The NHL Stanley Cup Final is upon us. Upon us is the proper verb because it’s used frequently in fairy tales. This year’s finalists are Cinderellas, the Vegas Golden Knights and the Washington Capitals. Vegas didn’t have a team this time last year. Washington has never won a Stanley Cup.
This Final is stacked with story lines. Stories Walt Disney and Hans Christian Andersen would be hard pressed to dream up.
The Vegas Knights are trying to be the first expansion team to ever win a major sports championship in its first year of existence. The team was put together from he expansion draft by GM George McPhee. McPhee ironically was fired by the Washington Capitals. Head Coach Gerard Gallant was fired and humiliated by the Florida Panthers. The Vegas roster is made up of players at least one team had given up on. They are led by probable Hall of Fame goaltender Marc Andre Fleury. The defending two-time Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins went with Matt Murray this season. Fleury, like all the Knights, played this season with something to prove. They now have four more wins to prove they can win the Stanly Cup.
The Washington Capitals also have something to prove. They have not been a Final since 1998. The Capitals have not been past the second round in a generation. Alex Ovechin, the greatest goal scorer of this generation had never made it to a conference final. He’s is not the only Capital with something to prove. The Head Coach, Barry Trotz, is coaching without a contract. Perennial Vezina Trophy finalist goaltender Braden Holtby was benched to start the playoffs. The Capitals have overcome many hurdles on the road to the Final. The Capitals slayed their personal dragon the Penguins. They beat the Columbus Blue Jackets after losing the first two games of that series at home. They won a game seven on the road in Tampa Bay. They concluded that series with two consecutive shutouts. To complete their improbable Cup journey, the Capitals must beat their old nemesis Marc Andre Fleury.
How did both teams get there?
Eastern Conference
Alex Ovechkin – photo courtesy of Jack Lima
The Washington Capitals beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games. Washington won the first two games in Tampa but then dropped the next three. Tampa’s goalie Andrei Vasilevskly was standing on his head. Washington was controlling the play but could not beat the Tampa netminder. Washington played masterful defense in games six and seven, They clogged the neutral zone and countered offensively. Holtby pitched two perfect games and the Capitals are in the Final. Washington had every chance in game six to be the same old Capitals and fold. They didn’t. Tom Wilson, Alex Ovechin and the rest of the Capitals physically took the game to the Lightning.
The Western Conference
The Vegas Golden Knights beat the Winnipeg Jets in five games. The Jets used a magnificent first ten minutes of game one to win game one. After that it was all Vegas. The Knights swarmed the Jets. The talented Jets had no room. When they did have grade A chances Fleury made an incredible save. Every time the Jets would score Vegas would score less than two minutes later. The Jets never had room on the ice or the scoreboard. The Knights received contributions from all four of their lines. The Jets only had a few guys going but head coach Paul Maurice never juggled the lines. He stood by and watched the ship sink. Jets superstar defenseman Dustin Byfuglien was worn out. He played too much. When Big Buff plays under twenty five minutes he is dominant. When he plays over twenty five minutes he’s out of position and careless. Connor Hellebuyck was not bad in goal but he needed to be phenomenal to beat Fleury.
Prediction
With all due respect to the Eastern Conference, the Capitals have not seen a team as good as the Knights. The Knights play like the 2016 Penguins. The forwards are fast and swarm the puck in every zone. The defensive gets the puck out of their zone fast and by all means necessary. They bury their chances and get contributions from every line. If each team’s top lines cancel each other out Vegas has more depth. Every one of the Knights playoff opponents have tried to physically beat the Knights. The strategy hasn’t worked. The Capitals physicality, mainly Tom Wilson will be mitigated by Knights enforcer Ryan Reaves. Deryk Engelland and Brayden McNabb are also willing to go if need be. Tom Wilson backs down when he’s not the favorite in a fight.
Marc-Andre Fleury – photo courtesy of Jack Lima
The Capitals beat the Penguins and Lightning by clogging up the neutral zone. They played a variation of the left wing lock or trap. Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay wanted to play an east /west skill game. They refused to dump and chase. Dumping and chasing is best way to beat the trap. The Knights are the best dump and chase team in the league. Washington will not be able to slow the Knight’s forecheck.
Braden Holtby has played great in these playoffs. Marc Andre Fleury has played ridiculous. Ovechkin has never beaten Fleury in the playoffs. Will he leap the final hurdle in his storybook run to the Cup? I say no. In a Final for the ages Vegas comes up aces. Knights in 7
You must be logged in to post a comment.