The NHL Stanley Cup finals are set. Vegas and Carolina have deep rosters and savvy coaches. Their power-plays and penalty kills are some of the best since playoffs began. Whichever team wins the finals deserves the accolades and label of champion. It is time to break down which one has the best chance of winning the finals and taking home both the Conn Smythe and Stanley Cup.
#4 Vegas Golden Knights v. #1 Carolina Hurricanes
The two most disciplined, veteran and talented teams made the Stanley Cup finals. Both coaches won a championship two decades ago and have evolved in how they see the game. While Rod Brind’Amour has been involved with Carolina for decades, John Tortorella was hired by the Golden Knights with eight games left in the regular season. Interestingly, both coaches are perfect fits for the teams they lead.
From Tortorella’s philosophy of constant shot-blocking and self-discipline on defense, to layers of scoring depth and a dangerous power-play, Vegas has played their best hockey in the postseason. There were reasons to think the Golden Knights would not make it this far after eliminating two younger teams the first two rounds. Yet, Vegas has played better the more quality the opponent and near elimination. It will be very hard to beat the Golden Knights in a best of seven.
Carolina though, has been the most dominant team this postseason. The Hurricanes became the fastest team to notch 12 wins in 13 playoff games. Their second line of Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven and Nikolaj Ehlers have single-handedly eliminated all three prior opponents. Goaltender Frederik Andersen has been a brick wall in net every win. At one point, Andersen replicated records from the legend Jacques Plante no one came close to in 60 years. Two sweeps has Carolina in the best shape they’ve been in this entire season.
Series deciding factor: Golden Knights defense versus the Hurricanes second line
The Hurricanes second line of Hall, Stankoven and Ehlers have impressed because all three are talented veterans who have been in the postseason several times prior to this year. The trio had a season to learn each other’s patterns and play to everyone’s strengths. While all three are dangerous on breakaways and open ice, Hall, Stankoven and Ehlers are most lethal five-on-five. Ottawa, Philadelphia and Montreal learned the hard way how goals by all three feel worse than giving up power-play goals.
Despite the trio’s scorching postseason, Vegas’ defense is deeper, championship ready and addicted to pain when they deflect shots. Rasmus Andersson, Dylan Coghlan, Noah Hanifin, Ben Hutton, Brayden McNabb, Shea Theodore and Kaedan Korczak are massive (the shortest among them being 6’1″) and command respect once opposing offenses get to work in the Golden Knights defensive zone. It’s one thing for young offenses in Utah and Anaheim to struggle, but what they did to Nathan MacKinnon, Artturi Lehkonen, Martin Necas, Brock Nelson, Ross Colton and Valeri Nichushkin was textbook defense the other 29 teams will watch film on this offseason. Andersson, Korczak and Hanifin might be new to the championship lights, but McNabb, Theodore and Hutton are not.
Verdict: Coach John Tortorella has relished a return to the Stanley Cup finals for at least a decade. His calculated discipline and evolved tactics have made him one of the few coaches to be a candidate for any open coaching position when he isn’t behind the bench. This is a perfect fit in Vegas; the roster is mature, well disciplined and committed to defense while having a layered, high-scoring offense. The Golden Knights retained a lot of their 2022-23 Cup winning roster. That is a big reason Vegas has fared better than even the league best Avalanche and should be seen as a favorite to win this series. The Golden Knights could surprise many again and play their best series in the finals.
The biggest thing to consider is how Carolina beat three, inexperienced playoff teams to make the finals. The Hurricanes handled one playoff loss well, but the question is how will they respond when championship winning veterans and a strong-willed coach behind the bench on the other side constantly pushes back on defense and special teams? This is an older, more disciplined Golden Knights roster that enjoys physical play and making opponents uncomfortable. Carolina finally made it to the finals, but this series will add more valuable lessons for coach Brind’Amour and how the will to win isn’t just about smothering inexperienced teams. It demands constant changes against serious veterans, something the coach found out in his first finals as a player back in the 2001-02 season.
Prediction: Vegas Golden Knights defeat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 and win their second Stanley Cup championship in franchise history.
Conn Smythe winner: Goaltender Carter Hart
Conference finals picks record: 1-1
JD's Sportscorner 