Conference Finals And School

Okay, so I've been busy and didn't have time to predict this round of the hockey playoffs before they started.

Quick Recap:

Flyers beat Les Habitants: BOO!!! Not what I predicted or wanted! Maybe next year Montreal, you're a good young team, with a lot of playoff left in ya.

Penguins beat Rangers: Predicted!

Red Wings beat Avalanche: Predicted, sad to see the Avs eliminated in four straight, kudos to Detroit.

Stars beat Sharks: Predicted, not what I wanted. Thank you Sharks for showing up in the last three games of the series, you regained some honor, and should be very proud of game six: epic and legendary.

So that brings my record to: 9-3...not too shabby if I do say so myself. Here's to making it 12-3?

Predictions for round 3, the Conference Finals. (Yes, I konw they're both three games in and kind of decided already, I picked these out a while ago, promise, and if you want to challenge me, I don't care, there's not money on it).

Penguins vs. Flyers: The Flyers have been a gritty hockey lovers team. I mean, I don't love the Flyers but they're playing the kind of hockey that the die hards love. It's not pretty, it's physical, ugly and full of heart. They might not have the smoothest game in the league but they're play until the last buzzer and exhaust themselves doing so. Problem for the Flyers: the Pittsburgh Penguins are playing excellent hockey, and I don't think they're even playing to their potential. The gritty play of the Flyers is insufficient for the Penguins machine. They've coasted through the playoffs and are dominating the Flyers in this series 3 games to none. The Flyers might pull off a win in the next game, but look for the Penguins to wrap this up in the next game or two. The Penguins are too good for Philadelphia. Kudos for your play thus far Flyers, but you'll be enjoying your lazyboys by the beginning of next week.

Red Wings vs. Stars: This series, in many ways, is like the Eastern Conference Finals. Dallas has beaten two teams that, on paper, they had no business beating. However, Detroit, unlike all Presidents Trophy Winners (best regular season record), are continuing their excellent play in the playoffs. They have been dominant all season long. I haven't had a chance to catch a Detroit game yet, but I'm anticipating stellar play from them. Same thing, Dallas might pull out a win tonight, but they'll be done next week.

Which sets us up for the Stanley Cup Finals: Detroit Red Wings vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburg has a better record in the playoffs. Malkin and Crosby are leading the charge, and to back them up, veterans who have been to the playoffs: Sykora, Roberts, Hossa, Gonchar, Sydor. Marc-Andre Fleury is playing extremely well.
However, as an early pic, I'm going to take Detroit. Zetterburg and Datsyuk have lived up to their potential with the addition of a streaking Franzen: Most Playoff Goals. In terms of support, the old Red Wings dynasty is till in Detroit, Maltby, Draper, Holmstrom, McCarty, not to mention Chelios and the best deffensemen in the league Nicklas Lidstrom. They've also nabbed Dallas Drake, Brad Stuart, and Brian Rafalski (who has won a few cups with New Jersey). And then you get to goal, you have old Red Wings star Chris Osgood who is as dominant as ever, and as a back up the have The Dominator, Dominik Hasek. There's experience in Detroit that might prove to be the difference between the Penguins and Red Wings. Between the streaking young guys who have three or four guys who have won the cup with different teams compared to nine or more who have won in Detroit with Detroit, I pick the Red Wings. It has the potential to be a long and drawn out series, but I'm thinking Detroit.

My grandma is doing well, she only has two cancerous lymph nodes. The treatment is rough on her, but we're very hopeful.

School is coming to a close, I've finished off two classes, and I have two tests and my Thesis left. YAY!!!