5 burning questions heading into the Stanley Cup Final

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 04: T.J. Oshie #77 of the Washington Capitals and David Perron #57 of the Vegas Golden Knights battle for the puck in the first period at Capital One Arena on February 4, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images) /

4 of 5

Chicago Blackhawks’ Jonathan Toews complains about a penalty on Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews (19) desperately tries to get a goal during the final seconds in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, Monday, June 17, 2013. The Boston Bruins defeated the Chicago Blackhawks, 2-0. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune/MCT via Getty Images) /

2. Who stands to be the hero?

It’s the Stanley Cup Final. There’s always a hero. Think 17 seconds for the Blackhawks against the Boston Bruins. Maxime Talbot scoring multiple times against the Red Wings including two in the Game 7 winner. Even Ruslan Fedetenko scoring twice as well in Game 7 helping the Lightning win the Cup in 2004.

2018 seems like it will be no different. For the Golden Knights, anyone can be the hero. Different guys have stepped up at points this postseason and I can’t even imagine who would be the biggest hero if they were to seal the deal. I’d wager William Karlsson is due. That team is made up of tons of players who just wanted that opportunity to shine, and, regardless it’s been fun.

For the Capitals, you have Ovechkin. You have Oshie. You have defensemen who can put pucks in the net at any time. Would an unlikely hero be the same guy who buried two in Tampa in Game 7? It’s possible; Andre Burakovsky seems to be focusing on the moment and trying to doubt himself less.

Both teams have stars who were the reason they were where they were at the start. They’ve had big names make plays, lesser names take games. In a series that could easily go the distance, who’s the one player you would peg to be the one? I’m excited to find out.

Home/NHL Playoffs