I’ve been asked that question at least a half-dozen times over the past few days.
Who do you think is gonna win the Cup?
I’ll commit my answer to e-type for posterity. I think the Oilers are going to win. While I think the games themselves will be competitive, I don’t think the series is going to be close. In fact, I anticipate a virtual replay of last spring, when Vegas muscled Florida aside in five games.
Call it a hunch.
It isn’t that I don’t like the Panthers. On the contrary, I like them. A lot. IMHO, they’re a near perfect blend of skill, spit, fire and grit. But Edmonton possesses so much firepower. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, Evan Bouchard and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins are all averaging a point-per-game or better this postseason.
Dear Lord.
Then there’s the Oilers’ power play. Truly other worldly. McDavid & Co. clicked at a rate of 26.3 percent during the regular season. In the postseason? An incendiary 37.3 percent (19 for 51).
Heaven should have such a power play.
The Panthers, whose stock in trade is an aggressive forecheck, had better stay out of the box.
Speaking of physical play. While the Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett and Nick Cousins certainly wreak their share of havoc and mayhem, the Oilers are a big team and every bit as physically capable with the likes Evander Kane, Corey Perry and Dylan Holloway, not to mention Darnell Nurse and Mattias Ekholm on the back end.
Again, a very similar dynamic to last year’s Final, when the Golden Knights bounced the Panthers around with surprising ease.
If the Oilers have an Achilles heel, it’s in goal. Starter Stuart Skinner, backed by journeyman Calvin Pickard, blows hot and cold. However, Skinner seemed to find himself in the Western Conference Final, outdueling his highly regarded Stars counterpart Jake Oettinger.
Too, after an excellent run last spring, Panthers netminder Sergei Bobrovsky…not a big goalie…wore down in the Final. I wouldn’t be shocked to see a repeat.
I know lots of Penguins fans don’t want to see McDavid win a Cup, fearing it’ll legitimize comparisons to Sidney Crosby. I’m not one of ‘em.
However, if you’re pulling for the Panthers, take heart. I’m notoriously awful when it comes to predictions, which is why I don’t make them very often. In fact, Other Rick encouraged me to put my choice in writing so the Panthers, his personal favorite, will have a better chance of winning.
Hey, anything to help the cause.
