NHL Conference Finals Preview

Now there are four teams left standing. We've reached the conference finals in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Winners of these series will face off against each other for the greatest prize in the game of hockey right now. Bragging rights are on the line. Two teams in the East who will be flying around the ice from end to end. Meanwhile, the two teams in the West can score at will, which will make it a track meet of a different kind. Enough talk, lets rock. Here's what we got for the conference finals!

The Eastern Conference will pit the Tampa Bay Lightning against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the battle of the 2nd seeds. Pittsburgh got here by dispatching of the New York Rangers in five in the opening round, then followed that up with a six game series win over the Washington Capitals in the second round. Pittsburgh has made the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2013 (when they were swept by Boston). The Penguins are 176-150 lifetime in the post season.

Tampa Bay got here by knocking off the Detroit Red Wings in the opening round in five games, then took out the New York Islanders in five games in the second round. This marks the 2nd year in a row that the Lightning are playing in the Eastern Conference Finals. Tampa is now 59-50 lifetime in the playoffs. This is the second playoff meeting for these teams. Their only previous series was during the 2011 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, which Tampa Bay came back from a 3–1 series deficit to win in seven games. Tampa Bay won all three games in this year's regular season series.

Here's the dates and times for every game in this series:
May 13 Tampa Bay Lightning 8:00 p.m. Pittsburgh Penguins Consol Energy Center
May 16 Tampa Bay Lightning 8:00 p.m. Pittsburgh Penguins Consol Energy Center
May 18 Pittsburgh Penguins 8:00 p.m. Tampa Bay Lightning Amalie Arena
May 20 Pittsburgh Penguins 8:00 p.m. Tampa Bay Lightning Amalie Arena
May 22 Tampa Bay Lightning 8:00 p.m. Pittsburgh Penguins Consol Energy Center
May 24 Pittsburgh Penguins 8:00 p.m. Tampa Bay Lightning Amalie Arena
May 26 Tampa Bay Lightning 8:00 p.m. Pittsburgh Penguins Consol Energy Center

Fast paced is the best possible way to describe what we're going to watch in this series.Tampa may have a little more rest ending both of their previous series in five games, while the Pens had to go six games in their last series. Here's how this series goes down.

Pick:
Solly: Penguins in 7
Steve: Penguins in 6
3rd Mic Dan: Penguins in 5

The Western Conference Final will pit the St. Louis Blues against the San Jose Sharks. San Jose got here by dispatching of the Los Angeles Kings in five games, then taking care of the Nashville Predators in seven tough games. This marks the first conference finals appearance for the Sharks since 2011. San Jose is now 103-102 lifetime in the playoffs.

Meanwhile St. Louis got here by beating the Chicago Blackhawks in seven, following that up with another seven game series win over the Dallas Stars. This marks the first conference finals appearance for the Blues since 2001. St Louis is now 156-193 lifetime in the playoffs. This is the fifth playoff meeting for these teams, with both teams splitting the four previous playoff series. They last met during the 2012 Western Conference Quarterfinals, which St. Louis won in five games. San Jose won two of the three games in this year's regular season series.

Here are the dates and times for every game in this series:
May 15 San Jose Sharks 8:00 p.m. St. Louis Blues Scottrade Center
May 17 San Jose Sharks 8:00 p.m. St. Louis Blues Scottrade Center
May 19 St. Louis Blues 9:00 p.m. San Jose Sharks SAP Center
May 21 St. Louis Blues 7:15 p.m. San Jose Sharks SAP Center
May 23 San Jose Sharks 8:00 p.m. St. Louis Blues Scottrade Center
May 25 St. Louis Blues 9:00 p.m. San Jose Sharks SAP Center
May 27 San Jose Sharks 8:00 p.m. St. Louis Blues Scottrade Center

The battle for redemption. St Louis had trouble getting out of the first round the last three years, with the Hawks being a big thorn in their side. That was taken care of. San Jose same thing with dealing with the Los Angeles Kings, been there done that. Here's how this series goes down

Pick:
Solly: Blues in 7
Steve: Blues in 6
3rd Mic Dan: Sharks in 7