2019-2020 STANLEY CUP FINAL PREVIEW
May 18, 2020
We have reached the Stanley Cup Final! This year will have the St. Louis Blues taking on the Montreal Canadiens! Lets take a look how these Two Franchises have reached the Stanley Cup.
St. Louis Blues(45-24-13) VS
Montreal Canadiens(43-34-5)
WEST: St. Louis has been building for this for the past few years. General Manager Doug Armstrong had built this Club to not only make the Playoffs but contend for a Stanley Cup. In 2016 the Blues were in the Western Conference Final and lost to the San Jose Sharks. Last year, the Blues once again made a run all the way to the Western Conference Finals losing to the Sharks again. This year however the Blues made a deep run where they outlasted Central Division Rival, Dallas Stars in 7 Games in the First Round. In Round Two, the Blues got past the Central Division Champions, the Minnesota Wild in another 7 Game Series. The Wild beat Nashville in 5 Games in the First Round. In the Western Conference Finals, St. Louis met another Central Division rivals, the Colorado Avalanche and won the Series in 6 games. Colorado got past Anaheim and Arizona in the First Round. 6 Games to Anaheim and 7 to the Coyotes. The St. Louis Blues are built for this. Vladimir Tarasenko is leading the Blues with 14 Goals and 5 Assists this Playoff run. Ryan O'Reilly is a monster with 15 Assists. Netminder Robin Lehner has a 12-7-1 record with a 927% Save percentage. Doug Armstrong traded for Lehner from the New York Islanders last year and gave him a 3 Year Deal this past Off-Season. This also leaves backup Goalie Jordan Binnington's future in St. Louis a giant question mark. Head Coach Mike Yeo has a great Team on the ice for St. Louis and the Blues have made the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1970.
EAST: Montreal is no stranger to the Stanley Cup Finals, having won more Cups than any other Franchise in the NHL. Even the Habs Head Coach, Claude Julien is a Stanley Cup winner. Last time the Canadiens hoisted Lord Stanley for the 24th time in Franchise History was back in 1993. This was also the last time Montreal has reached the Cup Final sending the Habs Franchise into a 27 year drought. The Canadiens are hoping this year their Cinderella Story carries them. Montreal started their Playoff run adding another chapter in their epic rivalry against the Boston Bruins in 7 Games in the First Round. What was the ultimate gut punch for Boston was they won 58 Games, the most in the NHL this year and lost Game 7 inside the TD Garden. Head Coach Bruce Cassidy was fired afterwards signaling a new ERA in New England. In Round 2, Montreal beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in 7 Games to make the Eastern Conference Finals. The Habs made quick work of the Blue Jackets who made history themselves winning a Playoff Series and making the Conference Finals for the First Time in Franchise History. Columbus knocked out Carolina in 7 Games to make Round 2. In the Second Round, Columbus upset Toronto in 7 Games making Patrick Marleau have to wait another year to win Lord Stanley. The Maple Leafs upset the 57 Win Pittsburgh Penguins in the First Round sending Crosby, Malkin, and Company back home. Tampa beat Buffalo in 7 Games to reach Round 2. The biggest question mark for Montreal however is going to be their Offense. Brendan Gallagher leads the Canadiens with just 7 Goals this entire Playoff run. Montreal will rely heavily on Joe Thornton who leads with 8 Assists. Thornton won his first Cup last year in San Jose. Montreal has one of the best between the pipes, Carey Price(12-6-1) with a 944% Save Percentage.
The Canadiens are going to have to keep pace with the Blues but St. Louis appears to be firing on all cylinders.
PREDICTION: Blues in 6.