NHL Conference Semifinals Predictions

Eastern Conference:

The Eastern Conference Finals will feature the New York Islanders and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tampa Bay does have home ice advantage as they will be home for games 1 and 2 as well as game 5 and 7 if necessary. The goaltending edge I am giving to Tampa, as Andrei Vasilevskiy is the best in the business. Andrei went 31-10-1 this year with a 2.21 GAA. Does it get much better than that? No. When it comes to skaters, I am giving the edge to the Lightning as well. With Nikita Kucherov leading the league in postseason points along with Brayden Point, Alex Killorn and Steven Stamkos, who are all in the top 10 as well. The Lightning should have this series in 6 games and will have a chance to hoist the Stanley Cup in back to back seasons.

Western Conference:

The Western Conference Finals features the Montreal Canadiens and the Vegas Golden Knights with Vegas having the home ice advantage. The goaltending edge I am giving Vegas here. Marc-Andre Fleury is on another level in the postseason making it to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for 15 consecutive seasons. Vegas has so much firepower on offense as well with William Karlsson leading the team in postseason points. Guys like Jonathan Marchessault, Mark Stone, and Max Pacioretty can all be dangerous as well. I like Vegas in 5 this series.

Stanley Cup Semifinals Schedule:

Third round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs!

Vegas Golden Knights (1) vs. Montreal Canadiens (4)

Monday, June 14, 9 p.m.: Canadiens at Golden Knights | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVAS

Wednesday, June 16, 9 p.m.: Canadiens at Golden Knights | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVAS

Friday, June 18, 8 p.m.: Golden Knights at Canadiens | USA, SN, CBC, TVAS

Sunday, June 20, 8 p.m.: Golden Knights at Canadiens | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVAS

*Tuesday, June 22, 9 p.m.: Canadiens at Golden Knights | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVAS

*Thursday, June 24, 8 p.m.: Golden Knights at Canadiens | USA, SN, CBC, TVAS

*Saturday, June 26, 8 p.m.: Canadiens at Golden Knights | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVAS

Tampa Bay Lightning (2) vs. New York Islanders (3)

(Islanders lead 1-0)

Game 1: Islanders 2, Lightning 1

Tuesday, June 15, 8 p.m.: Islanders at Lightning | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVAS

Thursday, June 17, 8 p.m.: Lightning at Islanders | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVAS

Saturday, June 19, 8 p.m.: Lightning at Islanders | USA, SN, CBC, TVAS

*Monday, June 21, 8 p.m.: Islanders at Lightning | USA, SN, CBC, TVAS

*Wednesday, June 23, 8 p.m.: Lightning at Islanders | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVAS

*Friday, June 25, 8 p.m.: Islanders at Lightning | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVAS