The 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs have produced the final two combatants. The Dallas Stars will take on the Tampa Bay Lightning for hockey’s holy grail.
Game one begins September 19, 2020, in the bubble in Edmonton.
Dallas Stars
The Stars are entering the series on five days rest, having played their last game on Monday, when they dispatched the Vegas Golden Knights in overtime of game five.
What It Took To Get Here
The Stars came from behind in the opening series of the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs by coming from behind 2-1 in the opening round against Calgary to finish them off six games. Next up was the Colorado Avalanche; the Stars outscored the Av’s 10-5 in the first two games and led the series by leads of 2-0 and 3-1 before the Av’s came back to force a game seven, which the Stars narrowly won 5-4 in overtime. The Vegas Knights were next. The clubs traded shutouts in the first two games, with the Stars winning game one 1-0 and the Knights securing their only victory of the series in a game two 3-0 shutout. The final three games were all one-goal games, with two of them going to overtime; the Stars prevailed in all three games winning the series in five games.
Dallas Stars Playoff History
The Stars and Tampa Lightning have never met in playoff action; Dallas last made the cup final in 2000. Falling in six games to the New Jersey Devils; before that, they defeated the Buffalo Sabres in overtime in six games on a controversial Brett Hull skate in the crease goal the previous year 1999. Their first-ever Stanley Cup finals appearance as a franchise was in 1981 when they were the Minnesota North Stars, which they lost in five games to the dynasty New York Islanders. Then as the North Stars in 1991, bowing out to Mario Lemiuex and his Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.
2020 Dallas Stars
This time around the Dallas Stars are being led by defenseman Miro Heiskanen the teams’ leader in points with 22, with Denis Gurianov (RW) and Joe Pavelski (C) leading the team in goals with nine apiece. The Stars have ten players in double digits in points.
In goal, Anton Khudobin has been the go-to man appearing in 19 games with a 12-6 record. His stats are GAA 2.62, .920 SV%, and one shutout. Backing him up is former Tampa Bay Lightning puck stopper, Ben Bishop. Bishop is 6 ft, 7 in, 216 lbs. Bishop is 1-2 in games when called upon and sports a GAA of 5.43, SV% .844 with no shutouts.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning have only one day off to prepare for the Dallas Stars after ridding themselves of a pesky New York Islanders squad that refused to die. The Islanders have been the most challenging test thus far for the Bolts, pushing them to overtime in game six.
What It Took To Get Here
The Tampa Bay Lightning have been accused of having a surprisingly easy road to the 2020 Stanley Cup final than their counterparts. Tampa has had to go through some powerful opponents, teams that were considered contenders; Tampa has beaten their first two opponents in five games, with the Islanders giving them the most difficulty forcing them to go six games. Tampa Bay faced off against the Columbus Blue Jackets in their first round, the same Jackets that shocked everyone by eliminating the Bolts in four straight contests last year. However, Tampa prevailed in five games; they were hard-fought five games, four of the five games were decided by one goal with two games going to overtime and one going to five overtime periods. Next up was 2020 Stanley Cup contenders the Boston Bruins. Again Lightning struck twice in defeating the Bruins in five games; three of those games were decided by one goal, with two games going to overtime and double overtime. Then the New York Islanders, game one was an 8-2 beat down, but the rest of the series was much tighter, three games were one-goal decisions, needing overtime in the last two games. The Bolts achieved all of this without superstar Steven Stamkos.
Tampa Bay Lightning Playoff History
The Tampa Bay Lightning has been to the dance on two other occasions, The first in 2004 when they came from behind trailing the series 3-2 to the Calgary Flames to win the Stanley Cup, and the other in 2015 when they lost in six games to the Chicago Blackhawks.
2020 Tampa Bay Lightning
The Bolts are a depth team even without superstar Steven Stamkos. They have balanced scoring throughout their lineup. Leading the way is (RW) Nikita Kucherov with 26 points followed closely by (C) Braydon Point with 25 points the supporting cast includes four players in double-digit points with (D) Kevin Shattenkirk on the cusp with 9 points. (D) Victor Hedman has been a beast registering 9 (G), 6 (A), 26:31 total ice time most on the team. The 6 ft 6 in Swede Victor Hedman currently is tied for third place in the NHL record books for defensemen with Bobby Orr and Brad Park in playoff goals for one playoff season, Paul Coffey is number one with 12 goals, 25 assists with the Edmonton Oilers in 1984-1985 in 18 games, second place belongs to Brian Leetch of the New York Rangers with 11 goals and 23 assists, in 23 games.
Andrei Vasilevskiy has played in all 19 playoff games for Tampa Bay. He has been a virtual wall, posting a 14-5 win/loss record while compiling a 1.82 GAA, .931 SV% with no shutouts.
Larry Kwong (First Player To Break The NHL Color Barrier) (tedtalkshockey.com)
My prediction for the 2020 Stanley Cup Championship
I predict that the Dallas Stars will skate away with Lord Stanley’s mug in a very low-scoring affair, going seven games and ending late in double overtime.
Please, like, share, and subscribe. Thank you.
Well, as of earlier this evening we’ve pared it down to a best of 5 series. My heart says Stars, simply as a basic preference & add to that, ex-Shark & definitely still a favorite Joe Pavelski who.has been playing so well for the green & white. I hate that Dougie Wilson wouldn’t pay the man his worth to resign him but I would honestly love to see Joe add a Cup to his resume before he eventually retires (which I also hope eventually happens to be in Sharks teal) The play has already developed a nasty & highly competitive edge. Looking forward to more of the same.