SNN Predicts: 2017 Stanley Cup Finals

Wales		Campbell
Doogie	Result	Doogie	Result
4-2	4-3	4-2	4-2
W-L	7-7	PS	1

Thank goodness. I was getting really worried I was gonna have to pick Ottawa for the Cup simply because the fates were on their side. Unfortunately, this makes for the harder of the two series to call, since...well, let's get to it.

Stanley Cup Finals

(2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (16) Nashville Predators

Playoff History: Shockingly, this post-1991 expansion team from the Western Conference that's never been past the second round has never played against this permanently Eastern team in the playoffs. Weird, eh?

Finals History: We just did this thing last year. Here is an updated table. Incidentally, that is a very high rate of closing the deal for Pittsburgh; I think that might be the highest in the NHL (alongside the Islanders)? I need to check. Certainly, 18-11 (.621) is a damned good winning percentage in the Stanley Cup Finals.

1991	1992	2008	2009	2016
4-2	4-0	2-4	4-3	4-2

Meanwhile, the Preds are in the first Stanley Cup Final of their 18-year history; as noted, this is the first time they've even been out of the second round. Uncharted territory!

Season Series: Team Records: 1-1-0; Goals: 7-5 (NSH); Possession: 52.6% (PIT)

Doogie Says: It's hard to know where to go with this. Pittsburgh is down their best defenceman; Nashville is down their best forward. Pittsburgh's been outpossessed badly in the playoffs but still maintain a high rate of quality scoring chances, while Nashville's been solid but not exceptional at both. The Pens have better forwards, while the Preds have better defence. The Pens have the better PP; the Preds the better PK. Both have had outstanding goaltending. And on we go. Hell, even the analytics models can't agree, with two out of three picking Pittsburgh, but all of them giving their winners a 56-59% chance of winning, which is barely better than generic home-ice advantage. I want to see PK Subban win the Cup to spite all the terrible logic surrounding his departure from Montreal - he's been a beast defensively this postseason, while also being tied for third in points from the blueline - enough so that I almost want to pick Nashville. That said, whether it's the cachet of the defending champs, or skepticism that Nashville can scrouge up enough goals in a seven-game series with Ryan Johansen out of the picture, I'm taking Pittsburgh in seven anyway. Please let me be wrong.

	5	4	1	1	6	2	4
	3	1	5	4	0	0	2