For as much drama as there was in the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the stakes only get higher going forward.
It seemed like almost every game over the past few weeks went to overtime or at least came down to the final moments. This level of play won't end any time soon with two sets of even matchups and a trip to the Final on the line.
Meanwhile, this postseason will represent a changing of the guard after the past few years were dominated by the Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings. The championship droughts for the remaining teams now range from seven years (Pittsburgh Penguins) to forever (both Western Conference participants).
The uncertainty and competitiveness will ensure an exciting upcoming two rounds of hockey.
Eastern Conference
The Tampa Bay Lightning won all three games against the Penguins during the regular season, but that won't necessarily have any bearing on this series. All three games took place before March, when Pittsburgh was seemingly a much different team.
Not only did the Penguins end the year with 16 wins in their final 1 ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Rob Goldberg
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