Stammer Time (1) vs Girouxsome Twosome (4)

Stammer Time

Record: 55-35-9, 119 Points

Category Leaders:

G – 25 – Steven Stamkos

A – 38 – Martin St. Louis

PPP – 18 – Joe Thornton

GWG – 6 – Pavel Datsyuk

SOG – 143 Zach Parise

W – 17 – Henrik Lundqvist

GAA – 2.01 – Corey Crawford

SV% – .928 – Henrik Lundqvist

SO – 2 – Crawford/Emery

Girouxsome Twosome

Record: 44-43-12, 100 Points

Category Leaders:

G – 23 – John Tavares

A – 30 – Ryan Getzlaf

PPP – 19 – Claude Giroux

GWG – 5 – Joe Pavelski

SOG –  131 – Henrik Zetterberg

W – 19 – Price/Niemi

GAA – 2.07 – Anton Khudobin

SV% – .934 – Robin Lehner

SO – 3 – Price/Niemi

Season Comparisons

Matchups

Week 14 – Stammer Time 4 (SOG, W, GAA, SV%) vs Girouxsome Twosome 3 (G, A, PPP)

Week 19 – Stammer Time 5 (G, A, PPP, SOG, GAA) vs Girouxsome Twosome 3 (GWG, W, SV%)

Season Totals

G – 216 vs 230 – GT

A – 398 vs 351 – ST

PPP – 199 vs 207 – GT

GWG – 42 vs 42 – TIE

SOG – 2064 vs 2125 – GT

W – 58 vs 56 – ST

GAA – 2.28 vs 2.51 – ST

SV% – .919 vs .911 – ST

SO – 5 vs 9 – GT

*ST (4-4-1); GT (4-4-1)

This 1 vs 4 match-up features arguably the most dominant team in league history versus the defending champion in a rematch of last years semifinals. ST holds a 19 point advantage over GT and has only lost one match-up while GT only managed to win 4 of 11. While this may make it appear to be a heavy mismatch, this is far from accurate. Both regular season matchups between these two teams were hard fought battles with ST pulling out a narrow win both times. In addition, when comparing category totals, there is zero separation between them. Therefore, despite the large disparity in points this match-up should still be tightly contested. ST comes into this match-up having rebounded solidly from their only loss with two consecutive wins; GT on the other hand limps into the playoffs fresh off a 7-0 beating at the hands of 5th place GIWI. ST has found a way to win all the tight matches to date and although GT is the defending champ and a tough out, ST should prevail. Prediction: 6-3 ST win.

EA Sports Playoff Simulation

Game 1 GT @ ST- 4-3 – With 3 mins left in the 3rd Kadri breaks the tie

Game 2 GT @ ST – 1-5 – Parise with 3 assists and Lundqvist with 28 saves lead the way

Game 3 ST @ GT – 1-4 – GT takes the series lead with 3 quick first period goals

Game 4 ST @ GT – 5-1 – Stamkos helps tie the series with 3 goals and an assist

Game 5 GT @ ST – 0-4 – Stamkos stays hot with 2 points, Lundqvists with 30 saves, ST one win away from the finals

Game 6 ST @ GT – 2-0 – There will be a new champion, Lundqvist with a second straight shutout

ST 4 – GT 2