Al May

Then you have injuries, like the injury to Pierre-Luc Dubois was really the death knell in their season because he had played so well for them last year and gave them a great one-two punch with Strom.

So I can't say I'm shocked that neither team made it because six games into it, Dubois goes down for three to four months, and they never replaced him.

So when they never replaced him, I thought they'd be in trouble, and they'd be a team waiting on the last game of the season to see if they got in the back door.

Oh, it's so, you know what?

I don't want to discount anybody, but when I love physical hockey and I love emotional hockey and I look at Tampa Bay and they have all those ingredients, but you know, they're aging and they've had some injuries, but you know, everyone that stepped in for the injured players.

has been incredible this year.

I look at Radish, J.J.

Mosier, guys like that, and their roster, they fight for every inch of every game, but at the same time, the most exciting team on this side is probably the Montreal Canadiens, and then you've got the Buffalo Sabres, so it's tough to say, but I'd probably lean to Tampa.

They might not even win their series, but they're a hell of a hockey team, and then I just think the Carolina Hurricanes, as hard as they play,

You know, they're ran by an analytics guy, and I don't know how much he values size, but, you know, they're not the biggest hockey team in the league.

And, you know, I think you've got to have a decent size to go all the way.

And, you know, you're seeing that series turn very physical, and those smaller players have had a tough time getting to the net and a tough time holding their checks.

You know, I'm going to lean to Tampa.

You know, they're a big, gritty team, and they play with so much fire and passion.

And, you know, I love teams that play bully hockey, and they're like the biggest bully in the block right now in the Eastern Conference.

Oh, absolutely.

And, you know, you never know in that series because Dallas still has some, like, wicked firepower.

But, you know, they're banged up.

And so, you know, you got to be healthy to go in the playoffs.

And I think maybe if Minnesota has a weakness, it's in the middle of the ice at the top tier guys.