Here we go.
After six months of regular-season games, trades, hirings, firings, rumours, near misses, some amazing highs, and some depressing lows, not to mention six weeks of playoffs featuring 14 series of intense hockey, we have finally arrived at the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Final.
The Colorado Avalanche vs. The Tampa Bay Lightning.
The News Kids on the Block vs. The Champs.
Colorado hasn’t won the Stanley Cup since 2001, and are a perfect 2-and-0 in Cup Final appearances.
Tampa, of course, has taken home the Stanley Cup the past two years, and are 3-for-4 in Cup Final appearances, winning their first championship in 2004, coached by some guy named John Tortorella.
The Lightning are the first NHL team to make it to three straight Stanley Cup Final appearances since the Edmonton Oilers did so in 1983, 1984, and 1985. The Lightning are looking to become the first NHL team to win the Stanley Cup in three straight seasons since the New York Islanders accomplished the feat in 1981, 1982, and 1983.
Only the Toronto Maple Leafs (twice), Montreal Canadiens (twice), and the aforementioned Islanders have managed to string together at least three Stanley Cup championship seasons in a row.
This 2022 Cup Final series could be one for the ages, what with the cornucopia of fantastic, game-breaker players up-and-down the rosters of both teams. Yes, the Lightning are expected to have an edge between the pipes, but after that, flip a coin. Hopefully seven times.
As for the 2022 NHL Fearless Playoff Predictions Pool, it’s been an impressive run for most of the staff, which makes up for some rather lean springs in the past few years. Nine of the contestants have chosen the Avalanche to win the Cup…eight of the contestants say it’ll be the Lightning.
Here’s the standing after three rounds…
10.Tyler Madarasz 15 points (10 for 14)
11.Mick Kern 15 points (10 for 14)
12.Bruce Bolton 15 points (9 for 14)
13.Jake Hahn 15 points (9 for 14)
14.Gord Stellick 15 points (8 for 14)
15.Dennis Bernstein 12 points (8 for 14)
16.Mike Lippa 12 points (7 for 14)
17.Peter Berce 11 points (7 for 14)
Keep in mind this is not a bracket challenge. We have submitted our predictions round-by-round. Tune in to “Under Review” on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio Channel 91, every weekday at 11 am Eastern/8 am Pacific, for the latest Fearless Playoff Predictions updates.
FEARLESS STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF PREDICTION CHAMPIONS
2022 Champion – ????????
2021 Champion – Bruce Bolton (2)
2020 Champion – Dennis Bernstein
2019 Champion – Jim Gordon
2018 Champion – Joe Thistel (3)
2017 Champion – Peter Berce (2)
2016 Champion – Mike Lippa
2015 Champions – Peter Berce & Nick Alberga
2014 Champion – Joe Thistel (2)
2013 Champion – Bruce Bolton
2012 Champion – Mick Kern (4)
2011 Champion – Joe Thistel
2010 Champions – Scott Laughlin (2) & Shawn Lavigne
2009 Champions – Scott Laughlin & Mick Kern (3)
2008 Champion – Mick Kern (2)
2007 Champions – Mike Ross & Mick Kern
46 points is the maximum number of points one can achieve. Mike Lippa holds the record with 36 points in 2016.
And Now…Our Fearless 2022 Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions – Stanley Cup Final
Dave McCarthy – 23 Points
Tampa Bay in 6
Conn Smythe winner: Steven Stamkos
(originally picked Tampa to win the Cup…Steven Stamkos MVP)
Steve Kouleas – 21 Points
Colorado in 6
Conn Smythe winner: Cale Makar
(originally picked Colorado to win the Cup…Nate MacKinnon MVP)
Jim Gordon – 18 Points
Tampa Bay in 7
Conn Smythe winner: Nikita Kucherov
Joe Thistel – 17 Points
Tampa Bay in 6
Conn Smythe winner: Andrei Vasilevskiy
Jesse Ralph – 17 Points
Tampa Bay in 7
Conn Smythe winner: Andrei Vasilevskiy
Scott Laughlin – 17 Points
Colorado in 7
Conn Smythe winner: Cale Makar
(originally picked Colorado to win the Cup…Cale Makar MVP)
Bernie Corbett – 17 Points
Colorado in 7
Conn Smythe winner: Cale Makar
Jonathan Davis – 16 Points
Colorado in 6
Conn Smythe winner: Cale Makar
(originally picked Colorado to win the Cup…Cale Makar MVP)
Shane Malloy – 16 Points
Tampa Bay in 6
Conn Smythe winner: Andrei Vasilevskiy
(originally picked Tampa to win the Cup…Andrei Vasilevskiy MVP)
Tyler Madarasz – 15 Points
Tampa Bay in 6
Conn Smythe winner: Andrei Vasilevskiy
Mick Kern – 15 Points
Colorado in 7
Conn Smythe winner: Cale Makar
Bruce Bolton – 15 Points
Tampa Bay in 6
Conn Smythe winner: Steven Stamkos
(originally picked Tampa to win the Cup…Steven Stamkos MVP)
Jake Hahn – 15 Points
Tampa Bay in 6
Conn Smythe winner: Steven Stamkos
Gord Stellick – 15 Points
Colorado in 6
Conn Smythe winner:
Dennis Bernstein – 12 Points
Colorado in 6
Conn Smythe winner: Cale Makar
(originally picked Colorado to win the Cup…Mikko Rantanen MVP)
Mike Lippa – 12 Points
Colorado in 6
Conn Smythe winner: Nathan MacKinnon
(originally picked Colorado to win the Cup…Nathan MacKinnon MVP)
Peter Berce – 11 Points
Colorado in 7
Conn Smythe winner: Cale Makar
(originally picked Colorado to win the Cup…Nathan MacKinnon MVP)
RELATED CHANNELS
Grateful Dead Channel (Ch. 23) celebrates the life and legacy of Jerry Garcia during “The Days Between,” August 1–9, marking the time between Jerry’s birth and his passing.
The Dog Days of August get going this Saturday, with the Cards and the Jays meeting up in Toronto.
Michelle Branch celebrated the 25th anniversary of her breakthrough album, “The Spirit Room,” with an exclusive performance in front of a live audience on PopRocks (Ch. 6).
Shania Twain returned to where it all began for an intimate, one-night-only SiriusXM concert at Racket NYC.
Elizabeth Hurley is opening up about why her relationship with Billy Ray Cyrus works and sharing what it was like meeting Miley Cyrus.
During the July 21 episode of Radio Andy’s “The Julia Cunningham Show,” Amy Adams revealed that Kirstie Alley gave her the confidence to move to Los Angeles…
