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THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR…
By Anthony | April 20, 2009
One of the many things I like about President Obama is that he’s always trying to keep things in perspective, with a smile.
Yes, I have my issues with him – that lame appearance on the Tonight Show ranks right up there along with failing to take part in the Durban II Conference, FISA wiretapping, eschewing real change by appointing many to his cabinet that are status quo, escalating war, etc… – but who’s perfect? And besides I believe a lot of his ascendancy is really about symbolism unless the citizens make firm demands.
Anyway, the 44th commander-in-chief recently got chided for participating in something he’s always been fond of – basketball, when Duke University men’s coach Mike Krzyzewski took exception to Mr. Obama’s bracket selections on ESPN days before the start of the NCAA tournament.
I’m really not sure if Coach K was just hating because his school wasn’t picked to win the 64-team competition (hint: arch rival North Carolina was chosen, and interestingly enough won as Duke was eliminated in the quarterfinals losing 77-54 to Villanova), but the three-time winner of March Madness felt that there were other things the president needed to be concerned with; i.e. the economic crisis.
Valid point, but in all seriousness anything he, or the first family, does or are interested in will get too much attention based on who they are and some in media who are fixated on trivia.
Well, in an effort to live vicariously through president Obama and keep things in perspective, while one could certainly point out that there are more important things for me to be concerned with, I am offering my picks for this year’s National Hockey League playoffs, a time of year that I’ve always been fond of.
If any media outlets are interested we can certainly talk.
2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Conference Quarterfinals
Eastern Conference:
Yes, they have actually already started and I will be very true to what I felt coming into the first night of action.
(1) Boston vs. (8) Montreal
This historic original six match-up has been extremely lopsided in favor of the Canadiens – winning 24 of the 31 postseason battles – and you would expect more of the same as Les Habitants celebrate their centennial year as the most successful franchise in the sport.
However, this season Montreal has resembled anything but the model franchise. Players have been investigated for links with the mafia, dissension between players and coaches, celebrated player now turned coach fired by his close friend the general manager, rumors that the team is up for sale and we haven’t even mentioned the struggling product on the ice.
Young net minder Carey Price tried his best Ken Dryden imitation last year and it gave them a game seven win against Boston when the seeds were reversed, but since then he’s been average and there’s a legitimate argument that Jaroslav Halak is playing better now though that’s not saying much.
Meanwhile, the Bruins catapulted to the best team in the Eastern Conference during the regular season with a balanced offense - ten scorers in double figures (led by Phil Kessel’s 36) - and the entire league’s stingiest defense anchored by behemoth six foot nine inch defenseman Zdeno Chara and ultra-competitive goalie Tim Thomas.
Through the first two games in Boston things have played out as expected and I think the Habs would consider it an accomplishment if they can manage one victory.
The smallish Canadiens just don’t have the size to match up to Boston. If the Bruins quickly dispose of them it would say a lot to me about how far they can go based on the potential of the other series being all out wars and going a bit further.
Bruins sweep the bleu, blanc et rouge for the first time since 1991-92.
(2) Washington vs. (7) Rangers
Now this is where things get tricky.
On February 23rd with their hot start a thing of the past and their hold on a playoff spot tenuous at best the Rangers fired coach Tom Renney and replaced him with John Tortorella.
That one move changed the team’s philosophy from passive to aggressive (though Renney should be given credit for raising the franchise from the depths of seven straight playoff absences with three postseason berths of his own) and then weeks later super nemesis Sean Avery was brought back after anger management as well as the additions of Nik Antropov and Derek Morris in trades.
A strong finish in the final week secured a playoff berth and they have not looked back.
Henrik Lundqvist is certainly in the heads of the Caps offensive snipers, especially the league’s best sharp shooter Alexander Ovechkin who is 0-for-19 in the first two games.
The Caps were my original choice and I’m sticking to it, but they have to start taking the puck to the net (Ovechkin included). However, now the series shifts to Madison Square Garden and though the goaltender change after Jose Theodore’s sub par performance in Game 1 did not affect them in the 1-0 Game 2 loss, I do believe that 20-year old Simeon Varlamov will be challenged.
There’s an old adage that in order to win the Stanley Cup you have to be able to play several styles, well hopefully Washington realizes that their perimeter game is not getting it done.
With my patience severely tested I’m going with the Caps in seven as the home ice advantage gets all twisted around in this series, until the deciding game.
(3) New Jersey vs. (6) Carolina
The beauty of writing this while the playoffs have already started is that you get to see how honest I really am.
After three games the Devils lead 2-1 thanks to Travis Zajac’s first goal since March 17th won Game Three five minutes into overtime.
This playoff matchup is becoming a rite of spring, as it is the fourth time the former Hartford Whalers and Kansas City Scouts/Colorado Rockies have met in the postseason.
I think Carolina really hurt their chances by admittedly not being prepared for Game One, losing meekly 4-1.
Meanwhile, the Devils are that close from leading this series 3-0.
They’ve looked ready from the first drop of the puck and the ‘Canes need a game breaker to step up and change the direction of this series.
Eric Staal can be the difference for the Hurricanes, as he and Erik Cole need to develop the chemistry that propelled them to nine straight wins late in the regular season.
It would also give Cam Ward some breathing room as even though he’s lost two games he has played very well.
This choice is shaky, but I feel that Carolina will start to get to Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur as the series continues and find a way.
Carolina in seven.
(4) Pittsburgh vs. (5) Philadelphia
The Battle of Pennsylvania!
This will continue to be a war, but the Flyers slow start in Game One and the amazing skate save by Marc Andre Fleury on Jeff Carter in Game Two in my opinion gave the Penguins too much of a head start.
Philadelphia is in must-win mode coming into Game Four after yesterday’s 6-3 win where they played with the intensity you’d think they would’ve from the beginning.
Of course, Pittsburgh had something to do with the Flyers apparent early lack of playoff intensity and when you add it all up moving forward Pittsburgh gets it done.
Their skill level is slightly greater than Philly’s and I believe that the Pens win the goaltender and defense match-up just as narrowly.
Penguins in six.
Western Conference:
(1) San Jose vs. (8) Anaheim
They say that every team needs to have its heart broken before it has learned how to become a champion.
The question in San Jose is how many times, and are they really built to win sports most difficult championship.
Man, after just two home games they find themselves repeating the all too familiar Sharks postseason story: an early round exit, and this time after they were the best team in the regular season from the first faceoff in October.
Once again Joe Thornton is being challenged to perform when it matters most, and once again he’s disappointing. Perhaps the Bruins knew something when they surprised many by dealing him in November of 2005?
Many felt that the potential for a first round upset was in this matchup, and though I did believe that the 2007 Stanley Cup Champs, Anaheim Ducks, would provide a good test I did not think they would be halfway there after just two games.
Once again, I am an honest man sticking to my original thoughts coming into the series, but it would be nice to see something to really make me feel good about this prediction.
Ducks’ goalie Jonas Hiller has stopped 77 of the first 79 playoff shots he has ever faced!
I’m not sure if he could keep that up, but then again does it matter if no one on the Sharks roster steps up and starts slaying their postseason demons.
Call me crazy, but I think they can.
Patrick Marleau is this teams’ captain and he will lead them and they’ll find a way to get it done, or if coach Todd McClellan is really grasping at straws he can insert 43-year old Claude Lemieux into the lineup.
Seriously though, playing at home with the series lead will be an even greater challenge for the young Hiller, and then things will change.
Sharks in seven.
(2) Detroit vs. (7) Columbus
And so San Jose’s almost predictable spring misfortunes have made it even more obvious that the Detroit Red Wings are good, very, very good.
About halfway through the Game One matchup against Columbus things were looking very competitive as there was no score and both teams were presenting exemplary challenges, but since then the winged wheel has outshot the upstart Blue Jackets, 59-33, outscoring them 8-1 and it hasn’t even been that close.
Talk about puck control! The puck is a yo-yo on the Wings’ sticks and Columbus is chasing it far too much.
Often overlooked in a great team’s success is how hard they work, and the way Detroit works to get the puck back for the few seconds they don’t have it is impressive.
Columbus did have a very good regular season and the fans and the organization should appreciate their first appearance, so perhaps potential Vezina and Calder trophy winner Steve Mason can steal a game between the pipes, but that’s about it.
Hossa, Franzen, Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Lidstrom, Filippula, Hudler are covering quite well for Chris Osgood’s shaky regular season – mind you he’s been the goalie for two cup winners, including last June’s defeat of Pittsburgh and whenever they’ve been challenged this season Detroit has answered the call with a win.
Detroit in five games.
(3) Vancouver vs. (6) St. Louis
Roberto Luongo and the Canucks power play has been the difference in this one.
The former New York Islanders goalie (can you believe that!) has allowed just three goals in three games, including a Game Two shutout, while with the man advantage his team has scored four times (three in the third game) with the Blues giving their fans just that with only one while a man up.
St. Louis has had a very good season and coach Andy Murray has squeezed a lot out of this injury riddled club. In fact, in the series they’ve not looked over matched, except in the two aforementioned areas.
It was really nice to see playoff hockey back in the “Gateway to the West” and I think they’ll get a victory, but Vancouver, one of the hottest teams in the league since February, wraps it up in five.
(4) Chicago vs. (5) Calgary
Speaking of it being nice to see a franchise back in the postseason!
The Chicago Blackhawks have returned from the dark ages and the Calgary Flames better raise their game very quickly.
After two games Chicago has managed to shake off any jitters a young team faces in the playoffs rallying to win both games 3-2.
Center Jonathan Toews has been the best player in the entire playoffs thus far dominating faceoffs and coming up with the big play and goal when needed.
Goalie Nikolai Khabibulin, the elder statesman on the barely legal Blackhawks, has continued his mastery of the Flames (22-5-2 career in the regular season, and he was the Tampa Bay Lightning goalie in 2004 when they won the Cup against the Flames) with timely saves.
I picked Calgary to win, but after watching the first two games a disturbing trend from their late regular season woes continues, that of meager offense and shaky goaltending and defense.
They’re back home for the next two and I really liked captain Jarome Iginla’s unusual comments after the recent loss where he showed some anger, and that’s rare for one of the game’s truly nice guys (hint to equally nice guy Joe Thornton of San Jose).
I think it was what they’ve needed for quite some time, and they’ll play for 60 minutes and get the hang of things.
Flames in seven.
So, just a little late, you have my picks for the first round. I have also been picking the winners (or at least trying to) of each individual game and so far I have won 12 of the 20 games after winning just one of three on Sunday.
Enjoy the best time of the year for a hockey fan!
PEACE
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April 20th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
I was on Yahoo and found your blog. Read a few of your other posts. Good work. I am looking forward to reading more from you in the future.
Tom Stanley