Stanley Cup Final Predictions
May 28, 2018 9:44:01 GMT -5
Andre Deblois, Calgary Flames, and 2 more like this
Post by Nashville Predators on May 28, 2018 9:44:01 GMT -5
Anyone call this at the start of the playoff?
In this corner: The Vegas Golden Knights
They are arguably the greatest cinderella story sports has ever seen. They didn't exist a year ago. They are an expansion franchise made up of cast-offs from the other 30 teams. They won their division. They've steam-rolled there way through the playoffs, taking down the mighty Winnipeg Jets in the process. I still look at their roster on paper and have don't believe they've made it this far, but here they are in the Stanley Cup Final.
And in this corner:: The Washington Capitals
No one expected them to be here. After a roster overhaul last season, everyone thought they would take a step back. But they still won their division. They came back from a 2-0 deficit against Columbus. They slayed their dragon against Crosby and the Pens. And they took down the Lightning with decisive shutout victories in Game 6 & 7. Ovechkin is playing like a man possessed and looks determined to get his first Cup and drop the ridiculous "you can't win with Ovi" narrative.
What Will Decide the Series?
Marc-Andre Fleury has been out-fucking-standing in the playoffs, posting a 1.68 GAA and 0.947 SV% so far in the playoffs. He has out-dueled the likes of Jonathan Quick, Martin Jones, and Conner Hellebuyck along the way. He's been so dominant that he's already the favourite for the Conn Smythe, regardless if the Knights win or lose. Meanwhile, Braden Holtby didn't even begin the playoffs as Washington's starting goalie. But after being put in for Game 3 of round 1, he has been solid posting a 2.04 GAA and a 0.924 SV%. He gotten better as the playoffs have gone on, and is riding a seven period shutout streak going into game 1 of the SCF. A lot of people will talk about Ovi or Vegas' transition game as decisive factors, but as it so often goes in hockey, which team has the better goalie is likely doing laps with the Cup.
Prediction: Washington wins in overtime of Game 7, with Alex Ovechkin scoring the Cup clinching goal
In this corner: The Vegas Golden Knights
They are arguably the greatest cinderella story sports has ever seen. They didn't exist a year ago. They are an expansion franchise made up of cast-offs from the other 30 teams. They won their division. They've steam-rolled there way through the playoffs, taking down the mighty Winnipeg Jets in the process. I still look at their roster on paper and have don't believe they've made it this far, but here they are in the Stanley Cup Final.
And in this corner:: The Washington Capitals
No one expected them to be here. After a roster overhaul last season, everyone thought they would take a step back. But they still won their division. They came back from a 2-0 deficit against Columbus. They slayed their dragon against Crosby and the Pens. And they took down the Lightning with decisive shutout victories in Game 6 & 7. Ovechkin is playing like a man possessed and looks determined to get his first Cup and drop the ridiculous "you can't win with Ovi" narrative.
What Will Decide the Series?
Marc-Andre Fleury has been out-fucking-standing in the playoffs, posting a 1.68 GAA and 0.947 SV% so far in the playoffs. He has out-dueled the likes of Jonathan Quick, Martin Jones, and Conner Hellebuyck along the way. He's been so dominant that he's already the favourite for the Conn Smythe, regardless if the Knights win or lose. Meanwhile, Braden Holtby didn't even begin the playoffs as Washington's starting goalie. But after being put in for Game 3 of round 1, he has been solid posting a 2.04 GAA and a 0.924 SV%. He gotten better as the playoffs have gone on, and is riding a seven period shutout streak going into game 1 of the SCF. A lot of people will talk about Ovi or Vegas' transition game as decisive factors, but as it so often goes in hockey, which team has the better goalie is likely doing laps with the Cup.
Prediction: Washington wins in overtime of Game 7, with Alex Ovechkin scoring the Cup clinching goal