Seeing how the Golden Knights are one of the storylines in this NHL post season, let’s go with a Vegas theme to our Tely staff picks for the Stanley Cup playoffs:
Had we been playing blackjack, we’d have busted.
In the second round, Glen Whiffen was even-steven at 2-2, the best of the lot. Brendan McCarthy cooled off from his sizzling 7-1 start to go 1-3, along with Kenn Oliver and Robin Short.
So after two rounds, McCarthy leads with a mediocre 8-4 record, while Oliver and Whiffen have a middling 6-6 mark. Short is a woeful 4-8.
Here are their picks for Round 3 (made before Game 1 of the Eastern final):
Kenn Oliver
Tampa Bay-Washington
Let’s be honest, the Penguins’ only decent line in Round 2 was the fourth, which ultimately led to the team’s demise. The Lightning, on the other hand, have seen all four units play well through the first two rounds. The Caps simply can’t match ’em.
Tampa in 5.
Las Vegas-Winnipeg
Round 3 is midnight for the Golden Knights’ Cinderella story. Front to back, the well-rounded Winnipeg have too many tools at their disposal that the rag-tag misfits from Vegas won’t have an answer to.
Winnipeg in 4
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Brendan McCarthy
Tampa Bay-Washington
For whatever reason, I’m not enthused by the prospect of this series, even if it features Stamkos versus Ovechkin. I think Pens-Bruins would have been more entertaining, and not just because of my affinity for Boston and/or because I picked those teams to advance. Still, these are the choices, so I’m going with Washington. In part, that’s because it would mean Ovie will finally get a chance in the big dance and also because it would have to help Caps’ head coach Barry Trotz — one of hockey’s best people — retain his job. Unbelievably, Trotz doesn’t yet have a contract for next season.
Washington in 7
Las Vegas-Winnipeg
Thank goodness for the Jets’ Game 7 win over Nashville. Otherwise, yours truly would have gone 0-4 in the second round.
I’m staying with Winnipeg in the Western final, although I’m beginning to realize — expansion club or not — that the Golden Knights’ are a team to be reckoned with and not just some smoke and mirrors magic act from the Las Vegas Strip.
Winnipeg in 5
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Robin Short
Tampa Bay-Washington
This one should be a dandy. Remember I said the Caps can’t win the big game? Never mind. Never imagined the Lightning dispatching the Boston Bruins in five games, but it won’t happen against Alex Ovechkin and the Caps. Ovie’s ready to prove he can carry a team just like Sidney Crosby did.
Washington in 7
Las Vegas-Winnipeg
So much for my pick of Nashville going all the way. And this whole Vegas thing — an expansion team reaching the third round of the playoffs, following a 109-point regular season? Enough already! This isn’t supposed to happen! Toronto Maple Leafs fans have been known to brag that their team will be the next Canadian squad to hoist the Cup. Who’d have thunk it would be the Jets?
Winnipeg in 5
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Glen Whiffen
Tampa Bay-Washington
The deservedly huge smile on Alex Ovechkin’s face hovered over a wave of relief felt by a Washington Capitals team that finally got past Pittsburgh in the second round of the playoffs. With the Capitals being too focused on getting over that hurdle, however, they are not ready for Tampa. Their Cup run ends here.
Tampa in 5
Las Vegas-Winnipeg
This will be a great, hard-fought series. The players on both teams are hungry. Expect big hits, a lot of battles along the boards, and great highlight-reel saves from Marc-Andre Fleury. As I said before I like the story of the Golden Knights this season and what a ride it would be for them if they could play for the Stanley Cup. But the Jets are firing on all engines and just seem destined for the finals.
Winnipeg in 7
