2009 NHL Playoffs

Friday, 17 April 2009 02:00

The playoffs are under way which means wives and girlfriends will no longer see their men from now through June. There may be bigger sports in the USA but none that has a playoff or trophy that rivals the Stanley Cup. In order to win, you must endure 2 months of playing every other night (sans making room for NBC afternoon games), excruciating travel, and playing at a level as high as a Cheech and Chong audience.

You need everything to align in order for a team to win a cup. A team’s health is the most important factor. Injuries can derail your quest quickly. Even though a player is on the ice he may be nowhere near 100%. Players will go to any means to don their gear if it means helping their teams. Goaltending is another key though the Detroit Red Wings would have you believe otherwise, see Ty Conklin and Chris Osgood. Your best players have to be your best players. There can’t always be a Chris Kontos to carry you down the spring path to glory.

There are many intriguing series to begin round one, though none with more implications than the Sharks vs. the Ducks. Could finishing first overall get a worse draw then the red hot Ducks who own a great road record and have one or both of the top defensemen in the league on the ice at all times? When Pronger and Niedermayer are paired together you would find it easier to get into Bin Laden’s cave then you would the Ducks zone. Anything less then a trip to the finals will be a disappointment for the Sharks. Their time is now. Look for the Canucks to be the surprise in the west; the Sedins are primed for free agency and they need a strong playoff to ensure they are a package deal next season. Right now blowhard Brian Burke and the Leafs are the only team who may be able to meet their asking price.

In the east the marquee matchup has to be Philly vs. Pitt. Can Crosby and Malkin duplicate a strong post season and make another run at a first cup or will my favorite player Mike Richards outplay them both. I would give the edge to the Flyers because they have scoring spread throughout their forwards but something tells me their best players (Mike Richards, Jeff “Welcome Back” Carter) will waste too much energy killing penalties. I don’t think the Boston Bruins scare anyone as a number 1 seed. I’m sure they will dispose of the Canadiens as easily as Gainey did Carbonneau. After that they would need Tim Thomas to carry them to the promised land.

Two months from now, after most viewers are ready to strangle Pierre Mc Guire and beat Mike Milbury with his own shoe there can only be one winner and look for it to be the Sharks. They will overcome previous playoff disappointments and hoist the Cup

By Slice April 2009