(no subject)
Well, I'm back for a special occasion. Pretty much the only sporting team I care about (the Edmonton Oilers) have made it to the playoffs in the only league I care about (the NHL), So I've taken it upon myself to make a few rash and rather uneducated post-season predictions.
More than likely my western conference picks will do better, since I've watched that half of the league closer than the east.
The greatest feeling on earth, next to an orgasm, is scoring a goal. I haven't felt that since I moved from Canuckistan and how I've ached for it since. Don't get me wrong, I can't skate worth shit, but I've played more than my share of roller hockey, street hockey (I've taken enough pucks to the nuts to lower my sperm count), even broom hockey - yes, that was one of our junior high intrumural options.
This time of the year gives me the sharpest pangs of nostalgia. I've a great affection for the oilers, I've followed them since I could walk, through painfully shy elementary school when I wore my oilers sweater and an oversized helmet and went for halloween as Jason Arnott (don't worry, no one at school got that one either).
My cousin and I spent most of our summers and winters in oversized goalie pads, blocking the residential road and shooting chunks of ice or tennis balls at each other and colorfully arguing the merits of the most savage rivalry I have ever known (Oilers vs. the Calgary Flames). Even since he joined an order of Catholic monks and disappeared of my social radar, those memories are the clearest.
It's the same every year, always the underdog, the same color commentator from even before I ripped from my mothers womb (this Rod Phillips with Morley Scott, and your listening to Oilers radio, 630 CHED).
I could go on, I really could, but I digress.
1st Round (Best of 7)
West:
(1) Detroit vs. (8) Edmonton
Detroit in 6 I know, but hometown loyalty aside, the Oilers are really just happy to be here. Detroit is loaded with offensive and defensive talent which plays consistently (unlike the hot/cold oiler squad), Legace/Osgood combo pack a better goaltending punch than Roloson too. Alternately, if the Oilers play to their potential, I could see them making the upset in 4 or 5.
(2) Dallas vs. (7) Colorado
Dallas in 4 Colorado lacks alot of the depth they had season prior (Forsberg, Roy) and Theodore is inconsistent in goal. Colorado finished the season with a whimper and really aren't much of a match for the stars.
(3) Calgary vs. (6) Anaheim
Anaheim in 7 Calgary's not had to shoulder this much pressure in awhile, and I don't think they have the drive to match their Stanley Cup final series loss of the previous season. Anaheim's been one of the best teams the second half of the season, with a stronger offence than Calgary (Selanne vs. a weak Iginla). Giguere can hold his own against the Flames' savior goalie Kiprusoff.
(4) Nashville vs. (5) San Jose
San Jose in 5 San Jose is the team no one wanted to face in the post-season. No one. They've got the Art Ross Trophy winner (most points this year) Joe Thornton forming a lethal combination with Maurice Richard Trophy winner (most goals this year) Jonathan Cheechoo. If the rest of this team steps up (considering Thornton as more assists than all of his teammates has points), they should swamp a limping Predators team without it's backbone goaltender (Vokoun out for injury).
East:
(1)Ottawa vs. (8)Tampa Bay
Ottawa in 5 The best first line in hockey (Heatley, Alfredsson, Spezza) ought to destroy Tampa like they've done all season. I give the lightning one win, due to Martin St. Louis and Lecavalier.
(2)Carolina vs. (7) Montreal
Montreal in 7 Probably the one upset pick I'll regret, but what the hell, I like the habs and they've been happier since they ditched Theodore's expensive ass with the Avs. Carolina is a paper house, they will fall.
(3) New Jersey vs. (6) NY Rangers
New Jersey in 6 New Jersey is on a tear lately (10 wins) and they've already stole the division title from the Rangers. You can't argue with Martin Brodeur, but Jagr and all those Czechs ought to give NJ a run for their money, I can easily see this going to the Rangers in 6 out of vengeance.
(4) Buffalo vs. (5) Philadelphia
Buffalo in 7 Philadelphia's a great all around team, but Buffalo's been working all season long and their Goaltending is arguably the best combination in the league with Hasek at the helm. Look for this to be a great series, and another prediction I could regret.
Other pretentious predictions...
Quarter finals
West:
(1) Detroit vs. (6) Anaheim
Detroit in 5
(2) Dallas vs. (5) Sharks
San Jose in 6
East:
(1) Ottawa vs. (7) Montreal
Ottawa in 5
(3) New Jersey vs. (4) Buffalo
New Jersey in 7
Conference Finals
West:
(1) Detroit vs. (5) San Jose
San Jose in 6
(1) Ottawa vs. (3) New Jersey
Ottawa in 5
Stanley Cup Finals
(1) Ottawa vs. (5) San Jose
Ottawa in 6
More than likely my western conference picks will do better, since I've watched that half of the league closer than the east.
The greatest feeling on earth, next to an orgasm, is scoring a goal. I haven't felt that since I moved from Canuckistan and how I've ached for it since. Don't get me wrong, I can't skate worth shit, but I've played more than my share of roller hockey, street hockey (I've taken enough pucks to the nuts to lower my sperm count), even broom hockey - yes, that was one of our junior high intrumural options.
This time of the year gives me the sharpest pangs of nostalgia. I've a great affection for the oilers, I've followed them since I could walk, through painfully shy elementary school when I wore my oilers sweater and an oversized helmet and went for halloween as Jason Arnott (don't worry, no one at school got that one either).
My cousin and I spent most of our summers and winters in oversized goalie pads, blocking the residential road and shooting chunks of ice or tennis balls at each other and colorfully arguing the merits of the most savage rivalry I have ever known (Oilers vs. the Calgary Flames). Even since he joined an order of Catholic monks and disappeared of my social radar, those memories are the clearest.
It's the same every year, always the underdog, the same color commentator from even before I ripped from my mothers womb (this Rod Phillips with Morley Scott, and your listening to Oilers radio, 630 CHED).
I could go on, I really could, but I digress.
1st Round (Best of 7)
West:
(1) Detroit vs. (8) Edmonton
Detroit in 6 I know, but hometown loyalty aside, the Oilers are really just happy to be here. Detroit is loaded with offensive and defensive talent which plays consistently (unlike the hot/cold oiler squad), Legace/Osgood combo pack a better goaltending punch than Roloson too. Alternately, if the Oilers play to their potential, I could see them making the upset in 4 or 5.
(2) Dallas vs. (7) Colorado
Dallas in 4 Colorado lacks alot of the depth they had season prior (Forsberg, Roy) and Theodore is inconsistent in goal. Colorado finished the season with a whimper and really aren't much of a match for the stars.
(3) Calgary vs. (6) Anaheim
Anaheim in 7 Calgary's not had to shoulder this much pressure in awhile, and I don't think they have the drive to match their Stanley Cup final series loss of the previous season. Anaheim's been one of the best teams the second half of the season, with a stronger offence than Calgary (Selanne vs. a weak Iginla). Giguere can hold his own against the Flames' savior goalie Kiprusoff.
(4) Nashville vs. (5) San Jose
San Jose in 5 San Jose is the team no one wanted to face in the post-season. No one. They've got the Art Ross Trophy winner (most points this year) Joe Thornton forming a lethal combination with Maurice Richard Trophy winner (most goals this year) Jonathan Cheechoo. If the rest of this team steps up (considering Thornton as more assists than all of his teammates has points), they should swamp a limping Predators team without it's backbone goaltender (Vokoun out for injury).
East:
(1)Ottawa vs. (8)Tampa Bay
Ottawa in 5 The best first line in hockey (Heatley, Alfredsson, Spezza) ought to destroy Tampa like they've done all season. I give the lightning one win, due to Martin St. Louis and Lecavalier.
(2)Carolina vs. (7) Montreal
Montreal in 7 Probably the one upset pick I'll regret, but what the hell, I like the habs and they've been happier since they ditched Theodore's expensive ass with the Avs. Carolina is a paper house, they will fall.
(3) New Jersey vs. (6) NY Rangers
New Jersey in 6 New Jersey is on a tear lately (10 wins) and they've already stole the division title from the Rangers. You can't argue with Martin Brodeur, but Jagr and all those Czechs ought to give NJ a run for their money, I can easily see this going to the Rangers in 6 out of vengeance.
(4) Buffalo vs. (5) Philadelphia
Buffalo in 7 Philadelphia's a great all around team, but Buffalo's been working all season long and their Goaltending is arguably the best combination in the league with Hasek at the helm. Look for this to be a great series, and another prediction I could regret.
Other pretentious predictions...
Quarter finals
West:
(1) Detroit vs. (6) Anaheim
Detroit in 5
(2) Dallas vs. (5) Sharks
San Jose in 6
East:
(1) Ottawa vs. (7) Montreal
Ottawa in 5
(3) New Jersey vs. (4) Buffalo
New Jersey in 7
Conference Finals
West:
(1) Detroit vs. (5) San Jose
San Jose in 6
(1) Ottawa vs. (3) New Jersey
Ottawa in 5
Stanley Cup Finals
(1) Ottawa vs. (5) San Jose
Ottawa in 6