A popular video game simulator has hopped on the Boston Bruins’ Stanley Cup bandwagon, just like the odds makers.
The Bruins will return to the Cup final for their second consecutive spring and defeat the San Jose Sharks in six games to claim their second Cup in four years, according to EA Sports’ simulation of the 2014 playoffs on NHL 14.
If the prediction proves accurate, veteran Jarome Iginla will hoist this first Cup and Boston goalie Tuukka Rask (1.56 GAA, .948 save percentage, four shutouts) will win the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Using real-life data from each player in the tournament and algorithms that factor injuries and line combinations, Electronic Arts sees goaltenders Carey Price (Montreal) and Henrik Lundqvist (New York) both leading their teams to 4-0 series sweeps in the opening round. The 2013 champion Chicago Blackhawks’ bid to repeat is predicted to end with a seven-game thriller to the Colorado Avalanche, and the Bruins-Rangers series is a seven-game doozy.
The simulator has changed from its original prediction back in September, which saw the St. Louis Blues dispatching the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games to claim their first-ever Cup.
In all, NHL 14‘s original simulation correctly predicted 10 of the 16 teams that qualified for 2013-14’s post-season.
