6 New Jersey (+110) vs. 8 Los Angeles (-130)
How they got here:
New Jersey beat - Florida 4-3, Philadelphia 4-1, NY Rangers 4-2
Los Angeles beat - Vancouver 4-1, St. Louis 4-0, Phoenix 4-1
The puck drops on the Stanley Cup Finals on Wednesday night in Jersey. For the second year in a row, the team that I predicted to win it all in the preseason is still standing. I picked the LA Kings to hoist the Cup back in October. They certainly did not take the path I expected, but they ended up where I thought they would when the season began. The Devils have exceeded expectations as well. They earned the 6 seed in the East and rode a physical team and an all-time great goaltender to the Cup Finals. The Kings and Devils have the highest combined seeds to ever play in the Stanley Cup Finals.
The Los Angeles Kings are attempting to win their 1st Stanley Cup in team history. They have only made it this far once and that was when Wayne Gretzky was in uniform. New Jersey had a great run from the mid 90s until the early 2000s, but are playing in their first Cup Finals since 2003.
At the beginning of the season I thought the Kings would take home their first Cup. They barely made the playoffs and looked like anything but the best team in hockey. They have no doubt been the best team in the playoffs though. This should be a stiff test though. New Jersey has been playing very well. They have been the best forechecking team in the postseason and have Matin Brodeur in net. That is not enough reason for me to waiver from my preseason pick. Lord Stanley's Cup will be heading to the City of Angels.
Prediction - Los Angeles over New Jersey 4-2
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