The Puck Drops Here 4.12.16: Stanley Cup Preview #StanleyCupPlayoffs

By Chris Lulovics, @CLulovics

After an exciting 2015-2016 NHL regular season, the NHL playoffs are approaching and this edition will preview the first round match ups.


EASTERN CONFERENCE

Washington Capitals (M1) vs Philadelphia Flyers (WC2)

The Capitals won the Presidents Trophy with 120 points and were almost unstoppable all season. Will this year finally be the year that Alexander Ovechkin breaks the "curse" and carry his team to the Finals or will the Capitals go home early? As for the Flyers they will prove to be a tough first round match-up as they are playoff tested and can beat any team with their gritty no nonsense physical style of play. Prediction Washington 4-2.

Florida Panthers (A1) vs New York Islanders (WC1)

Florida is lead by Jaromir Jagr. I know I'm going to get some flack for saying that but tell me in what other sport can a 44 year old help his team the way he has this season? Can Jagr make it back to the Finals? Just wait and see.  The Islanders are another gritty team lead by Captain John Tavares. New York playing in their new home hopes to bring some of the old magic from their old arena to their new one this postseason. Prediction New York 4-3

Tampa Bay Lightning (A2) vs Detroit Red Wings (A3)

A couple of weeks ago this match-up might of been a no brainier, but after blood clots to Lightning Captain Steven Stamkos maybe just possibly this is no longer the case. Questions amount for the Lightning. Can they get by without their Captain or will Detroit who is playing in the postseason for an unheard of 25th consecutive year be able to continue their playoff expertise? Detroit is a playoff tested team but with a new coach at the helm can they help in the process of going deep into the playoffs or be out early? Prediction Tampa Bay 4-3

Pittsburgh Penguins (M2) vs New York Rangers (M3)

This is the match-up I am looking forward to the most in the first round of the Eastern Conference. A couple of weeks ago Pittsburgh was fighting for a wild card and then out of nowhere caught fire and climb the standings to secure the second seed in the Metropolitan Division. There's no denying the ability of Sidney Crosby and what he has accomplished during his career. But the question is which Fleury will show up. Will the one who is really good during the regular season show up or will it be the one that shows up in the playoffs the past couple of years? Either way the Penguins have offensive fire power that can blow past other teams but will it be enough this year? New York on the other hand is another playoff tested team who like Pittsburgh have proven that they can win and go deep into the playoffs. Prediction New York 4-3 


WESTERN CONFERENCE

Dallas Stars (C1) vs Minnesota Wild (WC2)

Dallas who had the most points in the Western Conference will play Minnesota. If Dallas can play their type of game they shouldn't have too much to worry about. But making the playoffs in the NHL is no easy task and Minnesota deserves to be their. Minnesota has to be able to steal either the first game or second g ame in order to have a chance in this series. Will they be able too do that or will Dallas be too much to handle for them? Prediction Dallas 4-1 

St. Louis Blues (C2) vs Chicago Blackhawks (C3)

This is the Western Conference series that I will be paying attention too. Firstly you have the Reigning Defending NHL Stanley Cup Champions in the Chicago Blackhawks going up against a Ken Hitchcock team who might very well be playing for their coaches job. St Louis who has had great regular season have faltered in the postseason the past couple of years can hopefully keep a great coach in Hitchcock if they can beat the Blackhawks. As for Chicago? What do I need to say? They can possibly be a dynasty in the NHL with another Stanley Cup Championship especially after trading away key parts of past Championship seasons in order to comply with the new salary cap. Some people said they would not be able to duplicate what they did in previous years but they shut everyone up this year. With Patrick Kane playing lights out hockey another Cup might be in the forecast and another parade for Chicago. Prediction Chicago 4-2   

Anaheim Ducks (P1) vs Nashville Predators (WC1)

Anaheim is going into these playoffs looking to make a statement that this is their year. And while yes they are playing a wild card team that is also looking to make the same statement. Nashville who acquired Ryan Johansen from Columbus earlier in the season in order to help their offense might just be able to pull off the upset in the first round. Johansen is a type of player who can take over any game and is dangerous with the puck. Nashville will have to steal one of the first two games in oder to have a chance but I think they are capable of doing so. Prediction Nashville 4-3

Los Angeles Kings (P2) vs San Jose Sharks (P3)

These two teams are no strangers to one another. To say they don't like each other would be an understatement. Yes they play in the same division. Yes they play in the same state divided by miles. So who has the advantage here? LA has been here before and has won the Cup recently. San Jose on the other hand has a lot to prove. They don't want to be one round and done. They want to prove that they are the best team in California. Can they get past LA goalie Jonathan Quick though or will the Kings experience and veteran players prove to be too much for them to handle? Prediction LA 4-2

There is the first round for you guys. Yes I probably will be wrong on some of the predictions and yes I did make a lot of series going to 7 games. You can't predict anything in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and if I could my team would be bringing the Cup home. Make sure to follow us especially the TV Listings each and every day for game times and channel updates each and every day.

The Puck Drops Here 6.8.15: #StanleyCupFinal Games 1 & 2 Recap

By @CLulovics

GAME #1

The 2015 Stanley Cup finals between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Tampa Bay Lightning began on Wednesday night in Tampa. A lot of people thought that both teams would have a "feeling out" during the early stages of game 1 but it never happened. Tampa came out quicker than most people believed since players on Chicago definitely has more experience not only playing in the finals but playoffs overall. Tampa out shot Chicago in the first period 10-7 and out hit them 12-11. Alex Killorn opened up the scoring at 4:31 of the first period giving Tampa an early 1-0 lead after redirecting a shot from Anton Stralman. Both teams were 0-1 on the power-play in the first period.

The second period really didn't amount to much as it played out more like the first period should of with both teams "feeling each other out" but with Chicago starting to pick up steam and adapted to Tampa's playing style. Towards the end of the period Chicago goaltender Corey Crawford came up huge with back to back big saves against Tampa Captain Steven Stamkos keeping the score 1-0. Chicago was 0-2 on the power-play while Tampa was 0-1. Shots in the second saw Tampa out-shoot Chicago 8-6 bringing the games total to 18-13 in favor of the Lightning. Tampa also out hit Chicago 8-5 bringing those totals to 20-16 in favor of the Lightning as well.

Chicago came out in the 3rd skating, passing, and playing their game putting pressure on Tampa but Tampa's defense stood up to the task. Chicago's defense also was up to the task holding Tampa without a shot on goal threw the first 10 minutes into the third. In fact only 2 shots were taken in the first 10 minutes of the third both by Chicago. Tampa turned the puck over many times early in the third but Chicago couldn't take advantage of those turnovers. Chicago finally managed to put one in the back of the net at 13:28 by Teuvo Teravainen to tie it at 1-1. Another Tampa turnover resulted in an unassisted goal by Antoine Vermette at 15:26 which turned out to be the game winning goal. Chicago had the edge in shots in the 3rd 8-5 but Tampa had the overall lead 23-21. Tampa outhit the Blackhawks 9-5 in the period for an overall game advantage of 29-21. But shots and hits don't win games.

Both goalies played well throughout 3 periods. Maybe it was all the turnovers that did in the Lightning. Maybe it was Chicago's ability to adapt to Tampa's playing style. Nonetheless Chicago came out on top in game 1 in Tampa and taking away home ice advantage.

GAME #2

Going into game 2 Tampa needed a win to tie the series before heading to Chicago for the next two games as being down 0-2 would of almost spelled doom for the Lightning. Game 2 was completely different than game 1 was as the score showed in a 4-3 win for the home Lightning.

Scoring opened up in the first by the Lightning with a goal from Cedric Paquette with assists from Ryan Callahan and Victor Hedman. Tampa lead the first period with shots on goal by a slim 12-11 margin. Tampa was also 0-1 on the power-play while Chicago never got a chance in the period to try to capitalize with the man advantage.

Going into the second with the way both games have gone so far no one saw the offense production that would happen. Chicago came out shooting and found a way to beat Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop by scoring two quick goals at 3:04 by Andrew Shaw and 5:20 on a power-play goal by Teuvo Teravainen taking a 2-1 early into the second period. Only a minute and fifty two seconds later at 6:52 Tampa tied the game at 2 with a goal from Nikita Kucherov. Then at 13:58 the Lightning took back the lead with a goal from Tyler Johnson. That lead held the rest of the period as the Lightning took a 3-2 lead going into the 3rd and final period. Chicago was 1-2 on the power-play while the Lightning this period did not get a chance on the man advantage. Shots in the period once again saw Tampa with a lead 10-8 taking a game total of 22-19.

The third period could be described as wild. Chicago scored early at 3:38 to tie the game at 3 with a goal from Brent Seabrook. Tampa Bay goalie Ben Bishop left right after the goal and in came 20 year old Andrei Vasilevskiy. The relief was only brief as Bishop came back into the game. At 8:49 Jason Garrison of the Lightning scored to make the score 4-3 with a power-play goal beating Chicago goalie Corey Crawford. At the 12:19 mark of the period Bishop once again left the net and Vasilevskiy came back in for the rest of the game. Shots in the 3rd were 10-2 in favor of the Blackhawks and 29-24 also in favor of the Blackhawks. Tampa was 1-2 on the power-play while Chicago was 0-1 bringing the total with both teams 1-3 on the man advantage.

Tampa goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy became the first goalie to come in relief in the Finals since 1928. Tampa needed this win bad. Chicago had the opportunity to take a 2-0 lead in the series and heading home looking to clinch. If Tampa can steal two games in Chicago which is going to be hard to do they can come back home for game 5 and seal the Cup. But Chicago is a tough team who has been in the Finals before and know how to handle business. Games 3 and 4 will be interesting to see. Will Bishop come back into goal? Will Chicago be able to capitalize in their home arena? We will have to wait and see until Monday night June 8th.

The Puck Drops Here 6.3.15: #StanleyCupFinals Edition

By @CLulovics

The 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Finals will be contested by the Eastern Conference Champions Tampa Bay Lightning and the Western Conference Champions the Chicago Blackhawks starting June 3rd in Tampa. Let's take a quick look on how both teams made it to the Finals.

EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS ROAD TO THE FINALS

The Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the Playoffs faced off against the Detroit Red Wings in the first time both teams have faced eachother in the playoffs. With Detroit making the playoffs for the 24th consecutive season might of been considered the favorite going into the first round match up with all the experience but the Lightning won the series after trading victories back and forth until Tampa pulled off back to back wins in game 6 and 7 propelling them into the Eastern Conference Semi Finals against the Montreal Canadians who took care of the Ottawa Senators in 6 games.

Against the Canadians the Lightning won the series in 6 games but not without the Canadians putting up a fight. Tampa started off fast winning the first 3 games before Montreal came back and won game 4 stopping the potential sweep winning 6-2 and game 5 2-1. In game 6 back in Tampa the Lightning didn't want to go back to Montreal for a game 7 winning game 6  4-1 propelling them to the Eastern Conference Finals

The Lightning faced off against the Presidents trophy winner in the New York Rangers. Once again for the Lightning the series went 7 games. Home ice advantage did not seem to help either team this series as the home team only won 2 games and the visitors winning 5. The Rangers were seeking a return trip to the Stanley Cup Finals but the Lightning had other plans by defeating the Rangers in game 7 giving the Rangers their first ever game 7 home loss and sending them to the Finals for the second time in franchise history.

WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS ROAD TO THE FINALS
In the first round the Chicago Blackhawks faced off against the Nashville Predators in a series that saw the Blackhawks win in 6 games. With Nashville having home ice advantage the two teams split the first two games in Nashville before the home team the rest of the series winning every game. The series was a hard fought battle with 2 overtime games both won by the Blackhawks a double overtime along with a triple overtime game.

In the Western Conference Semi Finals the Blackhawks swept the Minnesota Wild 4 games to 0. All but one game was decided by 1 goal and no overtime games. In game 4 the Wild at home and hoping to extend the series saw the Blackhawks complete the sweep by a score of 4-3 and propelling them to the Western Conference Finals for the third consecutive year and 5th time in the last 7 years.

Going up against the top seeded team in the Western Conference in the Anaheim Ducks, the Blackhawks were in for a hard fight if they wanted to return to the Stanley Cup Finals and they got just that in the Ducks. In a series that can be described as the "overtime" series in which saw 3 games go into extra period, a triple and double overtime both won by Chicago along with a single overtime game won by the Ducks. Both teams traded victories until the series was tied 3-3 and game 7 headed back to Anaheim where the Ducks had been 7-1 (their only loss coming to Chicago in game 2) the Blackhawks won 5-3 winning back to back games and sending them to the Stanley Cup Finals for the third time in the past 6 years.

A LOOK AT THE FINAL SCHEDULE
GAME #1
Wednesday June 3rd 8pm in Tampa on NBC

GAME #2
Saturday June 6th 7:15pm in Tampa on NBC

GAME #3
Monday June 8th 8pm in Chicago on NBCSN

GAME #4
Wednesday June 10th 8pm in Chicago on NBCSN

GAME #5 IF NECESSARY
Saturday June 13th 8pm in Tampa on NBC

GAME #6 IF NECESSARY
Monday June 15th 8pm in Chicago on NBC

GAME #7 IF NECESSARY
Wednesday June 17the 8pm in Tampa on NBC

This is the first time that both teams will face eachother for the Cup. The Tampa Bay Lightning are  hoping to repeat history as they won the Cup back in 2004 in 6 games against the Calgary Flames. On the other side the Chicago Blackhawks will be making their 13th Finals appearance last winning the Cup in 2013 against the Boston Bruins in 6 games.

As always check the TV Tonight schedule here on TripleThreatCLE.com at for any changes that might occur during the Finals and follow @triple3xthreat On Twitter.