This year’s NBA and NHL playoffs are overlapping more than usual, as they have been ever since the introduction of the play-in games for the NBA. Each league’s playoff format features eight teams, with each featuring the best-performing organizations from the East and West. Now, for my totally unbiased opinions on who will win it all …

I’ll start with my predictions for the NBA, as there can’t really be any accusations of bias (for my team is arguably the worst in the league). Several teams have had fantastic seasons, notably the Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers; these teams, according to statisticians and betting sites alike, are the most likely to win the NBA Championship. While it would be wonderful to see Boston hang their 19th banner, I don’t think it will go to any of these teams. 

This year, my prediction is that the Los Angeles Lakers will take the Larry O’Brien trophy home. The Lakers’ roster is covered with star power, with players like Luka Doncic and LeBron James. Even before Luka was acquired in February from the Dallas Mavericks, the Lakers were still in the playoffs in a lower ranking seed, but they have only climbed since he joined their team. After arguably carrying the Mavs to the finals last year, I believe in LeBron and Luka to lead LAL to the championship. Their road to get there is by no means easy; they need to first beat the Minnesota Timberwolves (who are my brother’s pick to win it all), before then facing off against the Rockets or Warriors. According to the numbers, the Rockets are the better team, but I believe the Lakers could beat them. However, I would truly love for them to play the Warriors. Seeing Steph Curry play LeBron in the playoffs (again) is always a treat. 

As far as the NHL goes, betting odds are saying the Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers and Winnipeg Jets are the most likely to win the Stanley Cup, but once again, I don’t think any of these teams will take the trophy home. Notably, the Jets won the NHL’s Presidents’ Trophy; historically, the team who earns it will not win the Stanley Cup. The last team to win them both was the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013, so the Jets are deemed “cursed” for having the most points this past season. 

Call me biased and delusional, but I sincerely believe the Washington Capitals will win the Stanley Cup this year. It would be wonderful to see Ovechkin get another cup, especially in the year that he broke Gretzky’s goal record, and with the recent return of goalie Logan Thompson off an injury, the Caps are equipped with their best weapons to win. They were one of the top teams this season, and with their current success against Montreal, they are likely to at least advance to the next round. While typical playoff frequents like the Penguins and Bruins missed the tournament this year, the Capitals prevailed, and Ovi will hopefully get another trophy to add to his long list of accolades. 

My predictions for this year are on the poetic side, with Luka winning a championship fresh off the most controversial trade from my time of watching American Sports, and Ovechkin getting one the same year he broke a difficult record, but they are definitely realistic. I am simply glad that the Penguins don’t have a chance this year, and am hoping for Cooper Flagg to go to the Wizards in the NBA draft.