The Finals

Here we are ladies and gentlemen, down to just two. After 3 rounds I find myself at a stellar 10-4 record in picks and I'm expecting a very entertaining series between Chicago and Philly. The team of destiny versus a power house, both looking to break long Stanley Cup droughts. A key in this series for Philadelphia will be their play on the road against Chicago. We have all seen how well Chicago has played on the road in these playoffs, and if Philly finds themselves down 2-0 going into Game #3, there might not be a Game #5 back in Chicago. So here's the break down:

Stanley Cup Finals

#2 Chicago Blackhawks .vs. #7 Philadelphia Flyers

Forwards: When you look at these group of forwards on paper, they seem almost identical in terms of skill, grit, and speed. Names like Toews and Sharp match up very well against names like Richards and Gagne. Unlikely heros like Versteeg and Bolland run along the same lines as Briere and Giroux. The only advantage found in this battle is Chicago's experience and their ability to play a tough 4th line with Ben Eager and Adam Burish and not pay for it (Fans of Dan Carcillo won't see the dirt squirrel in the playoffs). I give Chicago the edge.

Defence: Philly has the star power, but Chicago has the group to match. Chris Pronger is going to spend the whole series tied up with Dustin Byugflien, which bodes very well for Toews and Kane. While the Keith/Seabrook pairing can be easily backed up by the Campbell/Hjalmarsson paring. The ability of the Chicago defence to jump into the rush is an x-factor in this series as well. Advantage=Chicago

Goaltending: I'm going with Philly on this one. The play of Antti Niemi has been great for Chicago, but I feel that Leighton and Boucher can hold the fort with more poise than the Finnish rookie. Advantage=Philly

X-Factor: Battle of the Captains. Can Chris Pronger shut down Jonathon Toews? Can Dave Bolland knock Mike Richards off his game? The captains will decide this series, and it's going to be a great one.

Pick: The Flyers do have a great team, but Chicago is a team that was built to win the Cup this year. Chicago in 5.

Other league news/rumours:

- The Coyotes ownership saga has been surprisingly quiet, with no real info coming out about negotiations

- This summers #1 free agent Ilya Kovalchuk has been offered contracts in the $10 million/year range by 3 different teams in the KHL. I see him jumping, but rumours have him staying in New Jersey

- Steve Yzerman in Tampa Bay as GM. BRILLIANT! He still might have no goalie and the Lecavalier contract to deal with, but in a year from now when Steven Stamkos and Martin St.Louis decide to stick around, Yzerman will be the only reason. 

- Anton Volchenkov won't be an Ottawa Senator next year. Word has it that he will be in Washington next year, which grows my theory about Washington just wanting to create a Russian national team. Also means that Washington will actually have 1 decent defender, and the Senators are screwed.

- Watch the goaltending scenario in Montreal. Reason #1: How much they have to pay Halak after this playoff run. Reason #2: Where will Carey Price will end up? (Trade him to Dallas for Brad Richards? Will Dallas bite?) 

- Lidstrom retiring? Detroit on the decline? More about this after the finals

- Will the Leafs resign Kulemin already!?!?!

- This year has a very interesting class of restricted free agents. Name like Bobby Ryan and Milan Lucic stick out and will be available if teams are willing to pay the price.

Round #3

And then there was four...

The absolute shock that has been the East, and the expected match up in the West create two series with a ton of story lines. In the West, can the Sharks finally win the big one? Or will a Blackhawks team that was built to win a cup come up big? And which team of destiny will come out in the East? (Honestly #7 vs #8, thats ridiculous) Now through 2 rounds, I find myself with a solid 8-4 record in picks (Dammit Montreal and Philly), so here's what we are thinking for the conference finals.

Eastern Conference Final

#7 Philadelphia Flyers vs #8 Montreal Canadiens

The Lowdown- Crap, how did we get here? The fact that a #7 seed has home ice advantage in a conference final is mind boggling at best, but the only one of these two teams of destiny will advance to the finals. On one side, you find the small, tight checking Canadiens who have rode Jaroslav Halak through 2 rounds, and on the other, the big, tough, flyers coming off one of the greatest comebacks of a generation. The edge in this series will be found in size, as the Canadiens have yet to face a team with a legitimate group of tough defencemen. The small Montreal forwards have had their way against the weaker defence corps in Washington and Pittsburgh, but expect Chris Pronger to make sure that doesn't happen. Look for Pronger to throw Mike Cammalleri into the stands at one point in this series.

Pick: Philadelphia in 6

Western Conference Final

#1 San Jose Sharks vs #2 Chicago Blackhawks

The Lowdown: So now that the Sharks have made it this far, the question still rises: Do they have the guts to make the finals? Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski seem to think so, but the question remains to be seen if they can go it against a very deep Chicago backend. When you look at the line ups for these two clubs, you find 2 very comparable teams in the top two lines, but a serious advantage for Chicago in depth. Chicago's third line has Kris Versteeg, San Jose answers with......Manny Malholtra? The only way San Jose wins this series is if Evgeni Nabokov is super human, and it's been a long time since we've seen him that good.

Pick: Chicago in 6

Interesting story lines continue in the Pheonix Coyote ownership saga, rumour has it that the NHL has already created a back up schedule for if the team moves to Winnipeg. Let's GO JETS!

Round 2

3 weeks after the beginning of the playoffs, we are down to 8 teams, and I found myself 6-2 on my picks in the first round, so needless to say we are off to a good start. Round #1 found all the obvious story lines like the ridiculous number of too many men on the ice calls, san jose finding a way to win, and the top 3 seeds in the East falling surprisingly quick (Holy Crap Halak). Now as we look to Round #2, things are fairly calm in the West with all the expected winners advancing, but the East is now a crapshoot. Who thought a #6 seed would have home ice advantage in the 2nd round? Hell, a #7 seed could have home ice in the conference finals. So here's what we're thinking:

East Conference Semi Finals

#4 Pittsburgh Penguins .vs. #8 Montreal Canadiens

The Lowdown- Entering the playoffs as a number 4 seed, Pittsburgh now finds themselves in the drivers seat in the East. Jaroslav Halak pulled his best Patrick Roy impression in Round #1, but I don't see it happening in against the Penguins. Crosby has been unreal so far in these playoffs and expect that to continue. Sorry Montreal, beating Washington was an accomplishment, but the miracle run is over.

Pick: Pittsburgh in 6

#6 Boston Bruins .vs. #7 Philadelphia Flyers

The Lowdown- If you thought the Boston/Buffalo series was physical, you are in for something on a completely different level in Round 2. I cannot express this more ladies and gents, THIS WILL BE WAR. If you like good, old school, fast and physical hockey this series is for you. The Broad Street Bullies versus the Big Bad Bruins. Boston has been finding a way to win, and Miroslav Satan looks like a younger version of himself, the return of Marc Savard and the play of Tuuka Rask only helps. Oh, and yes, there is a serious chance that Boston could win the east(Yup, I called it now).

Pick: Boston in 6

Western Conference Semi Finals

#1 San Jose Sharks vs #4 Detroit Red Wings

The Lowdown- This is an interesting series. On one side you find the Sharks looking to kill their playoff demons, and on the other, a team who has found great success in previous years, but barely got through the first round. For San Jose to win, the Big 3 need to step up, cause Joe Pavelski can't carry the Sharks against the experienced Detroit. But let's be honest here, the Red Wings look like they are just out of gas.

Pick: San Jose in 6

#2 Chicago Blackhawks vs #3 Vancouver Canucks

The Lowdown- If there is one thing that breeds rivalry in professional sport, it's repeated playoff series against similar opponents. This means that Chicago vs Vancouver is developing into something great. In my opinion, the two best teams in the West, along with the hatred left from last years 2nd round series, and this one is going to be fun. Vancouver might have the edge in goaltending, but Chicago has too much depth up front and on defence. Expect a long, fast, shoot out kind of series, but the bottom line is. Whoever wins this series, is my cup pick.

Pick: Chicago in 7