Hockey WineUp Weekend Watch: Pt. 2

Welcome back to your Hockey WineUp Weekend Watch! What a wild and crazy Thursday night in the NHL playoffs! Four elimination games shook things up, and just like that, six of the eight first-round match-ups are officially decided (It’s Friday, May 2, 2025).

So, how did those carefully considered Hockey WineUp wine predictions fare against the on-ice reality? Let’s pour a glass, look at the results, and see what’s left for this weekend as Round 1 wraps up.

Ready? Let’s Go!

Closing Out Round 1: The Weekend Schedule!

Just two series remain undecided, promising high drama this weekend. Here’s what’s on tap (All times EDT):

Friday, May 2nd (Tonight!):

• 8:00 PM: Central Division Clash! Winnipeg Jets vs. St. Louis Blues (Game 6)
  • The Score: The HWU Champion Churchill’s 10 Year Old Tawny Port (Winnipeg) leads the series 3-2 over the zesty Badenhorst Secateurs Chenin Blanc 2023 (St. Louis).
  • The Question: Can the Champ finish the job tonight, or will the persistent Blues force a decisive Game 7?

Saturday, May 3rd:

• 8:00 PM: Pacific Power vs. Central Skill! Colorado Avalanche vs. Dallas Stars (Game 7)
  • The Score: The brilliant Le Mont Sec 2019 Domaine Huet Vouvray (Colorado) and the structured Vina Real Reserva 2016 (Dallas) are knotted at 3-3!
  • The Question: It all comes down to this! A Game 7 between two powerhouse teams with two incredible wine pairings. This is going to be a treat for hockey and wine fans.

HWU Prediction Scorecard: Round 1 Results

Alright, time to review the finished series. How did Hockey WineUp do predicting winners based purely on the wine match-ups? Let’s just say the results are in, and we’re currently rocking a… 2 out of 6 success rate on the completed series. Ouch! Here’s the breakdown:

Eastern Conference Recap (2 Correct, 2 Incorrect HWU Predictions):

• Matchup 1: First vs. Worst? – Capitals vs. Canadiens:
  • HWU Prediction: Saint-Roch Côtes du Roussillon Corbarol 2022 (Montreal). (Incorrect)
  • Series Result: Washington’s reliable Taylor Fladgate 10-Year-Old Tawny Port proved too steady for our underdog pick and moves on. Sometimes, Port just wins!
• Matchup 2: Battle of Ontario – Maple Leafs vs. Senators:
  • HWU Prediction: Bachelder ‘Les Villages’ Pinot Noir (Toronto). (Correct!)
  • Series Result: We called it! The delightful Bachelder Pinot Noir from Niagara takes the series. On to Round 2 for this pairing!
• Matchup 3: Sunshine State Showdown – Lightning vs. Panthers:
  • HWU Prediction: Sicus ‘Cru Marí’ 2011 (Tampa Bay). (Incorrect)
  • Series Result: Florida’s charming Rivarose Sparkling Rosé brought the Provençal sunshine and secured the series win. Style points count!
• Matchup 4: Metropolitan Division Mayhem – Hurricanes vs. Devils:
  • HWU Prediction: Domaine Pyrène Côtes de Gascogne ‘Cuvée Marine’ (Carolina). (Correct!)
  • Series Result: That zesty ‘Cuvée Marine’ perfectly matched the Canes’ energy and closed out the series in a double OT thriller!

Western Conference Recap (Partial – 0 Correct, 2 Incorrect HWU Predictions on completed series):

• Completed – Matchup: Port vs. Port Power Play – Golden Knights vs. Wild:
  • HWU Prediction: Real Companhia Velha Vintage Port 2007 (Minnesota). (Incorrect)
  • Series Result: It was a battle of great Ports, but Vegas’s powerful Graham’s Quinta Dos Malvedos Vintage Port 2009 emerged victorious. Tough beat!
• Completed – Matchup: Hollywood vs. High-Octane North – Kings vs. Oilers:
  • HWU Prediction: Imperial Rioja Gran Reserva 2012 (L.A. Kings). (Incorrect)
  • Series Result: Maybe the lesson here is always pick Port? Edmonton’s upfront Kopke Ruby Port takes the series over the classy Rioja.

Weekend Watch Wrap

So there you have it, folks! Six series down, two to go. The official Hockey WineUp prediction record (based on those head-to-head wine match-ups) stands at a humbling 2 wins and 4 losses so far. But hey, predicting playoff hockey via wine is an art, not a science! (Right?!)

Enjoy the final games of Round 1 this weekend and cheers to the thrilling unpredictability of playoff hockey!

© 2025 Nicholas Shalagan and Hockey WineUp. All rights reserved. Hockey WineUp is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NHL or its teams.