Crash The Pond Conference Final Predictions
For the second round, the standings for the guys are as follows:
Jake: 3 correct, 1 incorrect (0 series with the correct amount of games and winner)
Felix: 2 correct, 2 incorrect (0 series with the correct amount of games and winner)
CJ: 2 correct, 2 incorrect (0 series with the correct amount of games and winner)
CJ and Felix tied yet again, with this time no one having the edge in correct number of games. The cumulative standings are as follows:
Jake: 12 correct, 8 incorrect (4 series with the correct amount of games and winner)
Felix: 10 correct, 10 incorrect (4 series with the correct amount of games and winner)
CJ: 10 correct, 10 incorrect (1 series with the correct amount of games and winner)
It is still very tight as we move into the conference final. Just like with the prior rounds, we want to go on the record to try and prove who is the most accurate. There may or may not be a beer bet as well.
JAKE RUDOLPH
Tampa Bay vs New York Islanders - Tampa Bay in 5 - I have gone on record on the podcast praising the Islanders for proving me wrong in the past few rounds, and they continued that strong play against the Flyers. They completely deserved to win that series and in a much shorter fashion with how they played, but here is the thing with both the Flyers series and their prior series: were the Islanders that good or were their opponents not as good as people made them out to be? It could be a little of column A and a little of column B, but with the Lightning we know that column B is not the case with them.
The Lightning have been dominant at 5v5 and made short work against both the Blue Jackets and the Presidents Trophy winning Bruins. They did all of this without their captain. It is unknown if Stamkos will make his return in this series, but if he does that bolsters their chances to move on even more. I think the Lightning are the most complete team left in the playoffs, and even if the Islanders are better than I gave them credit for at the start of the playoffs, they are not a match for the juggernaut that is the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tampa Bay in 5.
Vegas vs Dallas - Vegas in 7 - Vegas and Dallas both were able to win their prior series by the skin of their teeth. Vegas needed 7 games to beat an overmatched Vancouver Canucks aka the Thatcher Demko’s for the final few games, while Dallas pulled off the upset against a very good Avalanche team.
While Vegas did completely dominate the Canucks throughout their series, to the tune of 65% xGF% throughout the series, some flaws were exposed, specifically in net. Lehner and Fleury had some issues when they were called upon in the series, and for the first time in the playoffs Vegas looked vulnerable as a result. I trust Lehner to bounce back from his poor series, but there is a slight question mark now.
Dallas on the other hand showed their depth throughout the Avalanche series, with getting scoring from various locations and Khudobin holding down the fort for the most part. I think Vegas is simply the better of the two teams, but I think it will be a close series. I am going Vegas in 7.
FELIX SICARD
Tampa Bay vs New York Islanders - Tampa Bay in 5 - The Islanders have been a great story, and deserve everything they’ve gotten to this point. That being said, the Lightning look like the real deal this year, and have slain their proverbial dragon in the form of the Boston Bruins. It’s their time, and that should become apparent rather quickly.
Vegas vs Dallas - Vegas in 6 - Part of me really wants to see the Stars go all the way at this point. They have so many likable veterans, and they play a sound game. However, I do think this is a better matchup for Vegas than Vancouver was. Dallas is less of a transition team, an area of the game that the Golden Knights struggled with. Vegas is the better team in all aspects, and that should win the day.
CJ WOODLING
Tampa Bay vs New York Islanders - Tampa Bay in 7 - The Islanders have shown almost no weaknesses through this point in the playoffs. They’re not the strongest team overall, but they do everything well at a bare minimum. Which is something very few, if any, teams can claim. That said, even with Steven Stamkos out for this series, the Lightning are just too stacked.
Vegas vs Dallas - Vegas in 6 - Dallas has surprised almost everyone with their deep run into the Western Conference Finals. But they’re a flawed team that has mostly gotten by on stellar goaltending from Anton Khudobin and the points machine known as Miro Heiskanen. If Ben Bishop can get healthy, they might be able to make this series a fight, but Vegas has the ability to overwhelm opponents at will. Combined with Robin Lehner clearly winning the starting job over Marc-Andre Fleury, it’s tough to see the Stars coming out of this series.
Though I did predict the Colorado Avalanche would be here in a sweep so who knows anything anyway?