It’s my Parting Shot for the second and final part of the Fearless Predictor’s Stanley Cup Playoff picks for Round 1…..
By way of review from yesterday, my Eastern Conference opening round predictions have the Rangers over Washington in five games, Tampa Bay ousting Florida in six, the Islanders upsetting Carolina in seven games and Boston eliminating Toronto in six. On to the Western Conference…
…and starting with my Winnipeg Jets against Colorado – second place in the Central Division taking on third place. I know Winnipeg won all three head-to-head meetings this season with the Avalanche and that the Jets have the goaltending advantage with Connor Hellebuyck. But, I still think the 7-0 win in Denver last Saturday by Winnipeg, plus the boost I expect Colorado to get when they announce that Gabriel Landeskog is ready to return to action, will propel the Avs to a six-game series win!
Next up is second place in the Pacific Division against third, another Edmonton against L-A Kings’ post-season match-up! As much as I want L-A to win, I know the Oilers are the superior squad and will advance in five games!
A third Canadian team from the Western Conference qualifying for the playoffs is Pacific Division pennant-winning Vancouver against the first wild-card squad, Nashville. The Canucks have been strong all season, play to an identity that is easy to have consistencty with and can win in the post-season. But, this series won’t be easy – I’m taking Vancouver in seven games!
That leaves Central Division-winning Dallas against the defending Stanley Cup-champion Golden Knights. I don’t care how good the Stars were during the regular-season, Vegas gets their captain back in Mark Stone for Game 1 and know how to win. I’ve learned to never bet against a Kelly McCrimmon-built team and I won’t in this series. I’m saying Vegas in six games!
As for who wins the title in mid-June – it’ll be a battle between the President’s Trophy winners against the best team since U-S Thanksgiving Day and a coaching change. I’m going with the former, the New York Rangers, to prevail over the latter, the Edmonton Oilers! Yes, it’ll be close, but the drought will be 31 years since the last time a Canadian-based N-H-L franchise got to hoist the Stanley Cup!
That’s my Parting Shot. I’m Les Lazaruk…and it turned out nice again!…..
