LOS ANGELES – The 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs are at the half way point. Two Number 2 seeds remain. One wildcard team remains. The two teams left in the East have each won the Cup this century. The two teams remaining from the West have never won the Cup. The 60-Day War rolls on.
The wildcard Bunch of Jerks, Carolina Hurricanes, swept the New York Islanders. Islander goaltender Robin Lehner said the Canes/Isles series reminded him of the Isles/Penguins series. Both were sweeps but each game was close.
Both series were similar but Lehner was incorrect. The games weren’t close. The scores yes, game play no. The Isles were a step behind the Canes like the Penguins were a step behind the Isles.
The Carolina goalie tandem of Petr Mrazek and Curtis McElhinney worked out perfectly.
McElhinney winning the last two games after Mrazek won the first two before getting injured.
The Carolina sweep showed the greatness of Carolina defensemen Jacob Slavin. It also reminded the world what a great leader Justin Williams is and what a beast Jordan Staal is.
The Boston Bruins defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets in six games. The Blue Jackets play physical and hope the puck goes in the net.
The Bruins play physical and put the puck in the net.
Boston’s top players Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak came through when the team needed them to. Columbus’ top players disappeared. Columbus goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky played well but Boston’s Tuukka Rask was outstanding in net.
I have picked against Carolina twice so far this playoff series and I’ve been wrong.
I’m doing it again.
The Bruins star players know how to score big goals.
Carolina’s speed won’t be a huge problem for Boston. Zdeno Chara is Boston’s only slow defensemen and he has a few intangibles.
Rask is at the top of his game. Boston’s veterans are starting to smell the Cup. BOSTON in 7
The St. Louis Blues beat the Dallas Stars in seven games. It almost took eight.
The Blues got a little offense from everyone.
I do mean a little.
Alex Pietrangelo and Colton Parayko controlled the blueline like Chris Pronger and Al MacInnes circa mid 90’s. Jordan Binnington lost his cool a few times but remains a cucumber for a rookie.
The San Jose Sharks beat the Colorado Avalanche in seven games.
Sharks Captain Joe Pavelski broke the three games each tie all by himself.
Pavelski missed the first six games. Pavelski’s return tipped the depth balance in San Jose’s favor.
Colorado was not a one-line team, but they are not as deep as the Sharks. Sharks goalie Martin Jones is reminding everyone of his playoff run in 2016.
The San Jose Sharks know this is their last and best chance to win a Stanley Cup.
The Sharks have much more offense than St. Louis and just as much defense as the Blues.
Jones has been to the Final; Binnington was showing cracks last series. SHARKS in 7
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