NHL 16 Predicts Stanley Cup Winner

With the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs scheduled to begin this evening, EA Sports has now published the results of its annual playoff simulation. According to the NHL 16 simulation, Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals will hoist the cup this year, defeating the San Jose Sharks in a seven-game thriller.

The Caps will defeat the Sharks in Game 7 by the score of 4-2, according to the simulation. Winger Justin Williams scores at 13:39 into the third period to give the Caps the edge, while Ovechkin solidifies the victory with an empty-netter in the final seconds.

EA's simulation has been off in recent years. In 2015, it predicted the Anaheim Ducks would win the Cup, but it was the Chicago Blackhawks who ended up winning. A year before that in 2014, the simulation said the Boston Bruins would win, but the Los Angeles Kings took home the trophy.

For more on EA's latest Stanley Cup Playoffs simulation, including key storylines and divisional results, check out this blog post.

If you're looking to pick up NHL 16, you're in luck, as the professional hockey game is marked down to under $20 on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 this week.