Stanley Cup Playoffs: Predictions for each second round series

(1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (5) Vancouver Canucks

Two high-octane offenses square off in a series that should feature a ton of goals.

Why Vegas can win: So far, the Vegas Golden Knights have lost just one game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. And even then, they significantly outplayed the Chicago Blackhawks in that loss and forced Corey Crawford to have a career-defining game to keep his team alive.

Through eight games, the Golden Knights have shown off their impressive depth. They have seven players with at least 2 goals, four with at least 3 goals, and three with at least 4. Each of the 20 skaters they have used in Edmonton have at least one point. All but three of them have at least two points.

Vegas has averaged 3.75 goals per game in the postseason, which is second in the NHL. Only the Colorado Avalanche (3.88) have averaged more. Defensively, they’ve allowed the third-fewest shots on goal. Their goaltending hasn’t been as great as expected, but Robin Lehner and Marc-Andre Fleury have made enough big saves to keep their team winning. Honestly, that’s all you can ask for from your goalies in the playoffs.

Why Vancouver can win: As great as the Golden Knights have been this postseason, they have one flaw. They’re allowing a bit too many high-danger scoring chances. Vancouver is well-equipped to exploit this weakness. J.T. Miller does some of his best work in those areas. So does Bo Horvat.

The Canucks are also capable of matching Vegas in a high-scoring affair. Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes have been amazing this postseason. They’ll need them to continue to be amazing to beat the Golden Knights. On top of that, Jacob Markstrom has been terrific in net. He might be able to steal a game or two.

PREDICTION: Vegas in 6. I love the Canucks, but man, the Golden Knights are a heck of a team. They attack you in waves and they make you pay for your mistakes. That’s something the St. Louis Blues didn’t do with the Canucks in the first round.