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Can ANY Team in East Win the Cup? (Yes, That Includes Pittsburgh) |
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In watching the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs this year and vividly recalling last year's postseason, I have gotten the distinct impression thus far that the eventual Stanley Cup winner will be the team that comes out of the Western Conference.
Have to be honest here: Every single team in every Eastern series has shown some sort of Achilles heel that I think can be exploited in a seven-game series.
Yes, I'm including Pittsburgh in that description, because even apart from Marc-Andre Fleury's struggles before the switchover to Tomas Vokoun (who has been known to run hot and cold himself over the years), I think their team defense is still inconsistent and the blueline too turnover prone when other teams make soft flips into the corners and get in on the forecheck... basically, the same problems that heavily contributed to the Pens going out in the first round last year.
I DO think the Pens will beat the Islanders, though I don't have a feel for whether the series gets closed out tonight or in Game 7. The Isles don't have quite the scoring depth that Philly had last year to exploit Pittsburgh's vulnerabilities. New York would need Evgeni Nabokov to play a LOT better than he has in this series to be able to overcome Pittsburgh two more times... unless Vokoun implodes the way Fleury has in each of the last three-plus playoffs years in Pittsburgh's exit round.
Don't get me wrong.... the Pens are still eminently capable of tearing through the next two rounds of the playoffs if and when they close out the series with the Islanders. But if I had to make a prediction of a Finals series involving Pittsburgh against most of the remaining teams in the West; well, I'd opt for Chicago or LA over the Pens in a heartbeat and would seriously consider San Jose or Anaheim (if they survive the Detroit series) as well. I see fewer exploitable weaknesses on those teams, especially Chicago, although the Pens' sheer firepower is still something to be feared.
Actually, right now, the teams in the East that have impressed me the most have been the Capitals and Senators; and I wouldn't pick either of those teams in a Cup Final series. Boston's top line has been incredible in the first round but the team as a whole has been spotty even if they do end up closing out Toronto. The Rangers overrely on Henrik Lundqvist to make one or two goals stand up. The Maple Leafs are up and coming for sure, but I don't think they're quite ready to emerge from the East even if they do pull off a continued comeback.
That's the way I see it. I'm sure many of you will beg (or demand) to differ.
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