Binge Sports: 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs-Conference Finals
We’re halfway home. Welcome back to Binge Sports and our continuing coverage of the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. As we all knew it would, round two gave us more exciting playoff hockey with more great games, great series, great stars, and thankfully more thrilling Game 7 fun. Seriously, how great was last night’s New York-Washington OT thriller? But the reality is that four more teams have gone home for the summer, and it’s conference finals time. Let’s start with the two best from the West.
(C3)CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS v. (P1)ANAHEIM DUCKS
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Round 1: Chicago def. Nashville 4-2, Anaheim def. Winnipeg 4-0
Round 2: Chicago def. Minnesota 4-0, Anaheim def. Calgary 4-1
ROUND 2 POLL RESULTS
100% voted for Chicago
80% voted for Anaheim
SCHEDULE
Game 1: @Anaheim-Sun. May 17-3:00E/2:00C-NBC
Game 2: @Anaheim-Tue. May 19-9:00E/8:00C-NBCSN
Game 3: @Chicago-Thu. May 21-8:00E/7:00C-NBCSN
Game 4: @Chicago-Sat. May 23-8:00E/7:00C-NBC
Game 5 (if necessary): @Anaheim-Mon. May 25-9:00E/8:00C-NBCSN
Game 6 (if necessary): @Chicago-Wed. May 27-8:00E/7:00C-NBCSN
Game 7 (if necessary): @Anaheim-Sat. May 30-8:00/7:00C-NBCSN
PREVIEW
I think this is the matchup that most people were expecting. I know I was, and according to the fan vote, it looks like most of you were as well. It’s certainly not a surprise to see the Blackhawks here. This is their third straight trip to the conference finals and they’ve been here five out of the last seven years. They lost last year in a thrilling seven game series with the Los Angeles Kings, losing that final game in overtime. As for the Ducks, this is their first time in the conference finals since their Stanley Cup winning season in 2007, a shocking number given their recent years of success in the regular season. But it looks as if they’ve finally got their playoff problems figured out.
One of the Ducks’ biggest advantages is having the home ice. They’re 5-0 this postseason at the Honda Center, including three wins against Calgary in the second round. Another big thing they’ve got going for them is that they really play the entire sixty minutes. As we saw in the first round especially, Anaheim is never out of a game. In these playoffs, Anaheim is outscoring their opponents 17-4 in the third period and overtime. That’s the kind of play that can win the Stanley Cup. Leading the way for the Ducks is Kupka’s favorite player, Corey Perry. Having only played nine games thus far, Perry is still leading the NHL in playoff scoring with seven goals and eight assists.
Not far behind on the other side is Patrick Kane. In the ten games the Blackhawks have played, Kane, who really wasn’t even supposed to be available until now, has seven goals and six assists of his own. Chicago is playing outstanding hockey right now. I can honestly say that while I expected Chicago to beat Minnesota, I didn’t think they’d do it like that. I was thinking it would go maybe six or seven games, but I certainly wasn’t thinking sweep. But they’re hitting on all cylinders. Corey Crawford looks to be back to form and he’ll need to be ready against a Ducks team that can score at any time.
Chicago won the season series 2-1, but they haven’t played since late January. Another interesting note is that this is the first time that these two teams have ever met in the playoffs. Action gets underway Sunday afternoon.
[yop_poll id=”238″]
Let’s make our way to the Eastern Conference.
(A2)TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING v. (M1)NEW YORK RANGERS
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Round 1: Tampa Bay def. Detroit 4-3, New York def. Pittsburgh 4-1
Round 2: Tampa Bay def. Montreal 4-2, New York def. Washington 4-3
ROUND 2 POLL RESULTS
20% voted for Tampa Bay
20% voted for New York
SCHEDULE
Game 1: @New York-Sat. May 16-1:00E/Noon Central-NBC
Game 2: @New York-Mon. May 18-8:00E/7:00C-NBCSN
Game 3: @Tampa Bay-Wed. May 20-8:00E/7:00C-NBCSN
Game 4: @Tampa Bay-Fri. May 22-8:00/7:00C-NBCSN
Game 5 (if necessary): @New York-Sun. May 24-8:00E/7:00C-NBCSN
Game 6 (if necessary): @Tampa Bay-Tue. May 26-8:00E/7:00C-NBCSN
Game 7 (if necessary): @New York-Fri. May 29-8:00E/7:00C-NBCSN
PREVIEW
Well, it’s official. Canada is out of the playoffs. In a small upset, Tampa Bay disposed of the Montreal Canadiens in six. According to the fan vote, it’s a major upset, with the Lightning only getting twenty percent of the vote, but don’t be fooled. Tampa Bay has a very good hockey team. They led the NHL in scoring this season, they’re fast, and they know how to capitalize. Look at their power play percentages from the second round. Not only did they score 35% of the time (7 for 20) with the advantage, they killed 15 of 16 when they were a man down. Tyler Johnson is leading the NHL in postseason goals with eight, and forward Nikita Kucherov scored six goals in the Montreal series alone.
Well, you almost had the voting right in the New York-Washington series. 80% of you thought Alex Ovechkin could finally get the Capitals to a conference finals, but New York was able to rally from a 3-1 deficit to take the final three, culminating in an epic Game 7 win in overtime at Madison Square Garden last night. The Rangers’ fight is something that will play big in this series. They’ve won their last six Game 7s. Goalie Henrik Lundqvist is 14-3 in elimination games since 2012, and he’s certainly the leader of this team looking to advance to their second consecutive Stanley Cup Final. Chris Kreider is looking very solid as he scored four goals in the second round, and honestly, the Rangers and Lightning play very similar styles. This should be a very fast series. New York will be looking for a little better result than what happened during the regular season. Tampa Bay won all three games.
[yop_poll id=”239″]
There you have it. We’ll be discussing both of these series next week during an all-new Binge Sportscast. Before that, don’t forget to tune in this Sunday for the monthly wrestling podcast with me and Batch. Until then, who’d you vote for and why? Let me know below or follow me on Twitter @BingeSports and/or @THElukenorris to give me your thoughts on these conference finals. We’ll also be bringing you conference finals coverage in the NBA as soon as round two gets wrapped up over there. It’s a busy time of year in sports and we’ve got you covered on all of it. Binge Sports: We’ve got all the balls.