The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs: Third round predictions

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Pittsburgh Penguins (2nd in Metropolitan Division) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (2nd in Atlantic Division)
The Tampa Bay Lightning are on fire in the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs. They defeated the Detroit Red Wings in the first round and the New York Islanders in the second round, and both rounds only lasted five games. Even more impressively, they did this without their superstar player, Steven Stamkos. Now they face the Pittsburgh Penguins, who caught fire after Christmas following a disappointing start to the regular season. The Penguins defeated the New York Rangers in five games in the opening round and the Presidents Trophy winning Washington Capitals in the second round. The Lightning and Penguins previously met in the 2011 playoffs, when Tampa Bay eliminated Pittsburgh in seven games.
Prediction: Tampa Bay in seven games.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

St. Louis Blues (2nd in Central Division) vs. San Jose Sharks (3rd in Pacific Division)
The San Jose Sharks were expected by most to have a rebuilding season when the 2015-16 season began. And here we are; the third round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the Sharks are in it. The Sharks took only five games to eliminate the Los Angeles Kings in the opening round, and then eliminated the Nashville Predators in seven games in the second round. The St. Louis Blues took the full seven games in the first two rounds of the playoffs, eliminating the defending Stanley Cup Champions, the Chicago Blackhawks, in the first round, and the regular season Western Conference leading Dallas Stars in the second round. This should really help give the Blues momentum against the Sharks. The Sharks and Blues have met in the playoffs four times previously; San Jose won two and St. Louis won the other two. The Sharks have never been to the Stanley Cup Finals; St. Louis last made the Stanley Cup Finals in 1970.
Prediction: St. Louis in seven games.

Lightning in 6.
Blues in 6.

To me Tampa looks like the toughest of the four remaining teams and tiredness won't hit St. Louis until the next round.

Pittsburgh in 6 despite that poor showing yesterday
San Jose in 7

http://www2.tsn.ca/bardown/Story.aspx?Phil+Kessel+putting+on+Pens+jersey+for+the+first+time+to+the+tune+of+HBK%27s+theme+music+is+perfect&id=580456

Pens-Bolts is a lot more exciting than the Sharks-Blues.

Sharks only mustered 16 shots on goal in their last game, and still got a shutout win. Tampa and Pittsburgh combined for 75 shots on goal in a dramatic game 4.

Lari wrote:

Pens-Bolts is a lot more exciting than the Sharks-Blues.

Sharks only mustered 16 shots on goal in their last game, and still got a shutout win. Tampa and Pittsburgh combined for 75 shots on goal in a dramatic game 4.

The Pens/Lightning series has been great to watch.

Last night, the San Jose Sharks got their first ever ticket to the Stanley Cup Finals punched. Whoever wins tonight's game between the Lightning and Penguins faces San Jose in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Let's go Pens !

007 wrote:

Let's go Pens !

Go Pens!