Predicting anything sports-related is largely impossible, especially when it comes to the madness of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. We've given the first two rounds a run, so let's look back and see how we did in the 2nd round (and perhaps if there are lessons we can learn upon evaluation).
Eastern Conference Depth
Out of the east, we had Panthers in 6 and Capitals in 7, and we should have known that the Capitals were fraudulent, but we were naïve.
The Panthers were a pretty easy pick. Once they got the series in their favor after a Game 5 buttwhooping of Toronto, it didn't matter if the Leafs salvaged Game 6 - it was already over.
The Panthers are everything a playoff team should be: physical, gritty, deep, and beneficiaries of elite, clutch goaltending on the biggest stage.
The Maple Leafs' stars fizzled out when it mattered the most. Consider me shocked. This is my shocked face.
The Penguins have some high-end talent. Not as much as Toronto, but they have it. Any time Sidney Crosby is on the ice, you can expect good things to happen. But look at what happened to the Leafs with their $44M foward core.
They vanished. And when they vanish, there's nothing left to hold onto.
Florida won by simply being a complete team. They didn't do anything extraterrestrial, they just played good hockey up and down the lines.
Same thing with Carolina. They're a complete hockey team that abides by their philosophy and doesn't deviate. They trust the system to make them successful, and they've only lost two games these playoffs as a result.
The Capitals got the benefit of excellent goaltending by Logan Thompson. It didn't matter. When you don't score enough goals, you won't win games.
The Canes just threw weak shots at the net for 60 minutes and eventually one or two of them are bound to go in. It's a simple strategy, but when your defensive structure is so perfect and you play mistake-free, you can do that to great lengths of success.
The Penguins need to look at the Panthers and Canes, teams who are rematching from their 2023 stint in the Eastern Conference Final. These are complete teams, and Pittsburgh can't afford to be top-heavy while forsaking quality depth like these two have.
Western Conference
In the West, we had Jets in 7 and Oilers in 6.
We made the mistake of betting against the Stars in the First Round, so, naturally, we bet against them in the Second Round like bozos and got bitten for it again.
In all sincerity, if Winnipeg managed to win Game 6 in overtime, I think they win Game 7 on the back of Mark Scheifele, but unfortunately we'll never see that simulation.
I think the Jets were finally starting to get the quality of goaltending they needed out of Connor Hellebyuck. It was just too little too late. Meanwhile, Jake Oettinger was pretty much unstoppable.
Goaltending is so important in May and June. And that doesn't just mean throw in a good goaltender. You have to be a playoff goaltender. Right now, Hellebyuck might win all the Vezinas the rest of his career, but he is not a playoff goaltender. Not yet, at least.
The Penguins need to find a surefire option between the pipes, and I'm not sure if he's in our organization right now.
Ironically, in the other series with Edmonton beating Vegas in 5 games, they got the resurgence of Stuart Skinner completely out of nowhere. Sometimes you just have to peak at the right time and things will be alright.
Skinner was unplayable in Round 1, but he almost singlehandedly won them Round 2. The Oilers got enough production from McDavid and Draisaitl. And enough is enough when your goalie pitches back-to-back shutouts late in a series.
Pittsburgh needs to understand that making the playoffs and winning in them is a separate conversation. They can go out and pay Mitch Marner this offseason, be the 3 seed in the Metro and get mopped by the Hurricanes in the first round.
The Stanley Cup only accepts winners. Battle-scarred, tried winners.
Do the Penguins have that right now? I don't think so. Are they closer than people think? Yes.
Kyle Dubas is in a prime position to pull the strings this offseason, but instead of making the flashy choices, he needs to make the right ones. That's what these playoffs are teaching us.
Depth on the lines and dawgs in the pipes.
Act accordingly, Mr. Dubas.