By Jacob Messing

The NHL’s conference finals are set as the Vegas Golden Knights continue to make history and the Washington Capitals finally exorcised the demon of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In the West, the Knights will have to face a thriving Winnipeg Jets team that just defeated the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Nashville Predators in a decisive game seven. In the East, Washington will be up against a fast, deep team in Tampa Bay, the only remaining team with a Stanley Cup title in franchise history.

The NHL was on the verge of having all four division winners highlight the conference finals for the first time in history before Winnipeg took game seven over Nashville. The Jets finished second to only the Predators in the race for the Presidents’ Trophy and earned a deserved spot in the conference finals as they set up the hockey world for another exciting round to come.

Vegas Golden Knights vs Winnipeg Jets

Season series: Golden Knights, 2-1-0

In the West, a never-say-die Vegas team continues to steal the hearts of NHL fans everywhere and is on the verge of a Stanley Cup Final berth in its inaugural season.

They’ve been called outcasts, unwanted, expendable, and virtually everything in between, but the group of players welcomed to the desert has come together and bonded in a way the hockey world will never forget.

All their success has stemmed from goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who is eyeing his third consecutive Stanley Cup (and fourth of his career) after being selected as Pittsburgh’s expansion pick in the summer.

“He was excited and [goaltending coach Dave Prior] really advocated for him in our meetings and thought that he could make him even better than he’s been,” Knights general manager George McPhee told Stephen Whyno of The Denver Post. “We like the calming effect he has on this team. When he plays, he’s really good when you need him the most. Needless to say you don’t get to the third round in this league unless you got a goaltender that’s playing well.”

After Fleury, a dominant top line and depth to match have helped cement Vegas’ unforgettable run as they go up against their biggest test of the postseason yet.

Whether it was Nashville or Winnipeg, Vegas was destined to be up against a dangerous team in the conference final. In the end, Winnipeg got it done, defeating a true contender in the process.

The Jets are built to win a Stanley Cup, and the only thing they’re missing is having the experience of losing. But so is Vegas. Winnipeg is a big, powerful team that is still very young throughout, but they’re showing this is just the beginning as a Stanley Cup sits in the near future.

Your #NHLJets are heading to the WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL!

WE ARE WINNIPEG.#WPGWhiteout | #NSHvsWPG pic.twitter.com/S2LYP6b2FT

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) May 11, 2018

They went into game seven with a significant lack of experience in such occasions. Blake Wheeler, Mathieu Perrault, and Paul Stastny were the only skaters against Nashville to have played in a seven-game series.

Stastny proved that his expensive price tag at the trade deadline was worth it with a First Star, three-point (2 G, 1 A) performance in the 5-1 win to send Winnipeg to the Western Conference Finals.

“When you’re playing game seven you’ve just got to enjoy it,” Stastny told NBC’s Pierre McGuire after the game.

His experience and demeanor undoubtedly helped settle the Jets’ youth, and he led the way in reminding them that the game comes easiest when you do enjoy it. 

Prediction: It’s hard to continually go against a Vegas team that just keeps beating the odds and pummeling everything in their way, but it’s happening again. Winnipeg finally put it all together and isn’t looking like it’s ready to have it fall back apart. The Jets’ cumulative game will be too much for Vegas as they move on after six games.

Tampa Bay Lightning vs Washington Capitals

Season series: Lightning, 2-1-0

In the East, Tampa Bay returns to the conference final for the third time in four years as the Lightning take on Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals.

In 2015, the Lightning defeated the New York Rangers before losing to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Finals after six games. In 2016, they fell to eventual champion Pittsburgh in game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals.

GM Steve Yzerman has continued to work on his team and after a massive deal with the New York Rangers at the trade deadline, solidifying his corps with forward J.T. Miller and defenseman Ryan McDonagh. Miller sits fifth in team playoff scoring with seven points (2 G, 5 A) through 10 games and has been praised by new coach Jon Cooper.

“I think he’s what we’ve been lacking, because we’ve had some skill on this team and some speed and we’ve gone far with it,” Cooper told of Sportsnet’s Emily Sadler. “But you look back to … some of these grueling rounds and these grueling series and you need those guys that can play heavy and he’s one of those guys that can do it.”

The 25-year-old plays a skilled, hard-nosed game that has complemented linemates Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov well. He’ll be the counterpoint to a Washington top line that features similar skill and grit.

Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and Tom Wilson run the show in D.C., but the game of match-ups means the two top lines likely won’t see each other much.

Ovechkin and the Capitals beat two-time defending champ Pittsburgh in six games after falling to them in each of the past two second rounds, and they accomplished the feat without top-six forwards Wilson, Nicklas Backstrom, or Andre Burakovsky, who could all return against Tampa.

Arguably the greatest goal scorer of all time, Ovechkin has shed the notion of not rising to the occasion as he assisted on Kuznetsov’s overtime winner to carry the Capitals to their first conference final in his 13-year career. 

It wasn't a dream... #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/pwklGYoZr3

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) May 8, 2018

After consecutive Presidents’ Trophies in 2016 and 2017, the Capitals faltered in the second round, both times to eventual champ Pittsburgh and an offseason of roster turnover put them in a different position.

“We flew under the radar a little bit, and that took the pressure off,” center Jay Beagle told ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski after the overtime win.

The Capitals unexpectedly won the Metropolitan Division, doing so after losing top-six forwards Justin Williams and Marcus Johansson—as well as defensemen Karl Alzner and Kevin Shattenkirk—in the offseason.

A different position created a different result as the team looks to keep rolling.

Prediction: Tampa Bay is a deeper team up front and on the backend, but the confidence, energy, and drive of the Capitals first conference final in 20 years will help propel them to a six game victory of the Lightning.

Don’t miss the action when the Eastern Conference Final kicks off Friday evening at 8 PM EST. 

Have a question or a comment for Jacob Messing? You can find him on Twitter @Jacob_Messing.