If my predictions were a weather pattern, it’d be a high pressure system that’s stalled. Every day is more of the same. The patterns repeat. Nothing changes. It’s like L.A., you don’t even have to look out the window to know how to dress.
My predictive outcomes are predictably predictable. Once again, I nailed the West. And once again, ohfer in the East. If you’re a bettin’ man/gal, take heed. My word is gospel if the puck drops in a non-Eastern Standart Time zone. If it does drop in EST, don’t do as I say, do exactly the opposite.
Western Conference Finals
San Jose Sharks (1) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (2)
The Western Conference has thus far followed the program. With the exception of Detroit’s ousting of Phoenix (which in the world of upsets is a .3 out of 10), all the top seeds have held serve. Joe Pavelski’s absurd play (I mean that nicely [9 G, 6 A]) has helped the Sharks shed a little of the choke baggage from years past. Evgeni Nabokov (2.43 GAA) hasn’t been standing on his head, but has certainly played respectably with only two stinkers in the playoffs through two rounds (game 2 vs. Avs, game 4 vs. Red Wings). Further, the Sharks bucked their aversion to beating Detroit—clearing these kinds of psychological hurdles can do wonders.
The Hawks, meanwhile, have put together some very impressive games. They’ve also turned in a couple of their worst performances—that I can recall—in the past four or five years (see games 1 and 5 vs. Vancouver). Yet, the physical play of Byfuglien, Eager and Burish sparked a seemingly, at times, dead team. Toews continues to improve, which is scary because he’s already faneffingtastic. And Kris Versteeg’s play makes me like him more everyday. Also, Hossa decided to show up. When he’s good, all’s good.
That’s all the good.
The bad for the Pacific victors is that Kent Huskins and Jason Demers have not been Nabokov’s favorite blueliners. At times, they play like they’re secret agents for the other city. Linemates Dany Heatly and Joe Thorton have combined for 22 pts. and 26 PIM.
The bad for the Central victors is that the Hawks come out of the gates at a trot rather than a gallop, losing game one in both series so far. They also took, like, fifty too many men on the ice penalties during the first two rounds, and the Sharks special teams is WAY better than Vancouver’s. Face-off wins will take on added importance, as the Sharks, led by Manny Malhotra and JT, are crafty at swiping drops, while the Hawks struggle at times. John Madden could help here.
This series will come down to the level of physicality and goaltending. The Hawks would like to fustigate the Sharks like they did the ‘Nucks. However, the Sharks are a bigger, sturdier bunch (Joe T., Seto, Clowe).
Will Nabokov continue to play as consistently as he did against the Avs and Wings? Will Niemi (for whom each subsequent game is uncharted waters) continue to play well enough to give the high octane Hawks offense the chance to win?
The answers is simple…yes.
To which question, you ask? I’ll never tell.
Okay, the key here comes down to coach Q.: Does he play Seabrook and Keith against the Thorton or Pavelski line? I say, despite Pavelski’s stellar performance two rounds in, shut down the Thorton line. Seabrook and Keith are bigger than Hjalmarsson and Campbell, and that will help them against Thorton. Campbell and Hjalmarsson can keep up with Seto and Pavelsky’s speed. If the Hawks can then stave off the aggressive forecheck of SJ and establish one of their own, a la game three and four against Vancouver, they’ll be skating for the Cup. If they don’t do this, they’ll be golfing in ten days’ time.
Hawks win in what is one of the great conference match ups in recent memory.
Eastern Conference Finals
(I can’t believe I’m typing this) Philadelphia Flyers (7) vs. Montreal Canadiens (8)
The unlikeliest series ever has happened. The bottom two seeds have topped the East (Rangers, this could have been you…wait…no it couldn’t. You can’t win a 0-0 game.), and jagbag fans of Philly have Michael Leighton to thank.
The Canadiens, it turns out, are just that damn good. And they should be just about recovered from complications due to inhaling garbage fire fumes. Cammalleri is hands down the early leader for the Conn Smythe Trophy. Markov is healthy. Gomez can pass. Halak is Omazing.
The scoring is an interesting story here. The Canadiens have gotten a lot of points from just a few guys (Cammalleri, 12 G; Gionta, 7 G; Gomez 10 A). The Flyers have followed a similar formula (Briere, 7 G; Richards, 12 A; Giroux, 5 G). The absence of Jeff Carter will hurt though. That, and the tremendous defensive play of Spacek and Subban added to an already notable playoffs by Gill and Gorges spell trouble for the Flyers.
In the end, Leighton will have to out-perform the Incredible Halak. It’s possible. Hell, the Eastern Conference has proven that in spades. Anything’s possible, yes. But it won’t happen.
Canadiens. Oh. My. God.
-Kyle Wills
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment