from Ken Campbell of Hockey Unfiltered,

Since the playoffs began, prognosticators have done a far better job of eliminating the Montreal Canadiens than their opponents have. Now that the Habs have reached the Stanley Cup final, their challenge will be to take it over the finish line. And that task will be enormous, far greater than any they have faced in the playoffs. NHL history is well-populated by underdogs and overachievers who have captured playoff magic and made it to the final, but history tells us those teams almost never actually win the Stanley Cup. Whether or not the Canadiens get slapped with a dose of reality in the final remains to be seen, but it would not be a surprise if this were a short and decisive win for the defending Stanley Cup champions.

It would also not be a surprise if the Canadiens made a real series of this. It’s clear the team that stumbled and bumbled its way through the regular season is not the one that’s been on display in the playoffs. The Tampa Bay Lightning, meanwhile, have come exactly as advertised before the season. They have methodically and meticulously picked apart their opponents and been dominant in doing so, regardless of the terms on which the games have been played.

Here’s how each team stacks up going into an intriguing 2021 Stanley Cup final:

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