Quote:
Originally posted by Bobaphat
I predict that the stanley cup will be awful and boring.
|
Boring......I don't think so, in this round there's only:
- This season's leading scorer;
- This season's leading goal scorer (who led the league in both categories two years ago);
- The goalie who had the best single-season goals-against average since World War II;
- A few other future stars having a coming-out party.
You've got the East's No. 1 team and the West's No. 2 team - both fast, skilled, aggressive teams that could cure the NHL of its conservative hockey affliction; a Cinderella team; and the big-market team with a few future Hall of Fame contenders.
Weve already seen the dumping of Gen X powers Detroit and Colorado and wannabe power Toronto. Already gone are New Jersey and Dallas. That covers the last nine Stanley Cups won.
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay, the East's No. 1 seed, and San Jose, the West's No. 2 seed, are in their first conference finals. Calgary hadn't won a playoff series since taking the 1989 Stanley Cup. Only Philadelphia has made a Final recently, getting swept in 1997 with a different team.
Speed, creativity and puck possession are the basis of Tampa Bay and San Jose's games. Calgary uses speed and furious forechecking, but in an artless dump-and-chase approach. Though sometimes expressed with flair, Philadelphia coach Ken Hitchcock's buttoned-down, defense-obsessed system epitomizes the NHL's last decade.
The only boring part of the next 2 rounds could be the choke hold style Philly will try to use on Tampa.
I predict Sharks in 5-6 with 3 games in OT, and Tampa Bay in 5 because THey will just dance around Philly.