With the races for the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs hitting the home stretch, we identify the teams we'd like to see square off in the Eastern Conference final and the Western Conference final. (Spoiler alert: Multiple writers would be into a Sharks-Jets matchup, of which we'll get a preview on Tuesday, streaming on ESPN+).
What is the ideal final four in the Stanley Cup playoffs?
The Lightning are the juggernaut that the NHL needs, but their journey to the Stanley Cup Final should be as difficult as possible. So after dispatching either the second or third best team in the conference in the second round -- thanks, absurd NHL playoff bracketing!