OK, so I went back to the last 10 years, and it was interesting. During that time, the gap between last conference final game and SCG Game 1 was:
* A week: Never
* 3 days: Twice ('09, '14)
* 4 days: 4x ('13, '15, '16, '17)
* 5 days: 4x ('08, '10, '11, '12)
To me, that suggests @LadyStanley's comments may have nailed it.
a. TBL close out the series tonight = Game 1 as early as Thursday, but Friday or Saturday more likely (3, 4 or 5 days).
b. TBL in 7 = Game 1 @ Amalie on Saturday, Sunday or Monday.
c. WSH in 7 = Game 1 @ T-Mobile on Sunday or Monday.
Could they do 2 days of rest and make it Friday/Monday @ T-Mobile (may be best for ticket sales)? Sure, but it hasn't happened in the last 10 years.
Seems unlikely that if TBL wins tonight Game 1 would be delayed 7 days until Monday, Memorial Day.
Just saw during the Lightning-Caps game that Game 1 is officially Monday.In the late 90s for some reason they used to delay the finals and it would take until the 2nd or 3rd week in June to finish, just before the draft. I still remember the 99 Dallas series and how they were trying to keep the ice from turning into a foggy lake mid-June. I don't know when they axed that long delay but I always expect a long wait to get the finals underway.
For some reason I keep reading the 28th for the start of the finals.
We've done just fine with long breaks.It's BS you punish teams for performing better in the Conference Final round. Their last game on Wednesday probably gives them five days, more than enough to recover, and us eight days, too much and rusty.
In the late 90s for some reason they used to delay the finals and it would take until the 2nd or 3rd week in June to finish, just before the draft. I still remember the 99 Dallas series and how they were trying to keep the ice from turning into a foggy lake mid-June. I don't know when they axed that long delay but I always expect a long wait to get the finals underway.
For some reason I keep reading the 28th for the start of the finals.
NBC too.
If TB wins, guessing M, W in Florida. Sa, M Vegas. W TB. F Vegas, Su TB.
If WAS wins, guessing M, W Vegas. F, Su WAS. Tu Vegas. Th WAS. Sa Vegas.
Engelland accepts the trophy. And he touches it (some superstitious teams refuse to touch it).