NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs 2016: Round 3 Preview

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A

nd then there were four. The Conference Finals begin tomorrow for the chance to play for the Stanley Cup. What are the story lines heading into the penultimate series of the Stanley Cup Playoffs?

The Stanley Cup 
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Eastern Conference Finals:

Tampa Bay Lightning vs Pittsburgh Penguins

The Lightning have shown incredible resiliency in advancing to their second consecutive Easter Conference Finals. Victor Hedman, the towering Lightning defender, has even garnered some talk for Conn Smythe consideration. If their captain Steven Stamkos, who has yet to play a minute in these playoffs, has sufficiently recovered, that makes Tampa Bay all that more formidable. Their opponent, the Penguins, are finally looking like the team most pundits predicted before the season began. Although Pittsburgh finally got their identity together at the end of the regular season, there has been no lull in the playoffs and they are going in as a four line team rather than having to depend on Crosby or Malkin to carry the offensive load. This series should be excellent entertainment with both sides featuring speed and skill. Stamkos is really the wild card. If he can play and make a difference, especially on the power play, I think Tampa Bay takes the series in 7 games.

San Jose Sharks vs St. Louis Blues

This series has a number of intriguing story lines. First is the breakthrough for a Blues team that has long been a solid regular season team only to founder in the playoffs. Not this year. Led by captain David Backes and goaltender Brian Elliot, the Blues are now thinking seriously about their first Stanley Cup championship. The Sharks of San Jose are all that stand in their way. Just like the Blues, the Sharks have been a steady regular season power in the NHL, only to lose their way year after year in the playoffs. But likely Hall of Famers Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau, alongside dynamic defender Brent Burns have the Sharks thinking about the organizations first Stanley Cup as well. Which team will vanquish their postseason ghosts? This series is very hard to predict, as the teams seemed so balanced and both were comprehensive winners in their respective Game 7s to get here. If the Blues can stay out of the box and keep the lethal San Jose power play at bay, 5 on 5 would be to their advantage, particularly through Vladimir Tarasenko. St. Louis in 7 games.

Drop the puck: this blog-series returns prior to the start of the Stanley Cup Finals! 

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