Ok, so hear me out. Of course in every game 7 there is a player who may progress to the Cup Final, but tonight feels perhaps even more so.
Tonight's game 7 could change everything.
Let's play the match up game...
If Tampa Wins....
Tampa vs. Montreal Tampa went 5-0 vs. Montreal this season, so we give the series to Tampa.
NY Rangers vs. Washington The Rangers went 3-1 vs. Caps, so we give the series to the Rangers.
Tampa vs. NY Rangers Tampa went 3-0 vs the Rangers, so we give the series to Tampa.
* So if Tampa wins tonight they could potentially match up against teams in the next two rounds that they went 8-0 against in 2014-15.
If Detroit Wins...
Detroit vs. Montreal Montreal went 4-0 vs. Detroit in 2014-15, so we can give the series to Montreal.
NY Rangers vs. Washington The Rangers went 3-1 vs. Caps, so we give the series to the Rangers.
Montreal vs. NY Rangers Montreal went 2-1 vs the Rangers this year and over the last three years in the Regular season they have gone 7-2.
So if Detroit wins tonight Montreal suddenly looks to have a solid path as they will face teams they went 6-1 against this year...
Just for fun...
Let's play out the West...
Anaheim vs. Calgary Anahiem went 3-2 in the regular season, but Calgary also has gone 0-20 in their last 20 visits to Anaheim...
Minnesota vs. Chicago The Hawks went 3-2 vs. the Wild...This is a pick 'em series, but we will go with Chicago for this exercise...
Anaheim vs. Chicago
Chicago went 2-1 versus Anaheim this year...
So the Final possibilities.
Tampa vs. Chicago Tampa won 4-0 and Chicago won 3-2 in a shootout. Slight edge to Tampa.
Chicago vs. Montreal Chicago won both games.
So......
If Tampa wins tonight, and all the matchups fall as they did in the regular season..Tampa will face teams in which they are 9-0-1 in their attempt to win a Cup.
And by the way....
Tampa went 1-1 versus Minnesota, 2-0 versus Anaheim, and 2-0 versus Calgary..so against the teams left in the West Tampa went:
6-1-1 26GF, 15 GA
We will discuss all this and more on today's podcast at 1 PM