2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview - Conference Finals

1st Round Scores:

Eastern Conference:

#1 Tampa Bay Lightning defeat WC #2 New Jersey Devils (4-1)
#1 Washington Capitals defeat WC #1 Columbus Blue Jackets (4-2)
#2 Boston Bruins defeat #3 Toronto Maple Leafs (4-3)
#2 Pittsburgh Penguins defeat #3 Philadelphia Flyers (4-2)

Western Conference:

#1 Nashville Predators defeat WC #2 Colorado Avalanche (4-2)
#1 Vegas Golden Knights defeat WC #1 Los Angeles Kings (4-0)
#2 Winnipeg Jets defeat #3 Minnesota Wild (4-1)
#3 San Jose Sharks defeat #2 Anaheim Ducks (4-0)

2nd Round Scores: 

Eastern Conference:

#1 Tampa Bay Lightning defeat #2 Boston Bruins (4-1)
# 1 Washington Capitals defeat #2 Pittsburgh Penguins (4-2)

Western Conference:

#2 Winnipeg Jets defeat #1 Nashville Predators (4-3)
#1 Vegas Golden Knights defeat San Jose Sharks (4-2)

Forman Faceoff Conn Smythe Standings: 

1. Marc-Andre Fleury (VGK) - 8 wins, 1.53 GAA, .951 save %, 4 shutouts

2. Mark Scheifele (WPG) - 11 goals, 5 assists, 16 points

3. Alex Ovechkin (WSH) - 8 goals, 7 assists, 15 points

4. Connor Hellebuyck (WPG) - 8 wins, 2.25 GAA, .927 save %, 2 shutouts

5. Braden Holtby (WSH) - 8 wins, 2.04 GAA, .926 save %

6. Nikita Kucherov (TBL) - 6 goals, 6 assists, 12 points

7. Paul Stastny (WPG) - 6 goals, 8 assists, 14 points

8. Evgeny Kuznetsov (WSH) - 7 goals, 7 assists, 14 points, 1 OT goal

9. Dustin Byfuglien (WPG) - 4 goals, 9 assists, 13 points

10. Andrei Vasilevskiy (TBL) - 8 wins, 2.20 GAA, .927 save %

Here's a look at the Conference Finals match-ups:

Eastern Conference Finals

 

#1 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. #1 Washington Capitals

Season Series: Lightning won the season series 2-1-0

October 9, 2017: Tampa Bay Lightning 4, Washington Capitals 3 (OT)
November 24, 2017: Washington Capitals 3, Tampa Bay Lightning 1
February 20, 2018: Tampa Bay Lightning 4, Washington Capitals 2

Players to Watch:

Tampa Bay: Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman, Brayden Point, JT Miller, Anthony Cirelli

Washington: Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Braden Holtby, Nicklas Backstrom, John Carlson, Jakub Vrana

X-Factor:

Tampa Bay: Nikita Kucherov

Washington: Alex Ovechkin

Team Leaders:

Goals: Alex Ovechkin (WSH) - 8, Nikita Kucherov (TBL) - 6
Assists: Nicklas Backstrom (WSH) - 10, Steven Stamkos (TBL) - 7

Points: Alex Ovechkin (WSH) - 15, Nikita Kucherov - 12
Wins: Andrei Vasilevskiy (TBL) - 8, Braden Holtby (WSH) - 8
Goals Against Average: Andrei Vasilevskiy (TBL) - 2.20, Braden Holtby (WSH) - 2.25

Save Percentage: Andrei Vasilevskiy (TBL) - .927, Braden Holtby (WSH) - .926

Prediction: What a storyline Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals are making, finally beating the rival Pens and advancing to their 1st Conference Finals in 20 years. They have an extremely tough task with the fast-paced Lightning, and this series is going to be extremely close. I am giving the slight edge to Ovechkin and the Caps and think they are off to the Stanley Cup Finals for the 1st time since 1998.

(CAPS IN 7)

Western Conference Finals

#1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. #2 Winnipeg Jets

Season Series: Golden Knights won the season series 2-1-0

November 10, 2017: Vegas Golden Knights 5, Winnipeg Jets 2
December 1, 2017: Winnipeg Jets 7, Vegas Golden Knights 4
February 1, 2018: Vegas Golden Knights 3, Winnipeg Jets 2 (OT)

Players to Watch:

Winnipeg: Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler, Patrik Laine, Connor Hellebuyck, Dustin Byfuglien, Paul Stastny

Vegas: Marc-Andre Fleury, William Karlsson, Reilly Smith, Johnathan Marchessault, Nate Schmidt, James Neal

X-Factor:

Winnipeg: Mark Scheifele

Vegas: Marc-Andre Fleury 

Team Leaders:

Goals: Mark Scheifele (WPG) - 11, Alex Tuch/William Karlsson/Johnathan Marchessault (VGK) - 4
Assists: Blake Wheeler (WPG) - 12, Reilly Smith (VGK) - 10

Points: Mark Scheifele (WPG) - 16, Reilly Smith/Johnathan Marchessault (VGK) - 11
Wins: Connor Hellebuyck (WPG) - 8, Marc-Andre Fleury (VGK) - 8
Goals Against Average: Marc-Andre Fleury (VGK) - 1.53, Connor Hellebuyck (WPG) - 2.25

Save Percentage: Marc-Andre Fleury (VGK) - .951, Connor Hellebuyck (WPG) - .927

Prediction: Can the Cinderella Golden Knights make history and go to the Stanley Cup Finals in their 1st season? Marc-Andre Fleury is certainly playing that way, but they have their toughest challenge yet with the high-flying Jets in the Conference Finals. While I think it would be awesome to see Vegas go to the finals, Winnipeg is playing too well and I think beating Nashville has made them the top contender for the Stanley Cup of the 4 teams remaining. The Jets will move on to their 1st Stanley Cup Finals in Franchise history.

(JETS IN 6)

This would have the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals as #1 Washington Capitals vs #2 Winnipeg Jets, two franchises yet to hoist Lord Stanley in their history. Has the makings for one of the best finals in recent years, should be an exciting finish!

Joel Forman - The Forman Faceoff