While most of the JN crew shined in the first round, the second round turned out to be a bit tougher to call for some of us as all four series could have gone either way and an argument could easily have been made for any team to win. It’s much the same way for the third round – the conference finals – although as you’ll see in this latest batch of picks, we have our favorites yet again.

First the “standings” of our picks which to be honest at the start of all this I didn’t tell anyone I was going to keep track of, but since we’re recording our picks we may as well keep score and see who makes the best picks, right?

This feeling by the way I promise you has NOTHING to do with the fact that I am leading the picks after going four for four with my second round picks.

Bryan joins me as the only other JN contributor to accurately see who was moving on to round three. Robert got tripped up on Penguins, but still perfectly called the Knights and Jets series. Cam rebounded nicely from a tough first round, while Alec and Tony stumbled.

So who do we see moving on to play for Lord Stanley?

Art: Lightning in 6 – The Caps have been a great story and everything, but Tampa is deeper and Ovi just won’t be able to will his team into the Final like we all kinda want him too.

Cassie: Caps in 6. I want to believe and I love happy Ovi.

Alec: Lightning in 6 – Tampa is the better team, with more rest, and has more experience at this stage of the playoffs. Holtby will have to stand on his head for the Caps to have a chance.

Brian: Lightning in 7. It’ll be exciting, but I thing the Bolts have too much for the Caps to handle.

Robert D: Lightning in 6. Sometimes when you conquer a demon like the Capitals did to the Penguins, you just don’t have anything left. Tampa is just too deep.

Tony: TBay in 7. Hope the Caps do the damn thing.

KB: Lightning in 6. They are deeper and have just as much high end talent.

Cam: Capitals in 7. There’s something different about this year’s Capitals. They’ve exorcised their demons, why not keep going?

And as an added bonus we’re going to include WPGChief in the picks even though he missed the first two rounds…

WPGChief: Capitals in 7. Washington finally got over the mental hump, Holtby continues to stand tall, and the rest of the team rallies around being underdogs instead of favorites, for once. Tampa Bay made Boston look like civilians, and Washington is dealing with considerable injuries that should hopefully return soon, so I think it will go down to the wire of if and when injuries get healthy again, and if Tampa figures out and shakes Holtby early.

Art: Jets in 5 – I’m going to make a bold pick here. The Knights haven’t seen an offense even nearly as good as the Jets boast in these playoffs and the Vegas offense just doesn’t stack up as well against them.

Brian: Jets in 6. I know Vegas will be a formidable opponent (definitely didn’t expect myself to be saying that at the beginning of the season), but I think the Jets offense will be somewhat overwhelming for Vegas.

Alec: Jets in 7. Don’t underestimate the Knights, who may be the only team in the West that can play a speed game with the Jets. I think the Jets have learned how to close at home after blowing the Game 6 opportunity against Nashville, and unlike the Nashville series, this series will be home dominant.

Robert D: Jets in 6. Knights have been able to speed past their opponents. They won’t have a chance to when they’re stuck trying to match lines which they won’t be able to.

Tony: Jets in 5. I think they roll Vegas and Fleury comes down to earth.

Cassie: Jets in 6. Jets have the advantage for line matching and the speed to go toe-to-toe with Vegas.

KB: Jets in 7. I can’t bet against the Jets considering this is JetsNation… Even if it wasn’t JetsNation I would still pick Winnipeg though. They are deeper and have more skill up front. This will be Fleury’s toughest task yet.

And again…

WPGChief: Jets in 6. Team Hopes and Dreams versus Team Chaos. Patient GM versus all other GMs’ mistakes. No offense to Fleury, but Jets have way more considerable firepower than LAK and SJS. Yet Jets will have to face a very balanced and depth-y team unlike MIN and NSH. This will be quite the interesting series to watch. Jets need to win first two games to ensure a birth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs