As the NBA makes its inevitable march towards its league-mandated Cavs-Warriors Finals (seriously, why do they even bother with the regular season and first three rounds of the "playoffs"?), the last four teams standing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs are certainly not the ones you would've expected. They've won a combined one Stanley Cup between them, two have never even been to the conference finals, and one hadn't even played a game yet at this point last year. But, yeah, the NBA's more entertaining. Sure.
It was Atlanta's relocation to Winnipeg that prompted the NHL realignment five years ago. Prior to that, there were six divisions of five. Of those six divisions, the Southeast Division was generally considered to be the weakest. But here's the funny thing. It's the only one of the pre-realignment divisions still standing. None of this has anything to do with this season's playoffs, and Vegas wouldn't exist had they kept the six-division format, but I still find it kinda interesting that the Southeast Division maybe wasn't so bad after all.
Anyway, if the old Southeast Division was still a thing, Washington and Tampa Bay would surely be the class of it. The Lightning are the only one of the four remaining teams that's been remotely this far in the playoffs prior to this year. This is their third trip to at least the East Final in four seasons (and, when you consider that half the team is former Rangers, it's really four in five for them).
Washington, meanwhile, finally beat the Penguins and got Alex Ovechkin to his first East Final. The Caps haven't been this far in 20 years, and they're looking to play for the Cup for just the second time in their history. And, you know what? They've got a pretty good chance. One of the reasons I think they finally got by the Penguins is because no one thought they would. The pressure's off and they're playing looser as a result. And now they've really got nothing to lose. They're playing with house money.
Rangers South, however, definitely feels that pressure. The Lightning have been the top team in the East all season, and nothing that's happened in the first two rounds of the playoffs have given anybody a reason to think otherwise. Especially after missing the playoffs entirely last season, they're out to show who's boss in the Eastern Conference.
On paper, Tampa Bay should win this series. But, again, the Capitals didn't just knock off the two-time defending champs, they did so without two of their best players. If they get Backstrom back, their offense becomes that much more dynamic. And Holtby has been having a heck of a playoff year! I can see him stealing a game or two (speaking of stealing a game, how about that guy in the AHL making 94! saves in a five-overtime win).
I can easily see this series going seven games. Tampa Bay is better, but Washington just has that air about them. Over the past few seasons, we've seen the perennial playoff underachievers break through and make deep runs. I have a feeling that the Capitals will do that this year. I can't bring myself to pick them, though. Not with Game 7 in Tampa. Lightning in seven.
Out West, we've got the NHL's two newest teams, one of which is guaranteed to play for the Cup. Either Winnipeg will have a chance to break Canada's 25-year Cup drought or Vegas will cap the greatest inaugural season of any expansion team ever with one of the most unexpected Finals berths in sports history.
Winnipeg is damn good. When they lost Game 6 against the Predators at home, I thought they were done. Then they went and absolutely dominated Game 7 in Nashville. And now, the Jets have home ice advantage the rest of the way, which makes them even more dangerous. (Seriously, would you want to play in that White Out?)
The Jets are so much more than just that wacky Manitoba crowd, though. They're perhaps the most complete team remaining. I have no idea how anyone can stop Patrick Laine, and he's only part of the offensive equation. Meanwhile, on defense, they have Dustin Byfuglien and his playoff experience from his time in Chicago. And let's not forget how ridiculously awesome Connor Hellebuyck has been throughout the first two rounds of the playoffs.
Then there's Vegas. Frankly, I thought the Golden Knights' magical run was going to end against San Jose. I was wrong. Vegas dominated that series from the start, and Marc-Andre Fleury played like a three-time Stanley Cup champion. Speaking of teams that have nothing to lose, the Knights don't see themselves as an expansion team. They go into every game expecting to win. I think that's been part of the reason for their success.
But Winnipeg is the best team they've faced by far. I can easily see this coming down to a battle of the goalies, and it seems likely that both Hellebuyck and Fleury will each be responsible for at least one win in the series. They've both got those incredible home crowds, as well. We'll see how much of a factor that will be, if any.
In the unexpected battle of the NHL's two smallest markets, the little things will be the difference. I give Winnipeg the edge for two reasons, though. The Jets have felt the pressure this postseason. The Knights haven't. I also think Winnipeg is a little stronger defensively, and that'll be a key in determining the tempo of the games. Two slight edges that result in my picking Winnipeg. Jets in six.
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