NHL Playoffs- The Conference Finals
By Allyus Fritz
We now have our final four. Each of these teams has won a Stanley Cup in the last four years. Here are the last four Stanley Cup finals:
2012: Los Angeles Kings over New Jersey Devils, 4-2
2011: Boston Bruins over Vancouver Canucks, 4-3
2010: Chicago Blackhawks over Philadelphia Flyers, 4-2
2009: Pittsburgh Penguins over Detroit Red Wings, 4-3
This tells us one thing: these Conferences Final matchups are not surprising. This isn’t like last season where the Kings, Devils and Coyotes, all surprise teams, made the Conference Finals. The dream is still alive for four teams, and all of them are powerhouses that know what it feels like to win it all.
So far I’m 8 for 12 when it comes to series predictions. My only second round loss was the Bruins and Rangers series. I really thought Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers would put up a fight and win a long series, especially after Boston needed a miracle to beat the Maple Leafs. I was wrong.
Let’s look at the match-ups.
WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
Los Angeles Kings vs. Chicago Blackhawks
How they got here:
Kings: Blues in 6, Sharks in 7.
Hawks: Wild in 5, Red Wings in 7.
Both teams needed seven games to advance past round two. The Kings never played a Game 7 during their Stanley Cup run last season. The Blackhawks didn’t look like the team that we saw during the regular season when they feel behind 3-1 to the Red Wings, only to come all the way back and win Game 7 in overtime. Offensive struggles is the reason both teams took so long to dispatch their second round foes.
Those struggles could continue with the goaltenders playing as well as they are. Jonathan Quick made incredible saves during Game 7 against the Sharks. I expect more of the same. Don’t count out Corey Crawford in net for Chicago, who is on a hot streak and sporting a 1.70 goals against average. Hot goaltending can be so vital deep in the playoffs, so we’ll see which one blinks and which one makes the crucial saves.
The Blackhawks are 2-1 against the Kings this season, but both of those wins came early when Chicago was on its historic run and Los Angeles was playing poorly. Right now the Kings look just like the team that won last year’s Stanley Cup. Strong defensively play combined with timely offense and Jonathan Quick standing on his head in net. L.A.’s defense will shut down Patrick Kane and make Chicago’s third and fourth lines beat them. No one has won on the road in L.A. this postseason. I expect them to return to the finals and attempt to be the first back-to-back champs since Scotty Bowman’s Red Wings in ’97-’98. Prediction: Kings in 6
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
Boston Bruins vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
How they got here:
Bruins: Maple Leafs in 7, Rangers in 5
Penguins: Islanders in 6, Senators in 5
After allowing the Islanders to hang around for six games, Pittsburgh seems to have its collective head on straight again. Their series with the Senators went five games only because of an overtime loss. Through the first two rounds, Pittsburgh is averaging 4.27 GPG.
Boston is still here because Toronto choked and couldn’t put the Bruins away. The Maple Leafs were up 3-1 in the series, then were up 3-1 going in to the 3rd period of Game 7, and still found a way to lose! After that small blessing, the Bruins dismantled the Rangers, making Rick Nash and company look like they had no business being in the playoffs. Torey Krug has three power play goals in his first five NHL playoff games, adding to the strangeness that has been the Bruins postseason.
Pittsburgh has won its last six regular season games against Boston. Tomas Vokoun may in fact be the only reason the Penguins are still around. Vokoun has been a revelation since replacing the inept Marc-Andre Fleury in net. Tuukka Rask will get outdueled by Vokoun, however Rask will still win the trophy for coolest name ever.
In the end, this series comes down to one simple fact: the Penguins have Sidney Crosby and the Bruins don’t. Prediction: Penguins in 6
2013 Stanley Cup Finals Prediction
Los Angeles Kings vs. Pittsburgh Penguins. See you at the Stanley Cup.
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Predicting the 2013 NHL Conference Finals
NHL Playoffs- The Conference Finals
By Allyus Fritz
We now have our final four. Each of these teams has won a Stanley Cup in the last four years. Here are the last four Stanley Cup finals:
2012: Los Angeles Kings over New Jersey Devils, 4-2
2011: Boston Bruins over Vancouver Canucks, 4-3
2010: Chicago Blackhawks over Philadelphia Flyers, 4-2
2009: Pittsburgh Penguins over Detroit Red Wings, 4-3
This tells us one thing: these Conferences Final matchups are not surprising. This isn’t like last season where the Kings, Devils and Coyotes, all surprise teams, made the Conference Finals. The dream is still alive for four teams, and all of them are powerhouses that know what it feels like to win it all.
So far I’m 8 for 12 when it comes to series predictions. My only second round loss was the Bruins and Rangers series. I really thought Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers would put up a fight and win a long series, especially after Boston needed a miracle to beat the Maple Leafs. I was wrong.
Let’s look at the match-ups.
WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
Los Angeles Kings vs. Chicago Blackhawks
How they got here:
Kings: Blues in 6, Sharks in 7.
Hawks: Wild in 5, Red Wings in 7.
Both teams needed seven games to advance past round two. The Kings never played a Game 7 during their Stanley Cup run last season. The Blackhawks didn’t look like the team that we saw during the regular season when they feel behind 3-1 to the Red Wings, only to come all the way back and win Game 7 in overtime. Offensive struggles is the reason both teams took so long to dispatch their second round foes.
Those struggles could continue with the goaltenders playing as well as they are. Jonathan Quick made incredible saves during Game 7 against the Sharks. I expect more of the same. Don’t count out Corey Crawford in net for Chicago, who is on a hot streak and sporting a 1.70 goals against average. Hot goaltending can be so vital deep in the playoffs, so we’ll see which one blinks and which one makes the crucial saves.
The Blackhawks are 2-1 against the Kings this season, but both of those wins came early when Chicago was on its historic run and Los Angeles was playing poorly. Right now the Kings look just like the team that won last year’s Stanley Cup. Strong defensively play combined with timely offense and Jonathan Quick standing on his head in net. L.A.’s defense will shut down Patrick Kane and make Chicago’s third and fourth lines beat them. No one has won on the road in L.A. this postseason. I expect them to return to the finals and attempt to be the first back-to-back champs since Scotty Bowman’s Red Wings in ’97-’98. Prediction: Kings in 6
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
Boston Bruins vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
How they got here:
Bruins: Maple Leafs in 7, Rangers in 5
Penguins: Islanders in 6, Senators in 5
After allowing the Islanders to hang around for six games, Pittsburgh seems to have its collective head on straight again. Their series with the Senators went five games only because of an overtime loss. Through the first two rounds, Pittsburgh is averaging 4.27 GPG.
Boston is still here because Toronto choked and couldn’t put the Bruins away. The Maple Leafs were up 3-1 in the series, then were up 3-1 going in to the 3rd period of Game 7, and still found a way to lose! After that small blessing, the Bruins dismantled the Rangers, making Rick Nash and company look like they had no business being in the playoffs. Torey Krug has three power play goals in his first five NHL playoff games, adding to the strangeness that has been the Bruins postseason.
Pittsburgh has won its last six regular season games against Boston. Tomas Vokoun may in fact be the only reason the Penguins are still around. Vokoun has been a revelation since replacing the inept Marc-Andre Fleury in net. Tuukka Rask will get outdueled by Vokoun, however Rask will still win the trophy for coolest name ever.
In the end, this series comes down to one simple fact: the Penguins have Sidney Crosby and the Bruins don’t. Prediction: Penguins in 6
2013 Stanley Cup Finals Prediction
Los Angeles Kings vs. Pittsburgh Penguins. See you at the Stanley Cup.
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