NHL Play-off picks, round 2 update

When I got home there was bad, though not unexpected, baseball news.  Roger Clemens signed with the Yankees.  I believe I speak for all citizens of Red Sox nation when I say, “Fuck you Roger Clemens… Again.”

There was also some good sports news though, which leads me to this post.

The New York Rangers were eliminated from the NHL Play-offs today.  That cheered the sports fan in me right up.  So now that three out of the four second round series are over I thought I’d check on my picks and see how I was doing.

In the first round I picked five out of eight winners for a 62.5% accuracy rate.

Now, round two…

Buffalo vs NY Rangers.  Buffalo wins the series four games to two.  I picked Buffalo.  Thank you Buffalo.  The Rangers are not my most hated NHL team, that honor falls to friggin’ Montreal, but they are probably second on that dubious list.  (Buffalo is really high on it too, but for now I’m overlooking that nasty fact.)  It gives me immense pleasure to see the Rangers lose.  Thanks Buffalo, you made me happy today.

New Jersey vs Ottawa.  Ottawa wins the series four games to one.  I picked New Jersey.  I put all my eggs in a basket named Martin Brodeur and I lost.  The least the damn Devils could have done is make it interesting.  Four to one, are you kidding me?  Can you say Cake Walk?  I guess that’s what you get for rooting for the Devils.

Anaheim vs Vancouver.  Anaheim wins the series four games to one.  I picked Anaheim… reluctantly.  I like the Canucks a lot.  I picked the Ducks but I was totally rooting for Vancouver.  However, realism is a bitch.  I was shocked they managed to win one game.  Anaheim is good… scary good.

Detroit vs San Jose.  This series isn’t over yet.  Detroit leads three games to two.  I picked San Jose.  If Detroit wins this series I am totally pushing them up to third on the teams-I-hate-the-most list.  Hey Patrick Marleau, do you have any plans to show up this series?  Are you incapable of playing well in the post season when you play any team not named Predators?  No points and -5 on the series?  Patty, time to wake up and play like you mean it.  While I’m in calling out mode, what the hell happened to Bill Guerin?  He missed the last game with an injury, but prior to that?  No points and -2 in four games?  Bill, you know you’re the man, right?  Have you forgotten that?  I expect to see Patty and Billy pulling their superstar share of the weight in games six and seven.  Joe Thornton can’t do it alone guys.

Okay, enough of a San Jose rant.  I have two correct picks in this round to one incorrect pick with one series yet to be decided.  That makes me seven out of 11 for an accuracy rate of 63.6%.  Still on the plus side of things, but San Jose needs to win in order for me to pull even with last year’s rate.

Go Sharks!