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In this edition of the hotstove, we share our Stanley Cup predictions.
Todd Cordell
I have Tampa Bay over Vegas in six or seven games.
The Lightning are just too good this year. They're a high-end 5v5 team, elite on the power play, elite on the penalty kill, and they have a Vezina-caliber goaltender. There aren't many – any? – areas to really exploit them. Barring injuries to key, key players, or a run of horrible luck, I don't see how this team loses in a seven-game series. They're basically matchup proof.
Vegas' road to another Stanley Cup appearance would not be easy. They have San Jose in the 1st round and (likely) Calgary in the 2nd round. You could easily argue both are better than any team coming out of the Central bracket. The reason I like Vegas is that on top of controlling play at 5v5 to a similar level as San Jose and/or Calgary, they have a sizeable goaltending edge over both. Martin Jones and Mike Smith posted some of the league's worst numbers this season. A case could be made neither should be starting for their team. I'll take Marc-Andre Fleury over either of them without thinking twice, and that could very well be the difference in series where both teams are strong at 5v5.
Trevor Shackles
I have to go with Tampa Bay, which is almost everybody's pick. It might be boring to pick the best team, but...they're the best team and it's not even close. Could a different team win the cup? Sure, anything can happen in the playoffs, but the Lightning are the best-built team with literally no weaknesses. The West is a crapshoot because you could make a case for six teams making it to the Finals, but I'll say that the Flames make it all the way for a rematch of 2004. Calgary has an incredibly talented skater group, and they finished first in the conference for a reason. Tampa Bay will win that series in 6 games.
Peter Tessier
This is the time of year that for us bloggers the teams we cover are the ones we understand best. We want long playoff runs because it gives us more to write about so the 'homer' side comes out but not for this guy.
The eventual Stanley Cup final will come down to a repeat of 2004 with Tampa and Calgary but this final will not even be close. It will be over in 5 games, or maybe six with the Bolts hoisting their second cup.
Maybe that's the simple and easy pick but how can anyone bet against them? If you do you are expecting something to happen that is unpredictable like an injury. We have not seen a force in the NHL like the Lightning for some time and that force will end up winning the Cup.
Calgary will get through tot he west final mainly because Vegas and San Jose beat themselves silly. Then whoever comes out of the Central will have the same damage as those team are all too similar in talent to have a clear favorite.
I'm also the guy who said Colorado had the best chance of a first round upset. #coveryourbets
James Tanner
The Toronto Maple Leafs. Fight me.
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