NHL Update

After I would think an unprecedented 4 straight NIGHTS (capped by the Golden KNIGHTS doubling the top ranked Colorado Avalanche in a home 6th), in which a quarterfinal series ended, it will be L.V.(Golden Knights) and T.B. (Lightning) as heavy, heavy and heavy “semis”/faves respectively vs the two franchises, the Canadiens and Islanders (respectively), that each won 4 straight titles, encompassing all 8 titles from (’76-’83).

However, it has been 38 years since the last Isles’ crown while Montreal, which capped an incredible 15 titles in 24 seasons “run,” with that 4th straight crown won in ’79, from (’56-’79), has not titled (nor any other Canada based team), since “same calendar,” 1993.

As referenced above, L.V. doubled top ranked Colorado (remember the teams tied for the top spot in “reg” points) in #6, and won the last 4 to advance to their third “semi” in this, just their fourth season.

The night before (as cited here, on Monday the Canadiens completed a “qtr” sweep of the Winnipeg Jets and on Tuesday, defending champion Tampa Bay 5’d the Hurricanes) the Islanders repeated a 1983, #6 at Nassau Coliseum “wrap” of the Bruins. That was a “semi,” this a “qtr” and from ’68-’92, in 16 of 25 seasons the Bruins either lost to the champion (14 times) or titled led by Bobby Orr and current Isles opponent/Lightning (real homer, but I like Espo) analyst Phil Esposito. I will post TB/Isles notes from last season, T.B. opens over a 5 to 2 fave. L.V. over 4:1 vs the Canadiens is the other opening semis series line.

Las Vegas coach Peter DeBoer, who guided the New Jersey Devils to the ’12 final, called Alex Pietrangelo, pictured above and who was the Blues captain, when they won their lone Cup in ’19, the best player on either team in the Golden Knights 6 game triumph vs the Avalanche.