And then there was four. But the real question is how many of us would have said in September that the Tampa Bay Lightning, San Jose Sharks, Calgary Flames, and the Philadelphia Flyers would be playing hockey in May? I can certainly tell you that I wouldn’t have been one of them.
One thing is for sure when you look at these four teams. You won’t confuse this year’s conference finals and Stanley cup with the recent past. No Jersey slowdown and no trapping defenses here. These games should be exciting, fast, and scoring opportunities will abound. But if you start to think that the “overs” should be a lock don’t forget who’s between the pipes.
Isn’t it amazing that when you look at these finalists for the cup one thing stands out. It’s no coincidence that the four best, (or at least hottest), goalies are there. Kiprusoff, Nabokov, Khabibulin, and Esche. Sounds like a legal defense team from St. Petersburg. Talk about real heavy hitters. “One call, and that’s All”
Okay time to blow a personal horn or two.
My Round Two Predictions…..Actual Finish
Detroit in Five……………………..Calgary in Six
Tampa Bay in Five…………………Tampa Bay in Four
San Jose in Seven…………………..San Jose in Six
Philadelphia in Six………………….Philadelphia in Six
Of the twelve playoff match-ups so far in the first two rounds I have correctly picked nine. Nearly perfect in three of the four in round two but I have to admit I couldn’t have been more wrong with my one bad pick. And I couldn’t be happier about it either. With both the Avalanche and the Red Wings eliminated from the playoffs it truly is anyone’s championship to win. All four of these teams are capable of posing for that Kodak moment with Lord Stanley’s Cup in a very short time.
Two of these teams have never been to the conference finals in their existence. One more hasn’t for fifteen years. The last to have been here will be the first to exit.
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING…..in Five
(Tampa holds a 4-0 regular season edge against Philadelphia)
Will the real Robert Esche please stand up?
Robert Esche has given Philly a second life. Without him and they would not have made it this far. But make no mistake about it, he was far from impenetrable. Although the two teams he faced were of slightly better caliber than the ones Tampa Bay faced he still allowed 9 goals to the Devils in 5 games and then allowed 13 goals to Toronto in 6. Meanwhile the “Bulin Wall” lived up to his name pitching 4 shutouts in his 9 games allowing a total of 10 goals and compiling a 8-1 record. When you consider he, (and the Lightning defense), did this against the league’s fifth highest scoring offense in the league, (Islanders), and the 16th, (Canadians), these numbers gain larger meaning.
With the combination of Khabibulin in net and the third most potent offense in the NHL for the regular season, (2.99 GPG) / top ranked offense in the post season, (2.89 GPG), throwing pucks at Esche at every opportunity I believe this series will mirror the Lightning’s first two. The Flyers can not match their speed, passing , and scorers coming at you from every line that coach Tortorella puts on the ice. You can see these guys having fun out there simply embarrassing the league’s best. This team is the future. This team is the one you’ll be talking about for years to come. This is the beginning of a dynasty. Enjoy it. Believe it.
This series will be David versus Goliath. The only way the Flyers can win this thing is to simply beat up the Bolts with their distinct size advantage. Montreal tried to do the same and take the Lightning out of their game plan. All the trash talk and cheap shots didn’t change a thing. Tampa Bay won four straight. Their speed is unmatched and will prove to be the difference again here.
Oh and Robert Esche?….please sit down.
SAN JOSE SHARKS ……..in Seven
(regular series tied at 2-2 with the home team winning every game)
This one is not such a easy selection. Two teams that have all equal and similar components. Team speed, superior goaltending, and without an abundance of superstar eye catching tabloid type of names, still talented throughout their lineups. Then there’s that home ice advantage. In this corner you have those towel waving crazies creating a deafening din at the Shark Tank and in the other a sea of red that is second only to the rating on the Richter scale created at the Saddledome. Both sites have to be considered a thirty cent swing on the odds makers money line.
I find it hard to pick who is the better tender. Miika Kiprusoff would have to be given the slight edge if I was forced to pick but it would be a difficult choice. The Sharks net minder Evgeni Nabokov held Colorado to 7 goals in their six games. If he can shut out the deep and offensively talented Avalanche you must wonder what can he do for an encore against the Flames who finished 19th (in a 30 team league), for goals scored averaging 2.44 per game.
The Flames have Jerome Iginla and overtime magician Martin Gelinas. The Sharks counter with Mike Ricci, Patick Marleau, Jonathan Cheechoo, and Vincent Damphouse.
The special teams are in favor of San Jose. Calgary had all kinds of trouble scoring on the power play recording 7 goals in their 61chances against Vancouver and Detroit in these playoffs. Although they did improve on a porous penalty kill in their last four games against Detroit. After allowing 11 goals in 51 shorthanded situations to Vancouver and Detroit they didn’t allow any in the last four versus the Red Wings. In fact they only were shorthanded 11 times in those four games.
In the Sharks 11 games versus the Blues and Avalanche in the post season they allowed only 4 power play goals in 49 chances. In turn they scored 8 times in 56 power plays.
This series should be one great one to watch but when it’s all said and done I believe the Sharks are deeper, have better special teams and then there’s those four home games to the Flames three.
Looks like a Sharks/Bolts Stanley Cup final from where I sit.
One thing is for sure when you look at these four teams. You won’t confuse this year’s conference finals and Stanley cup with the recent past. No Jersey slowdown and no trapping defenses here. These games should be exciting, fast, and scoring opportunities will abound. But if you start to think that the “overs” should be a lock don’t forget who’s between the pipes.
Isn’t it amazing that when you look at these finalists for the cup one thing stands out. It’s no coincidence that the four best, (or at least hottest), goalies are there. Kiprusoff, Nabokov, Khabibulin, and Esche. Sounds like a legal defense team from St. Petersburg. Talk about real heavy hitters. “One call, and that’s All”
Okay time to blow a personal horn or two.
My Round Two Predictions…..Actual Finish
Detroit in Five……………………..Calgary in Six
Tampa Bay in Five…………………Tampa Bay in Four
San Jose in Seven…………………..San Jose in Six
Philadelphia in Six………………….Philadelphia in Six
Of the twelve playoff match-ups so far in the first two rounds I have correctly picked nine. Nearly perfect in three of the four in round two but I have to admit I couldn’t have been more wrong with my one bad pick. And I couldn’t be happier about it either. With both the Avalanche and the Red Wings eliminated from the playoffs it truly is anyone’s championship to win. All four of these teams are capable of posing for that Kodak moment with Lord Stanley’s Cup in a very short time.
Two of these teams have never been to the conference finals in their existence. One more hasn’t for fifteen years. The last to have been here will be the first to exit.
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING…..in Five
(Tampa holds a 4-0 regular season edge against Philadelphia)
Will the real Robert Esche please stand up?
Robert Esche has given Philly a second life. Without him and they would not have made it this far. But make no mistake about it, he was far from impenetrable. Although the two teams he faced were of slightly better caliber than the ones Tampa Bay faced he still allowed 9 goals to the Devils in 5 games and then allowed 13 goals to Toronto in 6. Meanwhile the “Bulin Wall” lived up to his name pitching 4 shutouts in his 9 games allowing a total of 10 goals and compiling a 8-1 record. When you consider he, (and the Lightning defense), did this against the league’s fifth highest scoring offense in the league, (Islanders), and the 16th, (Canadians), these numbers gain larger meaning.
With the combination of Khabibulin in net and the third most potent offense in the NHL for the regular season, (2.99 GPG) / top ranked offense in the post season, (2.89 GPG), throwing pucks at Esche at every opportunity I believe this series will mirror the Lightning’s first two. The Flyers can not match their speed, passing , and scorers coming at you from every line that coach Tortorella puts on the ice. You can see these guys having fun out there simply embarrassing the league’s best. This team is the future. This team is the one you’ll be talking about for years to come. This is the beginning of a dynasty. Enjoy it. Believe it.
This series will be David versus Goliath. The only way the Flyers can win this thing is to simply beat up the Bolts with their distinct size advantage. Montreal tried to do the same and take the Lightning out of their game plan. All the trash talk and cheap shots didn’t change a thing. Tampa Bay won four straight. Their speed is unmatched and will prove to be the difference again here.
Oh and Robert Esche?….please sit down.
SAN JOSE SHARKS ……..in Seven
(regular series tied at 2-2 with the home team winning every game)
This one is not such a easy selection. Two teams that have all equal and similar components. Team speed, superior goaltending, and without an abundance of superstar eye catching tabloid type of names, still talented throughout their lineups. Then there’s that home ice advantage. In this corner you have those towel waving crazies creating a deafening din at the Shark Tank and in the other a sea of red that is second only to the rating on the Richter scale created at the Saddledome. Both sites have to be considered a thirty cent swing on the odds makers money line.
I find it hard to pick who is the better tender. Miika Kiprusoff would have to be given the slight edge if I was forced to pick but it would be a difficult choice. The Sharks net minder Evgeni Nabokov held Colorado to 7 goals in their six games. If he can shut out the deep and offensively talented Avalanche you must wonder what can he do for an encore against the Flames who finished 19th (in a 30 team league), for goals scored averaging 2.44 per game.
The Flames have Jerome Iginla and overtime magician Martin Gelinas. The Sharks counter with Mike Ricci, Patick Marleau, Jonathan Cheechoo, and Vincent Damphouse.
The special teams are in favor of San Jose. Calgary had all kinds of trouble scoring on the power play recording 7 goals in their 61chances against Vancouver and Detroit in these playoffs. Although they did improve on a porous penalty kill in their last four games against Detroit. After allowing 11 goals in 51 shorthanded situations to Vancouver and Detroit they didn’t allow any in the last four versus the Red Wings. In fact they only were shorthanded 11 times in those four games.
In the Sharks 11 games versus the Blues and Avalanche in the post season they allowed only 4 power play goals in 49 chances. In turn they scored 8 times in 56 power plays.
This series should be one great one to watch but when it’s all said and done I believe the Sharks are deeper, have better special teams and then there’s those four home games to the Flames three.
Looks like a Sharks/Bolts Stanley Cup final from where I sit.
