Wow, I'm on quite a roll...all downhill. Only one of my 2nd round picks came through. I should stop right now, but hey I can't do any worse in the semis. Not enough games.
Who'd a thought in the begging of the season the two most talked about contenders were out in the second round. Worse, Kariya played one game while Selanne was put on the 4th line. Didn't see that one when they brokered the deal with the Avs. And for all the controversy, Hasek, Joseph nor Legacy could't deliver the Wings to the promise land. How about both being knocked out of teams projected to be on the outside of the playoff race. The East went more predictable road, and it looks more like the usual, one conference has upsets while the other has the favorites ride hot to the finals. I hope for a great final, but the powers are tilted in one direction now.
Here's how I see the semis unfolding.
EAST:
Tampa Bay v. Philadelphia
I thought Tampa Bay would be too rested after the first round, and they might as well took a vacation coming from the second. Philly is the bigger, tougher which is traditionally viewed as being more capable of winning playoff hockey. I don't like teams that go from hot weather to hard ice in the playoffs, but the Lightning have a roll going that can't be ignored.
Lightning in 5
Series MVP:
Khabibulin -- a 0.964 save percentage in the playoffs is unreal. The only reasons why goalies like Kiprusoff, Belfour, Joseph were even talked about was that the bolts played so few games.
Series goat:
Bobby Clarke -- trading away a veteran D-man like Weinrich and then having to play forwards on defense is a serious misread on the depth of the team. Someone of Clarke's experience should know how long and hard it is to get to the cup.
West:
San Jose v. Calgary
I made the mistake about underestimating both of these teams, so if it were up to me, neither would win (j/k). Calgary is playing textbook playoff hockey, and boy would they be the darlings of the media if this were the regular season. Down the stretch they were the team that needed to clutch and grab their way to the playoffs and now they play the good old fashion playoff hockey. That said, the Sharks have made it look easy for a while. I thought that they had a break playing an disinterested Blues team, but to handle a hot Avs in showed that they have some playoff run ahead of them. The big showdown is in goal, and I've heard Kipper being touted as this years Giguere, I'm guessing he's more like this seasons Roloson or Fernandez.
Sharks in 6
Series MVP:
Nabokov : When it comes to a goaltending duel, I'll pick the one that wins. Nabokov will show why he was the goalie the Sharks decided to keep.
Series goat:
None : You cannot fault any Flame or Shark when both were never picked to get this far. Perhaps the rest of the Western Conference should relax with a cold one and watch how teams that still want to play handle their games.
Best Series:
WEST
Seems like I'm getting longer winded the worse my picks get...but actually, I just have nothing else to do.