ECF: (1) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (1) Washington Capitals | Series tied 3-3

[Chairman Maouth]

2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 3 Preview: Capitals vs. Lightning - Sportsnet.ca

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86), of Russia, scores a goal against Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby (70) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, in Washington. The Lightning won 4-2. (Nick Wass/AP)

Coming into 2017-18, it’s fair to say both of these teams had Stanley Cup hopes, although their outlooks were very different.

The Lightning were coming back fully healthy and optimistic that last year’s post-season miss was a blip. A popular pick to reach and/or win the Cup in pre-season predictions, the hockey world largely agreed that the amount of talent in Tampa was too much to ignore them as a huge bounce back candidate. With young goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy rising to the challenge and quickly becoming a Vezina Trophy finalist, the Lightning didn’t really have a weakness and were one of the biggest buyers at the trade deadline.

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[Dont Toews Me Bro]

I have a long history of picking NHL playoff series as well as NFL games and MLB playoff series and am very good at it. My picks for this matchup is as follows:

Lightning in 6

 

[PB12]

Caps lose but i think one thing people are missing is Holtby is going to make it tough on Tampa. 6 tough games for the Bolts.

 

[AlphaCatalyst]

 

[MrClutch86]

LETS GOOOOOO

 

[hockeykicker]

Depends on backstrom injury

 

[Hoek]

Doesn't matter the world is ending since the Caps finally beat the Pens and didn't choke.

 

[The Macho King]

Would have liked a longer break. Oh well.

 

[Hockeyholic]

Tampa. Won't be close either. Washington isn't better in one area.

 

[Hockey4Life91]

Battle of the old Southeast Division foes.

 

[The Macho King]

Lots of soft Russians in this series.

 

[God King Fudge]

Let's gooooooooooooooooo!

I really do believe Boston was the only team that could keep TB out of the finals this year.

TB in 5.

 

[meatwad4343]

bolts in 5. depth and defense will be the difference.

 

[ViD]

This might be the biggest play off Russia vs Russia rivalry ever :

Ovechkin, Kuznetsov, Orlov

Vs

Kucherov, Sergachev, Vasilevsky

 

[66-30-33]

TB in 4.

 

[CupsOverCash]

Might as well be the winners of the eastern divisions. May the best team win..

 

[Leonardo87]

 

[JFleegs]

Going to be a tough fun series, let's do this!

 

[OurlordAndSaviorKuch]

LETSSSSSSSSSSSSS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BOLTSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bring it on. Bolts in 6

 

[TimThomas24]

I have absolutely no history of picking NHL, NFL, and MLB series and am not good at it. My picks as follows:

Lightning in 7.

 

[VinikToWinIt]

Congrats Caps! Let's tussle.

 

[PB12]

Tampa. Won't be close either. Washington isn't better in one area.

I think you are really underestimating Holtby. I think because of him these games will be closer than you think.

 

[Spawn]

I picked the Caps to go all the way to the Cup finals this year, but if I was a Caps fans I'd be a little bit worried about an emotional let down after such a high of beating the Pens. Penguins have been their white whale for a decade. That and the Lightning are a monster team.

They need to be ready to raise their game to an even higher level.

Hoping for a great series. I'll be cheering hard for the Caps.

 

[DFC]

The Caps are about to realize it wasn't the Pens they were losing to all these years.

It was Chris Kunitz.

:p Just kidding. Here's to a fun series, guys.

 

[Victory5]

Lots of soft Russians in this series.

Especially that guy Slava Stamkov, softest of them all.