The clash for the Stanley Cup begins on Tuesday, and either the Vegas Golden Knights or Carolina Hurricanes will drink from hockey’s holy grail for the second time in franchise history.
This may not be the sexiest matchup, but will showcase the game. Both clubs are talented, and play a strong team-first game. Both earned their place with dominating runs.
To top it, both have great storylines to watch.
Here are five we will follow from when the puck drops all the way to the final celebration.
The cage match
This series features a pair of goaltenders who have plenty to prove.
Carolina’s Frederik Andersen has sparkled with a 12-1 record, 1.41 goals-against average, .931 save percentage and three shutouts.
Carter Hart of the Golden Knights has posted a 12-4 mark, and is second behind only Andersen with his 2.22 GAA and .924 save percentage.
Neither goalie has proven to be a difference maker at the biggest time, or ever been considered truly elite, and this is a huge opportunity to solidify their legacy.
Mitch Marner’s breakout
The Vegas forward leads leads the league with 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists). Marner was always considered a top-tier player, but failed to deliver in the clutch during his days with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Now, he is a front-runner for the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP. His play gives the Golden Knights three lines that can regularly create offense, which will put Carolina’s team defense to the test.
As for the capper, you bet the Hurricanes and their faithful know Marner quashed a trade to Carolina last season as a pending free agent before being dealt to the desert in the summer and immediately signing a long-term deal.
Carolina’s struggling top line
It was the death kneel for the Hurricanes in past years when the line featuring Sebastian Aho has struggled or the rest of the team did not step forward. Not so this spring.
Aho has managed only four goals and three assists, and linemates Andrei Svechnikov (3-4-7) and Seth Jarvis (3-5-8) have not been much better.
Yet, thanks to the trio of Taylor Hall, Jackson Blake and Logan Stankoven, and quality fourth-line production, the Hurricanes finally got over the conference final hump.
The chance of Carolina winning this series will drop dramatically if the Aho line does not deliver.
Special teams
Oddsmakers are picking Carolina, but Vegas has a distinct advantage here. The Hurricanes have been great at penalty killing at 92.5 percent, but their power play has been awful (12.5 percent).
The Golden Knights have been nearly as good killing (87.5) but far more successful with the man-advantage (23.9 percent). Oh yeah, Vegas also has netted four short-handed goals.
Goals will be harder to come by for both teams compared to past series. This area will be massive.
Style points
Carolina could be the best-coached team in the league, with a group that plays its system with surgical precision. The Hurricanes stifle teams with their pressure in every zone and create offense with a high-shot volume.
Vegas plays with less up-ice pressure, but is very physical and possesses more high-end scoring.
Expect to see the shot-clock favor Carolina. Whether that works against a team that has far more experience and depth than the trio of clubs the Hurricanes faced to reach this point will be fascinating.
