2023 NHL Conference Championships Playoffs Recap
Eastern Division
Western Division
1/1 correct thanks to Vegas
Round 1 total – 4/8 correct
Round 2 total – 2/4 correct
Conference Championships total – 1/2 correct which is right at the mean
NHL Playoffs total – 7/14
2023 Stanley Cup Finals Series
Florida Panthers (Atlantic Division Wildcard #2) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (Pacific Division #1)
Regular Season records: Florida 42-32-8, 92 points; Vegas 51-22-9, 111 points
Head-to-Head matchups for 2022-2023: Split the two games played during the regular season and the Golden Knights outscored the Panthers 5-4 in total goals.
Florida Panthers Analysis
Florida advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since the 1996 NHL playoffs, when they were swept by Colorado in four games. Cast of characters on that squad included goalie John Vanbiesbrouck, defenseman Ed Jovanovski, forward Scott Mellanby, and head coach Doug MacLean. Current roster had a team building moment, when they clawed back from a three games to one deficit against Boston. Clamped down defensively against Toronto in the second round. Literally suffocated Carolina in the Eastern Conference Finals, due to taking advantage of every momentum swing in a four game sweep. Clicking in all three phases of the game and are well rested and ready for the big stage. Trying to be the first #8 seed to win the Stanley Cup, since the Los Angeles Kings accomplished that feat during the 2012 NHL playoffs.
Cast of characters have been updated to goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, defensemen Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour, forward Matthew Tkachuk, and head coach Paul Maurice. Time for the black plastic rats to liter the ice in Sunrise, FL after every Panthers goal in this series.
Vegas Golden Knights Analysis
Vegas advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since the 2018 NHL playoffs, when they lost to Washington in five games. That roster included goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, defenseman Shea Theodore, forward Jonathan Marchessault, and head coach Gerard Gallant. Current squad coasted against Winnipeg in the first round and advanced in five games. Found another gear and comfort level against Edmonton in the second round during six pressure packed games. Had Dallas on the ropes after three games in the Western Conference Finals, and then took their foot off the gas pedal. Advanced in six games due to a monster blowout (6-0) on the road in Dallas on 5/29/23.
Supporting cast has been updated slightly to goalie Adin Hill, defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, forward Jack Eichel, and head coach Bruce Cassidy. Trying to erase bad playoff memories of 2019 (lost in the First Round in seven games), 2020 (lost in Western Conference Finals in five games), and 2021 (lost in Stanley Cup Semifinals in six games). Diverse scoring from all forwards and an underrated defensemen corps will be problematic for the Panthers.
Prediction: Going to steer into the skid and pick the Florida Panthers to win the Stanley Cup in six games. Currently playing fearless and confident hockey across the entire roster.
Same bat time, same bat channel in two weeks. I’ll review the results of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals Playoff series and review the entire 2023 NHL playoffs prediction results.
