NHL Stanley Cup Conference Finals Predictions
Unfortunately, I think the we’ve already seen what was essentially the conference finals in the East and the West in the NHL Stanly Cup playoffs this year. Those would be the matchups between and victorious Penguins and the Caps in the East and the victorious Ducks and the Oilers in the West. But they play these games for a reason and Ottawa and Nashville are also here for a reason.
Eastern Conference
Pittsburgh Penguins v. Ottawa Senators – Pittsburgh survived the Caps series despite a multitude of injuries, especially to their back line. Some of those players will be coming back, giving coach Mike Sullivan more depth and options. Ottawa just finds ways to win. They have a strong group of forwards and Erik Karlsson can dominate at both ends of the ice, even with two stress fractures in his ankle. I think the goaltending matchup will pretty much be a wash. That being said, I just think the Pens have too much depth and talent up front with Crosby and Malkin to be stopped in this series. Pittsburgh in 5.
Western Conference
Anaheim Ducks v. Nashville Predators – Anaheim survived a great series with the Edmonton Oilers and their rather youthful defense corps is gaining more and more playoff experience. Experience is not a problem among their forwards and Ryan Getzlaf came up huge in the Oiler series. Nashville has just been solid in every phase of the game. They can play a suffocating 200-foot game and Pekka Rinne has been, well, let’s just say impeccable (sorry for that one). At the other end, John Gibson is really the Ducks’ weak link but he manages to play well when they need him. It looked like Nashville was getting a little worn down by the bigger, stronger Blues team as the prior series ended. Anaheim will probably have the same effect. The goaltending at each end may keep this closer than it should be. Anaheim in 6.
Game 1 in the Western Conference begins tonight at 9pm EDT.