Montreal's Dream Will End in the Conference Finals

History is going against both of the NHL Western Conference finalists while out in the East one of three underdogs will come out on top, we just don’t know which will do it.

Well somebody has to win
San Jose’s brief history in the NHL is one of unfulfilled promise. Twice the Sharks have entered the playoffs as the #8 seed and knocked off the #1 seed only to bow out tamely in the Conference Semi-Finals. Only once before this season have the Sharks gone all the way to the Conference Finals, only to lose out to an upstart Edmonton team. This is a franchise which tends to blow up just after recording an impressive victory. Did I mention they enter this game having stomped Detroit 4-1 in the semi-finals? Luckily for San Jose, Chicago has its own demons to bury.

The Blackhawks haven’t won the Stanley Cup since 1961 and have failed to win the Western Conference since 1992. Last season was the first time since 1996 Chicago even made it past the first round of the playoffs. Put simply, this is a franchise accustomed to losing.

Don’t let history cloud your NHL betting decisions. On the ice is where one of this teams will overcome past failures and make it to the Stanley Cup Finals. Regular season form would indicate Chicago and I initially backed the Blackhawks to win the West back at the start of the playoffs, but I also predicted the Capitals to win it all and we know how that turned out. Both teams have shown an ability to come through in the clutch during these playoffs and I think this could go the full seven games but Chicago will win it in the end.

Don’t worry Habs fans, I still think you’ll lose
In the Conference Quarter Finals and Semi Finals I predicted Montreal to lose to Washington and Pittsburgh. Both times it seemed to make sense. Washington had dominated the regular season while Pittsburgh won the Stanley Cup last year. Jaroslav Halak has laughed at my efforts with his dominant performances helping the Canadiens advance to the Conference Finals for the first time since winning the Stanley Cup in 1993. With the Philadelphia Flyers or Boston Bruins offering, on paper, an easier task than the Capitals or Penguins it would seem sensible to finally pick Montreal to win.

In the words of Lee Corso, not so fast my friend. Both the Bruins and Flyers possess bruising teams with a level of physicality that can match anything Montreal can throw at them. The Canadiens beat Pittsburgh and Washington by showing they were more suited to playoff Hockey. I’ve a newsflash for our friends in Montreal, Boston and the Flyers are more than a match for the Habs on that front. It doesn’t matter who wins tonight, if it’s the Bruins or Philadelphia. The Cinderella story ends in the Conference Finals, Montreal’s season will end inside of six games.

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