2021 NHL Stanley Cup Final: Puck Prose Roundtable Predictions
The 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Final is finally here.
It all starts tonight as the Tampa Bay Lightning take on the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 of the 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena, with the greatest prize in all of sports on the line for both teams.
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This matchup came out of left field to say the least with the upstart Canadiens making a stunning run to the Stanley Cup Final, and the Habs are now four wins away from the storied franchise’s 25th championship and their first since 1993.
In order to make more history, though, they will have to get past the juggernaut that is the Lightning, who are chasing their own history by trying to join the rare company of champions to repeat, with the Pittsburgh Penguins being the last team to do so in 2015-16 and 2016-17.
With Tampa’s abundance of firepower and star power, Carey Price playing at the peak of his powers for Montreal and the Canadiens’ never-say die attitude, this is shaping up to be one hell of a series and the team at Puck Prose got together to give our predictions…
Puck Prose’s 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Final Roundtable Predictions
Andrew Steele-Davis
Tampa Bay Lightning over the Montreal Canadiens in 7
My heart really wants the Montreal Canadiens to win because I think it will be great for the NHL, but, and although I think it will go the full 7, Tampa Bay’s postseason experience will shine through and they will repeat as champions.
Conn Smythe Winner: Brayden Point
Point has been red hot throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs so far with 14 goals in 18 games, and he will continue to be the focal point in this explosive Lightning offense, leading them to a second Stanley Cup in as many years.
Brett Chaves
Tampa Bay Lightning over Montreal Canadiens in 6
Conn Smythe Winner: Brayden Point
Brendan Azoff
Tampa Bay Lightning over Montreal Canadiens in 5
Conn Smythe Winner: Nikita Kucherov
Matt McGinnis
Tampa Bay Lightning over Montreal Canadiens in 6
Conn Smythe Winner: Carey Price
Nick Herrera
Montreal Canadiens over Tampa Bay Lightning in 7
Conn Smythe Winner: Carey Price
Scott Cowan
Tampa Bay Lightning over Montreal Canadiens in 7
As a Montreal resident myself, I would be lying if I said I haven’t been swept up in the commotion that’s resulted from Montreal’s improbable Playoff run but, regardless, I’m still going to side with Tampa in this series, even if it will be closely fought.
While Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas’ attempt at running the team like NHL 21’s GM Mode failed spectacularly, Tampa is a video game-esque team in many ways, and while I think Montreal’s strong, trap-oriented defense will put up a solid fight, I still think the Lightning will prevail.
However, as has been proven multiple times over the course of these Playoffs, anything is possible.
Conn Smythe Winner: Carey Price
Not since Jean-Sebastien Giguere won the Conn Smythe as a member of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in 2003, has a member of the losing team in the Stanley Cup Final won Playoff MVP. Well, while I do believe that Montreal has a legitimate shot to do the impossible here and bring the Cup back up North, should they lose, I still think Price is deserving of the Conn Smythe should he keep up his strong performances from the previous rounds.
Much like Giguere, Price has taken a Montreal team that’s taken a defense-first approach to their play, and served as the lifeblood of their team and the last resort should all else fail. While he hasn’t benefited from Giguere’s ridiculously huge equipment in 2003, I still feel as though Price is the front-runner for the Conn Smythe Trophy even if the Montreal Canadiens ultimately fall short.
Next. 2021 Stanley Cup Final Game 1 Primer. dark
So, there you have it, you have heard from the Puck Prose team and now we want your predictions for the 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Final between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Montreal Canadiens – let us know in the comments below!