NHL 17 Predicts Stanley Cup Winner

Which NHL team will win the Stanley Cup this year? EA Sports has now conducted its annual simulation of the real-world season, using NHL 17 to predict that the Nashville Predators will defeat the Montreal Canadiens to hoist the trophy.

EA's simulation has failed to accurately predict the Stanley Cup winner for three years in a row now. Last year, the simulation said the Washington Capitals would win, but it was the Pittsburgh Penguins that ended up on top. In 2015, it predicted the Anaheim Ducks would win the Cup, but it was the Chicago Blackhawks that won. A year before that in 2014, the simulation said the Boston Bruins would win, but the Los Angeles Kings took home the trophy.

According to EA's newest simulation, the Predators will win the Western Conference title, capping off the regular season with 110 points before heading into the playoffs. The team will eventually beat the Canadiens in Game 6, according to the simulation. Predators winger Filip Forsberg is predicted to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP, picking up 26 points in the postseason.

The predicted Stanley Cup finals loss will sting all the more for the Canadiens, as the team traded star defenseman P.K. Subban to the Predators in the offseason, a move that some criticized.

The NHL 17 simulation also predicted all the major end-of-season awards. These are listed below.

• Presidents' Trophy: Nashville Predators
• Conn Smythe Trophy: Filip Forsberg (NSH)
• Hart Memorial Trophy: Connor McDavid (STL)
• Art Ross Trophy: Connor McDavid (EDM)
• James Norris Memorial Trophy: Brent Burns (SJS)
• Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy: Vladimir Tarasenko (STL)
• Vezina Trophy: Carey Price (MTL)
• William M. Jennings Trophy: Martin Jones (SJS)
• Frank J. Selke Trophy: Anze Kopitar (LA)
• Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Nicklas Backstrom (WAS)
• Calder Memorial Trophy: Auston Matthews (TOR)
• Ted Lindsay Award: Connor McDavid (EDM)

EA's annual Madden NFL simulation has been more reliable in recent years. The simulation's prediction for Super Bowl XLIX between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks was eerily accurate, not only getting the final score right (28-24), but also the fourth quarter comeback and the final score play.

The 2016/2017 NHL season begins next week. For more on NHL 17, which came out in September, check out GameSpot's review and what other critics are saying.