REMATCH.

Those series were unpredictably short. The momentum that both the Hurricanes and the Blackhawks had during the first two series didn't seem to follow them into the Conference Finals. The 'Hawks put up a good fight, taking the Wings into overtime three times and winning one of there five games in the series. The 'Canes however didn't show up versus the Pens. Crosby and Malkin were just too much for Cam Ward to handle and Fleury stood on his head between the pipes.

My prediction for the Stanley Cup is more wishful thinking than anything, so here goes:


Stanley Cup Finals

Pittsburgh vs. Detroit - Pittsburgh (7 Games)

It's the first time since the early '80s that there has been a rematch in back-to-back years in the Stanley Cup Final, and I'm hoping for the same result. In 1984, Wayne Gretzky and the Edmonton Oilers won their first ever Stanley Cup, knocking off the defending four-pete champion New York Islanders who defeated them in the previous year. This year I hope to see Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins do the same to the defending champion Red Wings, who beat the Penguins in six games last season.

The Red Wings are the better team. The depth in their lineup is matched by no other team in the NHL and their top players are as skilled as any in the league, except maybe Crosby, Malkin and Ovechkin. That being said, with injuries to Lidstrom, Datsyuk, Draper and Ericsson it may be difficult for the Wings to contain the high-flying Pens. Lidstrom should play in game one, but Crosby and Malkin will look to exploit his lower-body injury as best they can. An 80% Lidstrom is still better than the majority of defencemen in the league.

I hope to see Fleury outshine Osgood and the Penguins desire and disappointment from last year push them past the Red Wings this year. I also hope to see Crosby win the first of many Stanley Cups in his career.

Consistent Inconsistency

So, after a one day hiatus it's time to complain. There are lots of current hockey stories to follow and criticize, for example the Phoenix Coyotes debate, but I'm tired of them all. I wake up and on certain days watch Sportscentre several times in succession. It's just my being too lazy to walk the eight to ten feet to where my remote controls may lie. So I’ve heard all arguments for and against these stories that I care to at this time.

I have been racking my brain for something to complain about, but to no avail. I am in a mood to rant, but there has been nothing I have felt is worthy of a rant. I arrived home tonight about halfway through the third period of game two in the Detroit/Chicago series when that something stared me in the face: #51 Brian Campbell.

He is by no means a horrible player, but he is definitely not a great player. Over the summer he became the first player in NHL history to pull a spin-o-rama into another dimension where players are paid $7 Million a year ($56 Million over 8 years) to play on the second defensive pairing. This was a very poor signing by the 'Hawks, and they are probably the first to admit it. A young team with few veterans, Chicago will have trouble holding onto the star players on their current roster in the coming years. Players like Toews, Kane, Sharp, Seabrook and soon-to-be restricted free agent Versteeg will see offer sheets that the 'Hawks will struggle to match given the NHL Salary Cap. Not to mention Bolland, Eager and Barker who have all had strong post-seasons and will be RFAs come July 1. Martin Havlat will be a UFA this summer and will be difficult to sign in the offseason. Having Campbell tied up in a long-term contract will really hurt the 'Hawks in the coming years as he is too expensive to buy-out and too much of a defensive liability and an offensive dud to spark any potential trades.

Campbell struggled to make the scoresheet with just seven goals during the regular season. He was fifth on team scoring with 52 Points in the regular season, but was (and is) a defensive liability. If he was a basketball player he would have been on more posters than Shawn Bradley. All else equal, thanks to Brian Campbell for helping me establish a good basis for a short-but-sweet rant. His consistent inconsistency is always a conversation sparker and I hope to complain about his overrated abilities again in the near future.

I wrote this without the realization that Campbell gave the puck away in OT for the 3-on-1 that led to the winner, but thanks to Sportscenter I can watch his inadequacies over and over again.

The Next One

Crosby.

A name that previously would have been immediately associated with a musician, now nationally recognized as the greatest hockey player in Canada. From an early age "Sid the Kid" was highly touted as the future of Canadian hockey. Wayne Gretzky, "The Great One" said that if anyone could beat his records, Sidney Crosby could. He broke records in minor hockey, junior hockey and scored some exceptional goals for Team Canada in the World Junior tournament.

Drafted first overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2005, Crosby recorded 102 points in his rookie season, second to Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals in the Calder Trophy race. In his sophomore season, he led the league in scoring with 120 Points and helped the Penguins into the post-season. Last season he played just 53 Games, amassing 72 Points and leading the Penguins to the Stanley Cup Finals where they were defeated by the powerhouse Detroit Red Wings.

After a slow start to his season, Crosby registered 103 Points as the Penguins struggled out of the gate but managed a fourth place finish in the Eastern Conference. The Penguins face the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday in what is sure to be a hard fought series. The Hurricanes have upset both the New Jersey Devils and the Boston Bruins thus far and look to capture their second Stanley Cup in four years. To date, Sidney has recorded a league best twelve goals and 21 points in two rounds of playoff action. His twelve Goals are twice as many as he recorded in all of last year’s playoffs, and his 21 Points are just six shy of last year’s totals.

Crosby and the Penguins look to claim the teams first Stanley Cup since back-to-back Cups in 1991 and 1992, the Mario Lemieux era. Crosby has shown great leadership thus far, and I look forward to the series ahead. I would love to witness the first of many Crosby Stanley Cups this season and hope that his best hockey is yet to come.

A Fan Ranting About Fans

Now don't get me wrong here, I am a Leafs fan through and through, but I am above all else a hockey fan. I like to complain about my team as much as the next guy or girl, but at least I put some thought into what I am going to complain about. I don't generally incessantly rant about something that I shouldn't. I have the knowledge that statistics are what separates the good players from the great players and in turn the great players from the superstars.

Overlooking statistics and the general sportscaster opinion that a player is a superstar, adds nothing to your argument, and in fact makes you sound both illogical and uneducated. It is in a case such as this that certain arguments should be locked away in the back of your minds so you are not boasting to the entire hockey world that you are an idiot and your expertise is limited to the three games you watched this season while you were stoned in your parents’ basement. Yes, Vancouver fans, I am ranting about you.

Everyone knows that B.C. is the "Capital of Marijuana" in Canada, and that is great for you. Feel free to "puff, puff and pass" and try not to mess up the rotation. That being said, try not to blame arguably one of the greatest goaltenders in the league today for messing up your high. Your team was built to fail!

Here in Leafs Nation, where we base opinion on statistics (generally speaking, and ignoring all fans that use hearsay and other people’s arguments as their own point of view) we know with no uncertainty that Roberto Luongo is a great player, a superstar even. His statistics show it, and the general opinion of the panel on TSN as well as those on Sportsnet and The Score is that he is the greatest. That being said, just watch a Canucks game and you can see with your own eyes that he is great. He is one of the few goaltenders in the world with perfect posture and poise in goal. He keeps his shoulders high and stays square to the shooter. His reflexes are incredible, and his rebound control is amazing. Why in the world would you want to trade a goaltender like that? Here's why: because your terrible team hangs him out to dry game in and game out and you want a scapegoat to blame your mediocre season on.

Clue in Vancouver.

There is a reason Mats Sundin has the most points in Maple Leafs history. Is it because we're not a very good team? Partly, but we are an original six team and no other player in any era had as many points as Captain Mats. So why didn't he score goals for you? I'll tell you why; Mats is not a grinder, he is a playmaker and a sniper. As my close friend Brian so intelligently put it, if Mats taps his stick, you pass him the puck. Watching Leafs games throughout the years, it is a general knowledge that if Mats is calling for the pass, he wants to score. When Mats wants to score, the red light is generally on. How about you sit back and watch a few Sundin highlights, then sign him to a contract. Utilize a great player in the right way and maybe you will get some return on your investment.

I would rant about the Sedins, but it's not worth my time and I want to get out of here. Just as a capper: the Sedins will not lead the Canucks to a Stanley Cup, but Luongo may. He is the heart and soul of your second-rate team, and he would be a welcome addition to any other team in the league.

REMATCH?

Two and two in Round Two. Nothing to boast or brag about, but then again my confidence in those picks wasn't high to begin with. Overall a 9-3 record over the first two rounds; I'll take it! If I could bury three out of every four shots I took I'd be shooting the puck a lot more often. Now, with no more delay and without further adieu, my picks for Round Three of the Stanley Cup Finals:


Conference Finals

Eastern Conference

Carolina (6) vs. Pittsburgh (4) - Pittsburgh (6 Games)

This is as much a wish as it is a prediction. I desire to take nothing away from the Hurricanes and there magnificent post-season thus far. Eric Staal has shown true leadership and ability. Anyone who can face Zdeno Chara nearly every shift for seven games and come out the overall victor is beyond talented. Staal has shown true character and perseverance and should have an important role on Team Canada come the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Another 'Cane that has probably gained a spot on that roster is goaltender Cam Ward. He has been an absolute wall during the offseason, outplaying arguably the best goaltender of all time in Martin Brodeur, and outlasting probable 2009 Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas.

Given the above arguments, there is one obstacle the 'Canes have yet to overcome. Sidney Crosby has been absolutely unstoppable during the playoffs! After questions of his goal scoring abilities have arisen over the year, Crosby has shown a knack for scoring big-time goals. When superstar (and Art Ross Trophy winner) Evgeni Malkin was virtually invisible, Crosby stepped-up his game and "put the biscuit in the basket." Crosby scored a hat-trick in a Game 2 loss to the 'Caps in which Alexander Ovechkin also recorded a Trick. Game 7 of that Series showed Crosby's true distaste for losing, as he outplayed even Ovechkin in a 6-2 shellacking. Crosby will prove too much for Ward and the 'Canes to handle in this Eastern Conference Final matchup.


Western Conference

Chicago (4) vs. Detroit (2) - Detroit (7 Games)

The 'Hawks have proven to be a team with a "never say die" attitude in this postseason, falling behind in each of their six games versus the Canucks. They were able to rally and win four out of those six games, and even managed to climb out of a 3-0 hole in Game 1 (only to lose due to a "brain-fart" by future All-Star, Cam Barker with just over a minute remaining in the third period). The speedy, young Blackhawks just don't seem to know when to quit, and don't seem to understand the concept of "deficit." The Canucks were built to fail, but don't expect that out of the Wings who are proven winners and boast pretty much the same team as last year (with the addition of sniper Marian Hossa). The only hope for Captain Jonathan Toews and the 'Hawks is to get to goaltender Chris Osgood early and often. Osgood has proven time and time again that he has the fortitude to Win, and won't be easy to defeat in this one. The Wings experience will take them into the Stanley Cup Finals for the second consecutive year and we could be seeing a rematch of the finals from last year.

CREEK, SUMMER 2009

I'm not really one to update my personal life on my blog, but I feel that my team's performance in our first game of the season showed great character and perseverance. Tied 2-2 in the third period, a giveaway on a power play had us down 3-2 with 2:30 to play. With just under a minute left, the play was in their zone, I was in front screening the goalie and Dan (#12) got the puck in the slot, and put a shot between my legs and in to tie the game up at three.

At the faceoff dot, Rob said something along the lines of, "Let's get another one." I won the draw, but they ended up getting possession and the puck ended up in our zone along the left wing boards. I retrieved the puck and put on the jets flying down the wing (or at least my version of "the jets"). I came across the blueline and in on the defenseman looking like I was going to cut inside. I quickly made a move to the outside and cut around him and to the front of the net where the goalie bit on a move and went down. I ran into the other defender, but Rob (#21) was there to bury the puck into the empty net for the 4-3 lead and the "W" with just 14 seconds on the clock.

It was probably the best shift I've had in years and it felt really good to get out there and start the season with a positive outing. It was reminiscent of Carolina's comeback in Game 7 against the Devils and was an exciting finish to a great game.

2009 STANLEY CUP FINALS (RD 2)

I would have never predicted a (7-1) first round record. It is a personal best after three years of predictions and I'm pleased with the results. Hopefully I didn't set too high a standard for the next three rounds. Here are my predictions for round two.


Conference Semi-Finals

Eastern Conference


Pittsburgh (4) vs. Washington (2) - Pittsburgh (7 Games)

This will no doubt be one of the most entertaining series of the playoffs. The top three players in the world square off in what is sure to be a hard-fought affair. Two finalists for the Hart Trophy (Malkin and Ovechkin) have a rivalry that has lasted since day one. Crosby and OV no longer get along, in fact they seem to HATE each other. The Capitals recorded a (3-1) record against the Penguins this season, but I feel that Crosby and Malkin may be too much offense for the Capitals to handle. That being said, this will more than likely be a one-goal game seven and could easily go in either direction. Goaltending may be the deciding factor in this series.


Carolina (6) vs. Boston (1) - Boston (6 Games)

Carolina showed true grit and character in their first round matchup versus New Jersey. It was literally a last minute win and was one of the most thrilling finishes to a Game 7 that I can remember. Boston wasn't challenged against Montreal, and may come out flat against the 'Canes. Carolina will take Game 1, but fatigue will set in and the Bruins will be too much to handle for Cam Ward and company. Chara will be a big part of this series (no pun intended) and the Bruins will outhit and outplay the 'Canes.


Western Conference


Anaheim (7) vs. Detroit (2) - Detroit (6 Games)

If any Western team can dethrone the Wings, it's the Anaheim Ducks. They were one of the hottest teams down the stretch, and took out the President's Trophy winner in just 6 Games. This series will be decided between the pipes: will Osgood remain solid for the Wings, and can Hiller keep his cool against Zetterberg and company? Only time will tell, but I believe the Wings will play spoiler to the Getzlaf/Perry show.


Chicago (4) vs. Vancouver (3) - Vancouver (6 Games)

The 'Hawks are one of the fastest, most exciting teams in the league and there young guns, Toews, Kane, Versteeg, etc. will find it difficult to put pucks in the net against arguably the best goaltender in the world today. They solved Kipper with a banged up blue line in front of him, but the Canucks are nearly healthy and very well rested and should be a handful for the Blackhawks. Sundin will hopefully be ready for the start of this one and could be significant.

Consistency Costs Calgary

Alliteration aside, the Western Conference Quarter-Final matchup between Calgary and Chicago was a seriously inconsistent effort by the Flames. Until Game 6, it was all about playing at home. Calgary's Game 6 effort against the 'Hawks was underwhelming at best. Some flashes of brilliance from Bertuzzi and Jokinen were effective, but few and far between. Iginla was mediocre for the second consecutive game and Phaneuf was really missed on the blue line. I predicted Chicago in six games because of the injuries sustained by the Flames towards the end of the season. This very well could have gone differently given that Phaneuf, Regehr and Langkow were healthy.

That being said, the Chicago Blackhawks did an incredible job shutting down Jarome Iginla in Game 6. Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook as well as the Pahlsson/Byfuglien/Burish line played an outstanding game of hockey, and Byfuglien (don't even attempt it) was rewarded with an empty-net goal. Chicago's speed and young talent were too much for the Flames to handle in this Western Conference Quarter-Final Series, and look for them to put up a fight in Round 2 against the Canucks.

NOTE: There is still time for the Sharks to come back as I type this halfway through the 3rd Period, but they won't because they're not prepared to.


San Jose got what was coming to them. The Ducks fought a harder battle and their top line was the difference in this series. Thornton & Marleau showed signs of magic in games 3 and 5, but were inconsistent throughout the series and showed a plain lack of interest in Game 4. Thornton may win a Cup in his career, but he's going to have to play every playoff game as if it's his last. He showed a great amount of effort and heart in Games 5 & 6, but it was too little, too late as the Ducks outworked the Sharks in this first round matchup. It didn't hurt that Hiller was by far the superior goaltender in this series, one in which Nabokov was good, but not great.

...and Getzlaf just scored to make it 4-1. I rest my case.

Thornton & Sharks Have No Bite

I, along with most Canadians feel a deep respect for the opinions of Don Cherry. As such I believe that he has at the very least influenced my opinion of Joe Thornton. I have always wanted to believe that Thornton's playoff woes are just that, and not an inert lack of playoff ability. That opinion, I'm afraid, may have been altered after watching the first four games of the Sharks/Ducks series.

Not only is Thornton not performing on paper, he is not performing in any way on the ice. Thornton's performance has been completely uninspired in the four games of this series thus far. In game four, Thornton could be seen coasting around as if he was uninterested. At the end of the game he was on the bench rather than in the game. Not only that, but he showed absolutely no heart during the game. Thornton was on the ice for both of Bobby Ryan's second period markers and glided away with an expressionless face. He then proceeded to hit Getzlaf with a tape-t0-tape pass on Perry's first goal of the series. There must be a way to motivate Thornton's play, but I feel that even if Thornton shows some heart in Game 5, the no-show Sharks still won't get by the Ducks in Round 1.

Don't mistake my disappointment with Thornton as personal blame for the series. It has been a team effort to play so poorly. The lack-luster play of Patrick Marleau and company has been very apparent in this series and the only motivated Shark's performances have come from veteran Stanley Cup winning defensemen Rob Blake and Dan Boyle.

I predicted the Ducks would win this series in 7 Games. They were hot going into the playoffs and they had to fight their way in. The Sharks coasted into the playoffs having a losing record over their last 36 games. Given their record start to the season, they were the early favourites to win. It is now apparent that they are no longer favourites and in my personal opinion, haven't been since the All-Star break.

Thornton and the Sharks need to take a long look in the mirror and decide if they want to go out in a 5-Game romp, or go down in a Michael Vick dog-fight.

2009 STANLEY CUP FINALS PREDICTIONS

Conference Quarter-Finals

Eastern Conference

Philadelphia (5) vs. Pittsburgh (4) - Philadelphia (7 Games)

I really hope I'm wrong about this, but I have a feeling Philly is going to do it. That being said, I'd like to see both of these teams in the second round, but unfortunately one of them has to go. Malkin and Crosby need to be on fire for the Pens to come out victorious. I think that Philadelphia's depth could put them over the top, even with Pittsburgh having home-ice advantage.


Carolina (6) vs. New Jersey (3) - Carolina (7 Games)

Given Brodeur's shaky play of late and Carolina's brilliant play, I have to go with the Canes. Anton Babchuk (who?) has been incredible of late and the Carolina defence has been very strong overall, but it has been their strong mixture of Swedish and Finish that has been impressive of late.


NY Rangers (7) vs. Washington (2) - Washington (5 Games)

I think too much is being made of Sean Avery vs. Ovechkin. Avery doesn't stand a chance. OV will more than likely get annoyed with him and absolutely destroy him in the trolley tracks. Watch for Lundqvist to steal one but Washington's firepower will prevail in the end. Theodore is their weakest link, but if he can somehow gain some confidence in goal the Capitals will be a team to contend with.


Montreal (8) vs. Boston (1) - Boston (6 Games)

The Bruins are by far the superior team this season, but if history tells us anything it's that the Habs and B's HATE each other. Every game will be a good one and look for this series and "The Battle of Pennsylvania" to be two of the best in the playoffs. On a side note, Chara will literally eat Koivu for breakfast.

Western Conference

Calgary (5) vs. Chicago (4) - Chicago (6 Games)

I really hate to go with the Hawks, but Calgary MUST get healthy to have even a remote chance. Playing with 15 guys each night killed the Flames at the close of the season. They have no momentum going forward into the playoffs, and the young guns of Chicago are going to take advantage.

St. Louis (6) vs. Vancouver (3) - Vancouver (6 Games)

The Blues are on absolute fire of late, and Chris Mason has been stellar. Vancouver's Mats Sundin (as weird as that is to say) will be a dominant force in the playoffs. If he is as motivated as he says and gives it his all he could be a deciding factor in this series. Oh yeah, and they have this guy named Luongo who isn't half-bad.

Columbus (7) vs. Detroit (2) - Detroit (6 Games)

Steve Mason should have his name engraved in the Calder Memorial Trophy this year. 10 shutouts as a rookie in the most competitive league on the planet, sort of impressive. He will steal a few but Detroit is just too deep to be stopped here. Osgood needs to stop some pucks for the Wings to win it all, but they may go pretty far without much help in goal.

Anaheim (8) vs. San Jose (1) - Anaheim (7 Games)

I really want to believe in the Sharks, but I just don't see it in them of late. Anaheim has been absolutely crazy good and I believe that they will take this series deep and come out victorious against the Sharks.