Stanley Cup Final - Golden Knights (P1) vs Capitals (M1)

[GGG]

The only big advantage the expansion draft gave them was the goalie rules. Getting the best 3 backup goalies in the league means at worst you are getting a top 15 goalie. Once you have a decent goalie average rosters can to great things.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by zamler

Really? I can't see the Caps rolling over that easily.

Winnipeg, San Jose, LA all lost in 5 games or less so it's not out of the realm of possibility that the Knights make quick work of the Capitals. I'm cheering for the Capitals to win this but it's hard to bet against the Knights at this stage as it appears teams cannot handle them over the course of 7 game series. Capitals lost more games in their last series than the Knights have in three rounds.

[EldrickOnIce]

Half a billion buys you a lot, maybe even a Stanley Cup.
Go Caps

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Winnipeg, San Jose, LA all lost in 5 games or less so it's not out of the realm of possibility that the Knights make quick work of the Capitals. I'm cheering for the Capitals to win this but it's hard to bet against the Knights at this stage as it appears teams cannot handle them over the course of 7 game series. Capitals lost more games in their last series than the Knights have in three rounds.

SJ in six games.

Anyhow, I was thinking about this last night: if the Capitals win will Ovechkin be the first ever Russian-born NHL team captain to win the Stanley Cup?

[Resolute 14]

I hate that I have to cheer for Washington in this final.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

SJ in six games.

Anyhow, I was thinking about this last night: if the Capitals win will Ovechkin be the first ever Russian-born NHL team captain to win the Stanley Cup?

Yes. Lidstrom in 2008 was the first European captain to win. Chara was the second in 2011.

Since then, it's only been American, Dustin Brown and Canadians, Jonathan Toews and Sidney Crosby.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by getbak

Yes. Lidstrom in 2008 was the first European captain to win. Chara was the second in 2011.

Since then, it's only been American, Dustin Brown and Canadians, Jonathan Toews and Sidney Crosby.

If this happens Don Cherry might have a stroke.

[CroFlames]

At this point I think the two Conn Smythe finalists are MAF for Vegas and Ovi for the Caps.

Kuznetsov was the more productive player in R3, and if he continues that pace he probably overtakes Ovi for the vote, but Ovi was better the first 2 rounds. Ovi might win it by default even if he fizzles like Crosby did when it should have went to Kessel.

I'm not sure any Vegas player can take over MAFs bid.



Has Ovi won every possible trophy now except the Cup?

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

At this point I think the two Conn Smythe finalists are MAF for Vegas and Ovi for the Caps.

Kuznetsov was the more productive player in R3, and if he continues that pace he probably overtakes Ovi for the vote, but Ovi was better the first 2 rounds. Ovi might win it by default even if he fizzles like Crosby did when it should have went to Kessel.

I'm not sure any Vegas player can take over MAFs bid.



Has Ovi won every possible trophy now except the Cup?

Unlike Crosby (when Malkin and Kessel had better cases to win) I could see voters 'snub' Ovechkin.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Unlike Crosby (when Malkin and Kessel had better cases to win) I could see voters 'snub' Ovechkin.

Why? Ovy seems very well liked in the league.


Unless Holtby stands on his head all finals, Ovy get the MVP.

[Weitz]

I'm curious if Bettman will get Boo'd if the cup is awarded in Vegas.

[Jiri Hrdina]

I've never been an AO guy at all.
And yet I find myself actively rooting for him this playoff for the first time.
Weird.

[Corral]

Ovechkin could seize the moment and the Caps win in 7 ... but Vegas is apparently unstoppable and seems destined to win. Vegas in 6

[Hemi-Cuda]

I don't understand why people are so upset with Vegas. Ignoring the revisionist history that they were "gifted" a great team instead of all expert predictions saying they'd suck, the expansion draft was setup better than for previous expansion teams, but that's a good thing. Would the Salty Sue's prefer Vegas wallow at the bottom of the league standings for a decade like Columbus and Atlanta did? Columbus had a fantastic following their first few years, but the team was so terrible everyone stopped caring, and only now are they finally starting to become relevant. And Atlanta is the poster child of why the old expansion rules were terrible, hundreds of millions of dollars wasted on a team that never became competitive until after relocation


I much prefer seeing Vegas become competitive right away, and seeing the city go all-in on the Knights

[Hockey Fan #751]

For some reason, I can see the pressure finally start to ramp up for Vegas with something on the line here and I could see the Capitals winning this thing in four or five games.

McPhee also made the Cup Finals in his first year as GM of the Capitals and then went 17 years without making it so far as the third round so despite all the success this year he, more than anyone, knows these chances don't happen often.

[CroFlames]

Galley made an interesting comment after game 7 vs Tampa.
This is the year The Rocket's name comes off the Cup and it could be potentially replaced with the man who's won the most trophies that bear his name. Pretty cool if you ask me.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Having seen Vegas live in these playoffs, their skill level never overly impresses you, but the work rate and fight they show is amazing. So to me the only way Washington can lose this series is getting outworked. But as LA and San Jose and Winnipeg learned, the Knights are a hard team to outwork. That said, I think the Caps desperation of knowing this is their only chance carries the day, and they win in 6.

[Inglewood Jack]

Penguins, Blackhawks, Bruins, Kings...they're all just spokes on a wheel. This one's on top and that one's on top, and on and on it spins, crushing those on the ground. The Golden Knights are not going to stop the wheel. They are going to break the wheel.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Having seen Vegas live in these playoffs, their skill level never overly impresses you, but the work rate and fight they show is amazing. So to me the only way Washington can lose this series is getting outworked. But as LA and San Jose and Winnipeg learned, the Knights are a hard team to outwork. That said, I think the Caps desperation of knowing this is their only chance carries the day, and they win in 6.

I think this is all true, but I would add that while VGK has been the hardest working, most tenacious team in this year's playoffs the Capitals come a close second.

This is going to be a great series once it finally gets started.

[Zach]

Would love to see Vegas win just to see every hockey forum have a melt down. Also because they are fun to watch and Ovie is a ****