With the 2018-2019 NHL season begging this week, EA Sports has released the results of its annual simulation of the season using the latest NHL video game. The results of the NHL 20 simulation predict that the Boston Bruins will return to the Stanley Cup Finals for a second year in a row. But instead of ending their season in a crushing Game 7 loss to the Blues, the Bruins will defeat the Las Vegas Golden Knights in six games to claim their first Cup since 2011.

Bruins winger Brad Marchand will win the Conn Smythe trophy for being the MVP of the Playoffs with 32 points in 25 games, according to the simulation.

The Bruins will defeat Leafs, the Lightning, and the Capitals before advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals where they beat the Knights to win the Cup, the prediction says.

EA's Stanley Cup predictions have been incorrect for a few years in a row. Last year, the simulation predicted the Toronto Maple Leafs would win the Cup, but that didn't happen. In 2017, EA's simulation stated that the Winnipeg Jets would defeat the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Final, but in reality both teams were eliminated in earlier rounds.

The NHL 20 simulation also predicted the following events from the 2018-2019 season:

• Jack Hughes records 87 points in his rookie season to win the Calder Trophy (best rookie)
• Nathan Mackinnon wins the Art Ross and Hart Trophy with 119 points to lead the league
• Alexander Ovechkin scores 55 goals to lead the NHL and win the Rocket Richard Trophy
• Erik Karlsson records 85 points to lead the league's defenseman and takes home the Norris Trophy for a third time
• The Tampa Bay Lightning end the regular season with 109 points to lead the league

In other news, NHL 20 released a big new update this week that makes a raft of changes, improvements, and tweaks to the hockey game. Check out the full patch notes here.