Welcome to the Hotstove! As always, I'm your host, Travis Yost.
The big story after Los Angeles' game four victory at Staples Center on Monday night? We are now just one win away in both the Eastern and Western Conference Finals from setting our Stanley Cup match-up.
In the East, New York's taken control of their series against Montreal despite strong performances in relief of the injured Carey Price by Dustin Tokarski. After dropping game three in overtime courtesy Alex Galchenyuk, New York repaid the favor courtesy Martin St. Louis in game four.
The Rangers have now out-scored the Canadiens 15-8 in the series, comparatively similar to what's going on out West. LA's out-scored Chicago 16-10 through four games, and have pushed the defending champions to the brink of elimination.
One thing Alain Vigneault and Darryl Sutter know, though? It's not over until it's over. And considering both Montreal and Chicago have two more games at home, the series cannot be called just yet.
While it's mathematically probable that the Rangers and Kings will meet for the Stanley Cup, it's not a certainty. The question here: Which of the two teams currently staring down a 3-1 series deficit has a better chance of completing a comeback?
I've added a poll below, but I'd like your thoughts as well. One man's opinion: Though I think LA is pretty superior to New York, I'm more reluctant to call the series out West, if only because I have seen the firepower from Chicago just take over games at a clip. Corey Crawford worries me, but I still have a decent amount of faith in Chicago's skaters to push thing a bit further along, which includes a must-win scenario at the United Center in game five.