Well … let’s preview the Stanley Cup Finals, I guess. Carolina/Vegas, Series starts June 2

Pretty tight grouping in those picks. Seems about right.

Erik Johnson has Vegas in 5?

Neither team is going to be an easy out. It’s always going to be scoring that decides (duh!), but I think the importance of no stupid penalties (stop giving refs a way to muck up a game), winning face offs, making the 2nd save, focus on the game in front of you and patience will be the key elements. I like the machine like focus, our depth and our team— top to bottom.

andyt said:

Erik Johnson has Vegas in 5?

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Probably figures if they beat “his” Avs so easily, then they’re gonna roll Carolina. More than a few Canadian-centric writers and presenters are thinking similar thoughts about Carolina.

In truth, I’m not sure we’ve ever learned less about a pair of Finalists in the Conference Finals than this year’s duo. After they couldn’t figure out how to win Game 1, Colorado was just kind of done. And they definitely were done after they blew that lead in Game 3. On the other side, Montreal was never really in the series with Carolina other than a great rust off of 2026.

Fayettenamcanesfan said:

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Another piece in The Athletic today by Pierre LeBrun involved his surveys of 49 coaches and team executives. Overall, the picks went 27-22 in favor of Vegas, but there was a big divide between the groups. The coaches went 16-13 for the Canes; the execs went 14-6 for the Knights.

Full details here: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/73...hared_gift_article_copylink&smid=url-share-ta

Marty Biron picked Vegas in 6.

NoMich said:

Anyone gonna catch these road games at the arena?

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Please tell me those same dynamic playoff prices on a Storm Brew for $16 is not in effect for a Jumbotron game….say it isn’t so…

Just saw 2 front row tickets in 117 for 8 grand.

There was a time Carolina couldn’t command those prices and I couldn’t give away tickets. Good on this franchise, but damn the gouging!

The initial pricing is a Ticketmaster issue, FWIW. Now it's just people with tickets to sell with a starting price point set by that ridiculous dynamic pricing model. They’re pot-committed

SlapShots said:

Neither team is going to be an easy out. It’s always going to be scoring that decides (duh!), but I think the importance of no stupid penalties (stop giving refs a way to muck up a game), winning face offs, making the 2nd save, focus on the game in front of you and patience will be the key elements. I like the machine like focus, our depth and our team— top to bottom.

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I don’t know. Hard to get a cross conference feel. Thought Ottawa and Montreal would be tough outs (or Buffalo and TB) but for those you have some meaningful results.

The knights have some high level stars and a veteran roster. Seems like they should be good. I could see this anywhere from the Canes in 4 to Knights in 5. I know the Canes are good. I feel like we all know them and are all suffering from lack of confidence and swagger due to past seasons but looking objectively- this Canes team is very very good and they’re not at any particular disadvantage against any system or style of play. How sweet would Canes in 4 be. They’ll say we didn’t play anyone but 16-1 would be quite nice.

Let’s win the first shift tomorrow and go from there!