If you want to view predictions as prophecy, it may be time to start planning the parade.

EA Sports simulated the upcoming Stanley Cup Playoffs, where it determined that the Toronto Maple Leafs will win the Stanley Cup this year.

The simulation predicted that the Maple Leafs would defeat the Colorado Avalanche in seven games, to lift the Cup for the first time. In this exercise, the Leafs defeat the Ottawa Senators in six games, then advance past the Florida Panthers in six games, before sweeping the Montreal Canadiens en route to the Final.

This would be a dream scenario for the Maple Leafs, who have advanced past the first round just once in the Auston Matthews era, and are looking for their first Stanley Cup since 1967.

Of course, this naturally invites jokes about how this may be the closest the Maple Leafs will get to winning the Cup, but you have to assume EA Sports’ model is impartial, and it’s reflective of a team full of offensive star power, while receiving elite goaltending from Anthony Stolarz. Toronto is playing a more pragmatic, defense-first style under Craig Berube, that values shot location and risk mitigation.

There are ample reasons to believe that this year could be different, whether it’s Berube’s style, Mitch Marner’s career-best performance in the regular season, coming off an 102-point campaign, improved depth and proven veterans that have won it all before. Toronto won the Atlantic Division for the first time and it should be considered a heavy favourite, although it has to be noted that Ottawa swept the season series 3-0.

We’ll take it a round at a time, but it’s easy to start planning what the parade route will look like when the Maple Leafs win it all. Perhaps this year is the year, as the Maple Leafs enter the playoffs on a 13-2-1 run, with ample reason to believe, or BeLeaf, if you will.