Hello NHL Hockey Fans,
The NHL playoffs in my opinion are the most intense, physical, and emotional gruelling path to a championship in comparison to any other sports league on this planet. I have heard many other sports experts and enthusiasts agree with this viewpoint. You do not necessarily have to be a hockey fan to appreciate the crazy pace and effort put into every shift from these elite players.
The finalists from the Eastern Conference, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Western Conference, Colorado Avalanche had much different type paths to get the honour of playing for Lord Stanley’s Cup.
The Colorado Avalanche dominated their way to the finals by sweeping the Nashville Predators (4-0) in the first round, beating the St. Louis Blues (4-2) in the second round and then topping that off by sweeping the best player in the world Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers (4-0) in the Western Conference Finals.
The Tampa Bay Lightning used their experience and grit to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs (2-1) in game 7 in the first round, then swept the Florida Panthers four games to zero in the second round. Only to have another tough battle, beating the NY Rangers (4-2) in the Eastern Conference Finals. Tampa Bay will now try and win their third Stanley Cup in a row and become the first team to do so since the NY Islanders in the early 80’s and Montreal Canadiens in the late 70’s. Those two teams had back-to-back four peat dynasties in an eight-year span.
This is the match up most Hockey Fans wanted to see. The Colorado Avalanche had the best record in the Western Conference against the two-time defending champions Tampa Bay Lightning representing the best of the East.
Prediction:
The Colorado Avalanche are playing amazing hockey and on paper are probably the better team this year. However, they do not have what they do not have and that is the experience, pedigree, and goaltending that the Tampa Bay Lightning possess. There is something about that added pressure of the finals that teams don’t realize until they get one under their belt. Andrei Valsilevskiy is the better goaltender and will help steady the ship for Tampa Bay in what I see will be a seven-game war between these two teams.
It will be a hard-fought series that will go down to a seventh and deciding game which will be won by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
I have Tampa Bay being crowned as Stanley Cup Champions once again in 7 games.
What is your prediction?
Who are you cheering for?
Let us know in the comments below.
