Stanley Cup Final: Colorado Avalanche vs Tampa Bay Lightning

[Canucks_fan18]

I have no idea but I am going safe and saying Tampa in 7. We should learn very quickly after the first couple games.

[Axeman33]

As much as I think Colorado has a dominant team, the Bolts are very, very tough to knock out. Lightning in 7.

[2014olympicgold]

Your annual UrinatingTree Playoff Recap
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_Bv...=UrinatingTree

[pmorrow]

I took Avs in the Playoff Series Challenge, but it looks like Tampa will have Point back for the whole series. That plus Vasilevskiy vs a crease where they're not sure who they want to start and it's gotta be edge to Tampa. But like a 55-45 edge.

[LawMan]

I took Bolts in 7.... If it gets to 7 how are you taking the Avalanche??
After 2 straight they are the Champs until they are not the Champs anymore.

If the Bolts 3-peat its a Dynasty on par with the best runs ever in the NHL.

[2014olympicgold]

I agree, we're on the "this is a dynasty" watch. Tampa if they 3peat instantly are in the best team ever debate. Vas now has legit legs as best goalie ever (needs longevity, but come on, he's getting there). Stamkos is a 1st ballot HOFer. Kucherov could be in that convo too, as well as Hedman. Maroon becomes a 4peater and a trivia answer for life.

If they don't, it's dynasty watch next yr, and Colorado starts the journey to dynasty

[blayze]

Avs have faced mediocre/average goalies during this entire playoff run. They have yet to encounter any goalie who can even sniff the shoes of "Game 7 Vas"

Bolts have been in the trenches, fought for their lives, battled thru injuries and adversity - and they've gotten better with each round. Kuch/Stammer getting better and scariest of all is Vas getting better. On top of all that Point - their third best forward and most clutch player is also back.

[Feenom]

I took Avs in the Playoff Series Challenge, but it looks like Tampa will have Point back for the whole series. That plus Vasilevskiy vs a crease where they're not sure who they want to start and it's gotta be edge to Tampa. But like a 55-45 edge.

Agree. Took the Avs in 5 for the challenge but it's hard to go against the Champs. If it goes to game 7 then TB has the edge for sure. That's why Colorado has to end it under 6. Going to be interesting to see if TB starts off slow.

[Canucks_fan18]

I agree, we're on the "this is a dynasty" watch. Tampa if they 3peat instantly are in the best team ever debate. Vas now has legit legs as best goalie ever (needs longevity, but come on, he's getting there). Stamkos is a 1st ballot HOFer. Kucherov could be in that convo too, as well as Hedman. Maroon becomes a 4peater and a trivia answer for life.

If they don't, it's dynasty watch next yr, and Colorado starts the journey to dynasty

There's a lot of recency bias with Vas. He's amazing and the best goalie of the last 5 years in the NHL but for me to even get him close to the conversion of the GOAT, he needs more hardware. Forget about era adjusted etc, just look at Hasek, Roy and Brodeur and there trophy cases.

Stamkos will be a 1st ballot due to his two rockets, his cups and point/goal totals but I would argue Kucherov is ahead of him. I also think to add to this that Hedman will get into the HOF when all is said and done.

[PinchingD]

What would Shoeless do?

[Axeman33]

What would Shoeless do?

Shoeless Joe Jackson?

[2014olympicgold]

There's a lot of recency bias with Vas. He's amazing and the best goalie of the last 5 years in the NHL but for me to even get him close to the conversion of the GOAT, he needs more hardware. Forget about era adjusted etc, just look at Hasek, Roy and Brodeur and there trophy cases.

Stamkos will be a 1st ballot due to his two rockets, his cups and point/goal totals but I would argue Kucherov is ahead of him. I also think to add to this that Hedman will get into the HOF when all is said and done.

Vas is 27 and could get his 3rd cup. Guys got like 6+ years of relevance left in him to make up the gap.
(365 regular season games + 81 playoff games = 446games) Doesn't include this playoff run.
4 ASG
1 Vezina
2 First All Star Team
2 Stanley Cups
1 Conn Smythe
Career Numbers/Playoff Numbers:
2.50GAA, 0.919S%, 229W / 2.24GAA, 0.924s%, 49W

Patrick Roy (1,029Regular Season Games/247Playoff Games = 1,276games):
1 Calder Trophy
4 Stanley Cups
3 Conn Smythe
5 William Jennings
3 Vezina Trophys
11 ASG
4 First Team All Star Team
2 2nd team All Star Team
2.54GAA, 0.912S%, 551W / 2.30GAA, 0.918s%, 151W

Dudes got a long way to go based on time to play, but guys got some of the harder milestones already done at the age of 27yrs old. But if I didn't say it I meant that Vas has a legit shot at the convo of GOAT if he wins this Stanley cup and continues to perform for 6+ years.

[Canucks_fan18]

Fair enough. It is crazy to think they have 4 IMO Hall of Famers on that team in their prime. I mean you look at Colorado for comparison and they don't have one guaranteed Hall of Famer. Mackinnon has a shot and Makar might have the best shot but both are too young to say that yet.

[ericdaoust]

What would Shoeless do?

buy shoes

[SmittyT]

This Tampa team might be the closest thing to a "dynasty" I could ever see so I took Tampa in 6.

Wouldn't be upset if Avs won though, lots of things to cheer for on both sides!