Conference Final Predictions

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There was no one who predicted all four series in the second round as the Rangers and Oilers spoiled most predictions.

Second Round

Michael 3-1

Ryan 3-1

Mark 3-1

Corey 2-2

Matthew 2-2

Jeffrey 1-3

The first-round recap went as follows

Ryan 7-1

Mark 7-1

Michael 6-2

Corey 6-2

Matthew 5-3

Jeffrey 4-4

Thus far after two rounds

Ryan 10-2

Mark 10-2

Michael 9-3

Corey 8-4

Matthew 7-5

Jeffrey 5-7

New York Rangers-Tampa Bay Lightning

Michael – The goaltending battle will be something to behold as Andrei Vasilevsky and Igor Shesterkin are the two best goaltenders in the NHL. It will be a low-scoring series and while I think the Lightning should be the favorites, there is something about this Rangers team that appeals to me. I like the Rangers in seven and it would not surprise me if Game 7 went into overtime.

Corey – The Rangers have displayed plenty of resilience, while battling back to win their previous two series, but the Lightning offer a very different challenge than Pittsburgh and Carolina. Tampa Bay has won 10 straight playoff series and they were dominant last round versus the Florida Panthers. The goalie matchup between Andrei Vasilevskiy and Igor Shesterkin should keep the scoring down. Both netminders are capable of stealing games, but the Lightning’s all-around game should get them back into the Stanley Cup Final for a third straight year.

Ryan – New York managed to hang on against Pittsburgh and Carolina and while that’s impressive, the Tampa Bay Lightning are at another level. The Rangers’ greatest strength by far is goaltender Igor Shesterkin, but Andrei Vasilevskiy is one of the few netminders who can match up to him. I don’t think the Rangers measure up to the Lightning unless the time Tampa Bay has had off following their sweep of Florida has made them rusty. Even if the Rangers lose this series though, the 2022 playoffs have been a great experience for the younger members of the Rangers core and they can take some positives from this run.

Story continues

Mark – A spectacular matchup of absolutely locked-in netminders. Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy allowed four total goals in Tampa Bay’s four-game sweep of the now-declawed Panthers, while New York’s Igor Shesterkin surrendered two or fewer goals in six of his seven starts against the Hurricanes. While the Rangers get this series at home, Tampa Bay has already shown that it can handle a higher-seeded opponent in impressive fashion. While this series is the equivalent of a coin flip it’s hard to see past Vasilevskiy’s repeated brilliance this postseason. Doubt the heart of the back-to-back champion at your own peril.

Jeffrey – As much as I don’t want to see the Lightning in another Cup Final, they just can’t be stopped. They’re a well-oiled machine that just knows how to win. The question is, can they win a third straight cup?

Matthew – The Rangers proved me, and a lot of others wrong by disposing of the Hurricanes. But my Stanley Cup pick is still alive and that’s who I’m going to be riding with until the bitter end. The Rangers deserve to be here, however, they have had a lot of luck by facing second and third string goalies. On the other side, Andrei Vasilevskiy has found his groove and the defending champs disposed of the Presidents’ Trophy winning Panthers in four games WITHOUT Brayden Point. This is where the Championship pedigree of the Lightning will take over and they will comfortably take this series and move on to their third straight Stanley Cup Final.

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COLORADO-EDMONTON

Michael – Both teams have explosive offenses but while Colorado still has the stars, their forwards are all capable of putting the puck in the net. The top line of Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog could be the best line in the NHL while their blueline is led by Norris Trophy finalist Cale Makar. But the Oilers do have the great Connor McDavid as well as Leon Draisaitl who are two of the top five players in the NHL. If possible, McDavid has taken his game to another level in the playoffs and if anyone is capable of carrying a team on his back, it is McDavid. This could be another seven-game series as the NHL has to be thrilled with the competitiveness of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Corey – Part of me was very tempted to pick the Oilers here because their series win over Calgary was impressive. Colorado’s defense will have a difficult task trying to slow down Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Co., but I think the Avalanche will rise to the challenge. Edmonton will also have their hands full with Colorado’s top guns and the depth of the Avs will likely continue to serve them well during their postseason run. I took the Avalanche to win the Stanley Cup in my initial prediction and I’ll stick with them here.

Ryan – I’ll be honest, I see this series as something of a toss up and what swayed me to pick the Oilers was purely the fact that my colleagues so far have picked Colorado. The Avalanche are the better team on paper. They have more depth across the board and under normal circumstances I would easily take goaltender Darcy Kuemper over Mike Smith. That said, the most impressive roster doesn’t always win. Lately Smith has been the better goaltender of the two. On top of that Evander Kane is averaging a goal a game while Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are both making a serious run at Wayne Gretzky’s all-time points record for a single playoff run. If the Oilers core players stay hot, then they can beat even the Avalanche.

Mark – I’ll be honest, I see this series as something of a toss up and what swayed me to pick the Oilers was purely the fact that my colleagues so far have picked Colorado. The Avalanche are the better team on paper. They have more depth across the board and under normal circumstances I would easily take goaltender Darcy Kuemper over Mike Smith. That said, the most impressive roster doesn’t always win. Lately Smith has been the better goaltender of the two. On top of that Evander Kane is averaging a goal a game while Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are both making a serious run at Wayne Gretzky’s all-time points record for a single playoff run. If the Oilers core players stay hot, then they can beat even the Avalanche.

Jeffrey – Probably the best Western Conference match in years. Fire power on both sides but it just feels like this is the Avs’ year. Mackinnon and Makar power Colorado to the Final.

Matthew – Everything is pointing to the Colorado Avalanche steamrolling Edmonton which is why I’m picking them to win. I’ve doubted the Oilers for too long but I’m joining the party now. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are on another level right now and as long as those two are at this level, the Oilers will have a chance. The Avalanche have the more well-rounded team, but the high-end talent of the Oilers have gotten them this far, and there’s no reason why they can’t take them even further.