NHL Playoffs

Is there a better day a year than today? No I don't mean Tax day in the USA, I'm talking about the first day of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The possibilities are endless for all 16 teams who start the second and most important season of the year. Will there be any Cinderella stories this year? Will an underachieving team through the regular season come to life now? What about a team who limped their way into the post season, will they bounce back and find their true form?

In the East:
#1 Boston Bruins vs #8 Montreal Canadiens
In a repeat match-up from last years first round the roles are reversed. Last year Montreal came in as the #2 seed and heavy favorites after going undefeated against the B's last season. This year Boston went 5-0-1 against Montreal and are the big favorites not only in this series, but in the Eastern Conference. I think (albeit a biased opinion) the Bruins will take the series in 5 or 6 games.

#2 Washington Capitals vs #7 New York Rangers
I got my wish of not having to play the Rangers in the first round of the playoffs. Washington's offense is much more potent than NYR having scored 62 more goals in the regular season. With Ovechkin, Backstrom and Semin leading the way up front and Mike Green patrolling the blue line I think there is only one way the Rangers will win this series; Jose Theodore lays an egg and Henrik Lundqvist plays out of his mind at the other end for the entire series.

#3 New Jersey Devils vs #6 Carolina Hurricanes
This series will be a great one to watch in my eyes. Both teams have great leadership in the dressing room and have been deep in the playoffs recently. Will the Devils find their game that had them in contention for the #1 overall seed for most of the season? If they do then I think they can win the series in 5 games. But what if the Devils play like they did the last 15 games or so? Where they appeared to shut it down and limp into the playoffs, if that happens then look for Carolina to take it in 6.

#4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs #5 Philadelphia Flyers
Oh boy did the Flyers drop the ball on the last day of the regular season or what? All they needed was to hang on for one more game and they would have had home ice for the series. Instead they allow the Penguins to come into their building, win the game and take home ice from them. The Pens are one of the hottest teams in the league right now going 18-3-4 in their last 25 games. With Malkin and Crosby leading the way, I think the Penguins are a very dangerous team to play now.

And In the West:
#1 San Jose Sharks vs #8 Anaheim Ducks
The Sharks, winner's of the President's Trophy this season, are so deep everywhere you look this season. It's tough to go against them in this first round battle. Although if anyone can knock them off it is the Ducks. With guys like Chris Pronger, Scott Niedermayer, Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan leading the way they're a very dangerous team to play against. Factor in Joe Thornton's inability to be a big time player in the playoffs in years past and an upset may be brewing. But don't bet on it. I think San Jose will squeak past the Ducks in 6.

#2 Detroit Red Wings vs #7 Columbus Blue Jackets
The obvious favorite for most people would be the Red Wings, however the Blue Jackets played the Wings tight all season. The Blue Jackets freshed face playoff outlook may not know the Goliath they are up against. Steve Mason was one of the best goalies in the league as a rookie and I think it will take it to another level in his first ever playoff series. But how can you really argue against the defending Cup champs and all the talent they have? I think Detroit will take the series in 7 games.

#3 Vancouver Canucks vs #6 St. Louis Blues
Two of the hottest 2nd half teams in the league play each other in the first round and I bet 6 other Western Conference teams are happy they don't have to see either one of them first thing in the playoffs. The Blues have the NHL's best 2nd half record at 25-9-7, while the Canucks were 23-7-2 in their last 32 games. Talk about a great playoff match-up. I don't know who will walk away with this one, I think it's going to go all 7 games. If Roberto Luongo can play up to his expectations he's a very tough goalie to beat, but don't forget about Chris Mason in net for the Blues who has been unbelievable as of late to help the Blues with their late season playoff run.

#4 Chicago Blackhawks vs #5 Calgary Flames
This is another series that will be a great one to watch. I keep going back and forth on who I think will win. Calgary has the playoff experience, but they also had a bad end to the season. Jarome Iginla hasn't been as dominate as he has been in seasons past and Olli Jokinen has been a non factor since he was traded there. On the other side Chicago has virtually no playoff experience, but may be able to ride Nikolai Khabibulin thru this series. Also Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane can be incredible together along with a great supporting cast, they may be able to blow past the Flames.

So there you have it folks! The first round of the playoffs starts tonight. The anticipation is better than Christmas Eve when you wonder what you may unwrap the next morning.

You're Gunna Miss This

There's a country song that is titled "You're Gunna Miss This" by Trace Adkins, part of the chorus says "You're gunna miss this, you're gunna want this back, you're gunna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast, cuz these are some good times so take a good look around you may not know it now but you're gunna miss this." When I hear that song I think about the way my life is; when you're in your twenties and just having a good time. Tonight I was watching tv and getting game updates via text message from the Chi-Town/Battle Creek 5th game in the AAHA championship series. The song came on tv and I was thinking about all the good memories I had out in B.C. this season and even though Battle Creek didn't win the game I'm still proud of all those guys and what they accomplished this season. I also have to say congratulations to the Shooters, particularly Nigel Hawryliw who won his 2nd professional ring tonight, Alex Motley who was a teammate/roommate of mine last season and Brian Jacque who is a Massachusetts boy and has been dying to get his name in the blog since training camp this year. Both Jaco and Mots are celebrating their first championships tonight.

With tonight being the end of the All American Hockey Association's season I can put an end to the scoreboard watching to see how the Revs are doing. Now I can focus on the '09-'10 season. I don't have a clue where I'll be playing yet, but have a few leads. Maybe I'll be back in the AAHA or somewhere overseas or in a "AA" league here in the United States. As far as I'm concerned tomorrow is the first day of the new season. So once again congrats to the Shooters, but also congrats to everyone involved in the Battle Creek Revolution organization.

I'm going to go on record here and make some predictions for the Frozen Four that takes place next weekend in Washington, DC. I would make a prediction about the NCAA Basketball Final Four, but I didn't watch a minute of it this year so who cares. I think the Miami Red Hawks will beat Bemidji State and faceoff in the finals against Boston University, who should beat UVM in an Hockey East semi-final. BU I think will be too strong for Miami and should win the whole thing. BU is just too strong of a team to be knocked off at this point, they are built like a professional hockey team.

In other big hockey news my hometown Boston Bruins clinched the top spot in the Eastern Conference yesterday with a 1-0 win over the New York Rangers. The game could be an early preview to a first round playoff match-up as the Rangers are tied for 8th place right now with the Florida Panthers. As a Bruins fan I'd rather see them play the Panthers, I think NYR is a very dangerous team with tons of playoff saavy players like Scott Gomez, Markus Nasland, Chris Drury and Wade Redden. Plus they have uber pest Sean Avery, who I love to watch play when he can keep his mouth shut.

AAHA fans stay in touch with me this off season thru emails and reading the blog.

Thanks for everything this season to everyone in Battle Creek. Weezy, Nigel, Demers, Wader, Huggs, Bart Really, the whole team, Kaitlin, Haili, Doc Joe, Joe K and everyone else that I'm forgetting.