While the Eastern Conference features the defending conference champion taking on a team that won a Stanley Cup seven years ago, the Western Conference features two perennially underachieving clubs that have routinely disappointed their fans. One team will finally break through and reach the Cup Final.
Aside from maybe the Penguins, I don't think league executives are particularly excited about what any of these teams are going to do as far as bringing eyes to television sets. While people inclined to watch any kind of postseason hockey regardless of whom is involved (such as, you know, myself) can find reasons to be intrigued by the possibilities, I doubt the same can be said for most casual observers around the country.
Both series this round have clear potential to be tightly fought contests that go the full maximum number of games, so perhaps there's a chance that highly-entertaining games lead to increased interest from the general public. Somehow, I doubt it though. Not when you've got a record-breaking NBA team and LeBron possibly about to meet over in the other league.
In descending order of confidence, I guess:
The Blues have not made a lot of the same Blues-like mistakes we've come to expect from St. Louis in years past. That doesn't mean there aren't still a whole bunch of terribly undisciplined and careless players on the team who won't take bad penalties. When that happens, the Sharks are poised to make the Blues pay. I'm openly rooting for San Jose from here on out, so maybe this is wishful thinking on my part. While St. Louis can hold its own on defense, the Sharks will be the toughest defense the Blues have played thus far in the playoffs. Ultimate point here is that San Jose can roll four lines of guys who are all contributing right now, and sooner or later the Sharks are going to exploit the weaknesses that have been evident in St. Louis' game.
OK, I'm done doubting the Bolts. They dispatched both opponents with relative ease, and while the Pens will be a significant step up from the two teams they've played thus far, I'm simply not picking against Tampa again. While the Lightning didn't win the Cup last year, it wasn't because they were completely outclassed. Tampa Bay is a very good, well-rounded team that seems like it's going to be fine even if Steven Stamkos ends up moving to Toronto this summer. Maybe Trevor Daley will finally get exposed this series and Blackhawks fans can stop thinking he's better than he actually is simply because he's now on a team that is still playing.
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