Stanley Cup Playoffs: Round 3
And for the first time in 3 years, the TLDR Boys all are without a team in the fight it the NHL Playoffs. James, your Anaheim Ducks fought valiantly. Their future is oh so bright and the window has just opened and will be open for a very long time. We have quite the dynamic in the Conference Finals this year. No Florida team will be winning the cup, the last 2 teams in the West to win the Cup are in the WCF and Canada is still getting its representation from the Habs, the last Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup. These teams have only won half of the necessary games to hoist the Cup and it only gets harder from here.
2026 Conference Final Round
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Carolina Hurricanes (1st Metropolitan Division) vs. Montreal Canadiens (3rd Atlantic Division)
For the first time ever, or at least until the inception of 7-game first round in 1987, the Carolina Hurricanes have won their first 8 games, sweeping both rounds. They handled the likes of 2 defensively sound teams that just couldn’t handle the relentless pace and pressure of this Hurricanes team. They are playing like their team name suggests. Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven, and Jackson Blake are leading the charge as the defacto 1st line despite sitting 2nd in line. They are doing all of this without the likes of Aho, Jarvis, and Svech playing their best. Again, this is terrifying to think about but one turn of the page by these guys and the Hurricanes are above elite. These boys are also losing the High Danger Chance battle, which is a concern, but it seems like Rod could position these boys into potentially easier matchups to get them going, especially with the Stankoven line humming. This team is known to grind you to a pulp. They don’t hit to hurt, they hit to grind you down. They are relentless and there’s a reason why their shots against aren’t extremely high, they don’t let you into their zone at all. Freddie Andersen has been incredible, with a 1.12 GAA and .950SV%. Have they played the most offensive of teams, perhaps not, but this is testament to the team in front of him and his own incredible play when he needs to make a save.
Montreal on the other hand, have played the most games possible this far into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They escaped a game 7 onslaught by the Bolts in round 1, and gave away the lead and were dominated for seemingly 3 periods before finding the back of the net in overtime over the Sabres. Like their counterpart, they too have not trailed in a series. They are doing this on the back of incredible net minding by Dobes. This rookie has been nothing short of sensational in the most important moments, even after getting shelled in Game 6. He has short term memory and every game is new for him and that’s how you have to be in this league. Montreals offense has been led by its best players, but largely on the man advantage. The top line of Suzuki, Caulfield, and Slaf have just 3 goals at even strength, and they are about to face a 95% PK team on the other side. Finding their game 5 on 5 is not only important, its their only chance. Montreal’s defensive game is to be desired and I worry about that backends ability to stave off the relentless attack of the Hurricanes. They rely a lot on offense and goaltending and it has outweighed their lack of defensive structure.
It seems like the both teams are about to face a type of team they have yet to deal with. Montreal has not played against a relentless attack like this Carolina team and have relied a lot on special teams but are facing a near perfect PK. Their 5 on 5 game will be tested mightily. The Hurricanes have not played a reliable goaltended and offensively opportunistic team like this Habs team has been all playoffs. There is precedent for an upset because the New York Rangers of 2022 and 2024 proved they can rely on timely scoring from high-end talent and hot goaltending. However, this year feels very different. The Carolina Hurricanes can actually score and Montreal’s reliance on the man advantage is too much of a worry. This series, we will finally see Carolina break through using their relentless attack and actual ability to score. The top line will heat up. I still spot Montreal 1 game because there’s no way the Hurricanes can actually go 12-0…right?
Carolina in 5.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Colorado Avalanche (1st Central Division) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (1st Pacific Division Division)
The Colorado Avalanche are Cup Favorites for a reason. They have lost a single game all playoffs, almost as good as Carolina on the other side of the country. The Hockey Gods further twisted the knife in Oiler’s fans sides by allowing Brett Kulak of all D men to score the series winning goal. You can’t make this stuff up. Their acquisition of Kulak, Kadri (again), and Nic Roy have put this team into mega deep territory. Everyone is pulling on the rope and the results are coming through. MacKinnon has been automatic as he scored in each of the games against Minnesota and sits with 7 goals and 13 points in 9 games. The offense hasn’t been the explosive powerhouse that Vegas has been mostly because it hasn’t needed to be. They grind you down into the ground and can win without the need for 5 goals a game. Does this pose risk for a team that can score at will now, perhaps but their defensive game has been on point and goaltending very reliable. Makar and Toews have been as incredible as ever putting their expected goal % in the 60%, which is just unheard of. This Avalanche team is built for this time of year and have everyone pulling the right direction and something inside me believes we haven’t even seen their true best yet.
Vegas has had their way with their opponents at times in this playoffs. Sure, they have looked pedestrian in some games but those games they are playing their game, they haven’t been stopped. The key has been the playoff emergence of the once criticized Mitch Marner. I can’t imagine what Toronto fans must be thinking watching Marner dismantle the Ducks like he did and sit with 18 points in 12 games. His goal in game 6 was…wow. Jack Eichel continues to be one of the best two way players in the game and sits with a strong 15 points himself. Defensively, this team lacks what it had in their 2023 run. The loss of Alex Pietrangelo has left them bringing in multiple D to try and fill the entire gap that is Petro and haven’t seemed to find it. They may have more skill with the likes of Andersson and Hanifin but that shut down ability is just not there, and it showed at times against both the Mammoth and the Ducks. Carter Hart had a shaky start but really settled in against the Ducks. He will continue to lead the charge unless something crazy happens.
I had said a couple weeks ago that the Minnesota vs Colorado series was the true WCF and I will stand on that hill. Vegas is a good team, they aren’t a great team. Their competition hasn’t been what this Colorado team is. Colorado faced a huge test in Minnesota and it felt like they cakewalked through that one. Vegas might be favorite against anyone else but this Colorado team is just built to win right now. They have the depth up front, the incredible D corps, strong goaltending tandem and the will to grind you down and beat you in every area of the ice.
Colorado in 6.