TBL vs PIT
How about those Tampa Bay Lightning! We underestimated them, thinking they were missing a couple of key players (Stralman, Stamkos) and on the slope downwards backing away from being cup contenders. If anything they look like they are building on last year’s run. They have a great fore-checking game; can handle the physical play; roll one offensively threatening line after another; and have ‘the wall’ that is Ben Bishop. They are an up tempo team that is coached well, plays fundamentally sound positional systems, and is fun to watch. What’s not to like about them?! I had picked STL and PIT to be in the final before the playoffs began, but feel the Lightening are really rounding into their own. This series should be very entertaining with a lot of back and forth play. I think T Bay will prevail. Probably in 6, maybe 7.
STL vs SJS
These two teams deserve to be here in the final four. Hitchcock probably would have lost his job had the Blues lost the last series. He probably will survive as the head coach if (when) STL loses to the Sharks. Depending on how poorly things go. Doubt still lingers over this STL team. They are very good one minute and then capable of not showing up like early in game six of this last series against Dallas. They don’t ever seem sure of being able to put opposing teams away.
The Sharks have had a similar history of late: not apparently able to go the extra step with a core group that has been there seemingly forever. The same need to prove themselves, as with Hitchcock, also lies with the management team under Wilson. It won’t be the coach that goes this time if they, the Sharks, don’t advance, but perhaps Doug Wilson. Again, depending on how (badly) this one goes.
It seemed to me that whoever made it through the Nashville/San Jose series would be in the cup. I think that still holds true. San Jose is playing solid hockey and are going to exorcise their demons before the Blues do. Sharks in 6.
Hockeyshrine went 3 for 4 in the last round (PIT in 6, SJS in 7, STL in 6 (sorta was), and blew it with NYI in 5. Islanders just fizzled)
SJS vs TBL as a cup final prediction.