Remember the days of Joe Sakic leading the Avalanche to the Stanley Cup Finals? Will the Lightning move on to defend their Stanley cup to seek a three peat? Is Connor McDavid the best player remaining? The Rangers keep finding a way. We are down to 4 teams left in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Last round we went 2-2 in our predictions of each series. Round 1 we did very well going 5-3. We have a 7-5 record in the playoffs, which is not impressive. We are winning!!!

Let’s throw some more darts at the board and see who we’ve got meeting up in the Stanley Cup Finals.

WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

COLORADO AVALANCHE VERSUS EDMONTON OILERS

The Colorado Avalanche have the best record in the Western conference and are a series away from getting back to the Stanley Cup Finals. Meanwhile Connor McDavid is performing like the best hockey player on the ice throughout these playoffs. Remember those Wayne Gretzky-led Oiler teams he carried on his back?

Can Connor McDavid carry this Oiler team on his back to the Cup Finals?

LAST ROUND: Colorado dropped an Avalanche on St. Louis Blues goalie Jordan Binnington, knocking him out of the series.

Binnington was playing very well before his injury as Colorado would move on to the championship round. Oilers were able to upend the Calgary Flames, an archrival in the Canadian world.

Connor McDavid Robin is Leon Draisaitl and this Edmonton line has been tearing it up with 26 points in 12 games in the post-season. The Oilers even let a Joker in the Batcave.

Evander Kane, the most hated man in hockey, has 12 goals for the Edmonton Oilers this post-season which give this team a potent offense. Then Mike Smith, a 40 year net-minder, has a .927 save percentage during this Edmonton run.

The Colorado Avalanche record is the best in the league remaining because they have 7 out of the 50 best players in the NHL according to ESPN. Let’s mention the Connor McDavid on Colorado, who goes by the name Nathan Mackinnon.

I like the Avalanche to finish this thing up strong and make the finals. I think Edmonton has played over their heads till now and are due for a let down. Colorado’s Cale Makar will make his stand on defense to fluster the McDavid line. Does Edmonton have anyone that can control or stop the Avalanche’s second deadly line with Nazem Kadri skating circles around teams? Kadri would be on most teams in the NHL top lines.

PREDICTION: AVALANCHE IN 6 GAMES

EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING VERSUS NEW YORK RANGERS

This is an interesting match up that features the Rangers, an original six team who play in the biggest city in North America. Then you have the city of Tampa Bay known as a town of losers when it comes to their professional sports landscape. Suddenly the Lightning seem to be knocking on the door for a three peat in the hockey world as Tampa Bay is collecting titles in sports like a kid collecting baseball cards.

LAST ROUND: Lightning swept away the Panthers with ease winning the Florida State battle.

The Rangers have been playing the spoiler role in their first two series. The Rangers have overcome two deficits in each series. Rangers found a way to come back and knock the Penguins out in round one. Then doing the same thing to the Hurricanes in round two.

Last time the Lightning lost a playoff series, was back in Spring 2019. Lightning have won ten playoff series in a row while collecting two Cups. Lightning could be the first team to 3 peat since those Islander teams in the 1980’s.

Can Artemi Panarin be the difference maker in this series for the Rangers? Panarin signed with the Rangers for big money. Now it is time to show why you are worth all that money.

Rangers have some play makers on this roster that can make this series interesting. All-star defenseman Adam Fox. Mika Zibanecad can light the lamp. Can Igor Shesterkin keep a well balanced offense intact in front of the net for the rangers?

Lightning have been like thunder in this round with the experience this team has. I can not go against them until some team knocks them out. I just don’t think the Rangers can win a seven game series versus the Lightning. I think the Lightning is a well-balanced team with a deep roster of talent just oozing out. Lightning have the best goalie on the planet right now in Andrei Vasilevskiy as he has stopped 211 shots out of 218 so far in playoffs which equals out to a .968 save percentage. Did we mention Vasilevskiy has been in net for Tampa Bay in the last two Stanley Cup runs?

PREDICTION: LIGHTNING IN SIX GAMES