What a fun two weeks of football this June and early July. The group stage provided a lot of information on who has the best chance to make a deep run and give teams fits. While most of the eight teams eliminated put up a fight, the remaining eight were better and deserved to advance to the quarterfinals. Starting tonight, there are no draws nor points given from ties. Every round will be elimination. That means overtime and penalty kicks will decide winners. Before picks are made, the numbers are for which team placed where in their assigned group.
1A Argentina v. 2B Ecuador
Argentina shutout all three of their opponents in group play despite forward Lionel Messi’s right groin injury.
It should baffle even casual sports fans that only six goals were scored between all four teams in group A. Five of the six came from Argentina as they won all three matches. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez recorded three shutouts despite constant pressure.
While Ecuador advanced, they struggled to consistently score. El Tricolor had four goals in three matches (three were in one match) and took an unexpected loss against Venezuela after an early red card. These struggles will amplify against an impressive Argentinian defense while El Albiceleste’s Lautaro Martinez, Angel Di Maria and Julian Alvarez attack a more vulnerable Ecuador defense.
Prediction: Argentina wins 3-1
1B Venezuela v. 2A Canada
Venezuela shocked many as they won every game in group B. Given Canada’s offensive struggles, it’s possible Venezuela advances to the semifinals.
Many viewers expected Venezuela to crash out of round one. La Vinotinto proved many wrong, winning a pivotal opening match against Ecuador and shutting out their last two opponents.
Canada was the only other team in group A who scored a goal. The Canucks defense improved while the offense sputtered in all but one half. Venezuela is stout on defense, but the offense faces their hardest test of the tournament. La Vinotinto star forward Salomon Rondon and Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau will have highlight moments, but Crepeau can only keep his team in the match if the Canucks find ways to score.
Prediction: Venezuela wins in extra time 2-1
1C Uruguay v. 2D Brazil
Uruguay defenders Mathias Olivera and Matias Vina have added to La Celeste’s scoring depth throughout the tournament.
The most exciting Copa America quarterfinals matchup. Brazil’s inconsistent play gives Uruguay their biggest challenge of the tournament. While veteran midfielder Luis Suarez wasn’t a factor most of the first round, defenders Matias Vina and Mathias Olivera, midfielder Maximiliano Araujo and forward Darwin Nunez scored most of Uruguay’s nine goals in three matches.
If the Canarinha win, it’s because Savio and Lucas Paqueta had to perform better and scored like they did against Paraguay. Since Vinicius Jr. is out after he drew two yellow cards in group play, it’ll be hard for Brazil to counter Uruguay’s scoring depth and stout defense.
Prediction: Uruguay wins 3-1
1D Colombia v. 2C Panama
From left: Miguel Borja and Luis Diaz were key offensive players in each of Colombia’s first round matches.
Colombia’s one of the best teams in the tournament and proved it leading up to Copa America. Las Cafeteras got at least one point in each match while overwhelming defenses. Panama crumbled against the only championship threat they played in round one despite good defensive performances after. Colombia’s easily the better team and will show why before the first half ends.
What a fun two weeks of football this June. The group stage provided a lot of information on who has the best chance to make a deep run and give teams headaches. While the eight teams eliminated put up a fight, the remaining 16 were better and deserved to advance to the second round. From here on out, there are no draws nor points given from ties. Every round will be elimination, meaning overtime and shootouts/penalty shots will decide winners. Before picks are made, the numbers are for who placed where in their assigned group. I should correct myself from last article: the best four teams in third place were also allowed to advance, not just the top two in each group. That means 16 teams were allowed to qualify, not 12.
Here are the predictions for which eight teams advance to the quarter finals.
2A Switzerland v. 2B Italy
Switzerland’s held their own against quality opponents and played their best versus easier teams. This tactic could land them in the quarter finals.
The first of eight matches, both Switzerland and Italy looked ok in the group stage. The major factors in this matchup include Italy facing everyone’s best since they’re the reigning champions, and playing without star defender Riccardo Calafiori after he drew two yellow cards in group play. The Swiss were cautious in the first round and made sure to steal a point from every team in group A. Now that it’s elimination and Forza Italia looks vulnerable, don’t be surprised if Switzerland starts the second round with an upset.
Prediction: Switzerland wins 2-1
1A Germany v. 2C Denmark
Host nation Germany caught the attention of even casual football fans with how they dominated group A.
A good number of readers wonder why Denmark, another team that stole at least one point from everyone they faced in group C isn’t given the same credit as Switzerland. A big reason is Germany looks stronger and played better in the first round. The Danes were mediocre and their older players looked exhausted in the second halves of their three matches. That’s a bad combination for any team wanting to get past Die Mannschaft. Germany will go full throttle without resting their stars. This could be over before the first half ends.
Prediction: Germany wins 4-1
1C England v. 3E Slovakia
It’s been anything but jovial for England. Two goals in three matches has the football world in chaos demanding improved roster moves and offensive tactics.
Last article I wrote about the pressure on manager Gareth Southgate due to England being the runner-up team in the 2020/1 Euro championship. There was pressure to replicate that success, if not exceed expectations. I also added emphasis on getting more offense out of the current roster. That didn’t show at any point in the group stage. The Three Lions were booed by fans, criticized by the broadcasting crews calling their matches, and attacked constantly in the media for how awful the offense looks, Southgate’s adjustments (or lack thereof), and why midfielder Cole Palmer hasn’t played more.
Contrast the pressure England faces with the speedy and ambitious Slovakia that mesmerized in group E and there’s more than enough to worry about in Britain. Coach Francesco Calzona turned the Repre into one of the more fun and entertaining teams in round one. Slovakia does need to score more than one goal a match, but their defense led by goalkeeper Martin Dubravka is more than enough to tame the Three Lions for more than 90 minutes.
Upset prediction of the round: Slovakia wins in extra time 2-1
1B Spain v. 3F Georgia
La Roja is the most dangerous team after group play. They blanked the third place 2022 World Cup team Croatia while abandoning their famous tiki-taka play. The remaining 15 teams should be cautious.
Georgia pulled off the biggest upset in Euros history, shutting out Portugal 2-0 in the final match in group F. While Selecao das Quinas didn’t play all their starters, the passion and determination should put the remaining top teams on notice. Unfortunately for the Crusaders, Spain was the only undefeated team of round one. La Roja look unstoppable even when manager Luis de la Fuente didn’t play all the starters last match against Albania.
While de la Fuente said not all starters could play against Georgia, they’re not underestimating the former Soviet republic. Spain crushed the Crusaders twice in the past year, and that won’t change anytime soon.
Prediction: Spain wins 5-1
2D France v. 2E Belgium
Despite breaking his nose and drawing a yellow card in the first match of group play, captain Kylian Mbappe (10) finally scored his first career goal in the Euros when it mattered most, pushing France to round two.
The first of two matches that look good on paper but underwhelm on the pitch. Belgium continued their international tournament struggles with a loss to Slovakia and a scoreless draw against Ukraine in round one. Meanwhile France scored one goal in three matches (Austria’s own goal obviously doesn’t count), and that was a penalty shot from captain Kylian Mbappe. There’s been justified criticism with England’s dreadful performances, but not enough on Les Bleus for the underwhelming play against Netherlands and Poland.
France stumbling through group D aside, there’s not enough for Belgium to overcome. This is a bigger issue once extra time and penalty kicks are factored. The older Belgian roster had many chances to draw a better opponent but likely fizzle out. This should give Mbappe and Les Bleus the needed spark to score more than once.
Prediction: France wins in extra time 2-1
1F Portugal v. 3C Slovenia
Portugal easily clinched a second round spot with their 3-0 shutout of Turkiye. After that embarrassing loss, watch for retribution.
Another lopsided matchup. Slovenia stole a point from every opponent in group C and now get the chance to face an angry Portugal coming off the worst upset in Euros history. The Slovenians struggled to score against some haggard rosters last round. Now they’ll face the scoring depth of Selecao das Quinas. Like Germany v. Denmark, this should be over before the second half.
Prediction: Portugal wins 4-0
1E Romania v. 3D Netherlands
Outside of Cody Gakpo (left), the Oranje struggled to score after beating Poland.
The Dutch struggled to score after beating Poland 2-1. A dull draw against France and a terrible defensive performance against Austria has coach Ronald Koeman reassessing tactics. Netherlands decided to play a friendly against the German Suddeutsche Zeitung last Wednesday to fix some of the offensive issues. Koeman’s desperation for another player to step up besides forward Cody Gakpo is warranted since Romania wants to spoil the Oranje’s run.
Romania struggled against Belgium and would’ve lost to Slovakia if not for a questionable call by the referees last match. There’s not enough talent on the roster to stop the Dutch star players and that will show by the second half.
Prediction: Netherlands wins 3-0
1D Austria v. 2F Turkiye
Austria again showed they can hang with the best teams in the world with their group D performances.
There might not be a better second-tier team than Austria. Das Team humbled the Dutch, almost tied France and eliminated the Polish in an impressive first round. Drawing Turkiye interests many since the group F runner ups surprised even diehard viewers. Phenom forward Arda Guler has the spotlight on the Crescent Stars as the rising team to watch this decade.
While Turkiye has improved with Guler and coach Vincenzo Montella, Austria is the deeper and more experienced team ready to elevate their performances. This match should be a fun watch, but Das Team has everything in their favor to make the quarter finals.
The second of two international football tournaments starts tomorrow. CONMEBOL’s 2024 Copa America takes place in North America from June 20th to July 15th. Due to the smaller number of countries in the western hemisphere, there are four groups of four teams each. They will compete for as many points as possible to advance to the second round. A win results in three points, ties earn one, and zero for losses. Only two teams in each group move on to the round of 8. Here are the predictions for which teams in groups A through D have the best chances to make round two.
Group A: Argentina, Chile
Almost everyone agrees the reigning World Cup champions will advance. Renowned scoring forward Lionel Messi is a menace to his regional opponents and many saw how La Albiceleste’s roster improved almost two years ago. Midfield depth will be hard to contain for the other three teams.
The world’s greatest player Lionel Messi should make easy work of the group stage.
It’s hard to choose the second best team. Canada has a good offense, but the defense remains a liability. Argentina and Chile’s veterans will often test these weaknesses. While Peru has a solid defense, the offense hasn’t faced a championship caliber defense. This leaves La Roja as the best choice. Chile has a good mix of veterans and young talent on every side of the ball. They gave France fits, barely losing 3-2 earlier in the year. This shows they can still hold up against the world’s best teams. It would be wise for La Roja to create better team chemistry with the younger depth players, give the aging veterans one last chance for a deep tournament run, and try different methods of putting pressure on opposing defenses before the 2026 World Cup.
Group B: Ecuador, Mexico
The easiest group to predict. Many witnessed Ecuador’s continued improvement in the 2022 World Cup as La Tricolor had a long shutout streak leading up to and in Qatar. Ecuador may have three forwards on the roster, but the defense is one of the world’s best. Surprisingly their biggest tests were against current UEFA champion Italy and World Cup champion Argentina. La Tricolor gave up a total of three goals versus both.
22 year old Moises Caicedo has been one of Ecuador’s better players, providing a spark on offense they didn’t have in the last Copa America tournament.
Mexico stands out as the other favorite for round two. Despite critical analysis on El Tri’s roster construction, they soundly shutout Jamaica 3-0 heading into the tournament and Venezuela’s easily the worst team of the group. Mexico could struggle after the first round due to its player development pipeline being at its lowest point in decades, but coach Jaime “Jimmy” Lozano should get enough solid performances out of this team.
Group C: Uruguay, Panama
A fun three team race in group C makes this one second best. Bolivia might be worse than Venezuela, so Panama, Uruguay and the U.S. will be the highlighted teams.
Uruguay’s top-scoring forward Luis Suarez could be in his last Copa America tournament. While striker Edinson Cavani and midfielder Matias Vecino retired not even a month ago, 22 year old forward Facundo Pallistri is providing La Celeste with a refreshing offensive presence. Uruguay’s also revamped the roster since their 2022 World Cup exit.
If Panama wants to advance to the second round, players such as midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla (8) have to be more involved and create better scoring opportunities.
The second choice will be close. Panama and the U.S. went to a shootout last July with the former getting a much-needed win. It’s been a year since Los Canaleros’ victory, but the Americans shouldn’t worry much about performance since they’re both hosting the World Cup and they’re one of six add-on teams in Copa America. The U.S. should use this tournament as a litmus test to analyze team chemistry and what to improve on before 2026.
Group D: Brazil, Colombia
The best and most entertaining group. Between potent offenses and veteran rosters, it’s almost unfair two teams will be eliminated.
Despite legendary midfielder Ronaldinho going off on the Brazilian team for, “a lack of love for the shirt and grit”, Brazil’s one of the favorites to make the finals. The Selecao Canarinha will be tested early by Costa Rica, which wants redemption for their nosedive in Qatar. Every match will be hard no matter the opponent. Defenders Danilo and Wendell, and forwards Raphinha and Pepe Aquino need to step up in round one.
With Ronaldinho’s criticism a week before the tournament starts, forward Evanilson (21) and midfielder Lucas Paqueta (8) must improve on every side of the ball during group play.
Costa Rica doesn’t have enough offense to keep any of their matches close. Paraguay is the opposite where offense is a strength, but the defense gives up a lot of rush chances leading to easy goals. This leaves Colombia, a dangerously well-rounded team. Los Cafeteros shut out Spain in March and throttled the U.S. almost two weeks ago. Colombia’s scoring depth and shutdown defense make them an attractive choice in the final four.
One of the worlds best sports tournaments starts Friday. UEFA Euro 2024 takes place in Germany from June 14th to July 14th. Six groups of four teams each will compete for as many points as possible to advance to the second round. A win results in three points, ties earn one, and zero for losses. Only two teams in each group move on to the round of 12. Here are the predictions for which teams in groups A through F have the best chances to make round two.
Group A: Germany, Switzerland
Host nation Germany hasn’t looked this strong in qualifying matches for over a decade. The DFB won three of their last four matches before Friday under new manager Julian Nagelsmann. Nagelsmann consistently gets the best out of the club since taking over autumn 2023. The roster retooling is another reason the Germans are considered favorites to at least make the semi-finals. Scotland stands little chance in the opening match while Hungary should worry about retribution from the last UEFA performance.
Switzerland’s first match against Hungary is a litmus test for how well they handle group A.
Hungary would be an attractive option if there wasn’t another veteran team in the first group. Switzerland’s experience presents multiple problems for the Hungarians. They also play each other first on Saturday. The Swiss understand this stage is played for points more than wins, so don’t be surprised if they’re more conservative depending on their opponent.
Group B: Italy, Spain
The reigning UEFA champions return with new manager Luciano Spalletti on the sidelines. Roberto Mancini’s resignation and hiring to Saudi Arabia presents some challenges for the team. While Spain’s offensive playing style will be the biggest test for the Italian team in round one, Albania will struggle and Croatia might crumble due to defensive holes and the number of older players on the roster. Italy not advancing to the second round would both shock and upend the round of 12 picture.
From left to right: Jorginho, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Gianluca Mancini and Giacomo Raspadori are a versatile quartet wanting to win back-to-back titles.
Spain’s the best choice after Italy, if not the presumed favorite of group B. As mentioned above, Croatia’s aging stars and questions on defense will be exposed against a Spanish team that dominates offensive time of possession (around 80%) each match. Last but not least, the former Yugoslav nation struggles in UEFA tournaments. It’s possible we know which two teams advance to the second round before anyone plays their third game.
Group C: England, Denmark
England’s brutal championship match loss in 2021 creates more pressure to pick up where they left off and try to surpass expectations. The Serbian and Slovenian teams are easy for casual fans to look past, but the British cannot with how hard both teams play. Coach Gareth Southgate has to keep the Lions sharp while forward Bukayo Saka and defenders Luke Shaw and John Stones ease back onto the roster. At least the players will be off social media (for as long as they’re not eliminated).
Manager Gareth Southgate has a lot of pressure to get better offense out of England while using enough creativity to get out of the group stage.
While the two former Yugoslav republics compete hard, Denmark has the best chance of advancing to round two. The Danes don’t play the physical Serbs until last and have England second. Depending how well England does against Serbia, Denmark could have the upper hand most of group play. Since most of team’s defenders and forwards hitting their prime, it would be a disappointment if Denmark doesn’t perform well. This might also be midfielder Christian Eriksen’s last UEFA tournament.
Group D: France, Netherlands
The most loaded group of the six. All four teams have a good chance of not just getting out of round one, but also getting out of round two with their high scoring offenses. Two teams stand out and get the nod here. French coach Didier Deschamps returns to the sideline, and that’s bad news for the other three. Even if France doesn’t win the group, the Austrians, Dutch and Polish will play their best against them in round one.
France had a target on their back in the 2021 UEFA tournament due to their World Cup success. While they didn’t win the World Cup championship in Qatar, the target remains.
Poland’s on the short end as forward and team leading scorer Robert Lewandowski will miss the first match against the Dutch. The Netherlands could start slow, but this is their best opportunity to leap up the standings. Austria’s on a roll with four wins and a draw in their last five matches. However the draw came against an improved Swiss team many expect to see in the second round. Playing France first and the Orange last is brutal timing unless both west European powers stumble through group play. That would be harder to say about the Netherlands since Ronald Koeman is the new coach and the offense has undergone drastic changes (even though midfielder Teun Koopmeiners is out for the tournament with a groin injury).
Group E: Belgium, Ukraine
Easily the weakest group, the Belgians should coast to the second round. A healthy Romelu Lukaku ensures Belgium takes first place.
Romelu Lukaku (10) scored four goals in a shutout of Azerbaijan last November in the UEFA qualifying round. Lukaku can score at will while Belgium has given up one goal in their last five matches.
It’s hard to pick which of the remaining trio advances. Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine have holes everywhere on offense and defense. Ukraine surprisingly stands out as the most competent of the three. They’ve performed well against better teams like Germany and Poland. Ukraine also gets Belgium last in group play while Slovakia plays them first. The Blue and Yellow could have the advantage of playing a Belgian team that has first place locked up by match three. This puts more pressure on Slovakia and Romania to be perfect every game.
Group F: Portugal, Czechia
The last and one of the funnest groups. Portugal’s led by ageless forward Cristiano Ronaldo and midfielder Bruno Fernandes. They are coincidently the best players in group F. The Portuguese defense is stout and shouldn’t allow many goals this round.
Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes helped his home team clinch a spot in the UEFA tournament last year. He should continue a high scoring pace this tournament.
If they let in any goals, it might be against Czechia. The Czechs are undefeated this year in the friendlies and even scored seven in one match. While their first, true test of 2024 is against Portugal, group play eases up with an unknown Georgia and lackluster Turkiye the last two matches. Don’t be surprised if Czechia goes on a run similar to Switzerland’s in 2021.
The finals are set. Florida and Edmonton are stacked with stars, deep rosters, and savvy coaches. Their power-plays and penalty kills are some of the best since playoffs began. Whoever wins the finals deserves the accolades and label of champion. It’s time to break down which team has the best chance of winning the finals and taking home both the Conn Smythe and Stanley Cup.
#4 Edmonton Oilers v. #3 Florida Panthers
Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky must play the best series of his life against Oilers captain Connor McDavid if he wants to win the Stanley Cup…and maybe the Conn Smythe trophy.
There couldn’t be two, more different finals opponents. Edmonton has two league MVPs, a defensive minded coach still in his first season with an NHL team and one of the best season turnarounds this decade. Florida has the second oldest and most winningest coach who’s never won a championship, a two-time Vezina winner in net, and fulfilled expectations to repeat as eastern conference champions. The province of Alberta has its first team back in the championship since 2006 while a Florida team is back in the finals for the fifth straight year.
The Oilers love to play the middle of the ice, use speed to drive to the net, and enjoy disrupting opponents from settling into their offensive attacks. The Panthers excel at playing the middle of the ice on defense, wear down opponents with brutal forechecking and create offense with multiple scoring chances better than anyone.
Series deciding factor: Aleksander Barkov and the Panthers power-play v. Mattias Ekholm and the Oilers penalty-kill
Florida learned the valuable lessons in last year’s beat-down against Vegas. The Panthers have perfected the focused, disciplined championship mindset. It shows best on special teams, and will face its ultimate test against the best penalty killing team this entire playoffs. Edmonton gave up a shocking zero power-play goals in the conference finals against Dallas, single-handedly swinging the series in their favor. A big reason the Oilers penalty kill succeeded was coach Peter DeBoer’s stubborn mindset of having the offense pass the puck around and take shots on the outside. Too many outside shots means little rebounding opportunities for second or third scoring chances.
Florida doesn’t have that mindset. They will challenge defensemen Mattias Ekholm, Darnell Nurse and Evan Bouchard more than the trio faced at any point in previous series. The main question many wonder about is how the almost perfect Edmonton penalty-kill and coach Kris Knoblauch respond and adjust once Florida scores. Captain Aleksander Barkov has always been a bright-minded scoring threat. His added determination to break defenses in layers this season has decimated the league’s best goaltenders and most creative coaching minds. Barkov will have the league’s second best goal-scorer of 2024 in Sam Reinhart, playoff leading scorer Carter Verhaeghe, the ever-dangerous Matthew Tkachuk and either one of the best defensemen in Aaron Ekblad or former champion and star Vladimir Tarasenko each power-play opportunity.
The Panthers have shown both audiences and teams they’ve played how to dictate gamepace. It comes with brutal, physical checking into the walls and around the net while creating quality shots and rebounding opportunities in front of the goaltender. No one embodies this like former Flame and Oilers rival Matthew Tkachuk, who will have goaltender Stuart Skinner (and maybe Calvin Pickard?) on edge every minute Florida’s in the offensive zone.
Verdict: Coaching is one of the two major factors determining who wins the championship. Dating back to his Winnipeg days, Paul Maurice has played the Connor McDavid-led Oilers perfect in the postseason. No other coach has frustrated or even shut-out Edmonton in a way the Oilers appeared to quit. Maurice hasn’t coached Florida as hard as he did with the Jets for various reasons, but when he does, he’s the best voice anyone could listen to and learn from. He has a two time Vezina winning goaltender playing like his prime self again and even star goal-scorers such as Vladimir Tarasenko bought in 100% to his philosophy.
Panther right-winger Evan Rodrigues loves fore-checking opponents, using his body to shot-block and make opponents like Edmonton’s Warren Foegele (37) commit more turnovers before they settle into their offense.
The other factor will be which team physically batters the other. The Stars decided not to rough up the Oilers in the conference finals, and it might have cost them the series. Florida is one of the meanest teams on ice, baiting opponents and initiating fights. Captain Connor McDavid is not a star player who likes to fight nor get physically assaulted during a game. The Panthers will have plenty of opportunities to establish their dominance by causing altercations after the whistle. Florida fan-favorite Ryan Lomberg alone could throw half the Edmonton roster off their focus.
Prediction: Florida Panthers defeat the Oilers 4-1 and win their first championship in franchise history.
The conference finals went faster than many expected. Dallas dominated Minnesota in five games while Boston swept Indiana. The Celtics lost only two games in three eastern conference matchups. Whoever wins this year’s championship deserves the praise and accolades. It’s time to break down which franchise has the best chance of winning a championship and raising a banner in the NBA’s 77th season.
#5 Dallas Mavericks v. #1 Boston Celtics
Boston and Dallas quickly eliminated the young and inexperienced Pacers and Timberwolves in the conference finals. After not playing for at least a week, both teams will start a chess match of a championship series. While there are many similarities with the star duos and both head coaches are in their first finals, the Celtics and Mavericks differ in roster depth, veteran experience in previous finals appearances and the number of possible adjustments.
Both Dallas and Boston have great guard duos, but the Celtics can counter with their talent at center and forward.
Dallas extending this series depends on how well elite guard duo Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving perform. Forwards P.J. Washington and Maxi Kleber have to play their best series with how much depth and talent Boston has at center and forward. Coach Jason Kidd must decide early in the series which offensive matchups he likes best and how the Mavericks will capitalize on more scoring opportunities.
There couldn’t be more pressure on coach Joe Mazzulla to win this round. Boston has more than size and experience advantages. It’s possible we see Derrick White guarding Doncic and Jrue Holiday locking down Irving most of the series. Dallas center Daniel Gafford will struggle against Kristaps Porzingis or Al Horford, no matter who starts. Last but not least, the Mavericks have no answer for the forward duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Boston’s roster depth makes this a fast series. Coach Jason Kidd is limited in moves and matchup changes before the Celtics inevitably tire Dallas’ younger roster and secure a comfortable finals victory.
Prediction: Boston Celtics defeat Dallas 4-1 and win their 18th Larry O’Brien Trophy
What a fun end to the second round. Edmonton barely beat a desperate Canucks team in seven games. Kris Knoblauch implementing better defensive schemes further shows why general manager Ken Holland made the right move in firing Jay Woodcroft early in the season. The Oilers stars are playing some of their best hockey and Stuart Skinner’s goaltending was better after a two game benching. In what could be a last gasp attempt to win and hold the Stanley Cup, Jamie Benn, Joe Pavelski and Tyler Seguin lead Dallas’ return to the conference finals. Both teams will have their hands full, and many believe whoever wins this series has a great chance to win the championship. Time to break down which one the best shot to win the western conference and advance to the Stanley Cup finals.
#4 Edmonton Oilers v. #1 Dallas Stars
Edmonton role players like Sam Carrick (39) will struggle to get past Jake Oettinger (29) and a suffocating Dallas defense.
Both teams have great offenses, stout defenses and dangerous special teams units. Both coaches are meant to counter the other (Kris Knoblauch’s defensive tactics counter a good number of Peter DeBoer’s offensive barrages). Edmonton’s power-play is always a threat to opposing defenses while Dallas’ scoring depth is a big reason they have home ice advantage.
At first glance, it appears both teams are equal. That couldn’t be further from the truth. The Oilers stole their second round series versus Vancouver with Brock Boeser injured after game six. Despite the Canucks playing without Boeser (their leading postseason scorer) and having a third string goaltender the entire series, Edmonton won by one goal. The Stars are well rested after eliminating Colorado in six games and don’t play their best players over 24 minutes a game like the Oilers. That’s a major factor if this series goes more than five games.
Dallas also has better depth scoring and defensive tactics. General manager Jim Nill made the best trade at the March eighth deadline, acquiring defenseman Chris Tanev from Calgary. Tanev shut down Jack Eichel (46:34) and Hart trophy (MVP) favorite Nathan MacKinnon (68:43) at five-on-five for a combined 115:17. Both Edmonton stars Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid have shown fatigue after two series and now have to deal with the physical, determined Tanev, and fellow Stars defensemen Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell.
Depth scoring cements who wins this series. Forwards Evgenii Dadonov, Ty Dellandrea, Radek Faksa, Mason Marchment and centers Sam Steel and Matt Duchene will be harder for the Oilers defense and goaltender Stuart Skinner to stop. Don’t be surprised if DeBoer’s veteran coaching tactics make this a quick conference finals.
Prediction: Stars win the western conference and the series 4-1
Western conference playoff predictions after two rounds: 3-3
The remaining two teams in the west had a long and fun second round. Dallas and Minnesota were more committed and better coached than the star-studded teams in Denver and Oklahoma City. While the Mavericks are on a roll, there’s a lot of hype on the Timberwolves after they eliminated the defending champion Nuggets. One of these two teams must advance to the championship round. Time to break down which one has the best chance to represent the west in the finals.
#5 Dallas Mavericks v. #3 Minnesota Timberwolves
A new era of the NBA is upon us. Get ready for the Luka Doncic v. Anthony Edwards narratives. Both players aren’t just franchise stars, they’re new faces the NBA wants to see take over the game in and outside the U.S.
While Minnesota won the regular season series 3-1, the one loss came when guard Kyrie Irving (white) played for Dallas.
Both teams have great guard duos and two-way production from their centers at both ends of the court. Everyone wants to watch Mavericks point-guard Luka Doncic and shooting-guard Kyrie Irving take on Timberwolves point-guard Mike Conley and shooting guard Anthony Edwards for at least six games. The older Irving and Conley will have their hands full on defense while trying to facilitate and elevate their offenses. If Doncic and Edwards have low-scoring games, they still impact the players around them with their play-making and passing.
Minnesota has a slight advantage outside the guard positions. Power forward Karl-Anthony Towns stunned viewers out-performing improved Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon last series. The nine year veteran played well on offense and improved defensively against the Nuggets. Sixth man of the year Naz Reid plays better each round and Jaden McDaniels can be a thorn against any opponent. Dallas’ P.J. Washington has struggled in previous rounds while Derrick Jones Jr. will have a hard time with McDaniels alone. Coach Jason Kidd should adjust his forward depth by playing Maxi Kleber and Tim Hardaway Jr. for longer stretches of time.
Both teams mirror each other from coaching to bench depth. To stay consistent with the other conference finals pick, it’s a better decision to go with the more determined, veteran team. Yes, Minnesota has the fundamentals to beat Dallas this series, but the Mavericks have more pressure to make the finals.
Prediction: Mavericks win the western conference and series 4-3
Western conference playoff picks record after two rounds: 3-3
What a round! The two best teams in the east are in the conference finals. On one side, the well designed, balanced and deep New York Rangers. Led by coach Peter Laviolette, captain Jacob Trouba and veteran forward Chris Kreider, the Rangers are the best and most complete of the remaining four postseason teams. Their opponent is last year’s eastern conference champion Florida Panthers. Defensive leader Aaron Ekblad, two time Vezina winning goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and captain Aleksander Barkov lead Florida’s return to the ECF. All three are Conn Smythe worthy after their team ousted two deep, well built division rivals. Both squads will have their hands full and many believe whoever wins this series is the favorite to win the championship. Time to break down who has the best chance to win the eastern conference and advance to the Stanley Cup finals.
#2 Florida Panthers v. #1 New York Rangers
This could be the best series in the entire 2024 NHL playoffs. Both teams have great coaches, great offenses and scoring depth, strong physical presences around the net and shutdown defenses. Florida and New York have some of the best special teams (power-play and penalty-killing) units in the league and make some of the quickest adjustments each game. Unlike last year’s conference finals matchup between the aforementioned Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes, this series shouldn’t be a four game sweep.
Physical play and depth scoring from talented players such as Florida’s Sam Bennett (left) and New York’s Barclay Goodrow (right) will determine who wins this thrilling series.
The Rangers drastically improved under coach Peter Laviolette and remain a threat even if they’re down three goals on the road. Goaltender Igor Shesterkin’s given up more than three goals in the postseason once in the last three years. A deep defense led by captain Jacob Trouba and Adam Fox makes this hard for the Panthers to consistently score.
New York loves to play an aggressive 1-3-1 formation that overwhelms opposing defenses. It’s deadlier when New York’s on the power-play with their top scorers. However the Panthers defense has improved and gave up one power-play goal last series, frustrating the veteran Boston Bruins. A major reason comes from their brutally physical 2-1-2 style of play where an extra player is left higher/further up on the ice as an offensive option while the other four forecheck opponents at the walls. Florida’s mastered how and when to dump the puck into an offensive zone, hit an opponent near the boards, and pass it to an area close to the net giving a player a good shot on goal. This wears down an opponent over time faster than a typical bump-and-skate approach. The Rangers playing an aggressive version of 1-3-1 means a smarter veteran team like the Panthers can exploit more holes in the defensive end and play more transition offense once forcing more turnovers.
Florida has a major advantage over New York with not just their physical play, but their determined mindset. In both the playoffs and regular season, the Panthers lost only three games where they had a lead in regulation or went to overtime. That means their opponent has to score and overwhelm them early. While it can be done a few games at a time, doing it four times in a series is close to impossible. The Rangers have great roster depth, a tight playing style and a bastion of scoring options, but they don’t have the determination to play mean and physical like Florida. The longer this series goes (and it will be long), the more Florida breaks down New York in every facet.
Prediction: Panthers win the eastern conference and the series 4-2
Eastern conference playoff predictions after two rounds: 5-1
The remaining two teams in the east had an entertaining second round. Boston and Indiana were more committed and better coached than Cleveland and New York. The Celtics look unstoppable and the Pacers are on a roll led by coach Rick Carlisle. It’s the first time since 2011 Carlisle has both won a series and coached a team to a conference finals. They’re rewarded with a conference finals matchup against the league’s best team in Boston, who easily dispatched their first two opponents. One of these two determined franchises must advance to the championship round. Time to break down which one has the best chance to represent the east in the finals.
#6 Indiana Pacers v. #1 Boston Celtics
Jayson Tatum (white) and the Celtics get their first, true test of the playoffs against Indiana.
After two easy series, Boston finally plays a fully healthy opponent. Indiana may have gone a full seven game series against the injured Knicks, but the roster’s surging at the best time. The league’s best offense has maintained their high scoring despite playing shaky defense at times.
The Pacers have solid depth with forwards Obi Toppin and Doug McDermott. Without center Kristaps Porzingis the first two games, the Celtics will rely on their guard quartet of Jayson Tatum, Peyton Pritchard, Derrick White and Jaylen Brown to score more. Backup veteran center Al Horford could struggle against Indiana’s Myles Turner on both sides of the ball, so the Pacers have to take advantage of their matchups in the first three games if they want to be in the championship round.
Boston has reached the conference finals six of the last seven years, advancing to the finals just once. Indiana’s a great offensive team but inexperienced despite coach Rick Carlisle being in the conference and championship round last decade. Franchise star Jayson Tatum can easily pick the Pacers defense apart with or without Kristaps Porzingis in the lineup. It will be a fun series, but there’s little doubt who wins.
Prediction: Celtics win the conference and the series 4-2
Eastern conference playoff picks record after two rounds: 5-1
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