The Conference Finals are here and it's time for our preview and predictions on who we think will be meeting in the Stanley Cup Finals. See our breakdown of each series.
Around The Net: Conference Finals Preview
By George Kurtz, The Fantasy Sports Forum.com
Eastern Conference
Pittsburgh (4) versus Carolina (6)
Offense: We all know the Penguins can bring plenty of pressure. Sidney Crosby and Evgeny Malkin are two all world players who can become impossible to stop at times. If Crosby plays anywhere near as well in this series as he did against Washington in the second round, then this could be over before it even gets started. Carolina will rely on Eric Staal to provide a good deal of their offense. They don't have the depth that the Penguins do, but they may have a bigger heart. Question is, is heart enough?
Edge: Pittsburgh
Defense: Neither team sports a shutdown defense. They may not be turnstiles, but they can't be relied upon to shut down a team either. Biggest difference may be Sergei Gonchar. He's great on the power play and can be an offensive threat. Carolina counters Gonchar with a pair of solid defenders in Joe Corvo and Joni Pitkanen. Neither one is ever going to win a Norris Trophy, but they usually won't embarrass themselves either.
Edge: even
Goalie: Marc-Andre Fleury seems to be the definition of a money goalie. He comes up big when it matters. Stopping Alexander Ovechkin on that breakaway early in Game 7 may have been the turning point in the game as you could hear the air go out of the Caps. Cam Ward is playing great for the Canes and he will have to continue to do so in order for Carolina to advance to the Cup. Ward will have to outplay Fleury in order for the Canes to have a chance, if it's even, the Pens will advance.
Edge: even
Prediction: Pittsburgh in 5
Click here for the Western Conference Preview & Prediction: http://thefantasysportsforum.com/article.php?ID=569
Kim Cloutier
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Comments (4) Add A Comment
wow pitt in 5 i think this one goes to 6 or 7
Army of Adam
Total Comments (6925)
Wow. You're Calling the Goaltender Matchup Even.
No Offense, but Ward so far has outplayed: Statistically speaking arguably the best goaltender of all time in Marty Brodeour. And the Best Goaltender this Season in Tim Thomas.
Talk about Coming up big when it counts, like you said with Fleury, Ward has won not 1 but 2 game 7's on the road this series. The kids never lost a game 7 and he's never lost a playoff series.
But I love it. People have bet against the Canes up to this point, keep it going.
Bourbon:TheAnswer
Titletown, NC
Total Comments (576)
Die Hard Pens fan here- Goaltending far betters Carolina. Doesn't matter no one is beating Detriot. Game 1 looked for 4 Gretzky's and 3 Lemiuex's out there. If it weren't were the Bulin' wall that game ends 9-2
rottyowner73
Total Comments (56)
looked like 4--oops
rottyowner73
Total Comments (56)
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