Round three headline: David versus Goliath. Will Young blood prevail? The champs are still hanging around like a booger on a nose hair.

RECORD FOR ROUND TWO PREDICTIONS (1-3)

Round 2 blew up in our faces with all our bad picks. Only one that we got correct was Islanders beating the Bruins. I think we just became fans of the game, as we hoped the Hurricanes would sweep away the Lightning. How could these Canadians keep defying the odds as they sent the Jets to the bone yard?

Then the Golden Knights who did not shock us. Just thought it was the Avalanche’s turn. In the first round we had a 6-2 record.

AFTER TWO ROUNDS OF 2021 NHL PLAYOFFS PREDICTIONS, WE ARE (7-5)

THE SEMI FINALS ROUND THREE PREDICTIONS:

Which player will be the next Ned Braden seducing Lord Stanley’s cup?

MONTREAL CANADIANS VERSUS VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

Montreal has won 24 cups as an original six member of the NH.L

Vegas will be seeking their second Stanley Cup appearance in just their 4th season in history.

The Golden Knights are that nasty Russian Olympic team in the early 1980’s having that dominating line up they called the Red Army. The Canadians have played the underdog role the entire playoffs as they were the last team to qualify for the tournament. Can the Canadians be the USA team in the 1980’s and take down the Red Army as one of hockey’s biggest upsets?

NET MINDERS

PRICE VERSUS FLEURY

Both Carey Price and Marc-Andre Fleury have been awesome this post season.

STATS THIS POST SEASON

Carey Price RECORD (8-3) 1.97 GAA, 935 SAVE %, 1 SHUT OUT

Marc-Andre Fleury RECORD (8-4) 1.91 GAA, .925 SAVE %, 1 SHUT OUT

Love to see either one of these teams to advance to the Stanley Cup championship. I love the Underdog story of the Canadians even though historically they are the big bad wolf of the NHL. Love to see Golden Knights prevail and land their first cup. I think the net minders are the determining factor of this series. I’d like Carey Price to help his team win two games in this best out of seven series. I think this is the year Marc-Andre Fleury shows he has been there and done this. Make Vegas wonder why they wasted their time trading for veteran and talented back up this year, Robin Lehner.

PREDICTION: Golden Knights in six

NEW YORK ISLANDERS VERSUS TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

New York Islanders have won 4 cups and are seeking their fifth.

Tampa Bay Lightning looking to repeat as champions, as they have won 2 cups looking for their third.

This is a rematch from last year’s Stanley Cup playoffs where Tampa Bay ousted New York in six games. Tampa Bay I picked last series versus the Hurricanes as the Champs showed me they have not slowed down with a few injuries. New York Islanders have been my best pick so far during these playoffs. To me this is a series of Offense and Defense. Lightning are loaded with an arsenal of weapons that can shoot the puck in the net.

STAT: GOALS LIGHTING SCORED COULD BE HAZARDOUS TO THE ISLANDERS’ HEALTH

TOP GOAL SCORERS: Nikita Kucherov (5), Alex Killorn (6), Steven Stamkos (5), Brayden Point (9)

When it comes to push and shove, I always like defense to prevail over high powered offenses. This is where Barry Trotz, Islander, defensive comes into play. Islanders can grind it out with almost anybody. In the first round, the Islanders kept the Penguins at bay with their lethal offense. Probably the best unit in the tournament. Plus this will be the second series where both the Lightning and Islanders square off. I usually don’t like picking New York City teams in anything. I feel the Islanders are not exactly the Big Apple’s favorite sports team. Maybe Tom Brady has ruined the city of Tampa Bay for me. Islanders will dispatch last year’s champs and end this Tampa Domination.

PREDICTION: Islanders in Seven