The NHL's conference finals are upon us! The hockey season is close to being wrapped up, with the battle for Lord Stanley looming. What should you expect from the matchups before the Cup is hoisted?
Biggest Storyline: McDavid vs. McKinnon: Nathan McKinnon and Connor McDavid headline the most anticipated conference final matchup in a long time. Both superstars are making their impact felt in the league, leading their teams to unbridled success. It'll be a high-scoring affair with McDavid (44 goals, 79 assists) and Leon Draisaitl (55 goals, 55 assists) going up against a balanced attack led by McKinnon (32 goals, 56 assists) and Mikko Rantanen (36 goals, 56 assists).
Can Kroenke Win Another Title? Stan Kroenke has a chance to win two titles in a single calendar year. Having already won a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams, the Avs owner is in a good position to hoist the Stanley Cup. He'd be the first owner since Bill Davidson pulled this off (2003-2004 with the Detroit Pistons and Tampa Bay Lightning). Can Silent Stan make history?
Can the Bolts Three-Peat? There's another storyline that deserves attention: the Tampa Bay Lightning on their quest for three straight Stanley Cups. You know the names at this point: Stamkos (42 goals, 64 assists) and Victor Hedman (20 goals, 65 assists). But what's more noteworthy is the balance at every position. Whether you're looking at Andrei Vasilevskiy or Nikita Kucherov, the Bolts are stacked at every position.
What About the Rangers? Don't discount Gerard Gallant and his crew, though. Gallant has been here before, leading the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final in the team's first season. With a strong veteran squad, it's easy to see why New York could make some noise.
