Stanley Cup Playoffs Report: Round 3
The second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs are over and the teams for round three are set. I almost think the second round was better than the first. The matchups were better and the games were closer. So let’s get into round three!
Florida Panthers vs New York Rangers
A battle of two pretty nasty teams who have the skill and speed to back it up. The Rangers have a slight edge in goal over the Panthers and have had the easiest path to the Eastern Conference finals. Igor Shesterkin will get a much harder test in Florida who have big bodies to crowd his net to make life difficult for him. Up front Panarin is doing exactly what he was doing in the regular season and that’s being a super star with eleven points over ten games so far in the playoffs. Stopping him from scoring will be the Panthers top priority. On Florida’s side they have a captain who is playing possessed and can’t stop being a factor in games. Aleksander Barkov has thirteen points in ten playoff games thus far and is another key player that must be stopped for the Rangers to have success.
Both the Rangers and Panthers are very close in stats which should make for a great series.
Rangers in Six
Edmonton Oilers vs Dallas Stars
The Oilers showed that they belong in the Western Conference final by dominating the Vancouver Canucks in the last two games in their series. They must again bring their game to another level and face a Stars team who has eliminated two juggernaut teams in the Golden Knights and Avalanche. If the Oilers have any chance they must continue the shut down style they have played in the last two games. Dallas has more depth on all four of their lines than the Oilers and they have a better goalie in Oettinger. Edmonton has the best power play and penalty kill in the playoffs so that will help them. Connor McDavid appears to be injured in some way but still has his speed. Leon Draisaitl and Zack Hyman both need to continue to be a force and the Oilers must find a way to get secondary scoring too if they want to keep with Dallas. If the Oilers can stop making costly errors late in games and can contain Dallas they might have a chance, if not, this series might be over quickly.
Dallas in Six
See you all in the Stanley Cup Finals!
