Tag: quarterfinals

NHL Quarterfinals Predictions

I tried to watch or listen to as much prelim round hockey as I could, and I caught a lot of it. Unfortunately I didn’t retain any of it. I’m going to make quarterfinal picks, but they are all blind and consist only of gut guesses.

In the East:

Flyers vs Canadiens: I hate the Canadiens. I pick the Flyers… even though I also hate the Flyers.

Lightning vs Blue Jackets: I’m picking the Blue Jackets. I don’t like them, but I really don’t like the Lightning.

Capitals vs Islanders: Tough one. I really hate the Capitals, but the Islanders are from New York and I hate all New York teams. I think I have to pick the Islanders though.

Bruins vs Hurricanes: Bruins. Like I’d ever pick the Whalers. Duh.

In the West:

Golden Knights vs Blackhawks: I’m ambivalent toward Vegas and I hate Chicago. I pick the Golden Knights.

Avalanche vs Coyotes: This is tough. I don’t hate either one of them. In fact, when I follow the West I tend to support both of them. I’m picking the Avalanche. They are the higher seed, and they gave Ray Bourque a Cup.

Stars vs Flames: Flames all the way. I hate Dallas.

Blues vs Canucks. I hate them both. I hate them both a lot. Canucks because they didn’t beat us in the finals last year and the Blues did. Pricks.

Men’s Ice Hockey Quarter Finals

There were four games played in the Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey tournament.

Slovakia eliminated Austria, 4-0.
Russia eliminated Norway, 4-0 in a game that was much closer than the score indicated.
Latvia eliminated Switzerland, 3-1.
Czech Republic eliminated Slovakia, 5-3. They almost blew a 4-0 lead, but they held on to win it.

That sets up the quarter finals matches for the four teams with a first day bye.

Tomorrow at 3:00am Eastern time, Slovenia’s cinderella ride most likely ends against Sweden.
At 7:30am Russia faces Finland in what should be a really great game. No offense to our hosts, but I am rooting for Finland in this one.
At noon Latvia will be destroyed by Canada.
Also at noon, The Czechs face the USA. This too should be a great game. Team USA has a real test on their hands.

Here’s to a US win.
Go USA!