It’s Conference finals time and the three-peat is on as Tampa Bay has cruised through round two. Their next hurdle is a clash with the gritty New York Rangers, who have come through two seven-game series. They had to win their final two games in both series and they look battle-hardened if nothing else.
In the Western Conference, both Colorado & Edmonton had easy wins with the Oilers winning four straight to eliminate the Flames. The Avalanche dropped their first games of the postseason but never really looked threatened in dismissing the St Louis Blues. They will be pleased that they didn’t get swept by them again this year!
The round two results are below along with our predictions for the conference finals.
Eastern Conference Round Two Results
Tampa Bay Lightning 4 Florida Panthers 0
NY Rangers 4 Carolina Hurricanes 3
The Lightning cruised through by a combined score of 13-3 and should be well-rested given their series finished on 23rd May. The Rangers on the other hand once again came back from the edge winning their last two 5-2 & 6-2. They will get home-ice advantage although given Tampa are 4-2 on the road it may not account for much.
Western Conference Round Two Results
Colorado Avalanche 4 St. Louis Blues 2
Edmonton Oilers 4 Calgary Flames 1
Colorado eased past the Blues 4-2 and was only an OT loss away from finishing it in five. St Louis at least made a fist of it this year. The Oilers lost a crazy game one, 9-6 but then stamped their authority winning the next four to progress. The Oilers who have not won the Stanley Cup since 1990 have gotten better as the playoffs have progressed but should have their work cut out against our pre-season tip to win it all.
Conference Final Predictions
No team has won three on the bounce since 1983 when the NY Islanders became the 4th team to do it (the Maple Leafs have done it twice). Thus history to a degree is against Tampa. However, as we said in the last round are The Islanders lucky or good? Well, we think their luck runs out here and are predicting the Lightning to reach the final.
There we think they will meet our pre-season prediction to lift the cup, Colorado. The Avalanche were the clear cream of the Western Conference in the regular season and we can see them booking their final place early.
Tampa Bay Lightning 4 NY Rangers 2
Colorado Avalanche 4 Edmonton Oilers 1
