The 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs begin Saturday, April 19, with the first round, and as we do every year, The Fourth Period’s panel of experts weigh in with their Predictions and Series MVPs. Here are our picks for Round 1:

Metropolitan Predictions

Carolina Huriccanes (2) vs. Washington Capitals (1)

TFP Panel

Series Winner

Series MVP

Bamford

 in 7 Tom Wilson

Belle

 in 6 Tom Wilson

Bernstein

 in 6 Seth Jarvis

Calabretta

 in 7 Sebastian Aho

Hutcheon

 in 7 Andrei Svechnikov

Pagnotta

 in 6 Tom Wilson

Paton

 in 6 Dylan Strome

Pettersen

 in 6 Alex Ovechkin

Ward

 in 6 Seth Jarvis

Atlantic Predictions

Florida Panthers (2) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (1)

TFP Panel

Series Winner

Series MVP

Bamford

 in 6 Sam Bennett

Belle

 in 6 Matthew Tkachuk

Bernstein

 in 6 Sergei Bobrovsky

Calabretta

 in 7 Sam Bennett

Hutcheon

 in 6 Brad Marchand

Pagnotta

 in 5 Brad Marchand

Paton

 in 6 Matthew Knies

Pettersen

 in 7 Matthew Tkachuk

Ward

 in 7 Sam Bennett

Central Predictions

Dallas Stars (2) vs. Winnipeg Jets (1)

TFP Panel

Series Winner

Series MVP

Bamford

 in 6 Mikko Rantanen

Belle

 in 5 Jason Robertson

Bernstein

 in 6 Mikko Rantanen

Calabretta

 in 5 Mikko Rantanen

Hutcheon

 in 6 Mikko Rantanen

Pagnotta

 in 6 Tyler Seguin

Paton

 in 6 Wyatt Johnston

Pettersen

 in 5 Mikko Rantanen

Ward

 in 7 Connor Hellebuyck

Pacific Predictions

Edmonton Oilers (3) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (1)

TFP Panel

Series Winner

Series MVP

Bamford

 in 6 Jack Eichel

Belle

 in 7 Connor McDavid

Bernstein

 in 6 Jack Eichel

Calabretta

 in 7 Jack Eichel

Hutcheon

 in 6 Jack Eichel

Pagnotta

 in 5 Tomas Hertl

Paton

 in 6 Jack Eichel

Pettersen

 in 7 Connor McDavid

Ward

 in 6 Tomas Hertl

TFP Experts:

Tab Bamford - Columnist, Chicago
Shawn Belle - Former NHLer, Host of Hello Hockey
Dennis Bernstein - Sr. Writer
David Calabretta - Montreal Correspondent
Shawn Hutcheon - Boston Correspondent
David Pagnotta - Editor-in-Chief
Ryan Paton - Host, The Hot Stove on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio
Kate Pettersen - Host, TFP Playoffs
Aaron Ward - NHL Analyst, 3-time Stanley Cup Champion