The Pittsburgh Penguins advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second straight year on Thursday night. They defeated the Ottawa Senators in game seven of their series, winning a double-overtime thriller 3-2. The game-winning goal scorer was Chris Kunitz as his slapshot found the back of the net behind Ottawa's Craig Anderson. The play was set up by none other than Sidney Crosby, the long-time captain of the Penguins.
As a result of the victory, the Nashville Predators now know who they will face in the Stanley Cup Finals. The first time at the dance Predators booked their spot earlier this week when they defeated the Anaheim Ducks.
Nashville versus Pittsburgh doesn't look like it will be a close series on paper: the Pens have the experience, and they have a deeper lineup. However, the betting odds for the Stanley Cup Final do suggest a closely-contested affair. The Preds are just mild underdogs at 6 to 5 with Betway sportsbook.
Will the Penguins be tired?
A fair question with the Penguins is to what extent will fatigue be a factor in the deciding series in the 2017 NHL playoffs? They went seven games against the Washington Capitals, and they just finished seven of them against the Ottawa Senators.
Conversely, the Nashville Predators were much more efficient. After sweeping the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round, Nashville avoided seven-game series against both the St.
Louis Blues and the Anaheim Ducks. It stands to reason that the Predators will be a well-rested team when game one starts on Monday.
Does Nashville have a scouting edge?
You also have to wonder if being able to watch the last two games of the Eastern Conference finals with full attention would help Nashville at all. They've no doubt been scouting out the competition, taking notes with each team in preparation for the championship series in the NHL.
That's an edge that the Pens don't have: Pittsburgh had to give their full attention to Ottawa.
However, there is a pretty big break between the conference finals and the Stanley Cup finals. The two teams will meet in game one on Monday, a game that will come from Pittsburgh. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin will be gunning for their third Stanley Cup in the last nine seasons, having first won it together in 2009.
Nashville, as first-time entrants into the final, will be looking for their first Stanley Cup banner - one that should be a lot harder to get than what the 6 to 5 odds suggest with Betway. Prediction: Penguins in six or less.
