(Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)
As we continue holding out for some level of hope for the NHL season to resume, some outlets are continuing the tradition of making their annual Stanley Cup predictions. This year Tampa Bay and Vegas were the two teams most picked to play in the Cup finals by Sports Illustrated.
Five SI experts chose the Golden Knights to participate in the Final if the season were to continue play. Unfortunately, four out of the five picked the Golden Knights to lose in the Stanley Cup Final.
Matt Larkin: Lightning over Golden Knights in six
Sam McCaig: Lightning over Golden Knights in five
Edward Fraser: Lightning over Golden Knights in six
Ryan Kennedy: Lightning over Golden Knights in six
Each prediction had Vegas losing to Tampa in six games or less. Ouch, not even one deciding game. The lone SI expert that awarded Lord Stanley’s cup to the Golden Knights left Tampa out of the Final completely. Here’s his explanation of why he chose VGK as the 2020 NHL champions.
Dan Falkenheim: Golden Knights over Bruins in six
Since Jan. 15, no team has a higher share of expected goals (58.5%). Robin Lehner’s arrival ensured Vegas would enter the playoffs with the NHL’s best netminding situation. And all the sudden, with Max Pacioretty turning back the clock, the Golden Knights looked like the West’s top team before the pause.
Much less drama for the Bruins, some 2,700 miles away. Save for a mediocre 4-5-6 stretch running from early December into the New Year, Boston has been the league’s most consistent team throughout the season. Tuukka Rask’s emergence as the Vezina frontrunner helped the Bruins carve out an eight-point lead in the Atlantic Division and serves as a reminder that he can carry a team as far as he wants to. Both Boston and Vegas are built to withstand the rigors of postseason hockey—each has reached the finals within the last three years—but the Golden Knights are the team that comes out on top in a matchup between recent Stanley Cup losers. -Dan Falkenheim, SI.com
It’s an intriguing matchup, to say the least. The last two Stanley Cup runner-ups battling to end their finals losing streaks. Both teams are recognized for elite-level skill and fantastic goaltending. Plus after the pause, Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone will be fresh and fully healthy for Vegas and Boston’s older veterans will get some much needed extra rest for their pursuit.
Although SI went heavy on Tampa, they’re not the team I selected to win the cup. Nor to come out of the East. Here are our predictions for this year’s Stanley Cup finals.
Jason: Golden Knights over Capitals in seven
That’s right, a repeat of the 2018 heartbreaking series for Vegas fans, being forced to watch Alex Ovechkin and his teammates hoist the cup on the T-Mobile Arena ice. This time around things will be different. Sure, it’s a handful of the same players but it’s two new head coaches and likely to be played in empty arenas.
Washington surprisingly cruised to the Final, catching each opponent off a long series. First, the Capitals beat the Hurricanes in five and waited for the Penguins who beat the Flyers in a grueling seven-game series. After an exhausting, physical first round, Pittsburgh couldn’t keep up with Washington. Again, the Capitals were resting up waiting for their opponent in the Eastern Conference final. Boston gave it all they had beating Tampa in seven, giving Washington a second straight series advantage. The Capitals upset the reigning Eastern Conference champs in six games to move on to the finals.
Vegas had a similar journey. After beating the Jets in five, the Golden Knights eliminated Connor McDavid and the Oilers in six to advance to their second Western Conference final in franchise history. The Colorado Avalanche hosted the Golden Knights for the conference championship, however the series would end in Vegas with the Golden Knights punching their ticket to the Stanley Cup finals in six games.
The Capitals had outscored their opponents significantly through the first three rounds. Goaltender Brayden Holtby wasn’t his best but it didn’t matter because of the amount of goals Washington’s offense provided. That would catch up to them against Vegas. Coach Pete DeBoer decided to start Robin Lehner in net and it proved to be the right move. The Capitals couldn’t maintain their offensive numbers throughout the series and the Golden Knights were having success against Holtby. In the end, the Golden Knights stars stepped up and Lehner was able to make key stops at the right time. Although empty and quiet, the Golden Knights got their parade down the Las Vegas Boulevard viewed by millions on local TV.
Ken: Lightning over Golden Knights in seven
The Golden Knights are built for a condensed playoff season. The neutral site could potentially hurt the Golden Knights, but prior to the DeBoer led winning streak Vegas was just ok in Vegas. Limited trave helps, back-to-backs help, and dealing with weird occurrences has been when this team does best.
The first series is going to be tricky no matter who it is and might end up taking a bit longer to get through than maybe it would have had the season not paused. However, the other two in the West should stack up pretty nicely for the Golden Knights. The second round guarantees a Pacific Division team and the Western Conference Final team will be coming off a tough second round themselves.
In the end, if Tampa plays like Tampa can play, the Golden Knights just don’t have enough defense to keep up. Sure, Vegas has played well against the Lightning in the past, and they’ll win a few games, but probably just enough to make the deciding loss even more heartbreaking.
Two trips to the Final our of three seasons is pretty darn good. But two losses out of three sure would suck. At least we wouldn’t have to watch the Cup get raised in our own city by another team again though.
Those are our picks for the postseason, what do you think? Are we being too kind or not kind enough? Let us know who you think will win this season’s Stanley Cup. As you can tell we’re still pretty optimistic.
Hdbiker7851
Vegas can win it all providing they ALL show up. It doesn’t really matter who they face they have a TEAM that can win. It won’t be a walk in the park but they are certainly capable of pulling it off. My hope is they get that chance.
THE hockey GOD
The East is better than the West, right now.; everyone looking at stats know that
Buckeye63
Totally agree with you there.
Hdbiker7851
Who cares, that was then, stats and all. If you believe you can’t it’s almost a certainty you won’t. If you think you can you might it’s all in the state of mind. I hope they get the chance to prove you wrong.
"DOC"
Can’t argue with either pick of Jason or Ken. The WEST I think will come down to the Blues and Knights. Would be a heck of a series between these two, as the Regular season games they played will testify. As far as the EAST, what a crap shoot! I think it’s a battle between Lightning, Bruins, Caps & Penguins. (Thank goodness only ONE team can come through) In the Cup final I say Knights over Bruins in 7!!!!!!
Tim
Just to be mentioned is an honor. To go in our first year then get robbed out of a chance in our second year and back to the Cup in our third year what a start to our franchise. Ken I’ve got a question. Have you heard anything about adding a few players to the roster like baseball is planning to do. Logic says if the minor league seasons are over why not. If anything players like Cody Glass, Nick Hague, Jack Dugan, and maybe Lucas Evalens could if nothing else get a taste of the big time working out. It would give the coaches a chance to evaluate them and get them pumped for next years pre season tryouts.
Jim
Almost have to add players if season or playoff continues.
With no minor leagues no place to get replacement for injuries. Would need to have a taxi squad of some sort. Just another of many issues though that point to season being over.
THE hockey GOD
speaking of Cody Glass (thanks for bringing that name to table, in recent article Tuch and Stone and Kribs were mentioned. But nothing about Glass. Any updates ?
"DOC"
Hey Ken ….. On your story today (4/21) about adds on the sweaters, (jerseys, for fans that don’t know that’s what they are called in hockey circles), I sure hope we never get to “commercial patches”. Charites or acknowledgment for first responders & such would be fine!
knights fan in minny
gallant rumored to the devils
JR
Knights fans didn’t have to endure the Caps parading around the Cup because they all left before the final horn. If that doesn’t show what fragile ignorant fans Vegas has, I don’t know what is. I was at that game and besides being at a game where the NHL awards the hardest trophy to win, was the fact that most knights fan left before the cup was awarded and skated around (also one of the greatest traditions in sports).
"DOC"
Yea, I’m sure it was just ignorance. Couldn’t possibly be because they were just disappointed. (anyway WHY do we care about this two years later, other than you simply taking a shot at VGK fans)?
JR
Because they are cocky and arrogant fans who have no clue what it is for a franchise do endure lean times due to the sweetheart rules the the NHL gifted the knights to assemble the team.
And don’t tell me I hate the knights, because I attend pretty much every game as a STH, so i know what I’m talking about. Some fans deserve a whack.
"DOC"
So, now Knights fans are responsible for the failure of other teams? It’s simply jealousy, mainly by the east teams and the so called original 6. I have nothing but respect for those long-term teams, but after almost 3 seasons now, it’s time people like you quit whining and give credit to what VGK has accomplished … period!!!!!
Hdbiker7851
Not sure being a STH qualifies you as a judge of people. Perhaps the STH is an indication you have more money than brains. Not sure about everyone leaving as l recall the rink wasn’t empty and l know all those left there were no Cap fans. Yes there are many at the games who have no idea what the game is about. Remember this is the desert not the north pole where they learn to skate before knowing how to walk. They are keeping the place full and love their knights there is plenty of time to experience the lean years. Guess someone must have spilled their beer or something on you to be so negative. They probably think the same of you.
knights fan in minny
get a grip jr I am from Minnesota and I went to to games at t mobile in feburary had a blast talked to many fans at the game very nice people