NHL Conference Finals: Get'Cha Head in the Game

Conference finals time! And with the Rangers and Lightning within minutes of puck-drop, let's get right to it!!

EASTERN CONFERENCE
#1M New York Rangers (113 points) vs. #2A Tampa Bay Lightning (108 points)
Season Series: Lightning won all three games, all in regulation.
Stanley Cup Odds: Rangers 2/1 (best in final four); Lightning 9/2 (worst)
Relevant High School Musical Quote:  "Do you remember in kindergarten, how you'd meet a kid, and know nothing about them, then 10 seconds later you're playing like you're best friends, because you didn't have to be anything but yourself? Singing with you felt like that." -Gabriella, HSM 1
Round Two Roundup: Are the Rangers equipped for another marathon? ; Are the Lightning equipped to topple another all-world goalie?
Round Three Breakdown: The Rangers are the ultimate playoff rodents. Their games- whether wins or losses- are all so incredibly close that their fans are all on the brink of clinical treatment. And being down 3-1 to a rollin' Capitals team and needing to win three straight (two on the road) seemed like mountain too high. But Chris Kreider's game-tying goal with a minute left in Game 5 was a series-turning moment that the Rangers never looked back from. Of course, as per their unspoken arrangement, the three consecutive NYR victories were by one goal. Henrik Lundqvist outdueled Washington's Braden Holtby- who cannot be give enough credit for his outstanding goaltending in the series. And much like last year's epic run to the Cup Final, the Blueshirts appear to be content taking the long scenic route. And the next stop goes through scenic Tampa Bay.
Which creates an interesting dynamic. Taking a look at the season series above, the Lightning had their way with the Rangers when they matched up this year. The combined score of Tampa's three victories: 15-7! And Lundqvist was in goal for all three games. These games need to be taken with a grain of salt, though, as they all occurred in a strange two-week time period over five months ago. But still...don't expect this fantastic Lightning offense to be intimidated by The King.
Tampa also had a long series in their own right against Montreal last round. After mauling the Canadiens in the first three games of the series, their potential sweep turned into a headache when Montreal fought back to win the next two. Their offense is just relentless. In these playoffs, four Tampa players (Tyler Johnson, Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, Alex Killorn) have more points that the Rangers' co-leading scorers (Brassard & Stepan.) And they're not all just firepower. As ridiculous as Lundqvist has been with his 1.60 goals against average in these playoffs, Tampa's young Ben Bishop is right there with him at 1.81. 
The Pick: It's the playoff-savvy veterans who only play close games against the young upstarts who have the best offense in the entire league. The Rangers will enjoy home ice advantage in the season, and certainly will have a sizable NY contingent when the series shifts down south as well. But there's something in this upstart Lightning that I like. They matured in taking down Detroit in a gritty seven game first round series. They overcame adversity when Montreal came roaring back in round two (ask the Capitals how tough that can be...) And here, facing their third storied Original Six team in as many rounds, Tampa is ready to put the whipped cream and hot fudge on top.  Lightning in Six



WESTERN CONFERENCE:

#1P Anaheim Ducks (109 points) vs. #3C Chicago Blackhawks (102 points)
Season Series: Blackhawks won two out of three games.
Stanley Cup Odds: Blackhawks 2.25/1 (2nd best);  2.3/1 (3rd best) 
Relevant Mighty Ducks Quote: "My prom...is wherever you are." - Troy Bolton, HSM3
Round Two Roundup: Can anybody stop the Ducks? ; Can anybody stop the Blackhawks? 
Round Three Breakdown: Whoaaaaaa Mama, this one is gonna be good. Despite some idiot picking Minnesota to upset Chicago in round two, the Blackhawks romped to a sweep (though to be fair to idiot, three of the four games were decided by one goal.) After all kinds of shakiness regarding their goaltending situation in Round one, Corey Crawford found his ways and Chicago has never looked back. Patrick Kane has not shown a bit of rust since returning from a long injury absence, leading the Hawks in points. He along with the usual suspects Toews, Keith, Sharp, etc. have been an absolute machine, as that core is trying to win their third Stanley Cup in six years.
The Ducks, meanwhile, haven't exactly been slouches. They have played nine games in the first three rounds, and have lost only one of them- in overtime. The offense has ripped off 35 goals in that nine-game span, and Frederik Anderson is another goalie rockin a sub-2.00 goals against average. Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf have been hot as pistols in leading the offense, although Chicago will be by far their biggest playoff test to date. No disrespect to Winnipeg nor Calgary...but they are no Chicago Blackhawks. This series will be long. It will be tough. And the winner will be quite the worthy Western Conference champion. When I'm flipping the coin, give me the squad with Kane and with more playoff moxy. By a smidge.
The Pick: Blackhawks in Seven.

Thanks for reading. And with a game every night for the next two weeks, enjoy the hockey binge!