Lightning 3, Canadiens 2 (3OT): That’s proper, I mentioned it, triple-overtime, as a result of three extra durations shouldn’t be going to be sufficient to resolve this epic recreation and epic collection. I choose Tampa Bay due to the way in which goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy performed in aim in Sport 6. He was wonderful, displaying the shape that made him a back-to-back Stanley Cup winner in 2020 and 2021, and I anticipate that to proceed in Sport 7. This recreation might come to which all-world expertise goal-scoring ahead will get it achieved between Nikita Kucherov of the Lightning or Cole Caufield of the Canadiens. However in video games like these, it’s normally gritty, gutty gamers like forwards Nick Paul (Lightning) or Brendan Gallagher (Canadiens) who play hero. — Invoice Worth, Editor-in-Chief
Lightning 3, Canadiens 1: Montreal had its likelihood to win this collection and squandered it with an time beyond regulation loss in Sport 6. It had an growing old heavyweight champion on the ropes however couldn’t rating the knockout. Now, the battle-hardened vets from the Lightning, earlier than a house crowd, step to the fore. Anticipate Kucherov, Vasilevskiy, ahead Brandon Hagel and coach Jon Cooper to have their fingers throughout this win. — Shawn P. Roarke, senior director of editorial
Canadiens 3, Lightning 2: The Canadiens are due a lucky bounce, which is why they’re going to win Sport 7. In a collection this tight, it’s going to take a lucky break to separate the 2 groups. Tampa Bay obtained its share in a 1-0 time beyond regulation win in Sport 6 and now it’s Montreal’s flip to have the puck bounce its method. Every group has alternated successful video games within the collection, and I consider the pattern continues in Sport 7. The Canadiens will win the wildly entertaining collection between two wonderful groups. — Derek Van Diest, workers author
Lightning 2, Canadiens 1 (OT): For somebody who’s been masking this epic first-round matchup, how do you choose between groups that had the identical variety of factors through the common season (106), have performed 4 time beyond regulation video games on this collection, have every scored 14 objectives and are each 2-1 on the street? It is perhaps simpler to determine how one can get blood from a stone. I’m going with Tampa Bay as a result of I picked the Lightning earlier than the playoffs to win this collection and go on to symbolize the Jap Convention within the Stanley Cup Ultimate. That’s the one motive. No scientific analysis. No analytical rationalization. And after watching these younger Canadiens, they’ve proven completely no worry of the large moments and will win. For that to occur, it’s time for Caufield, Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky, members of Montreal’s high line who’ve every but to attain a good power aim within the collection, to step up. Ultimately, I’ll go together with the Lightning’s Hagel, who has six objectives within the collection, to attain the OT winner. Whoever wins, thanks to those two groups for the epic present. — Mike Zeisberger, workers author