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# From the Branches: It’s time for some southern hockey
- URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/toronto-maple-leafs-news-winnipeg-jets-beat-nashville-predators-nhl-conference-finals-paul-stastny/
- Published: 2018-05-11T09:00:01.000Z
- Updated: 2018-05-11T09:00:01.000Z
- Description: The conference finals are set, bless their hearts.
- Author: Nafio
- Tags: From The Branches, #chorus, #Import 2023-04-05 11:15

The final four found their final team last night. The Jets\* knocked off the Nashville Predators 5-1 to move on to the Western Conference Final, where they will doubtless be run over by the Vegas Golden Knights.

This means all four teams in the conference finals are southern market teams, which makes sense. With June temperatures like this, what else would you do except go inside the ice rink and play some hockey?

(Temperatures are in Celsius, because even if hockey is a southern sport, the centre of the hockey universe is still Toronto, obviously).

It is Friday, thank everything, and we have another hockey game tonight! After the mid-week hockey-free wasteland we get one game every day for the next eight days at least. Bolts and Caps kick things off the Eastern Conference Finals.

### ICYMI

[What Can Jett Woo Do For You? A Look At The WHL Standout Draft Prospect - Pension Plan Puppets](https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/what-can-jett-woo-do-for-you-maple-leafs-prospects-2018-nhl-draft-rhd-defenceman/)  
A look at the best-named prospect in the draft,

[Denmark won one, but Kasperi Kapanen is rolling at the World Championships - Pension Plan Puppets](https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/denmark-kasperi-kapanen-finland-iihf-world-championships-frederik-andersen/)  
Frederik Andersen ruined Kapanen’s day, but there’s more games to come.

### Eastern Conference Finals Previews

[Stanley Cup Playoffs conference finals schedule](https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-playoffs-conference-finals-schedule/c-289370440?tid=287339198&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)  
Dates, starting times and national television coverage for the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs Conference Finals.

[Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Washington Capitals: NHL Eastern Conference Final Preview - Raw Charge](https://www.rawcharge.com/2018/5/10/17338020/tampa-bay-lightning-vs-washington-capitals-nhl-eastern-conference-final-preview-ecf-stats-analytics?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)  
Two teams with a surplus of skill.

[2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs: The Washington Capitals’ history against the Tampa Bay Lightning shouldn’t be ignored - Japers' Rink](https://www.japersrink.com/2018/5/10/17335500/2018-stanley-cup-playoffs-washington-capitals-tampa-bay-lightning-history?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)  
Don’t undersell the Caps’ opportunity for redemption against the Bolts.

[Kucherov, Ovechkin ready for conference final showdown | The Star](https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2018/05/10/kucherov-ovechkin-ready-for-conference-final-showdown.html?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)  
Growing up idolizing Ovechkin, Kucherov’s Lightning now stand in the way of Ovie’s first trip to the Cup final

### Things We Didn’t Write

[Game 7 Recap: Winnipeg Flies High - Arctic Ice Hockey](https://www.arcticicehockey.com/2018/5/10/17342728/stanley-cup-playoffs-game-7-recap-winnipeg-flies-high?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)  
IT’S HAPPENING!!!

[Winnipeg Jets advance to NHL Western Conference final | The Star](https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2018/05/10/winnipeg-jets-advance-to-nhl-western-conference-final.html?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)  
Jets knock out Predators in Nashville in Game 7 for shot at expansion Vegas Golden Knights starting Saturday.

[The John Tavares Contract Encyclopedia Volume 3 (2018) \[Updated: 5/9/18\] - Lighthouse Hockey](https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2018/4/9/17212910/islanders-john-tavares-free-agency-contract-encyclopedia-volume-3?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)  
Apparently our colleagues at LHH are upset that people keep talking about Tavares leaving in free agency. Field trip?

[Connor McDavid hat trick paces Canada in shutout win against Norway | The Star](https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2018/05/10/connor-mcdavid-scores-hat-trick-to-lead-canada-in-world-hockey-shutout-against-norway.html?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)  
Bo Horvat scored the other two goals for Canada, while Leafs backup Curtis McElhinney and Darcy Kuemper shared the shutout.

[Czechs deal Russia first defeat - ](https://www.new-iihf.com/en/events/2018/wm/news/2720/czechs-deal-russia-first-defeat?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)[IIHF.com](http://iihf.com/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)  
In the clash of Zaitsev vs Pastrnak, the Bruin won again.

[Carolina Hurricanes sign Morgan Geekie to entry-level contract - Canes Country](https://www.canescountry.com/2018/5/10/17340770/carolina-hurricanes-sign-morgan-geekie-to-entry-level-contract?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)  
The 2017 third-round pick joined Charlotte on an amateur tryout contract after his junior season finished.

[Colorado Avalanche sign Mark Alt to two-way deal - Mile High Hockey](https://www.milehighhockey.com/2018/5/10/17342304/colorado-avalanche-sign-mark-alt-to-two-way-deal-two-years-2-colorado-eagles-ahl-nhl-defenseman?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)  
Alt will be a part of the Avalanche organization for the next two years.

### Which southern gentleman will score first tonight?

| Alexander Ovechkin | 31 |
| ------------------ | -- |
| Steven Stamkos     | 8  |
| Evgeny Kuznetsov   | 6  |
| Nikita Kucherov    | 28 |