Stanley Cup Finals Prediction

The Stanley Cup Finals are finally here and we have our matchup: the Colorado Avalanche and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Will Tampa be able to win for a third year in a row, or do the Avalanche have what it takes to stop them.

This year, the Avalanche were 56-19-7 with 119 points and finished 1st in the Central division. The Lightning were 51-23-8 with 110 points and finished 3rd in the Atlantic division. This playoffs, in their 15 games played, the Avs were 12-2-1 and in the Lightning’s 17 games played, they were 12-5-0.

For background on these two teams, in the two games played against each other this year, the Avalanche have won both of them: one in October, in which the Avalanche won 4-3 in a shootout at home, and the other in February where the Avalanche won 3-2 away. This playoffs, the Lightning (3rd in Atlantic) beat the Maple Leafs (2nd in Atlantic) in the first round in 7 games, the Panthers (1st in Atlantic) in the second round in 4 games, and the Rangers (2nd in Metro) in 6 games. The Avalanche (1st in Central) beat the Predators (5th in Central) in the first round in 4 games, the Blues (3rd in Central) in the second round in 6 games, and the Oilers (2nd in Pacific) in the third round in 4 games.

During this years playoffs, the Lightning had to beat harder teams, but the Avalanche beat their teams more efficiently. In addition to that, which evens out these teams, the Avalanche have played teams like the Lightning, with good offense and decent defense, yet the Lightning haven’t played a team with the caliber similar to the Avalanche offense. The Avalanche also have a next level defense with Devon Toews and Cale Makar, who can be the key offensively and switch to being the lock for defense in mere seconds.

I am going to predict that the Avalanche take this one and take the cup home. In addition to the statistics that show the Avalanche have a good shot at winning, I think they also have a hunger to win that lacks in the minds of the Lightning players.

Players and things to watch for this series include: 1. A return from injured Brayden Point is expected, 2. Cale Makar, 3. Steven Stamkos, 4. Andrei Vasilevsky, 5. Nathan Mackinnon, and more. Only time will tell who will take home the most prized possession in hockey.