This article covers the predicted NHL Stanley Cup Finals playoff series to be played during 6/15-6/28/22. One series is dropping the puck on 6/15/22 and that means the NHL Stanley Cup Finals are officially starting. Time to continue a bi-weekly cadence of highlighting the best series to watch. Also determining the potential upsets lurking below the radar. Hard part about doing this exercise in 2022, is trying to determine if the Tampa Bay Lightning are on their way to a three-peat championship or if there are any teams that want the Stanley Cup more.
2022 NHL Conference Finals Playoffs Recap
Eastern Division
1/1 correct thanks to Tampa Bay
Western Division
1/1 correct thanks to Colorado
Round 1 total – 7/8 correct
Round 2 total – 2/4 correct
Conference Finals total – 2/2 correct which is three standard deviations above the median
NHL Playoffs total – 11/14
Stanley Cup Finals Playoff Series
Colorado Avalanche (Central Division #1) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (Atlantic Division #3)
Regular Season records: Colorado 56-19-7, 119 points; Tampa Bay 51-23-8, 110 points
Head-to-Head matchups for 2021-2022: Colorado won both games against Tampa Bay and outscored the Lightning 7-5 in total goals
Colorado Avalanche Analysis
Colorado advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals by beating the Edmonton Oilers in four games. Haven’t been this far in the playoffs, since winning the Stanley Cup Finals against New Jersey in 2001. Found another gear in the Western Conference Finals by playing sound offense and defense. The entire roster has bought into a shift by shift mentality from the coaching staff and are clicking on all cylinders right now. Big three have all shown up on offense with Nathan MacKinnon (11 goals, 7 assists), Gabriel Landeskog (8 goals, 9 assists), and Mikko Rantanen (5 goals, 12 assists), contributing at key times. Defenseman pairings is led by Cale Makar (5 goals, 17 assists) and Devon Toews (5 goals, 8 assists). Goaltending has been done by committee due to injuries, with starter Darcy Kuemper having 6 wins and a 2.65 GA/G. Backup Pavel Francouz has 6 wins and a 2.86 GA/G. Which netminder gets the start in Game 1 is currently a mystery.
Avalanche have been dealing with injuries during the entire 2022 post season. Defenseman Samuel Girard was lost to a sternum injury in Round 2. Jack Johnson has filled in for Girard and has been a steadying influence at the blueline. Trade deadline acquisition Arrturi Lehkonen has been a Swiss Army knife filling in for Nazem Kadri, and is excelling in all big game situations. Andrew Cogliano is currently listed as day-to-day due to an injured finger. Which role player will step up to fill his penalty killing prowess and physical style of play? J.T. Compher, Darren Helm and Alex Newhook need to step up on the biggest stage if Colorado is going to be competitive in this series. Andre Burakovsky had a big series in the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals against Tampa Bay and is due to start scoring.
Tampa Bay Lightning Analysis
Tampa Bay moved onto the Stanley Cup Finals by beating the New York Rangers in six games. Lightning looked tired and uninspired after losing the first two games of the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals. Flipped the team switch in Game 3 and are on a roll in all phases of the game. Offense is led by Nikita Kucherov (7 assists, 16 goals), Ondrej Palat (8 goals, 8 assists) and Steven Stamkos (9 goals, 6 assists). Stamkos loves the big stage, which was proven yet again in Game 6 against the New York Rangers. Victor Hedman (2 goals, 12 assists) continues to be the master defenseman in the playoffs for the third straight season. All-world goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy has 12 wins in the 2022 NHL playoffs and sports a 2.27 GA/G. Not to mention head coach John Cooper and his entire coaching staff embrace the pressure of the playoffs, and have won eleven straight series dating back to 2020. Can the Avalanche match up with the deep Lightning and make this a memorable series? You betcha hockey fans!!!
Prediction: This series will have more twist and turns than The Italian Job. Colorado wins the series in seven games due to having a week off and home ice advantage at a mile above sea level elevation.
Same bat time, same bat channel in two weeks. I’ll review the results of the Stanley Cups Finals playoff series and summarize the postseason picks on 6/30/22.
Never walk away from the table when you’re on a heater in Vegas! Hope you enjoyed the predictions for the Stanley Cup Finals of the NHL playoffs.
Want to find a highly rated beer near you? Check out this article that tells you how to locate great beer near you.
