In 12 post-season games in round 1 & 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs, I have a losing record. I went 3-5 in the first round. In the second round I went even Steven with a 2-2 record. The overall losing record is 5-7 in all 12 games played so far. Now I will see what I can do with the conference finals. I need 2 wins to get to the .500 mark before the Stanley Cup finals happen. If I can predict the winner in Lord Stanley’s game, I could pull out a winning record. Don’t count on it. I’ve done some research on my two series winners in the conference finals. I did a little more than just asking the hockey know-it-all who was sitting next to me at the bar. I’m confident I can go 2-0 in these two conference series. I may have to do another set of rosary beads in the process to get the hockey gods to give my picks at least a look. Maybe you will agree with who I picked or go opposite and win big bucks. I’m going to let them ride. I hope I come out on top this round.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

LAS VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS COLORADO AVALANCHE

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Avalanche eliminated the Kings in the first round & then the Wild in the second round.

Golden Knights eliminated the Mammoth in the first round & then the Ducks in the second round.

STANLEY CUP FINALS RECORD

Golden Knights will be looking for their 3rd Stanley Cup appearance. The Knights are (1-1) in their franchise history.

The Avalanche will be looking for their 4th Stanley Cup appearance. The Avalanche are a perfect (3-0) in their franchise history.

The Western conference finals consist of two power houses in the NHL world. You could say both rosters are stacked with talent up and down the rosters. The Avalanche have more firepower as the Golden Knights may have the deeper team. The Golden Knights on any given night have been able to light the lamp with the best of any team that has made it to post-season. On even ground of five on five hockey, the Avalanche have outscored opponents this post-season 23-13.

The best of the best for each team is of course Nathan Mackinnon for the Avalanche and for Vegas is Mitch Marner. These guys will be unstoppable and will get their points no matter what. Mackinnon in the last series scored a goal in each game as if he has put himself into the overdrive setting as he scored 5 goals versus the Wild. For Vegas, Marner leads the post-season with 18 points.

Both teams have the other guy and more that you can potentially pick out of a hat who will be the X-factor. Cale Makal is another superstar on the Avs. However 17 different players have scored a goal for the Avalanche in 9 games in post-season so far. The Golden Knights also have Jack Eichel and Thomas Hertl that can light up the lamp. Will Vegas have Mark Stone which his status right now is unknown due to an injury he had versus the Ducks in the last series? Stone can make his presence on both sides of the ice. Offense and defense.

This will be a very entertaining series. To me, the Golden Knights, an expansion team that started in 2017 and became a fixture in post-season is unfair. Especially the franchise I root for. I have whiffed both times picking against the Golden Knights the first two series. I really like the Golden Knights defensive style which will make this an exciting series. Nathan Mackinnon after playing for team Canada looked like a sore loser to many after that loss to USA in the Winter Olympics. He seems like he is on a mission with Colorado to get the job done in winning the Stanley Cup since he could not help his country achieve the gold in those Olympics. The Avalanche I have been perfect picking them to win each series so far. I’m riding them to the Stanley Cup finals.

OUR PREDICTION: AVALANCHE WINS IT IN SIX GAMES

EASTERN CONFERENCE

CAROLINA HURRICANES VS MONTREAL CANADIENS

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Canadiens eliminated the Lightning in the first round & then the Sabres in the second round.

Hurricanes eliminated the Senators in the first round & then the Flyers in the second round.

STANLEY CUP FINALS RECORD:

The Hurricanes will be looking for their 3rd Stanley Cup appearance. The Canes are (1-1) in their franchise history.

The Canadiens being a original six team in the NHL will be looking for their 35th Stanley Cup appearance. The Canadiens are (24-10) in their franchise history.

The Carolina Hurricanes come into the conference finals a perfect 8-0 after two sweeps in the first 2 rounds. The Canadiens have taken a different path than the Hurricanes to get to this point. Montreal has lived on the edge and have won each round in a pair of game sevens to conclude each series. The Hurricanes are on an 11 day rest since they last saw game action. This is the 3rd Eastern conference finals in the last 4 seasons that the Hurricanes have been involved in. Will the Canadiens be the 3rd team to send home the Hurricanes in the last 4 seasons?

Some say the Canadiens were outplayed in both rounds of post-season so far. Here they are advancing to the conference finals. What I noticed is Montreal’s goalie who has a pair of game 7 wins in the net for the Canadiens. Jakub Dobes came up big versus the Sabres in a game 7 that went to overtime. The Canadiens will bring the best offensive the Hurricanes have faced so far in the post-season. With guys like Cole Caufield, Lane Hutson, and Nick Suzuki giving Montreal the big three that is needed for an all out attack on the opponent’s goalie. Montreal has had unsung heroes in this tournament so far. Like former Colorado Avalanche Alex Newhook who came up big in game 7. Newhook was the guy that put the fatality on a magical season played by the Buffalo Sabres with the overtime tally.

The Hurricanes have a stout defense. They have a solid goaltender between the pipes. Montreal should be worried about 1 line in particular the Hurricanes have. In 8 games, this line has tallied 14 goals. Logan Stankoven has 7 goals on that line. Jackson Blake has added 4. Along with Taylor Hall adding three goals. The Hurricanes can get enough offense to win games. The Hurricanes defense is the best unit left standing in these conference finals. They also have a penalty kill unit on special teams that just snuffs out the other team’s power play.

I think the Hurricanes could be rusty to start the series. Montreal could start the series off fast living off the momentum of that thrilling game 7 victory days ago. I thought the Hurricanes would be out in round which I must have been high when I went with that crazy idea. I picked them to win last round. The Canadiens I had losing in both rounds. I think this series will go at least six games. I think the Canadiens will be gassed by the end of it which will be better for the Hurricanes who finally get over the hurdle of the conference finals.

OUR PREDICTION: HURRICANES IN 6 GAMES