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2018 Stanley Cup Final Preview

written by Arik Krause May 28, 2018
you can try here Conference Finals Recap

Vegas was already the best expansion team in North American sports history going into the Conference Finals and they didn’t stop there. They walked through the Winnipeg Jets in five games as they advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals. Vegas owns a stunning 12-3 record in the playoffs so far.

Washington went down 0-2 in their series against the Blue Jackets. People counted them out. They advanced to play Pittsburgh. People counted them out. They finally beat the Penguins only to play the best team in the East. People counted them out. Yet they are still standing, weirdly enough the least talented team they’ve brought to the dance over the last decade. It’s only fitting that this is the team that has gone all the way.

neurontin side effects Washington Capitals

Won Eastern Conference Final 4-3 over Tampa Bay.

As a personal fan of the Washington Capitals this series was a roller coaster of emotions. Washington finally beats Pittsburgh, only to play against the best team in the East. The Capitals jump out to a quick 2-0 series lead taking home-ice advantage completely away from the Lightning. The Lightning come back to Washington and take home-ice advantage back beating the Capitals twice at Capital One Arena. Game five also went to the Lightning as they put the Capitals on the brink. Holtby shuts the door completely in Game 6 & 7 to send the Lightning packing and the Capitals to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1998.

Notable Players to Watch

I might show a bit of bias here, but does anybody in history have a better one-timer than Alexander Ovechkin?

Alexander Ovechkin is on a mission and I don’t think Vegas has anybody that can reliably stop him. Ovechkin in his 13th season and after establishing himself as the best goal scorer of this generation (If you forgot, he just won his 7th Rocket Richard Trophy). Will be playing in his first Stanley Cup Final.

The secondary scoring for the Capitals has arrived at the perfect time. Andre Burakovsky drew into the lineup for Game 7 and he didn’t disappoint with two goals to put the game completely out of reach.

Braden Holtby since coming into the playoffs in Game 3 against the Blue Jackets has been everything as advertised and has seemed to put the terrible regular season behind him.  Holtby comes into the Finals with a .924% SV and a shutout streak of 157+ minutes.

Vegas Golden Knights

Won Western Conference Final 4-1 over Winnipeg.

The Golden Knights motto for the playoffs has been “Welcome to Impossible” and who can blame them? Vegas coming into the regular season were placed at 500-1 odds to win the Stanley Cup and now they’re only four games away from doing so. Nobody expected them to even be in the playoffs, let alone make it to the Finals with a 12-3 record.

The team consisting of labelled “misfits” is simply playing fantastic hockey, then again it sure helps when goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury is posting an unconscious .947SV% through 15 games.

Will the Golden Knights complete the impossible?

Notable Players to Watch

It truly has been a team effort by the Golden Knights to get to this point. Vegas has one clear stand out when it comes to scoring this postseason and that player is Jonathan Marchessault who leads the way with 18 (8G, 10A) points.

The Golden Knights will also be hoping for some more of this from William Karlsson, up front they are outpowered by the Capitals and Karlsson will have to have a big series if Vegas is going to win.

Marc-Andre Fleury is without a doubt the current Conn Smythe favourite and I think he should be considered to win it even if the Golden Knights lose this series. Fleury has posted unrealistic numbers through 15 games in these playoffs with 4 shutouts and a .947%SV. He will simply have to be the Golden Knights best player all series long.

 Season Series

Vegas Golden Knights (2-0-0)

It’s the Stanley Cup Finals, regular season series doesn’t mean anything. But we wouldn’t be doing our due diligence if we didn’t list it.

Conclusion

This series is comparing the improbable to the impossible. This is the year Washington wasn’t supposed to make it, this is by far the worst team they’ve had on paper in recent playoff runs, yet this team is the one that will get to play for Lord’s Stanley.

The Golden Knights are already the best expansion team in North American sports history and if they don’t win the championship I hope that doesn’t tarnish anything they’ve already accomplished this year.

Will Marc-Andre Fleury continue getting the last laugh over Alexander Ovechkin and his Capitals or will the Russian sniper that we’ve all grown to love over the years finally lift the one accomplishment that’s always eluded him?

Whatever happens, this years Stanley Cup Finals will lead to an unforgettable story for one side.

My Prediction: Capitals in 6.

I don’t think Vegas has the firepower to keep up with the Capitals forwards unless Marc-Andre Fleury completely stands on his head like he’s done so far, I don’t see a situation where the Golden Knights can win.

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1 comment

Angel Alvarez May 28, 2018 at 11:01 pm

Biased article. Vegas in 4.

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