Time for a fresh open thread! The third round of the race to the Stanley Cup begins tonight with Vegas at Colorado, with the other series (Montreal vs. Carolina, aka the Kotkaniemi Bowl) starting Thursday night. Are we still headed for an inevitable Avs/Canes Final or will the Knights or Habs play spoiler?
Historically, playing fewer games in the first two rounds serves as an advantage at this point. So while Vegas or Montreal may carry some momentum into the first couple of games, as those series go on the fresh legs for Colorado and Carolina will win out.
At the AHL level, the Cleveland Monsters are tied 1-1 in their North Division Final series against the Toronto Marlies. Game 3 is tonight in The Six.
The IIHF World Championships are also happening now, with Mathieu Olivier wearing an “A” for Team USA (despite being raised in Quebec, he was born in Mississippi, to date the only NHLer of that distinction) and Jet Greaves and Denton Mateychuk playing for Canada.
In front office moves, don’t expect much until Don Waddell returns from attending the worlds. He extended Charlie Coyle last week, and Aaron Portzline makes it sound like Boone Jenner could end up squeezed out.