EA Sports' NHL 26 simulation predicts Montreal Canadiens as Stanley Cup champions

According to EA Sports’ NHL 26 video game, the Montreal Canadiens will hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup for the first time since 1993. The Canadiens' playoff run officially starts Sunday against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Benchmark International Arena at 5:45 pm. The Canadiens are going to have their hands full with the Lightning, who not only have a playoff-proven roster, but Montreal will also have to overcome the loss of Noah Dobson, who could be out most of or all of round one with a fractured thumb. While losing Dobson leaves a massive hole in the Canadiens defensive core, according to EA Sports’ NHL 26 video game, Montreal should be just fine.

NHL 26 simulation

Canadiens vs Lightning has all the makings of a seven-game series. Not only did both teams finish the year with 106 points, but they are also tied in the season series. Tampa Bay won the first two meetings of the year, but Montreal bounced back, grabbing the final two meetings late in the season. Which is exactly what EA Sports’ simulation predicted, with the Canadiens getting their revenge on the team that beat them in the 2021 Stanley Cup final 4-3. If that were to become a reality, it would be an incredible feat with Dobson likely out for all of round one. The simulation has the Canadiens going up against the Buffalo Sabres in round two, who they predict to beat the Boston Bruins in round one in six games.

If you had told people before the season started that an Eastern Conference second-round matchup would be the Canadiens vs the Sabres, it would have been met with a couple of laughs. Not only because of the Sabres' unexpected turnaround, but also about the Canadiens taking a massive step forward from last season. EA Sports does not predict the Canadiens will have as tough a series as they did in round one against the Lightning, but they do predict Montreal to take down Buffalo in a six-game battle. Next up for the Canadiens in the NHL 26 simulation are the Carolina Hurricanes, who made quick work of the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers, winning both in five games.

The Lightning and the Florida Panthers have dominated the Eastern Conference over the last five seasons, but no one knows that better than the Hurricanes. The Hurricanes have been on the losing end of a series against the Florida teams in three of the last five postseasons. However, with the Panthers missing the playoffs largely due to their injuries and the Lightning falling to the Canadiens in this simulation, it would feel like it is finally their time to be crowned the kings of the Eastern Conference. However, NHL 26 had other plans, with the Canadiens ending victorious in another seven-game thriller.

EA Sports predicts a Stanley Cup Final that will be made up of the Canadiens, who will take on the Minnesota Wild. The Wild had to go through a gauntlet to get to the Stanley Cup Final, defeating the Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, and Edmonton Oilers in the process. The “Mecca of Hockey” taking on the “State of Hockey” could be a final for the ages as arguably the two biggest hockey markets in their respective countries face off for the opportunity to hoist the Stanley Cup. EA Sports believes the Canadiens would be in for another hard-fought series, but it would once again be Montreal on the winning end, taking home the Cup in seven games.

Realistic outcome for the Canadiens?

Is the Canadiens winning the Stanley Cup the most likely outcome? Probably not, but that is what is great about the NHL Playoffs: anything is possible. The Canadiens are not the most playoff-tested team in the postseason, with the majority of the roster experiencing it for the first time last season. They were also not given any favours when they lost their prized offseason acquisition in their game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, but that does not mean you can count out this team just yet.

The Canadiens have been one of the clutchest teams in the league this season, with Cole Caufield leading the NHL in game-winning goals with 12, five of them in overtime. If the Canadiens can keep it close late into the game, they will have all the confidence in the world that they can win. If the Canadiens can overcome losing Dobson and beat the Lightning, there might not be a team that will have more confidence moving forward, especially if he can be back in the lineup for round two. It will not be easy, but there is definitely a path for the Canadiens to finally end their 33-year drought. It is the year of ending droughts after all.

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