Playoff semifinal Preview and Predictions
West winner Vegas 1 vs North winner Montreal 4
These two teams have never played a playoff series in NHL history. They never played this year because their were only divisional games this year but here is last year’s regular season record vs each other: Vegas , Montreal The most interesting thing I want to see in this series is the goalies as the Canadiens goalie Carey Price who has fulled the Canadiens to two stunning series wins and Vegas goalie Marc Andre Fleury who has won back the starting job for the Golden Knights and been the back bone for the Golden Knights in there two series wins. Fleury has won the cup a couple times but Price has not won the cup in his career, Price is a former Vezina trophy winner and Fleury was voted for his first Vezina this year and these are to great goalies going toe to toe.
First two round’s stats
Goals for to Goals against
Vegas 40-31+9 Montreal 28-22+6
Power play
Vegas 4/28 Montreal 6/32
Penalty kill
Vegas 20/28 Montreal 28/31
Hits
Vegas 513 Montreal 386
Shots
Vegas 417 Montreal 330
Vegas has Advantage Offensively: now that Janmark and Reaves are back from injury and suspension respectively Vegas depth up front is probably better than Montreal’s right now.
Vegas has Advantage Defensively: with the way there six defenders are contributing both offensively and defensively and their physicality I would give Vegas the slight edge.
Montreal has advantage on goaltending: once again is is a thin line and both teams have backups who can play if the starters get injured but between Price and Fleury I would give Price a slim advantage.
My Prediction: Vegas in 6 games
In my eyes Vegas is the better team here and would make it to the Stanley cup Final for the second time in their four year history. Vegas has a stellar top six a bottom six that can score and depth that can help if someone goes down with injury. After Pietrangelo signed last offseason and Whitecloud and Hague both proved to be top 6 D-Men Vegas Defense has been outstanding and producing offensively. And in net Fleury has won back the starting job and Lehner is capable of coming in and playing if needed. The Canadiens are a great team to and most people do not give them credit but they are a team on the rise and will give Vegas a hell of a fight but I think Vegas depth shines and will win them the series.
Central winner Tampa Bay 2 vs East winner New York I 3
Preview
This is the fourth playoff meeting between the two teams and Tamp Bay has won all three previous meetings. They never played this year because their were only divisional games this year but here is last year’s regular season record vs each other: New York I 2-1-0, Tampa Bay 1-2-0. What is most intriguing to me is who will prevail in the battle between Tampa’s offense and New York’s Defense. Tampa Bay has been a force on the offensive side all playoffs ever since getting back Kucherov and Stamkos and of there 38 goals scored in the playoffs 15 of them came on the power play and if they get enough power play’s they can dismantle their opponent. As for New York there style of play is to get a lead and then defend that lead till the end and I think if they can get timely stops from Varlamov or Sorokin they should be able to beat Tampa.
First two round’s stats
Goals for to Goals against
Tampa Bay 38-26+12 New York I 43-33+10
Power Play
Tampa Bay 15/36 New York I 9/32
Penalty Kill
Tampa Bay 28/36 New York I 16/26
Hits
Tampa Bay 373 New York I 504
Shots
Tampa Bay 320 New York I 359
Tampa Bay has advantage offensively: the amount of depth the Lightning have up front plus how players like Kucherov, Stamkos and Point are playing it is hard to argue with Tampa’s forward group.
New York I has advantage defensively: the Islanders are built on their defense and even Tampa’s upgrades have made it closer the Islanders are still the better defensive team.
Tampa Bay has advantage on goaltending: I know that both Varlamov and Sorokin have won four games for the Islanders but Vasilevskiy is probably the best goalie in the league right now and am sticking with Vasilevskiy the better goaltender
My Prediction: Tampa Bay in 7 games
I know I haven’t been spot on on my Prediction but I do think this will be a very long series and I think Tampa will come away with the semifinal victory. Tampa Bay has a nasty habit to score a lot goals including on the power play and with Kucherov they are a force to be reckoned with. Vasilevskiy is one of the best goalies in the world while the Lightning upgraded on their defense and I think will get to the Finals fora a second straight year. The Islanders will not go down without a fight and there offense is improved in the playoffs from the regular season and both goals have won four games in the series but I just think Tampa will be to much.
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