The Conference Finals will be underway on Saturday, as the past four Stanley Cup Champions will battle for the sports' most coveted trophy in 2013. There are plenty of storylines in each series, which should make this year's Conference Finals two of the most entertaining series we have seen in a while.
Both series are near impossible to predict, but I'm going to take a stab at it.
Eastern Conference Final: (1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (4) Boston Bruins
Boston went into the playoffs losing seven of their last nine regular season games, something that usually spells trouble for playoff teams. Boston had trouble with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round, blowing a 3-1 series lead and falling behind 4-1 in the third period of Game Seven before mounting an incredible comeback and winning in overtime.
After facing some adversity in the first round against the New York Islanders, the Penguins found a consistent goalie (so far) in Tomas Vokoun and breezed past the Ottawa Senators in round two. Now, they will have a much tougher team on their hands in the Bruins.
Home ice will be key in this series, as the Bruins coach Claude Julien can put his infamous agitators on the ice whenever Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin step on. Boston also got some sense knocked into them by the Maple Leafs and rolled right on by the New York Rangers. The Bruins were shocked in a monumental meltdown against the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010, and answered by winning the Stanley Cup in 2011. Did the scare against the Maple Leafs kick the Bruins into gear?
Pittsburgh has an advantage on offense, but Boston has an advantage in defense and goaltending. Boston's rookie defensemen could spell trouble against an explosive Penguins offense, but if they can continue the success they had in the last round, they should be fine.
It comes down to goaltending in this series, and Tuukka Rask is a better goalie than Tomas Vokoun.
Prediction: Boston in seven
Western Conference Final: (1) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (5) Los Angeles Kings
The Kings are looking to defend their crown against the President's Trophy-winning Blackhawks. Chicago is looking to ride a big comeback against the Detroit Red Wings to more Stanley Cup glory.
Much different than last year, Los Angeles has had a serious issue winning road games in this year's playoffs. On the other hand, they are undefeated at home through seven games at the Staples Center.
Jonathan Quick has been nothing short of fantastic throughout his first two series against the St. Louis Blues and San Jose Sharks, and he will need to carry the load again in order for the Kings to defeat the Blackhawks.
It will be a definite goaltending duel between Quick and Chicago's Corey Crawford, but the reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner has the edge.
Chicago is better at scoring than the Kings, but showed some major weaknesses against Detroit that we haven't seen all season. Los Angeles is the kind of team that can make teams pay for their mistakes.
The Kings were 0-3 in San Jose, but will take at least one game in "The Madhouse" this series. Chicago will also break the Kings' home winning streak, but Los Angeles and Jonathan Quick will prove to be the stronger team throughout the course of the series.
Prediction: Los Angeles in six