Savages do not like to face to the teeth. Suffice it to recall that the Minnesota did not win in St. Louis for three years – an eternity for hockey rivals who meet at least three times in a season.

This year, the Blues are good: they scored an average of 3.77 goals per game – the third result of the season, and the Russians Vladimir Tarasenko, Pavel Buchnevich and Ivan Barbashev had their strongest regular season in their lives, scoring 218 points for three . It seems that the attacking power, coupled with a reliable main goalkeeper, is enough for the Blues to go further. But the Wild not only have a rallying Caprice team, they also have three well-played scoring lines that help Minnesota be one of the best teams when playing evenly.

The icing on the cake for the Wilds is recently traded Chicago goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who scored 9 wins in March. So if Minnesota is determined to lift its curse on St. Louis, then this season is the best time to do so.

Calgary – Dallas

Forecast Sportbox.ru: 4-0

Photo: © REUTERS / David Berding-USA TODAY Sports

For Dallas, the playoffs began long before May 2, because the fight for the last two spots in the West was fierce. But the entry into the Stanley Cup for the “stars” most likely will not give anything, but on the contrary, it can bring one disappointment. At least against Calgary, played by Russian defender Nikita Zadorov, they don’t seem to stand a chance.

If Dallas’ offensive power is limited to just one leading link, Jason Robertson, then the Flames have much more depth in offense. In addition, the Canadians can act quite tough and easily “turn off” the Dallas leaders from the game. Given that the Stars have been fighting for a ticket to the playoffs for the past two weeks, they will not be strong enough not only to win, but even to fight back.

Los Angeles – Edmonton

Forecast Sportbox.ru: 3-4

Photo: © REUTERS / Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Being left without the best defenseman in the series against the most productive striker in the league is so-so hands. Los Angeles will try their best to contain Conor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but in the absence of an injured Drew Doughty, this task will be incredibly difficult.

It cannot be called impossible – in the end, all the resources of the team can be used on the main attacking forces of the Oilers, and goalkeeper Jonathan Quick, who is having a brilliant season, can support partners at the last frontier. However, here it is important not only to contain the attack of the “oil workers”, but also to go through their defensive redoubts in order to ensure four victories. It will be almost impossible for Los Angeles to complete these two tasks at the same time, which means that McDavid and Co. have a chance to go beyond the first round of the playoffs for the first time in seven years.