The schedule is set for round two, so let’s go take a look at my precarious predictions from round one… and make some guesses on round two…
The results - I called Tampa in five and was correct on games and winner… if only the rest of my predictions were as on target as I called Columbus to finally win their first series… so much for that one… that puts me at 1-1 so far… I called Pittsburgh over Philly in six… and was correct and holy cow… I called Boston in seven… a respectable 3-1 in the East for the first round…
My calls in the west… not so hot… I did call the Sharks to win in six and the Preds to win in five… right on winners at least… but my hot take predictions were terrible. I really expected Minnesota to put up more of a fight instead of rolling over like they did… and if I would’ve told you that Jonathan Quick would post a .947 save percentage and a 1.55 goals against, you would have looked at my Kings in six prediction and say yup… 2-2 in the west for an overall record of 5-3… meh.
So, it’s time to sally forth and talk about the second round and see if I can up that win percentage a bit…
Let’s start in the West…
Vegas vs. San Jose – I give up… I am now drinking the Kool-Aid. The Vegas Golden Knights are the greatest team ever. Not only will they go on and win the Cup after dispatching the Sharks… they will also cross over into the NBA Finals and beat Philadelphia to become the first team to win championships in two major sports in the same season. OK… I’ll turn off the snark. But, there is an element of truth in that pile of sarcasm I started this with. Both teams had plenty of rest after sweeping their first round opponents. Both teams appear to be on a roll. San Jose has more experience and I have been waiting for the expansion team to show up in Sin City… it doesn’t appear that is going to happen. While San Jose has some pieces close to return, they are a bit banged up. Vegas is healthy and Marc-Andre Fluery is unconscious between the pipes right now.
I am on board… Vegas in six.
Nashville vs. Winnipeg - Detailed preview coming tomorrow
Moving to the East…
Washington vs. Pittsburgh - Haven’t we seen this movie before? I feel like Charlie Brown about to kick the football that Lucy is holding… I know what’s going to happen, but there is this tiny little hope that it’s going to be different this time… that maybe… just maybe she won’t yank it away at the last second. I really think this is Washington’s chance to get their retribution, to finally beat the cursed Penguins in the playoffs, to finally exorcise the demon that has haunted this franchise’s nightmares. They have to be feeling confident after their first round series with Columbus, after dropping the first two at home, then storming back for a 4-2 series win. But it’s the Pittsburgh freakin’ Penguins. The Pens who dispatched Philly with relative ease even though it took six games. The Penguins, with the greatest player in the game today and a supporting cast built to win. Pittsburgh, going for their third consecutive cup, something unimaginable in this new era of the league. The last time a team won three in a row was in 1982, as the New York Islanders were in the middle of their FOUR in a row run. Heck, even the Edmonton Oilers in their five cups in seven year run could only do back-to-back… twice.
Call me crazy… Washington in seven.
Tamps Bay vs. Boston - The Tampa Bay Lightning will have been waiting for a week for this series since they clinched their round one series over New Jersey. Tampa is loaded, they seem to have no weaknesses and the one question about goaltending has been answered in the first round. Boston survived a rather interesting seven game series with Toronto that exposed a few things about the Bruins. I call them Colorado on steroids. Their bigger, deeper and meaner… but they are a one line team with a solid defense and good goaltending. Tampa should be able to roll four lines and wear down the Bruins… except… Boston could have the physicality to wear down the Lightning, but we will have to see if their first round series going the distance has an impact on them.
I think it does… Tampa Bay in six.
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The Playoff Tracker … a daily update of the Stanley Cup Playoffs brought to you by Mark Lonsway - THE real estate professional for hockey fans!
Round one is done… round two starts tonight!
Eastern Conference Tampa Bay Lightning vs Boston Bruins – Game One Saturday in TBL Washington Capitals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins – Game One tonight in WSH
Western Conference Nashville Predators vs. Winnipeg Jets – Game One tomorrow in NSH Vegas Golden Knights vs. San Jose Sharks – Game One tonight in VGK
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Random Notes
- The full second round schedule is released, IN Smashville… Games one and two are Friday and Sunday nights… Game five (if necessary) is scheduled for Sat. 5/5 and game seven (if necessary) is scheduled for Thursday 5/10.
- The nattering nabobs of negativity are now complaining about scheduling a Stanley Cup playoff game against the NFL Draft first round… my lord… really??? SMH
- Nice to have games scheduled at 7pm for game one and 6pm for game two… only one late start in the series so far and that’s game four in Winnipeg.
- The Plaza Party gets going at 4pm tomorrow… doors open at 5pm. The plaza party will feature music, food, and a twist on the Preds Foundation Smaashcar…
- There will also be a party in Hall of Fame Park adjacent to the arena… big screens showing the game with Food Trucks and fun.
- The predictions are rolling in… they are … shall we say… interesting.
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