Return to the 2018 Stanley Cup for a Glimpse (maybe kinda inappropriate for work)

How was I not aware of this? To the individual who informed me; Thank you!

Alex Ovechkin's (and André Burakovsky) post-game victory lap after the  Washington Capitals winning the 2018 Stanley Cup.

Caps Stanley Cup Winner over Vegas;It Was Goalie vs Goalie

My prediction for last night's Game 5 for The Stanley Cup was:

LV 5;  Caps 4 in OT.

Actual Final Score:

Caps 4;  LV 3

Final series game total; Washington 4; Vegas 1.

And...I predicted a six-game series, but the Caps closed it down in five. Just another of my many inaccurate predictions. Eh ... I got a few right.

Game 5 definitely came down to Goalie vs Goalie; the Caps Braden Holtby and Vegas' Marc-Andre Fleury.

Neither team scored in the first period. After that, the pucks and goals started flying.

In the second period, with 13 minutes 36 seconds of play time remaining, Caps Jakub Vrana put Washington on the score board giving the Caps 1 to a yet-to-score Vegas.

Vegas answered Vrana's goal slightly over three minutes later when Nate Schmidt tied the game 1 - 1. The tie was short-lived. About 45 seconds later, Alex Ovechkin put the Caps up by another goal. The one goal advantage for the Caps didn't last long. Not quite three minutes later, David Perron scored and put the game at 2 - 2. And with 30 seconds remaining in period 2, Vegas scored again with Reilly Smith, ending P2 with Vegas at 3, Washington at 2. Smith's goal would be the last goal for Vegas.

Not quite ten minutes into P3, Devante Smith-Pelly scored as he fell to the ice and with a sweep of the stick, slid the puck past Fleury. Three and a half minutes later, Caps' Lars Eller scored putting the game at Caps 4; Vegas 3 - the final score of the game.

It was an incredible game.

 2018 Stanley Cup Winner: The Washington Capitals

Ovechkin was awarded MVP, and deservedly so.

When P3 ended with the Caps win, Ovechkin was ready for some beers.

The game had its share of skirmishes, but not as physical as I'd expected. 

The BBC notes:

Ovechkin became the first Russia-born captain to lift the Stanley Cup[.]

The game clock died, or for whatever reason was unavailable, in the final minute of the game. That added a few moments of confusion and suspense, but the clock re-booted or returned.

After 44 years of being an NHL team, the Caps won their first Stanley Cup. In their first season, Vegas earned their way into the Cup finals. You couldn't have planned for a Stanley Cup playoff with two such disparate teams.

Holtby and Fleury were so evenly matched - the game could have gone either way. But Holtby stopped one puck more than did Fleury.

This was a hell of a playoff series and Cup games.

NHL Training Camp for the 2018-2019 season begin mid-September with pre-season games starting a few weeks later.  

Washington Caps Win 2018 Stanley Cup in Game 5;Final Score - Caps 4; Vegas 3

Washington Capitals 2018

They deserve it.

"Epic comeback..."- CBS Sports: 

The Capitals bring the Cup home to Washington D.C. after an epic comeback win in Game 5.

 USA MacPaper:  "Stanley Cup mania in DC."

SB Nation:  "How the Capitals beat history."

NHL: Full Coverage

Game Stats

NHL Game 5, June 7: Caps at Vegas;Does Washington Win The Cup Tonight?

Vegas is gonna be rockin'.

The crowd outside T-Mobile Area...it'll be massive.

Also in NHL News, the NHL is reviewing brutal hits and concussions.

There's a video at the link with a series of examples of some really, harsh hits that occurred, and yeah, some are brutal.

Biiiiiiiiiig Game 5  tonight. The Caps lead the series with three games to LV's one win, game 1.

The Cup will be in the House. If the Caps win, they'll roll it out (it really is a good looking trophy, isn't it?) and the Caps become the 2018 Stanley Cup winner, their first time in a 44 year existence.

Everything depends on one thing: is your goalie "in the zone"?

The performance of Caps' goalie, Braden Holtby, for the past two games, has been in the zone and deep, deep in the zone matrix in games 2, 3 and 4; the Caps winning each game

LV's Marc-Andre Fleury, a talented, tenured, fantastic, remarkable goalie who, before LV, was the goalie for the Penguins, has not been in the zone the past two games. 

This is the first time in the entire playoff series, from Round One to the present, where LV has lost two consecutive games.

Odds Sharks predicts: Caps 4.2; LV 1.2

I'm expecting the Caps will win tonight, but my pick is different.

I don't see LV winning three games in a row, not that it hasn't happened in past years with other teams. But I think LV has one more game in them, and that's tonight.

My pick:

LV 5;  Caps 4 in OT.

Note to self:  my prediction this series goes six games. LV wins tonight. The Caps win game six and The Stanley Cup...AT HOME, on Sunday June 10. Final best-of-seven series: Caps 4; LV 2.

8PM EST on regular NBC.

( Disclaimer )

Trivia: The LV Knights aren't LV's first professional hockey team. Before them, were The Gamblers.

Caps Win Game 4 of Stanley Cup 6 to 2;Is It Over for the Vegas Knights?

Yesterday I wrote:

"Vegas isn't going to give the Caps another chance by playing substandard." 

And my final score prediction:

LV 4; Caps 3 in OT

Is there a recall on my NHL crystal ball that I didn't hear about?

One: LV played substandard.

Two: the Actual Final Score:

Caps 6; LV 2

Yeah, you can take my predictions to the bank...and shortly after to the poorhouse.

Game total in the series: Caps 3;  LV 1.

Last night is two games in a row where LV underperformed. And that's being generous and kind. To me, I didn't see their speed, their finesse or their desire. They looked tired. They came alive and got their game back half-way through P3 and that was too late.

The Caps owned period one, nailing 3 goals. Vegas sat at zero. More stats here.

John Carlson added a 4th goal for the Caps in P2 and LV remained at zero.

LV was scoreless until 5:43 in PERIOD 3 when LV's James Neal slipped the puck past Caps goalie Braden Holtby.

A short bit later, Vegas' Reilly Smith put another point on the score board and it was LV 2; Caps 4. Could LV, now with 2, hope for two more, tie and go into an OT? No.

Less than 2 minutes after Smith's goal, the Caps' Mike Kempny gave Washington their 5th goal and few minutes later, his teammate Brett Connolly nailed a 6th goal for Washington. It was over for Vegas.

A few fights broke out  here and there, especially near the end of the game. LV's Ryan Reaves and Caps' Devante Smith-Pelly had Reaves penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, and Caps' T.J. Oshie got a 10 minute misconduct near the end of the game so his ice-time was done for the night. A whole mix of players from both teams  got a little heated. I'm surprised Reaves and Smith-Pelly haven't yet come to a full-blown brawl. It's been brewing for the entire series.

I have no vested interest in either team winning The Cup. I wanted to see the Penguins three-peat,  but that didn't happen - the Caps won that series. It'd be nice having the Caps win, after a 44-year playing history, and no Stanley Cup to claim, no one can say they don't deserve it.

Should LV manage to dig out of their deficit, - and win - they will be the first NHL team in their first year of existence to win The Cup. Kind of seems unfair compared to the years the Caps have tried and failed. But records exist to be made and broken, don't they?

To reach The Cup series, Vegas beat  L.A., the Sharks and the Jets.

For the Caps series, they eliminated the Blue Jackets, the Pens and TBay.

The Caps have more game losses than LV in this whole playoff series.

Does having to fight harder to win make you the better team or, are you the better team because you eliminated your opponents with less losses than the team you're facing for the Stanley Cup? Can you make the argument that the Caps faced better teams and a tougher set of series than the teams LV beat?

I don't know. While game win/loss ratio trends for a Caps win, is The Cup still up for grabs? The Caps have to win only one more game and the Cup is theirs. Vegas must win all three remaining games.

And a reminder to self: I predicted a six game series. 

Game 5 is Thursday, June 7 and on Vegas home ice. Will the Caps make it the final game?

Stanley Cup Game 4 - Vegas vs Washington; Tonight, June 4

Game 4  in a best-of-seven series starts tonight at 8PM EST, televised on broadcast (i.e. "over-the-air") NBC.

The series is Caps with 2 games, LV one game. Tonight's game is in Washington. Who will win?  Uh...Baltimore?

Of course, the Caps would like nothing better than to be at 3 - 1 going into game 5, in LV on Thursday June 7; also on broadcast NBC network.

I'm guessing tonight's first period is going to be brutal, both teams battling for that first goal. Considering the friction between some of the players, look for some fights tonight.

It's been a physical series, something at which the Caps excel. It's been working for them in the last two games and in their pre-Cup games and they'll continue playing in the same style.

LV was off a notch, in game 3, from how they have been playing the entire playoff series, which is a big part of the Caps winning game 3 on Saturday. Vegas isn't going to play subpar again.

Odds Sharks predicts Caps 3.6; LV 1.7

My pick:

LV 4; Caps 3 in OT

( Disclaimer )

Caps Take Game 3; Vegas Down One Game

My incredibly inaccurate prediction for last night's game:

LV 5;  Caps 3

Actual Final Score:

LV 1;  Caps 3

Last night's win gives the Caps a 2 to 1 lead in the road to the Stanley Cup against LV.

Period one was one of the hardest fought periods I've ever seen in the NHL, both teams desperately wanting that first goal. But, period one ended 0 - 0.

The Caps Alex Ovechkin put Washington on the score board 1 to 0 one minute and ten seconds into period two.  Ove was at the top of his game last night.

Injured in game 2, Evgeny Kuznetsov did indeed hit the ice last night and brought the Caps their second goal in period 2.

Tomas Nosek scored the only goal for LV late in the third period.

(I was so tired I hit the bed shortly after the start of the third period.)

More game coverage Here.

Game 4, tomorrow, June 4.

And...Dear NBC(SN), I don't know when your contract with Mike Milbury expires, but for all that is good and holy, please get rid of him.

Mike Douchebag Milbury

 

Critical Game 3 Stanley Cup: Caps vs Vegas; June 2

Here comes Game 3 between the Washington Caps and the LVG Knights. The series is tied 1 - 1. Games 3 and 4 in Washington.

Some reports say it is a game-time decision whether or not Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov will play tonight.

Other reports suggest he is expected to play.

Kuznetsov took a major body hit from LV's Brayden McNabb in game 2, with a little over 5 minutes remaining in the first period. Kuznetsov did not return for the rest of that game.

The game begins at 8PM EST on NBCSN, CBC, SN, TVAS. Regarding those streamed game threads, no, you don't need to download anything if a pop-up window tells you you have to in order to view. Find a stream that works for you and bookmark it for future games. (Always be alert for background pop-up windows).

Tonight's predictions:

Odds Sharks predicts:  Caps 3.0 - LV 2.4

My pick:

LV 5;  Caps 3

( Disclaimer )

Stanley Cup Game 2: Caps Even the Series 1 - 1 with Vegas;Braden Holtby's Amazing Stop of Alex Tuch's Shot

Game 2 last night was incredible. 

The Caps won game 2 last night, in LV, tying the series 1 - 1.

My pick for game 2:

Caps 4;  LV 2

Actual Final Score:

Caps 3;  LV 2

Game Stats.

More on game 2.

The return of Caps' Evgeny Kuznetsov for game 3 is being tightly guarded by the Caps. ESPN:

Evgeny Kuznetsov is day-to-day with an injury, according to coach Barry Trotz -- who wouldn't elaborate on the nature of the forward's injury.
[.]
[Las Vegas] defenseman Brayden McNabb hit him hard along the boards with a check. Kuznetsov fell to the ice in pain, clutching his left hand.

Holtby Save; Getty Images

And then...there was that incredible save by Caps' goalie Braden Holtby.

More on Holby's save.

Here's that amazing save, LV's Alex Tuch's shot, stopped by Holtby.

Fair Use Section 107 U.S. Copyright Code

LV moves to Washington for Games 3 and 4, game 3 Saturday at 8PM EST.

NHL Game 7 - Caps Shut Out TBay 4 to 0; Washington vs Vegas for The Stanley Cup

On Wednesday night May 23, The Caps shut out TBay, as they did in game 6, taking the series 4 - 3.  

I'd predicted TBay winning 3 to 2 over the Caps

Actual Final Score:  TBay 0; Caps 4

First, how would you like feel a puck slam into the back of your neck? Because that's what happened to the Caps' Devante Smith-Pelly, (# 25), not quite seven minutes into the start of the game. Check out the video...FOUCH!

Fair Use Section 107 U.S. Copyright Code

He left the ice, headed for the locker room, returned later in the game, played a short while and then sat the rest of the game out. He made it onto the ice for the post-game player handshake line-up. And the shot by TBay's McDonagh (#27) wasn't intentional or meant to crack Smith-Pelly in the neck. McDonagh's shot was intended as a shot on goal. I don't think Smith-Pelly wanted this to happen either, hoping rather to deflect the shot using his back or shoulder, which at least have some padding. I hope there's no permanent injury.

The game was intense,  despite the score. It didn't begin well for TBay. Caps' Alex Ovechkin nailed one into TBay's net at nearly the outset of the game; putting the Caps up 1 to 0 after the opening minute and two seconds.

The Caps went up 2 to 0 at the 11:01 mark of period two when Andre Burakovsky scored his first goal in the playoffs. About 8 minutes later, Burakovsky got his second goal at the 3:29 mark, with the Caps ahead 3 to 0 at the end of P2.

Period 3 began with TBay down 0 to 3. My belief is that any NHL team can come back from a 0 - 3 deficit in the third period, but it must be done quickly. Once tied, try like heck for that 4th goal, but if not, go into overtime tied and fight for the win.

TBay could not catch a break that would go their way. But more than catching a break, and despite having had many "almosts" to score, whatever it takes to turn "almosts" into reality...TBay just didn't have it in them.

TBay pulled goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy with slightly less than 4 minutes remaining and Caps' Nicklas Backstrom nailed one into the empty net putting the Caps at 4; TBay 0. Good night, Tampa Bay.

The game also featured a major fisticuff between Caps' Tom Wilson and TBay's Braydon Coburn. Here's a link to videos of their brawl.

Game one in a best of seven series for The Stanley Cup  begins tomorrow night with Washington vs LV with games one and two in LV.

NHL Game 6 Caps Shut Out TBay 3 - 0;NHL Wednesday May 23: FINAL Game 7 Caps vs TBay;NFL Anthem Protest Policy: Locker Room Only

My pick for Monday night's game 6:

TBay 3;  Caps 4

Actual Final Score:

TBay 0;  Caps 3

This season's playoffs have been the best and most memorable games I've watched in years. For those of you who've left the NFL, you could not find a better time to give the NHL a chance.

>> EDIT: New NFL Anthem Protest policy;  confined to locker room; Standing required; Teams face penalties.  <<

The TBay - Caps series is 3 - 3 and tonight is the big, final game 7.

Monday night's game 6  was scoreless until 4:48 remaining in the second period when T.J. Oshie nailed the first goal putting the Caps up by one. This was Oshie's first goal in this series.

Period 3 saw TBay playing hard, desperately wanting to get on the scoreboard, but the Caps played almost flawlessly, denying the Lightning any opportunity of getting the puck past Caps' goalie Braden Holtby  in what is his first shut-out game since April, 2017.

Standing at 6' 3", TBay's goalie, Andrei Vasilevskiy is a big guy and he has the ability to stretch like Gumby. He made some incredible saves but just couldn't stop the Caps determination in winning this game.

At the 9:58 mark in P3, Caps' Devante Smith-Pelly nailed the second goal. Still enough time for TBay to get two goals and even the score and strive for an OT. But that didn't happen. Instead, enter Oshie scoring again, with less than one and a half minutes remaining in the game, putting the Caps up 3 to 0.

With that final 90 seconds remaining, shot stats taken tallied TBay 21 and Caps 33. This is a big discrepancy - not the only one in determining who wins and who doesn't, one doesn't necessarily dictate the other - but it's a significant difference.

If TBay wants to win tonight, they have to fire out more shots. They need to return to what they can certainly do, but sometimes lose focus of, controlling puck possession, of which they didn't do nearly enough in Monday's game. When they did, they did it well - they just couldn't, or manage to, sustain possession for sufficient amounts of time. If TBay can bring this talent back to the surface tonight, they will win.

If you watched Monday's game, then you witnessed Caps' Alex Ovechkin wrist shots that must clock in at near 100 mph. The guy is amazing. A wrist shot, mind you - SNAP - and the puck momentarily becomes invisible to the naked eye. He makes the puck soar. Another reason to watch tonight's game.

Tonight, Game 7, at 8PM EST and playing on TBay home ice.

The winner tonight plays Vegas for The Stanley Cup.

Odds Sharks predicts a final score of Caps 3.7;  TBay 1.7

My pick:

If there's going to be an OT game, I'd think tonight will be the night, but I'm not going to make that part of my prediction.

TBay 3;  Caps 2

( Disclaimer )

Vegas Beats Jets;NHL Monday, May 21

My pick in last night's game:

Jets 3;  LV 1

Actual Final Score:

Jets 1;  LV 2

Vegas won game 5 putting the Jets on the tarmac until next season. The Knights now poised to play for the Stanley Cup against the winner of the Tampa Bay - Washington Capitals series.

Game 6 is tonight with TBay playing at Washington, TBay leading this series by 3 - 2.

Odds Sharks predicts TBay over the Caps, 2.7 to 2.6.

I wrote yesterday that I think this series will go the full seven games, so...even though I think TBay is likely to win tonight, I have to go with predicting a Caps win, right? Otherwise, my words are hypocrisy, and I can't have that. 😲

Game 6  starts at 8PM EST.

My pick:

Caps 4;  TBay 3

( Disclaimer )

Caps Zapped By Lightning;NHL Sunday, May 20

My prediction on last night's TBay - Caps game:

TBay 3;  Caps 2 in OT

Actual Final Score:

TBay 3;  Caps 2

Well, I had the score right, but...not the OT.

TBay's win last night gives them the edge in the series, 3 - 2.

Game 6 is Monday, TBay playing in Washington. Did I predict this series will go the full seven games? I forget - I'll say it will.

Today, a crucial Game 5  with LV playing in Winnipeg, this series is LV 3;  Jets 1.

Can LV close it down today and move into the Stanley Cup bracket, awaiting the series winner of either the Caps or TBay?

Odds Sharks predicts today's game: LV 4.0;  Jets 1.4

I don't see the Jets going out this easily, this early.

My pick:

Jets 3;  LV 1

Game time 3PM EST on regular/broadcast NBC.

( Disclaimer )

NHL Saturday, May 19;Critical Game 5 Lightning vs Caps

Recap:

Been away for a couple of games; my last prediction was Wednesday's LV - Winnipeg game.

I had picked:

Jets 2; LV 1 in OT

Actual Final Score:

Jets 2; LV 4

Wednesday's win brought their series from one game apiece to LV 2; Jets 1.

Game 4 of LV - Jets was last night and LV won 3 to 2, bringing the series to LV 3; Jets 1. The key Game 5 is tomorrow with LV playing at Winnipeg.

I also missed out on Thursday's TBay - Caps game # 4, won by TBay 4 to 2. Their series now even, 2 - 2, with a critical Game 5 tonight.

Image Via Giphy

Tonight: Game 5  of TBay - Caps playing in TBay, game time 7:15PM EST and is broadcast on "free" (over the air) NBC.

Odds Sharks predicts a rather confusing final score of TBay 2.8;  Caps 2.8

My prediction:

TBay 3;  Caps 2 in OT

There's gotta be an OT game in here somewhere. I'm going to guess that night is tonight. 

( Disclaimer )

Lightning Zaps Capitals; NHL Wednesday, May 16

Drum roll, please...and add the trumpets as well...

My prediction for last night's game:

TBay 4; Caps 2

Actual Final Score:

TBay 4; Caps 2

This is the first time I've gotten one right in a while. Eh...even a blind squirrel finds an acorn now and then.

TBay won game three last night, bringing the series to TBay 1; Caps 2.

I'm short on time, so we're going full blast ahead to tonight's game 3 with Winnipeg playing at LV. The series is 1 - 1.

This is a very critical game 3 for both teams, especially psychologically. One game up for the Jets in LV will pump them up. LV, of course, wants to win this game, their first game of this series on home ice.

Odds Shark predicts LV 3.2;  Jets 2.4

My pick:

Jets 2; LV 1 in OT

The puck hits the ice at 9PM EST.

Vegas Rolls Win over Jets; NHL Tuesday, May 15

My prediction on last night's LV / Winnipeg game 2:

 Jets 4;  LV 3 in OT

Actual Final Score:

Jets 1;  LV 3

It was as if the two teams changed jerseys from game 1 and game 2. LV played well (not great, but well), and the Jets played nothing like they did on Saturday.

Their series is now 1 game apiece. Games 3 and 4 are in LV and game 3 is tomorrow, Wednesday the 16th.

Tonight, game 3  (and 4) with TBay at Washington; Washington leading the series 2-0.

TBay knows they need to win tonight. Well, okay, they don't NEED TO WIN, they can go down 0-3 and win the next 4 games in a row but...

I've always believed that playing at home meant something, but maybe that's old-fashioned? Most of the teams in the playoffs have had at least one atrocious home game, if not two.

All the Puck Fun begins at 8PM EST.

Odds Sharks predicts  Caps 2.8;  TBay 2.6

Heck, I don't know - TBay dropped the first two games and they were at home. Tonight, in Washington, they are going to have to play entirely different in order to grab a win on Caps' ice. Can they? Yes. No. Maybe. Please insert cash now or select another method to pay. Change is dispensed below. Please take your receipt.

My pick:

TBay 4; Caps 2

( Disclaimer )

NHL Monday, May 14

My pick for Saturday's game between Vegas & Winnipeg:

LV 5; Jets 3

Actual Final Score:

LV 2;  WPeg 4

The series is Jets 1; LV 0.

I did not watch last night's game of Washington vs Tampa Bay; but the Caps beat TBay 6 to 2; the Caps leading the series 2 games to zero. Game 3 is tomorrow, May 15, and is in Washington as is game 4.

Both the Jets and the Caps play has been incredible in these Conference Finals. I wouldn't write off either LV or TBay just yet, both teams have been able to regroup and return to their better play. 

Tonight, Game 2 Jets vs LV:

Odds Sharks predicts  Jets 3;  LV 2.9

Tonight's game is in Winnipeg, so I'm going to go with the Jets' home ice advantage. I think the Jets will start strong again (as they did in Saturday's game), and I think LV will adjust, and we'll see a much tighter game than we did on Saturday.

My pick:

Jets 4;  LV 3 in OT

( Disclaimer )

Caps Strike Lightning; Game 1: Vegas at Winnipeg Tonight

My prediction for last night's Game 1 between the Caps and TBay:

TBay 4; Caps 3 in OT

Actual Final Score:

Caps 4;  TBay 2

Yeesh - TBay didn't score until the third period. Caps led 2 - 0 at the end of the first period, scored two more times in the second period, leaving TBay down 0 - 4 at the start of period three. Finally TBays' Steve Stamkos an Ondrej Palat nailed two goals but the remaining game time was against them.

Game two is Sunday in TBay.

Tonight: 7PM EST on "free" broadcast NBC.

Game 1 with Vegas playing in Winnipeg. SB Nation:

The Winnipeg Jets are 0-2 over their last two home games since going 13-0 in their previous 13 games at home. The Jets hope to get back into the win column at home this Saturday night when they host the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference final.

Winnipeg is a -140 NHL betting favorite in Saturday’s Game 1 at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. Vegas is going off at +120 to steal home ice with a win on the road.

Odds Shark predicting Vegas 3.8; Jets 2.4

My pick:

LV 5; Jets 3

( Disclaimer )

Jets Soar Over Preds in Game 7; Game 1: Caps at TBay Tonight

My pick for Game 7:

Jets 4;  Preds 2

Actual Final Score:

Jets 5;  Preds 1

Last night's game did come down to a battle of goalies. The Jets scored twice within the first twelve minutes on Preds goalie Pekke Rinne and Nashville Coach Peter Laviolette pulled Rinne, replacing him with Juuse Saros who finished out the game.

Tyler Myers started the Jets off on their streak being the first to score in period one. Then, the Jets' Paul Stastny and Mark Scheifele sent the puck into the Preds net, both with two goals:  Stastny in periods one and three and Scheifele in both the second and third period.  The only Preds goal came from P.K. Suban in the first period.

The Jets played damn fine, looking nothing like the team that the Preds shut out in Tuesday's game.

Considering the Preds performance over the past four seasons, we'll see them in the playoffs again. If they continue playing as they have and make a few adjustments, tweaks and/or player trades, they're probably not far off from winning The Cup in a future season.

Conference Games:

And then there were four. 

The conference finals have the Jets facing off against Vegas and TBay playing the Caps. The winners of these two series vie for The Cup.

The Caps are on TBay ice for games 1 and 2; game 1 tonight at 8PM EST.

The LV - Winnipeg series starts Saturday, 7PM EST with games 1 and 2 in Winnipeg.

Tonight:

Odds Shark predicts TBay over the Caps tonight by 3.2 to 2.2.

My pick:

TBay 4; Caps 3 in OT

NHL Thusday, May 10: Game 7 Winnipeg Jets vs Nashville Predators

The final game of the Jets/Preds series - the big Game 7 where the puck hits the ice at 8PM EST.

Predicting a winner? Flip a coin - see if it lands on its side. This game is going to be tough and, perhaps, a bit ugly in the degree of how physical both teams attack each other; both teams doing whatever it takes to win.

Winning will, obviously, be dependent on who is the better goalie tonight, the Jets' Connor Hellebuyck or the Preds' Pekke Rinne. Both have played a solid, phenomenal season and playoff series.

Odds Shark predicts Nashville 3.6; Winnipeg 2.4.

My pick:

Jets 4;  Preds 2