Stanley Cup Playoffs Update - 6/13

Hello Everyone,

I know it's been a while, and A LOT has happened since I have last written to you, but I think it's time we update things don't you?

(Image Credits: SN)

In this post, I will give a brief breakdown of each series and how they all led to where we are right now in the Stanley Cup Final as it will begin on Wednesday. Let's dive in, I will try to make this a quick but informative read:

WESTERN CONFERENCE:

1ST ROUND:

1st: Colorado vs. Nashville -

The Avs pretty much dominated this one, Nashville was competitive in two games, but the Preds didn't stand a chance against the Avalanche and their best players. The Avs big boys also showed up, with Makar and Mackinnon doing the most damage in this series.

Result: Avalanche in 4

1st: Minnesota vs. St. Louis -

The Blues and Wild battled it out pretty much as everyone expected, but the Wild didn't put up nearly the battle that everyone thought they would. The Blues got SUPERB goaltending from Stanley Cup Champion Jordan Binnington, who recaptured some of that glory from the 2019 playoffs and used it to beat the Wild. Minnesota had kind of a disappointing ending to their season after they were picked by many to run into the west pretty far, especially with all the young talent they have built there.

Result: Blues in 6

1st: Calgary vs. Dallas -

This series did last long for the Dallas Stars, and despite them playing the Flames pretty hard, they could not finish the job. The general consensus going into this matchup was that the Flames were the deeper, more skilled team, and that proved to be right as the Stars couldn't match well with this Western Canadian Beast.

Result: Flames in 7

1st: Oilers vs. Kings -

The Oilers and Kings was a great series to watch. The Kings were HEAVILY disregarded as the team that is going to roll over and die to the Oilers, but that was ABSOLUTELY not the case. The Kings held their own and really played hard against the Oilers all series long, but in the end, it was none other than McJesus (Conor McDavid) who finished the job.

Result: Oilers in 7 (OT)

2ND ROUND:

2nd: Colorado vs. St Louis -

This series was everything we thought it would be... until Nazem Kadri knocked Binnington out of the net for the Blues in game 4. That changed the course as he was playing LIGHTS OUT until that injury. The Avs were probably going to win anyway or at least make a really hard series for the Blues, but this made it all but certain that St. Louis was done as their backup goaltender was no match for the Avs offensive attack.

Result: Avalance in 6

2nd: Calgary vs. Edmonton

All right, this was the one EVERYONE was waiting for (especially the Spittin' Chiclets boys), THE BATTLE OF ALBERTA. The series was a real barn burner with goals, fights, questionable hits, and wild saves. The unfortunate part... the Flames got housed by 97 (McDavid) and the Oilers who were faster and more skilled all series long. This seemed like a lot closer than the final outcome indicated, but It really wasn't.

Result: Oilers in 5

3RD ROUND:

3rd: Edmonton vs. Colorado

This series was expected to be a lot closer than the outcome indicated, but it honestly felt like a 7-game series wrapped up in just a few nights. The Avalanche did everything correctly here, and it was no match for the Oilers and the goaltending debacle of Mike Smith. Colorado might have a Stanley Cup Champion here, we just have to wait and see.

Result: Avalance in 4, Stanley Cup Final Bound.

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EASTERN CONFERENCE:

1ST ROUND:

1st: Florida vs. Washington -

The series was closer than a lot of people would've thought as the Panthers were doing literally everything right coming into the playoffs, playing a Caps team that limped in in the final two weeks. The Panthers were incredible late in the series after Washington STUNNED them early with 2 wins on the road to start. Florida won the President's Trophy, and it didn't hurt them in this round as they bounced back to beat the Caps.

Result: Florida in 6

1st: Toronto vs. Tampa Bay -

This series was everything you want as a hockey fan. Each team battled hard and the Leafs did everything they possibly could to put themselves in the position to win a series for the first time since the 1990s. The Tampa Bay Lightning came back with a strike though, as the Bolts do, and found a way to beat the Leafs in Scotiabank Arena in a tight-checking game 7, 2-1. The Bolts move on, and the Leaf's curse continues for who knows how long at this point. I really thought it was Toronto's year to keep going...

Result: Tampa in 7

1st: Carolina vs. Boston -

This series lasted long for the Bruins, but they honestly didn't really show what they are capable of. They seemed to get weaker as the series wore on, while still finding ways to get back in games. The B's did manage to force the decisive game 7 in Carolina, but the Canes never lose at home in the playoffs, and that streak continued here despite Boston throwing the entire kitchen at them. Boston has some decisions to make this offseason with Pasternak and Bergeron as both are up for contract renewal.

Result: Hurricanes in 7

1st: Penguins vs. Rangers -

This was the matchup in the east that everyone wanted to see. In case you couldn't tell already, I am a Pittsburgh Penguins fan. This series is exactly what I wanted for the team and the city to get the Pens past the first round for the first time since the 2018 season. The Rangers started SLOW, and the Pens started HOT winning a 2OT Thriller at MSG in Game 1 and jumping out to the 3-1 series lead by virtue of 2 7-goal wins at PPG. All that could be heard throughout Pittsburgh during this series was the IIIIGGGGOOORRR chants... until the Rangers started to build momentum and IGOR got good. The Rags came back from down 3-1, to force the game 7 at Madison Square Garden. The Penguins got Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rakell, and Tristan Jarry back for that game, and each team fought HARD. Pens had 2 one-goal leads that night but lost the game on a critical Brock McGinn penalty in overtime. This one hurt me, a lot, but the Rangers deserve LOADS of credit for fighting all the way back and finding ways to win.

Result: Rangers in 7 (OT)

2ND ROUND:

2nd: Florida vs. Tampa Bay -

Stop me if we've seen this movie before folks. This series featured the same two teams a season ago, in a matchup that was sure to entertain just as much as last year. However, this movie had a bit of a different ending. The Panthers came out slow in every game and against Tampa, that just ain't gonna cut it. The Bolts took 4 games and beat the President's Trophy Winning Panthers like a drum right out of the playoffs.

Result: Bolts in 4

2nd: Rangers vs. Carolina

This series was good but seemed like it was two teams trying to figure out how to win in the playoffs. The feeling of being the "first to blink will suffer", was all over this matchup. The Canes fought the Rangers hard, but their inability to win on the road cost them at home in game 7 when the Rangers played a PERFECT road game. Carolina is close, but they still have work to do in order to be the next Eastern Conference Champion.

Result: Rangers in 7

3RD ROUND:

3rd: Rangers vs. Tampa

This series was expected to be an absolutely fantastic one, and it lived up to all that hype. I still don't know how any team in the conference will be able to beat either of these teams in the future with their elite goaltending. The Rangers were poor and got outplayed by Pittsburgh at 5 on 5 in the first round, testing Shesterkin very frequently. When they got past the Pens though, there was no turning back for Igor and his play. The Bolts on the other hand have the best goalie in the world, and it isn't EVEN CLOSE. Vasielvskey is an other-worldly athlete and showed it again in this series as he outdueled Igor, winning two critical games where the Rangers threw everything at him. Tampa could possibly win 3 cups in a row, in the Salary Cap Era... think about that for a second... and just how hard that is...

Result: Tampa in 6, Stanley Cup Final Bound.

STANLEY CUP FINAL: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Colorado Avalanche

Begins Wednesday at 8 PM EST, on ESPN and ABC