EPIC

If there were music playing in the background of the San Jose/Dallas Game 6 last night it would have to be Muse. The epic Game 6 lasted 129:03 - more than two full games. It was fitting that Brendan Morrow, Captain and leader of the Dallas Stars ended the game on a power-play in the fourth overtime for a 2-1 win, and a 4-2 series win. I had been out at the movies and came home and watched highlights of the game, only to be informed by The Score that the game was in the second overtime period. Naturally I stayed up and watched the rest of the game. Morrow hit Milan Michalek with less than ten seconds to play in the third period and took him out of the game. With one less forward in the lineup, the Sharks still seemed to dominate the game, however a focused Marty Turco had an answer to everything the Sharks threw at him. Definitely the best game of this playoff season and one for the ages, recorded as the eighth longest game in NHL history! Props to the Dallas Stars fans for not only staying for whole game, but standing for the whole game as well!

Pittsburgh has taken out the New York Rangers in five games, and it took until about 7 minutes into the first overtime to end this one: nowhere near the four overtimes the other game went to. Still an entertaining game overall, Hossa potted a pair with Malkin adding the other and Crosby adding two assists (he has been in on 5 of the 8 game winning goals by the Pens in the post-season) in a 3-2 win and a 4-1 series win.


CONFERENCE FINALS

Eastern Conference: Philadelphia vs. Pittsburgh*

The battle of Pennsylvania will be front and center in the Eastern Conference as the Pittsburgh Penguins will take on the Philadelphia Flyers in the conference finals. The high-flying Pens went 3-5 versus the Flyers in the regular season, but don't let that fool you. This will be a high-flying series where both sides will wear their hearts on their sleaves. The Pens will take the series in six games but don't be surprised to see it last seven. This one could really go either way, but I think the overall skill on the Pens outweighs that of the Flyers. Biron will have to play like he did against Montreal for the Flyers to even have a chance against Crosby, Malkin, Hossa and the rest of the Pens. Look for veteran Gary Roberts to play a major role in this series, setting the tone with some big hits and hard play in very few minutes played.


Western Conference: Dallas* vs. Detroit

To me, the most surprising team in the post-season has been the Dallas Stars. After surprising the Anaheim Ducks in five games and shocking the favoured San Jose Sharks in six games, the Dallas Stars have fought hard to get the the battle of the West. Their opposition, the Detroit Red Wings took out Nashville in five and proceeded to sweep the injury-riddled Avalanche in four. Their rode to the Western Conference finals has been an easy one and look for them to struggle in Game 1. This series will go six games and the Dallas Stars, yes thats right: the Stars will prevail. I have gone against them the whole post-season, and that has led to a mediochre 8-4 record with predictions in this post-season. That being said, Maggie the Monkey: I'm smoking you. Maggie has now gone 6-6 versus my 8-4 record. Maggie's picks will be posted when available.