NHL Conference Finals Predictions

YEAH!

OK, so maybe my enthusiasm is a little lax lately.  Probably because San Jose sucked the tail pipe yet again.

Anyway, I predicted San Jose would beat Detroit in the 2nd round.  They didn’t.  Let’s just say, “not with a bang but a whimper.”  Thanks.

That leaves me with 7 correct predictions out of 12 series thus far.  58%.  Had the Sharks won I would have been up to 75%.  Thanks a ton guys. 

So now we move on to the final four.  Round 3.  The Conference Finals.  Both series looks like they could be excellent.  It should be fun.

In the Eastern Conference we have the Buffalo Sabers against the Ottawa Senators.  All things being equal my utter disdain for Buffalo would lead me to pick Ottawa.  There is a catch this year though, and the catch comes in the form of a piece of slime named Joe Corvo.  Corvo is a defenseman for Ottawa.  A few years ago he was playing for the Manchester Monarchs.  He found himself in a restaurant in Boston and, we can only surmise, was displeased with the service… so he beat the shit out of his waitress.  Big man there Joe.  “Professional Athlete.”  One of the things I like about hockey is the violence inherent in the game.  There is a line that shouldn’t be crossed though (see Chris Simon, Todd Bertuzzi, Marty McSorely, and other dirt bags of their ilk).  I don’t have a problem with fighting, but actual physical assaults on other players is unforgivable.  Having said that, I wouldn’t mind seeing some one in a Buffalo jersey give Corvo a nice season ending injury.  I cannot in good conscience root for a team that employs that piece of garbage, so I’m picking Buffalo.

Rant over… moving on.

In the Western Conference we have the Detroit Red Wings and the Anaheim Ducks.  By coincidence, of all the cities that host an NHL franchise, Detroit and Anaheim are the two I misspell the most.  It’s a conspiracy against me.  Todd Bertuzzi plays for Detroit, but luckily I don’t have to pick Anaheim out of disgust at his “hit” on another player a few years ago… a hit that ended in a broken neck.  Hey Todd, has Steve Moore played since that night?  No?  Has he had a career or livelihood since that night?  No?  So why exactly is Bertuzzi not in jail?  Okay, mini-rant over.  I’m picking Anaheim because they are just plain awesome.  Chris Pronger and Scott Neidermayer alone could beat Detroit.  Throw in Selanne and Giguere and you have one hell of an awesome team.  Don’t get me wrong, The Wings are in the third round because they’ve earned it… but Anaheim is just too good. 

So there are my picks.  I foresee a Ducks vs. Sabers final.  With apologies to San Jose, they are probably the two best teams in the league and have been since the beginning.  Hopefully we can have a finals that features the two best teams instead of the two hottest teams.  (because the best teams are the hottest teams… get it?  that sentence was pretty weak, but I’m leaving it.  No editorials tonight!)

On a totally unrelated note, I picked up the new Mary Timony CD today, The Shapes We Make.  I popped it on when I sat down to write this retarded little pile of brain dung and I have to say that I’m really digging it.  I’m only half way through, but I think this is at least as good as her last record, Ex Hex, and I think that one was fantastic.  I completely approve… and it was released on my birthday too!  Good move.