April 26th, 2007 - Cue the card girl ? time for round two
The first round of the NHL playoffs in recent years has been nothing short of a massacre with the favored teams dropping like they?d been pole-axed by a Jamie McLennan two-hander.
This year however, all the teams that should have won did and the eight remaining truly are the best that the regular season had to offer. No long shots. No Cinderella?s here. Just the best vs. the best.
Despite Sid the Kid?s absence for the remainder of the fray, (its okay Gary Bettman, suck it up there little fella), the match-ups are just about the finest the NHL could hope for.
For those fans in the States, both coasts are well represented, including some true hockey hotbeds. (Yes, there are still some of those). Up in the great white north, two of the six Canadian teams remain skating, and they represent cities from the opposite ends of the longest unprotected border in the world.
All is good in the hockey world, and since I only screwed the pooch on two of the opening eight series, I?m more confident than ever looking at the next four. Not that you should count that as meaning anything?
San Jose vs. Detroit
Can the dinged up crew of Henrik Zetterberg, Todd Bertuzzi, Chris Chelios and Dominik Hasek stop, or at least slow down the two top Shark lines run by Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau? What happens if Jonathan Cheechoo gets completely healthy and targets each and every one of those wounded old guys? He?s so nuts, checking out the warm up skate might be in order. Detroit got by the Flames, but not as easily as they should have. The Sharks schooled Nashville easily winning in five. And looking at the regular season, the Sharks won three of four and outscored the Red Wings, 18-9. Bigger, stronger, faster ? cue the Six-million dollar man music?
San Jose in 6
Anaheim Ducks vs. Vancouver Canucks
If you watched the Vancouver Dallas series, you are a braver fan than I. Reading about it almost put me in a coma. Here?s the thing about this match-up, and I hate to say this considering my editor at betED.com is a huge Canucks fan: If Vancouver had trouble scoring against Dallas, how on earth will they ever put one in the net when they face Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer every single shift?
Anaheim in 5 (and only if Luongo steals one)
Buffalo Sabres vs. New York Rangers
The coach of the New York Rangers, Tom Renney, is considered one of the smartest guys in the game, but what was he thinking when he said the Sabres not being the ?cream of the crop?? How many times have you heard a head coach give another team bulletin board material? The Sabres won the President?s Trophy in the regular season, and in the first round, despite not playing their best, they looked like they hardly broke a sweat taking out the Islanders in five. Now they have motivation against their cross-state rival. Beyond all that media-created nonsense, Buffalo have been the most consistent team all season long and are the deepest team in the league with three strong lines, and a goaltender capable of stealing a game, or maybe even two this series. On the other hand the Rangers ended the season as the hottest team in the NHL going 17-6-5 winning eight of their final 11. Then they swept Atlanta and are now well rested. Should Renney have said anything? Nope? Was he right? Yup. The ?Cream of the Crop? isn?t decided until sometime in June. And since I like hot vs. steady the ?cream? won?t be the Sabres.
Rangers in 7
Ottawa Senators vs. New Jersey Devils
Please excuse the sacrilege, but Martin Brodeur may just be a full fledged god, or at least a minor deity ? so you think that would be enough for the Devils to advance. Not that I?m saying they are Satanists or anything. Hmm, I may be getting myself in to some trouble here I?m thinking. Moving on? Their opponents, the Ottawa Senators have Dany Heatley, Jason Spezza and a suddenly awake Daniel Alfredsson backed by a solid defense led by Wade Redden and Chris Phillips. And Ray Emery in net ain?t all that bad either. Martin had better pray for some miraculous scoring, otherwise this could be over early. (And after watching the Devils play the Lightening, all I can say is, Amen).
Sens in 6
Enjoy the games everyone.
Cheers and enjoy the playoffs - Gavin McDougald - AKA Couch
The first round of the NHL playoffs in recent years has been nothing short of a massacre with the favored teams dropping like they?d been pole-axed by a Jamie McLennan two-hander.
This year however, all the teams that should have won did and the eight remaining truly are the best that the regular season had to offer. No long shots. No Cinderella?s here. Just the best vs. the best.
Despite Sid the Kid?s absence for the remainder of the fray, (its okay Gary Bettman, suck it up there little fella), the match-ups are just about the finest the NHL could hope for.
For those fans in the States, both coasts are well represented, including some true hockey hotbeds. (Yes, there are still some of those). Up in the great white north, two of the six Canadian teams remain skating, and they represent cities from the opposite ends of the longest unprotected border in the world.
All is good in the hockey world, and since I only screwed the pooch on two of the opening eight series, I?m more confident than ever looking at the next four. Not that you should count that as meaning anything?
San Jose vs. Detroit
Can the dinged up crew of Henrik Zetterberg, Todd Bertuzzi, Chris Chelios and Dominik Hasek stop, or at least slow down the two top Shark lines run by Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau? What happens if Jonathan Cheechoo gets completely healthy and targets each and every one of those wounded old guys? He?s so nuts, checking out the warm up skate might be in order. Detroit got by the Flames, but not as easily as they should have. The Sharks schooled Nashville easily winning in five. And looking at the regular season, the Sharks won three of four and outscored the Red Wings, 18-9. Bigger, stronger, faster ? cue the Six-million dollar man music?
San Jose in 6
Anaheim Ducks vs. Vancouver Canucks
If you watched the Vancouver Dallas series, you are a braver fan than I. Reading about it almost put me in a coma. Here?s the thing about this match-up, and I hate to say this considering my editor at betED.com is a huge Canucks fan: If Vancouver had trouble scoring against Dallas, how on earth will they ever put one in the net when they face Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer every single shift?
Anaheim in 5 (and only if Luongo steals one)
Buffalo Sabres vs. New York Rangers
The coach of the New York Rangers, Tom Renney, is considered one of the smartest guys in the game, but what was he thinking when he said the Sabres not being the ?cream of the crop?? How many times have you heard a head coach give another team bulletin board material? The Sabres won the President?s Trophy in the regular season, and in the first round, despite not playing their best, they looked like they hardly broke a sweat taking out the Islanders in five. Now they have motivation against their cross-state rival. Beyond all that media-created nonsense, Buffalo have been the most consistent team all season long and are the deepest team in the league with three strong lines, and a goaltender capable of stealing a game, or maybe even two this series. On the other hand the Rangers ended the season as the hottest team in the NHL going 17-6-5 winning eight of their final 11. Then they swept Atlanta and are now well rested. Should Renney have said anything? Nope? Was he right? Yup. The ?Cream of the Crop? isn?t decided until sometime in June. And since I like hot vs. steady the ?cream? won?t be the Sabres.
Rangers in 7
Ottawa Senators vs. New Jersey Devils
Please excuse the sacrilege, but Martin Brodeur may just be a full fledged god, or at least a minor deity ? so you think that would be enough for the Devils to advance. Not that I?m saying they are Satanists or anything. Hmm, I may be getting myself in to some trouble here I?m thinking. Moving on? Their opponents, the Ottawa Senators have Dany Heatley, Jason Spezza and a suddenly awake Daniel Alfredsson backed by a solid defense led by Wade Redden and Chris Phillips. And Ray Emery in net ain?t all that bad either. Martin had better pray for some miraculous scoring, otherwise this could be over early. (And after watching the Devils play the Lightening, all I can say is, Amen).
Sens in 6
Enjoy the games everyone.
Cheers and enjoy the playoffs - Gavin McDougald - AKA Couch
