So bad. Like almost every other prognosticator, I foresaw the Tampa Bay Lightning advancing to the Stanley Cup final. Worse: Against the San Jose Sharks.
Offered a do-over, I’m going to pick the New York Islanders against the Vegas Golden Knights. Tampa Bay was swept by the Columbus Blue Jackets while the Islanders were sweeping the Pittsburgh Penguins. Both results were, to understate the obvious, surprising.
The Islanders, led by new head coach Barry Trotz and sniper Jordan Eberle, who called the Green Zone on Wednesday, have been the most impressive team so far through the playoffs. And Vegas, with newcomer Mark Stone scoring almost at will, has a 3-1 series lead against San Jose.
So Vegas and New York have been the playoff’s best teams. They’re shoo-ins for the final. Just like the Lightning, the best team during the regular season, was a shoo-in to win the Cup.