Your Eastern Conference Semi-Final Preview & Saturday Evening Open Thread

YEE-HAW! The second round started Thursday night, but with the NFL Draft getting in the way, there seemed no place for discussion. So, while the Games 2 are underway, we shall discuss as if nothing has happened & the Capitals are really not really laying another trap for their opponent.

Pittsburgh vs. Washington

This right here should be the Conference finals. The two marquee teams left on this side of the draw (RIP Maple Leafs & Toronto media bias), it has pretty much everything you want from a playoff series:

• defending champions
• last hurrahs of fading stars
• goalies with shaky nerves
• two teams that hate each other
• one team with a legacy of success against the other.

I’m too lazy to go look, but I recall Deadspin making the point that each Penguins Cup this century was preceded by them beating the Capitals to move on. All signs point to another repeat of the script.

And yet.

Ha ha – just kidding. Anyone who thinks the Capitals might have learned their lesson by coming back against Columbus is forgetting that it was Columbus. John Tortorella can’t coach his way out of an equipment bag in the playoffs anymore, and is the one most responsible for wasting the best years of Henrik Lundqvist’s career. Barry Trotz might be the Caps coach, but in his mind he’s still the Predators coach, and like those teams, they don’t have a hope of getting past the second round with Barry Trotz in charge.

Prediction: Penguins in six.

Boston vs. Tampa Bay

Every Canadian’s eternal gratitude goes out to the Bruins for absolutely wrecking the Leafs psyche in Game 7, and thus shutting down the Toronto Media Complex that kept inundating viewers outside the 406 with highlights & analysis while completely ignoring Canada’s other team – the one that made the second round.

Now, this series is going to hinge on whether Tuuka Rask can get it back together. The Lightning are just that, and Steven Stamkos is playing with a chip on his shoulder about as big as the blame he carries around for his injury costing the Bolts last year’s playoffs.

Because the League has asked Brad Marchand to stop treating other teams like free samples at Baskin Robbins, he will have to focus on scoring, which he doesn’t do quite as well if he’s not 100% being a pest.

Full disclosure: I am a lifelong Bruin’s fan (blame it on parents who were Leafs & Habs fans), but I can’t see them being able to overcome the tools Tampa has at their disposal. They’ll get one, but will have to tee off knowing they at least ruined Toronto’s summer.

Prediction: Tampa in five.

Beerguyrob’s brief, spoiler-free review of “Infinity War”:

It’s FUCKING AWESOME! Go see it in the theatre. There’s always a few nits to pick, but I’m not nerding that far down. It’s a visual delight and doesn’t slow down the whole time.

Tonight’s sports:

• NHL:
  • Sharks at Vegas – 8:00PM | NBC / CBC
• NBA:
  • Bucks at Celtics – Game 7 – 8:00PM | TNT / TSN
  • Pelicans at Warriors – Game 1 – 10:30PM | TNT / Sportsnet1
• MLB:
  • Yankees at Angels – 9:00PM | FS1
• AFL:
  • Fremantle vs. West Coast – 2:30AM | TSN2
• MMA:
  • Fedor vs. Mir – 9:00PM | Paramount (FKA Spike)
• Johnsonville Cornhole Championships:
  • ACL Kick-Off Battle – 10:00PM | ESPN2