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2017 NHL Playoffs: Colorado Avalanche Fan’s 3rd Round Predictions

By Nadia Archuleta

Jan 31, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Nashville Predators left wing Cody McLeod (55) reacts on the ice before playing the Pittsburgh Penguins at the PPG PAINTS Arena. The Penguins won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 31, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Nashville Predators left wing Cody McLeod (55) reacts on the ice before playing the Pittsburgh Penguins at the PPG PAINTS Arena. The Penguins won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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A Colorado Avalanche fan makes predictions for the results of the Conference Finals.

Well, this Colorado Avalanche fan is batting a thousand. (I don’t know baseball — that’s bad, right?) Anyway, I’ve been trying to predict the results of each round of the 2017 NHL Playoffs.

It all went terribly wrong when I made my bracket:


Yes, it’s true the two teams I had playing in the Stanley Cup Finals have been eliminated. The Washington Capitals got eliminated in a second round Game 7 heartbreaker. Joyously, the Chicago Blackhawks were swept by the Nashville Predators in the first round.

Gamely, I tried again:

Related Story: Avs Fans 2nd Round Predictions

I really tried to send good juju to the Washington Capitals:

Related Story: Caps Have Momentum for Game 7 Win

Alas, though the 2001 Colorado Avalanche team had momentum that carried them through a Game 7, the Caps did not. That said, I got the other three series correct and even came close in predicting the number of games.

Well, there is just one more round to go before the actual Stanley Cup Finals. In the tradition of hockey fans everywhere, I’m going to make my predictions of the outcomes.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs Ottawa Senators, Eastern Conference Finals

Mar 23, 2017; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators center Kyle Turris (7) faces off against Pittsburgh Penguins center Nick Bonino (13) in the first period at Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2017; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators center Kyle Turris (7) faces off against Pittsburgh Penguins center Nick Bonino (13) in the first period at Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports /

Will the Pittsburgh Penguins be able to counteract the lethality of Ottawa defenseman Erik Karlsson? Will the Ottawa Senators be able to slow down Sidney Crosby and Evgeny Malkin? Will Crosby succeed in severing another one of Marc Methot’s fingers. We’ll get our answers in this series.

Truthfully, the Ottawa Senators are the serious underdogs. I don’t think anyone outside of Ottawa expected them to get this far.

On the other side we have the reigning Stanley Cup champions. Ever heard that old adage, act like you’ve been there before? Well, the Penguins have, and recently.

I like the Ottawa Senators. However, making it to the third round has been a pretty big achievement for them. For the Penguins, though, anything less than hoisting the Stanley Cup will be considered a failure.

My prediction: Pittsburgh Penguins in 5 games.

Anaheim Ducks vs Nashville Predators, Western Conference Finals

Apr 25, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Sami Vatanen (45) skates behind the goal with pressure from Nashville Predators right winger Miikka Salomaki (20) during the first period in game six of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 25, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Sami Vatanen (45) skates behind the goal with pressure from Nashville Predators right winger Miikka Salomaki (20) during the first period in game six of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

Aren’t we all glad the Battle of the Orange is all over? That was a lot of orange in the series, Anaheim Ducks vs. Edmonton Oilers. Phew! Now we can rest our eyes… wait, the Nashville Predators wear bright yellow. This is the Clash of the Garish.

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Actually, what we have in this series is a hot goalie vs. a relentless team. The Anaheim Ducks are a heavy, bruising team that never stop coming at you. The Predators are riding a hot goalie — and they rely a lot more on skill.

We’re also looking at a rested team vs one with momentum. Nashville finished out their series against the St. Louis Blues on Sunday, so they’re coming into Friday’s game with four days’ of rest. Anaheim, on the other hand, will have just 48 hours. However, they’re coming in hot off of a win against the upstart Edmonton.

Even though the Anaheim Ducks have never been particularly nice to the Colorado Avalanche (ahem, Bruce Boudreau vs Patrick Roy), and even though the Nashville Predators have former Avalanche alternate captain Cody McLeod, I prefer Anaheim.

However, you ride a hot goalie in the playoffs. Pekka Rinne, who’s only allowed 11 goals in 10 games, is the hotter goalie.

My prediction: Nashville Predators in 6

Next: McLeod May Hoist the Cup Before Duchene

How to Watch the Conference Finals

Here is the schedule for the Eastern Conference Finals (all times MDT):

  • Saturday, May 13 at 5:00 pm
  • Monday, May 15 at 6:00 pm
  • Wednesday, May 17 at 6:00 pm
  • Friday, May 19 at 6:00 pm
  • Sunday, May 21 at 1:00 pm
  • Tuesday, May 23 at 6:00 pm
  • Thursday, May 25 at 6:00 pm

Here is the schedule for the Western Conference Finals (all times MDT):

  • Friday, May 12 at 7:00 pm
  • Sunday, May 14 at 5:30 pm
  • Tuesday, May 16 at 6:00 pm
  • Thursday, May 18 at 6:00 pm
  • Saturday, May 20 at 5:15 pm
  • Monday, May 22 at 6:00 pm
  • Wednesday, May 24 at 7:00 pm

The May 20 and 21 games are on NBC. All other games are on NBC Sports Network.

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