NHL: Who will advance to the Stanley Cup finals? [Poll]

Writers from around Tribune Co. discuss who will advance to the Stanley Cup finals -- the Kings or the Chicago Blackhawks from the Western Conference and the Pittsburgh Penguins or the Boston Bruins from the Eastern Conference.

Please join the conversation by voting in the polls and leaving a comment of your own.

Ron Fritz, Baltimore Sun

When I was asked to predict a Stanley Cup winner at the beginning of the playoffs, I chose the Pittsburgh Penguins. So I’m sticking with them to reach the final in six games over the Boston Bruins.

Unfortunately, one of the reasons I liked the Penguins to win it all was veteran goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. He’s already on the bench, but I don’t think the Bruins can score enough to keep up with the high-powered Penguins.

Out West, I still like the Los Angeles Kings in seven games. I said before the playoffs started that they were getting on a roll, and nothing I’ve seen in the first two rounds has discouraged that.

The Chicago Blackhawks are scary, though, and they will have home ice. Coming back against the Red Wings showed a lot, and it’s going to be a war with the Kings.

[Updated at 1:07 p.m.:

Helene Elliott, Los Angeles Times

Kings Coach Darryl Sutter is fond of saying the NHL is a 3-2 league, meaning games are tight and close. In the playoffs -- for the Kings, at least -- it has been a 2-1 league because scoring is always lower in the playoffs and they’ve played seven 2-1 games.

For that reason, I’m picking Jonathan Quick and the Kings. Chicago has great scoring depth and the Kings are lucky to score two, but the Kings can win those 2-1 games and should win this series in seven.

In the East, the Penguins’ offense simply never stops. Tomas Vokoun has done a good job replacing the shaky Marc-Andre Fleury, but his defense is sometimes careless. The Bruins are disciplined and have a much better defense. Bruins in seven.]

[Updated at 1:29 p.m.:

Chris Kuc, Chicago Tribune

The defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings are peaking at the right time and have a difference-maker in goaltender Jonathan Quick. Both big and fast, the Kings will pose matchup problems for the Chicago Blackhawks, who have a hot net-minder themselves in Corey Crawford.

Home-ice advantage will help energize the Hawks, but the experienced Kings won’t be intimidated by the raucous United Center crowds. The Hawks’ top players need to find another level if the Presidents’ Trophy winners are to advance.

Kings in 7.

The Kings will meet the Penguins in the Final after Pittsburgh rides its stars Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang in what should be a hard-fought Eastern Conference final battle. The biggest question is how the Penguins will respond after an eight-day layoff between the conference semis and finals.

The Bruins have plenty of weapons, and Tuukka Rask has been outstanding in goal. Boston must figure out a way to beat the Penguins in Pittsburgh. The Bruins’ top line of David Krejci, Nathan Horton and Milan Luc has been dominant, but it won’t be enough.

Penguins in 6.]

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