The Stanley Cup Playoffs is just an arm’s reach away. Four teams remain in the hunt for Lord Stanley’s Cup. All of them have their own strengths, which they can use to win it all. But they also have their respective weaknesses, which can derail their chances for lasting glory. Below we take a look at what makes each team tick heading into the conference finals.
For more on the Stanley Cup Playoffs, check out our Eastern and Western Conference Finals previews.
NHL News and Predictions
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Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds Update
Pittsburgh Penguins (+175)
Weakness: Matt Murray has been nearly unstoppable between the pipes going 7-2. But the Pens still have a lackluster blue line. They only really have Kris Letang to help out Murray. The Pens could meet their end if they face a team with plenty of firepower.
St. Louis Blues (+200)
Strength: The St. Louis Blues are one deep team. They have an incredible collection of forwards with Troy Brouwer, Jaden Schwartz, David Backes, Robby Fabbri and Vladimir Tarasenko each have 10 or more points this postseason. The blue line is also quite solid with Kevin Shattenkirk and Alex Pietrangelo doing some good work as the top two defensemen. Shattenkirk has 10 points, while Pietrangelo has seven in the postseason.
Weakness: Brian Elliott has looked beatable between the pipes for the Blues. He doesn’t have the best of records with six losses, but he’s been good when it counted the most. He was instrumental in getting St. Louis the win against the No. 1-seeded Stars, winning the last two games on the road. The Blues outscored Dallas 10-2 in those games as Elliott stopped 58 of 60 shots.
Tampa Bay Lightning (+450)
Strength: The Tampa Bay Lightning have the best and most experienced goaltender among the four remaining teams in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He is Ben Bishop, who has gone a stellar 8-2 with a 1.89 GAA in the postseason.
Bishop was absolutely spectacular when closing out the two series. He shutout Detroit 1-0 in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals to win the series in five games. He then did the same in a 4-0 victory over the New York Islanders to make the conference final.
Weakness: It’s very difficult to see any holes in the Lightning’s roster. If there’s one thing to pinpoint, it’s the absence of two of their best players Steven Stamkos and Anton Stralman. The Lightning haven’t needed them recently though. Nikita Kucherov has been a beast with nine goals, a playoff-high, with Stamkos out injured. Meanwhile, Bishop has been solid enough to not need much help from his blue line.
San Jose Sharks (+500)
Strength: The Sharks know one thing: score. The Sharks have the league’s most lethal offense in the postseason. They have scored 13 power play goals as they dispatched a pair of very good goalies Jonathan Quick and Pekka Rinne. Joe Pavelski leads this team with nine goals in the playoffs, while Logan Couture has lent his services with seven.
Weakness: Goaltending is an issue for the Sharks, especially considering they have an inexperienced goalie Martin Jones. The Sharks have a 2.55 goals-against per game this postseason, the most among the four remaining teams in the playoffs.
Create a betting account now and support your dog as the Stanley Cup Playoffs inches closer to its dramatic end.
