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.