I'll probably regret saying this, but I said after the finals last year, I don't see this Preds team going back to the finals and winning it. I think last year was their shot and they came up short. Obviously, they are a good team who had a good regular season, but I still don't see it. The Caps are also a good team who have had several great regular seasons in a row, look how many Cups they have gotten from that.
I know they are a favorite to win it all for a lot of people, so it might not make much sense (and like I said, I might regret saying it) but I just don't see it. For whatever reason, I think they are missing that intangible something it takes, and this is coming from a guy that doesn't put a lot of stock in silly intangible things in sports.
I think the Jets or the Knights will be representing the West in the finals this year. That's based on nothing more than a gut feeling.