In The Pressbox

I Don't Be-Leaf

You know yesterday when I wrote that I had grown past my childish hate of the Toronto Maple Leafs?

I was wrong. And before you go telling me that I should turn the other cheek, that I should not cast the first stone, that I should make love and not war, be assured that this matter is out of my hands.

I don't loathe the Leafs because it brings me joy. I loathe them because I have no other choice.

I loathe because they force me to!

Take last night for example. Like any hockey fan, I tuned in with genuine interest as Hockey Night in Toronto Canada got the season going with the Leafs visit to Detroit. The Red Wings raised their hard won Stanley Cup banner and preceded to roll out a sloppy, lazy effort. To the Leafs credit, they took advantage and got some strong performances, especially from goalie Vesa Toskala, on the way to beating the "invincible" Red Wings 3-2.

Good going! I'm happy somebody took the Wings down a peg and showed the league they're mortal, especially since all the experts are picking them to thrash my Habs in the Stanley Cup Final.

While the win surprised me, it did nothing to rekindle the old hatred. That came later, when I strolled into a gas station this morning to pay my 100 cents a litre (probably a year low, but still too much) and noticed the front page of the Toronto Sun. It was a full page celebration, with a Leaf player raising his arms after a goal scored astride the truly horrific headline, "Start the Parade".

As in, Stanley Cup parade.

After one game.

After one win.

A one goal win.

You might compare the effects of the headline on this Habs fan as that of red kryptonite on Superman. All my bad impulses rushed to the fore, and my eyes burned with an evil red glare.  The papers erupted in flames, and the gas station attendant screamed and ran, his mouth agape. And as the flames devoured those tabloid rags, a wicked smile spread on my face, and I laughed a dark laugh unheard of in these times, and the skies turned black as I sung the song that ends the world....

Or maybe I just gritted my teeth, paid for my gas and went on my way. I don't really remember.

I suppose one can't expect much better from a newspaper that once ran a headline of, "Leafs Win!" the day after an intra squad game.

Then it was on to page two, where another headline trumpeted that "Leaf fans party like it's 1967", and its accompanying article that detailed the celebrations Leaf fans engaged in during and after the game in downtown Toronto.

Where mere moments before I was a mature adult male slightly impressed with a rival's unlikely victory, I suddenly found myself back in grade 11, hoping that the Leafs would round out the season with a sturdy record of one win and 81 losses.

Which is still in the cards, by the way.   

Drop the puck!

Count me as one of the millions of people around North America Canada that are waiting with bated breath for the puck to drop on the 2008-09 National Hockey League season.

Sure, it technically dropped a few days back with the "Premiere Weekend" in Europe, at least for the Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning. I'm choosing to ignore that!

The real season begins tomorrow night, when my beloved Montreal Canadiens begin the drive for 25 against the Buffalo Sabres. Then they'll head back north of the border to battle/destroy the Toronto Maple Leafs, who open their season tonight against the defending Stanley Cup Champions, the Detroit Red Wings.

One of the best things about a new hockey season is the clean slate it offers. Everybody has a shot at Lord Stanley's mug (well, except the Leafs), and the 82 game regular season is ripe with possibilities, not yet simply a grind that must be endured before the playoffs begin.

For your reading pleasure, then, here are a few of the things I will be thinking about when the NHL season begins in earnest tonight.

1) Can Detroit be beat?

There's no dancing around it. The Detroit Red Wings are terrifying. Clearly the class of the league last year, they lost nothing in the off season and gained Marian Hossa, one of the game's most prolific scorers. While I lose a little respect for Hossa because he so obviously wants to ride an already great team's coattails to a Cup, I can't fault the Red Wings for grabbing him and his presence in Detroit will only serve to make this team even more of a beast.

Can anybody legitimately question Chris Osgood's stance as a number one goalie after his performance in last year's playoffs? Probably not, but they will anyway. The rest of the league had better hope that goaltending, or ice maintenance, or something betrays a weakness on this team, because the road to Lord Stanley could very well run through Detroit come June.

2) Is this the year?

The NHL's new slogan is one every fan asks himself of his team and its chances before the first puck drops. In my case, this is the first season in a long, long time that my Habs have been considered to be a Stanley Cup contender, and boy does it feel good. Having suffered through the long, lean years from the Patrick Roy trade to, well, now, Habs fans are more than ready to cheer their team back to the top of the standings (where they belong!). That said, hockey's not played on paper and pre-season predictions rarely amount to a hill of beans once all is said and done. The Habs have scoring threats on three lines, a rough and tumble fourth line with the addition of Georges Laraque, depth on defense and a potential franchise netminder in Carey Price who is looking to put his stamp on the team. It's also the 100th anniversary of the Canadiens, and the ghosts will be out in force. So I have to ask.... is this the year?

3) Blow out the candles!

As I mentioned, my Habs celebrate their 100th birthday this year. Technically the festivities don't begin until December and will end in December 2009, the official 100th anniversary. But starting now, the Habs are celebrating and no team in professional sports does that better. All year long the team will trot out the greats of its past (Patrick Roy will return to the fold when his #33 is retired) and they will even honor fellow 'Original Six' teams when they visit the Bell Centre. Somehow it's only fitting that all the pomp and circumstance will surround a team that is arguably the best Montreal has iced since its 1993 Stanley Cup victory. With fan-bought bricks going into the new Centennial Square (my Dad and I have ours right in the CH!), the All-Star Game and the Draft both being held in Montreal and the return of the prodigal goaltender himself, 100 will truly be a special year to be a Habs fan.

4) Will the Leafs be that bad?

Back in my high school days, when Toronto was making deep (albeit unsuccessful) playoff runs and my Habs were playing Patrick Poulin on the second line, I developed an unhealthy hatred for the Toronto team. In my defense, it was difficult not to when surrounded by Leaf fans who missed no opportunities to remind me how much better their team was. I received events like "Maple Leaf Day" with utter disdain and defiantly wore my bleu blanc rouge proudly, even on the Mondays after Saturday night defeats to those vile Leafs.

Now that the tables have so clearly turned, I almost wish I was still in high school to gain a little bit of revenge! Maybe it's maturity, but nowadays I don't gather the same glee I used to from the sufferings of Leaf Nation. Once, their anguish sustained me, but now, it just mildly amuses me. Don't get me wrong, if, as expected, my Habs stomp all over the Leafs in the standings it will bring many a smile to my face, but I'd also like to see the Leafs get back to at least being competitive. Clearly they need to rebuild, a fact they've finally embraced, and though every Habs/Leaf game is spirited, it will be nice when the two teams can face off in an Eastern Conference final as legitimate Cup contenders.

Provided we win, of course.

5) Who's number one?

As a goaltender myself, I always keep a close eye on the NHL's best net minders, and this year will be no different with a number of them set to have impressive years. Will the ageless Marty Brodeur continue to dominate as he overtakes Patrick Roy's career wins record? Will Carey Price prove himself to be the franchise goalie that Habs fans like me hope that he is? Will Vesa Toskala keep the Maple Leafs competitive? What about Justin Pogge's NHL future? Will Jose Theodore backstop the Caps to glory? Has Marc-Andre Fleury silenced his doubters after the Pens run to the Cup final last season? Was a Cup win enough to do the same for Chris Osgood? How will Roberto Luongo fare in Vancouver with the added pressure of being 'captain'?

6) Who's the best?

Is this the year we get a concrete answer as to who the best player in the NHL really is? Once upon a time, you knew. It was Wayne Gretzky. Then it was Mario Lemieux. Maybe Eric Lindros for a little while. But who is it now? The answer is a lot less clearer than it used to be, because there are so many players capable of taking their teams to the Stanley Cup almost single handedly.

So in the "New NHL",who is the ultimate hockey player?

Sidney Crosby, with his incredible combination of skill and leadership? Alexander Ovechkin, one of the best pure goal scorers the game has ever seen? Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh's other franchise player? Henrik Zetterberg, last year's Conn Smythe winner? What about Roberto Luongo? Who's the best?

7) Will Jim Balsille ever be allowed to buy an NHL team?

With NHL owners dropping like flies to bankruptcy, tax evasion and other sordid nonsense, that notoriously stingy "screening process" of potential owners is looking pretty sad. How was a guy closing in on Chapter 11 deemed fit to buy the Nashville Predators over RIM gazillionaire Jim Balsille? Does Gary Bettman really just hate the guy that much?

I'm the first to admit that Balsille went about the "Hamilton Predators" thing the wrong way. Selling tickets in Hamilton would have been presumptuous even if he had owned the team. The fact he didn't made it a real slap in the face to Nashville and to due process. No arguments there. Still, it shows the man is incredibly eager to join the NHL Country Club and bring his energy, enthusiasm, love for the game and a whole lotta green backs along with him. What's the problem here?

8) Can pre-game ceremonies get any lamer than that "Sens Army" debacle of last spring?

The only place questions like these will be answered (well, except for the Balsille one) is on the ice.

So please...

Drop the puck!

Hockey legends are gentlemen

The following is a special sneak preview of my new column for the Northumberland News. This baby hasn't even hit the presses yet, and you'll find it on your drive way tomorrow. Hopefully you don't run over it.

Enjoy!

Class. Pride. Tradition.

Three words that perfectly describe Jean Beliveau and Johnny Bower, who were the special guests at the Celebrity Sports Dinner for Waumer’s Walk for ALS last week. The event raised nearly $11,000 for the cause, and was highlighted by the presence of the two Hockey Hall of Famers. I was honoured to meet and speak to these two legends.

Playing in what many consider to be the golden age of hockey in the 1950’s and ‘60s, both men crafted unforgettable legacies. Mr. Beliveau won an astounding 10 Stanley Cups during his 20 National Hockey League seasons as a member of the Montreal Canadiens. Known as ‘The China Wall’, Mr. Bower won four Stanley Cups with the Toronto Maple Leafs, including their 1967 triumph that still stands as the club’s last championship.

Setting aside what the two men accomplished in hockey, which is beyond compare, what truly makes them both legends and heroes of the game to me and many others is the way they carry themselves, and the tireless contributions they make to those in need. To this day, they are willing to travel far from home to meet their fans, sign their names, take pictures and, in the process, give immeasurable support to worthy causes.

Even though I was speaking to them in a professional capacity, it was hard not to gush. As a lifelong fan of the Canadiens, and one well-versed in the team’s history, I was in awe when I met ‘Le Gros Bill’ himself. Though I had previously met him at an autograph signing as a child, there is a pronounced difference between a quick hello and thank you, and a prolonged conversation in which one of hockey’s greatest legends addresses you personally. Of course, it was far from an intimidating experience as he was and continues to be one of hockey’s true class acts.

Meeting Mr. Bower was also a thrill. As a goaltender in my own hockey career (I use the term loosely), I have always looked up to him. The man excelled in a time when goaltenders were barely protected, and perfected the poke check without ever wearing a mask. Maple Leaf or no, I bow my head to any man brave enough to dive face first into pucks, sticks and skates.

What men like these teach us is that greatness does not come solely from athletic achievements. Old hockey cards and stat sheets wear with time, but class and respect never lose their lustre.

And neither have they.

"I have something to say...

... it's better to burn out than to fade away!"

Actually, I just have a few things churning around the old noggin about the world of professional and amateur sports. And where else to share them but here In The Pressbox?

That's what us writers call a segue. I went to college you know.

First up, the Olympics. The Games are taking the world by storm as they always do and I wish our Canadian athletes the best, but personally I'm not very interested.

Heinous, I know. A sports reporter not interested in the Olympics! I don't know what it is. Maybe the commercialism of the event (funny how McDonald's sponsors the Olympics when no high level athlete would be caught dead eating there) or the fact that Canada hardly ever seems like a relevant force, but they just don't do much for me. I'm talking about the summer games, now.

The winter games, those are more my speed. I was always more of a skater than a runner anyway. I always keep an eye on the hockey and there are also awesome events like snow boarding, bob sledding and luging. Luging! Strap a board to your back and go for a slide. If you survive you might get a medal out of it. Awesome! Say it with me; luuuuuging.

But yeah, these summer games, I dunno. I'll stop and watch when I scroll past them on my beautiful 40 inch HD plasma TV, but I don't think I'll make viewing appointments. And the time change is always a killer. I don't care if it's once every four years, I'm not getting up at three in the morning to watch some dude do the high jump. Women's beach volleyball, I'll consider it.

Okay, onto professional sports.

How about those Blue Jays? Another year of broken promises and failed potential. Sure the season isn't over, and some people still cling to the hope of a wild card berth, but man, it's not going to happen. And if it does, I'll print this post onto a piece of paper, pour some ketchup on there and gladly eat my words.

Seeing as I was 9-10 when the Jays were winning back to back Series, I'm starting to think a truly great ball team in Toronto is one of those childhood things that just don't make the trip to adult hood with you. You know, like good Saturday morning cartoons and teddy bears being an acceptable answer to the question "Who is your best friend?".

Here's what I do know. J.P. Ricciardi  needs to get his grubby Beantown hands off my Blue Jays once and for all. Pat Gillick he is not. Heck, Gord Ash he is not. Let him take his Money Ball (or Watch-A-Team-With-Half-Our-Payroll-Win-The-Division Ball) somewhere else.

How about the Bills coming to Toronto? I don't care about that. I'm a CFL guy. I don't even play Madden! Nuff said on that.

And then there's hockey. Hockey is too far away. Training camps don't open for another month. It's killing me! I've got my copy of NHL 09 pre-ordered, so hopefully that can tide me over.

Of course, there's always local sports!

Enough Already!

I can't take it anymore.

I'm talking about all this Mats Sundin, will he or won't he crap. It's too much for me. It's worse than slipping a girl one of those "Do you like me? Yes___ No___" notes and waiting with bated breath for the reply.

Not that I ever... you know... do that.

I've sat on my share of fences in my time. It often takes me and my friends a good hour to decide what to order on our pizza. So I've been there.

But this is getting ridiculous.

I'm not a pro athlete and sadly I never will be. I'll have to settle for rubbing shoulders with them, and that's cool. But I don't believe absolutely everything about pro athletes can be explained away by saying, "Well unless you're in their shoes, you don't understand".

I understand plenty. Mats Sundin is more wishy washy than good old Charlie Brown.

"Well, maybe I'll play..... maybe I won't... maybe I'll go back to Toronto.... that Montreal offer is nice.... lotta money in Vancouver.... ooooh, I just don't know!!!!"

This guy probably stares into his pantry for a good thirty minutes before deciding what cereal to have in the morning.

We're now into August, training camps will open in less than a month and, according to his agent, Sundin is no closer to a decision about his future.

The Toronto Maple Leafs played their last game of the 2007-08 regular season in April. That's four months ago. Four long months for Mats Sundin to decide whether or not he wants to make obscene money to play the best game on Earth for another season.

That's a real toss up.

Then there's the question of where to play, if he decides to.

A) He's got an offer from the Montreal Canadiens on the table. Now I'm biased, but the Habs are undoubtedly the most storied franchise in the league. Add to that they're heading into their 100th year and are considered by hockey pundits to be a Cup contender (a trophy Mats has never even competed for, mind you) and you'd think it's a no brainer. Play for a storied franchise in their centennial year and take a run at the Cup.

B) Cash another big cheque to play two years for Vancouver, a team nobody expects to contend any time soon.

C) Return to the rebuilding Maple Leafs.

That's another tough one. How does this guy sleep at night?

I have to admit, I still believe Sundin would be an incredible difference maker in the Montreal lineup, if he played with passion. But the very fact he has taken this long to decide makes me think the passion just isn't there anymore. This is a chance he should have jumped on in early July. The fact that he has remained silent actually speaks volumes.

So dither away Mats. The NHL will move forward with or without you, as will my Habs.

Breaking up is hard to do

*ring, ring* *ring, ring*

Mats Sundin: Hello?

Bob Gainey: Mats, baby! It's me, the Bobster. How's it hanging?

MS: Oh, to the left I guess.... no wait, the right.

BG: Good man! Listen buddy, let's talk turkey. I want you. You're a big stud who would look great on my top line, and I've got a jersey just for you. What do you say I come by your place after dinner tonight for a nice chat?

MS: Oh, I don't know about that Bob. I don't know if I'm ready to meet face to face.

BG: Whaddya mean you're not ready Mats? Are you afraid I'm going to try to close the deal on the first date? I'm a gentleman!

MS: Oh, I know Bob. It's just... well, you know I've been seeing Toronto for a while...

BG: Mats, baby, listen to me. Toronto's in the past. They're behind you! You deserve a new beginning.

MS: But I love them so much Bob. I know they haven't treated me that well, but you don't know them like I do. Besides, they need me. I really think if I stay long enough, I can change them!

BG: Mats, you've been with them 14 years, and they could never give you what you need. What's possibly gonna change?

MS: Oooooh..... I.....

BG: Lemme ask you something Mats. In all those years, has Toronto ever given you that top line winger you've really wanted? Have they ever given you that cup ring you want on your finger? Have they really made a commitment to you?

MS: Well, not really. You know, I think they have commitment issues because of this whole 40 year drought thing. Maybe if I stay with them a little longer, I can show them I'm really serious about them...

BG: Mats, let me paint a picture for you, okay? Imagine yourself centering Alex Kovalev and Alex Tanguay. Got that? Now imagine yourself quarterbacking the leagues best power play, two years running. Imagine charging up the standings and clinching a playoff berth long before the season ends. Imagine getting that ring on your finger you've wanted for so long. How does that sound?

MS: .......

BG: Mats?

MS: That..... sounds really nice, Bob.

BG: That's what I wanted to hear! Now let's talk term.

MS: *sobbing*

BG: Uh, Mats? Are you crying?

MS: *still sobbing* A little, yeah.

BG: Why in the name of Toe Blake are you crying?

MS: It's Toronto. I can't do this to them!

BG: Dang it Mats, I've got two words for you. Man up!

MS: *click*

BG: F#%ing Leafs...

Give us your captain!

Mats Sundin of the Montreal Canadiens.

That has a nice ring to it!

Today reports are surfacing that the Maple Leafs have granted my beloved Habs permission to talk turkey with the skilled Swede in advance of the July 1 free agency kick off.

I'm not sure what the Leafs get out of this if Sundin and my Habs come to an agreement. Not that I'm really concerned about that mind you, it just seems odd that they would let their captain walk to one of their most hated rivals, and actually give him a helpful nudge out the door to boot!

Alas, the Leafs are in one of those strange situations where great players like Sundin are something of a hindrance to the team's bests interests (bottom out and rebuild with top of the line draft picks). If the Leafs want to be the club to take John Tavares first overall next summer, they'd be a lot better served with a last place finish and the skilled and proud Sundin will likely want no part of that.

Sundin's options, if they don't involve returning to the Leafs, become retirement or signing elsewhere. As a Habs fan, sure I've had some animosity for the big lug over the years, but I think we'd all welcome him into the bleu blanc rouge fold with open arms.

And if we happen to win the Cup next year in our 100th anniversary? Oh, the image of a CH-clothed Sundin hoisting the Stanley Cup would live in infamy until the world ends! It would also make up for all the Leaf fan taunting I was subjected to in my younger days!

Would Sundin's legacy as a Maple Leaf be damaged by such a move? Fans are already angry with him for refusing to waive his no trade clause in the spring (a show of loyalty that, in today's NHL, can actually be construed as a show of selfishness).

But what will they think of him if he walks away now, leaving the Leafs with nothing but memories (and a little of that 'passion that unites us all' no doubt), and leaving for the hated Habs, of all teams???

Interesting days ahead!

What a bunch of goofs

I'm not entirely sure how these news media conglomerates work. I know Metroland is owned by The Star, so I won't speak ill of them (and why would I? It's a fine publication!). I just hope that the CBC doesn't have any hands on my paycheque.

Because today I'm speaking ill of them!

The CBC. Man. What a bunch of goofs.

You've probably heard that Hockey Night in Canada will no longer feature the classic theme song that every Canadian can hum by heart. Something about an expired licensing deal, and CBC being cheap. Rival CTV jumped on the chance to make the CBC look stupid and did so quite effectively by swooping in to purchase the song themselves for use on hockey broadcasts on the channels they own, mainly TSN and RDS.

To put it in hockey terms, the CBC just got deked out if its jock strap. And they have nobody to blame but themselves.

I'm not a business man, so you can tell me I just don't understand, but some things you can nickel and dime and some things you can't. If the CBC wanted to cut back on the snacks in the commissary for example, be my guest, get the no name chips and the RC Cola. Buy Bob Cole a cheap toupee. It's all good.

But don't play fast and loose with a song that basically became the national lullaby over the course of decades! A song that is intrinsically linked to your flagship broadcast! A song that, when heard on another show, will serve as a perpetual reminder of how bad you screwed up!

You big goofs.

Here's the funny thing from my standpoint. It's been a long while since I've really even cared about Hockey Night in Canada. Sorry to say, but in recent years the 'national' program has long since alienated, well, anybody who doesn't live in or cheer for Toronto with their Leaf-centric coverage. Maybe the Leafs get the best ratings and the most ad revenue (and if that's the case, I'd suggest it has a whole lot to do with the fact they're always, you know, on the show) but as a publically funded Canadian company, the CBC failed to provide equal coverage of all of Canada's NHL teams. By hitching their wagon to the Maple Leaf 'star', they nestled into Leaf Nation and left the rest of Canada's hockey fans to fend for themselves.

Now, I'll actually hear the theme a lot more when it plays prior to Habs games on RDS. A strange little reunion, since the aforementioned national broadcaster pulled the plug on "La Soiree Du Hockey", the French version of Hockey Night, a few years back. Now the song and the team are back together, on a different network entirely. How times change.

So on one side, you've got the CTV and their comprehensive and modern hockey coverage, with a variety of Canadian teams showcased on their networks and the very theme song of their enemy planted firmly in their grasp.

And on the other side you've got the CBC, caught with their pants down and their wallet empty.

What a bunch of goofs.

When it's over...

My Habs are out. Eliminated in five games by the Philadelphia Flyers. Our Cup dreams squashed.

It's tough, but I'm surviving.

Before this year began, nobody expected much from the Habs. I expected more than most, but I was prepared to be happy with a playoff spot and a first round win. Which is what we ultimately got. But along the way, our team defied expectations to reach first place in the Eastern Conference, and looked like bonafide Cup contenders. Our youth movement seemed to be well ahead of schedule and it felt like maybe, just maybe, the '08 Habs were becoming a team of destiny just like the '93 and '86 versions.

Alas it was not to be, and we went out unceremoniously in the second round. It hurts for now, but there's always a silver lining.

The club rounded into form this year, sooner than even its architect Bob Gainey expected. Next year they'll have a first place finish to draw from as well as two rounds of playoff experience. Combine that with the fact that 2009 will mark the 100th anniversary of the bleu blanc rouge (and our final chance to keep the 'one Cup in each decade' streak alive) and you might say next year really will be our year.

Maybe this year belongs to Sid the Kid and his Penguins. Right now I wish it wasn't so, but next year at this time, I won't care too much. Next year, we'll be the team marching to the Finals.

That's right, I'm calling it, right here, right now.

Montreal Canadiens - 2009 Stanley Cup Champions!

Round Two!

The battlefield that is the NHL playoffs has claimed eight casualties, and the survivors now prepare for action in the semi final round.

Gone in the East are the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, Washington Capitals and the New Jersey Devils. In the West, it was the Nashville Predators, Calgary Flames, Minnesota Wild and the Anaheim Ducks that were forced to the sidelines.

I went seven for eight with my first round predictions, so naturally I'm back to offer my (two) faithful readers my thoughts on the second round. Here we go!

EASTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (6) Philadelphia Flyers

Montreal in six

My beloved Habs made it through the first round after the Boston Bruins gave them a mighty scare and forced the series to seven games. Though I picked the Habs to win the series in five, I was never under the impression that it would be a cakewalk and sure enough, the Bruins made plenty of noise, stifled the Montreal offence and arguably outplayed the higher ranked Habs throughout most of the series. The Flyers, like the Habs, squandered a 3-1 series lead only to salvage it with a win in game seven. Eliminating the high voltage offence of the Washington Capitals took the same kind of hard work and defensive mindset that the Bruins employed in round one, and look for more of it here.

Will the Flyers penchant for goonery show itself in this series? It says here it will, especially once the Philly defenders start to get sick of being left in the dust by Montreal's firewagon style. Discipline will be key though, as Montreal had the best power play in the regular season, although it struggled in the Boston series.

Though some will look at Montreal's struggles against Boston and see a team that was lucky to get through and will be easy pickings for a more competitive team, I (with my bleu blanc rouge sunglasses, of course) look at it quite differently. The Habs are a young team that have to lose before they learn how to win, and Boston taught them a great lesson in the first round; that nothing is handed to you in the playoffs. It's a lesson they needed to learn and now that they have, and are still alive, it will only make them stronger.

(2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (5) New York Rangers

Pittsburgh in seven

Two very dangerous teams meet here and it'll only be a good thing for whichever team survives the Habs/Flyers series. The winner of this set will no doubt have to claw tooth and nail for everything they get. The Rangers are gelling as a team at exactly the right time, as evidenced by their five game ouster of the Devils, while the Penguins barely broke a sweat in giving the Ottawa Senators their walking papers. It's hard to bet against the Penguins with the offensive firepower that team possesses, but the Rangers are hardly pushovers. If there's a goaltending edge it goes to the Rangers, where Lundqvist won the battle over Brodeur in round one.

What viewers are guaranteed here is a hard fought, entertaining series that is likely to go the distance. In the end a winner might be a toss up, but I'm going with the Pens. I see the combined might of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin getting through to the conference finals, at the very least.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Detroit Red Wings vs. (6) Colorado Avalanche

Colorado in seven

I always love the underdogs, and I'm going with them in this series. As the runaway Presidents Trophy winners in the regular season, it wouldn't be a stretch to favor the Wings all the way to the Cup. But aside from that being boring, I do have my doubts about the club and they start in net, where a faltering Hasek and an aging Osgood are yet to prove (in recent years) that they can survive the playoff grind. Often the results of a hockey game and series comes down to the men between the pipes, and in Colorado there are no question marks. Jose Theodore has returned to his Hart and Vezina winning form of 2002, leading the Avs past the Wild with a streak of sterling performances. Complementing him were the reunited pair of Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg, who no doubt made the fans in Colorado reminisce about old times with their play in the first round.

These teams always put on a show when they meet in the playoffs, and with a new generation of stars as well as old standards on both sides, it should be an interesting one.

(2) San Jose Sharks vs. (5) Dallas Stars

Dallas in six

Give me another underdog! I picked the Stars over the Ducks and was right there, and I picked the Sharks to have an easier time with the Flames than they eventually did. Now that the victors are facing off against each other, I'm giving the nod to Dallas.

Call me stupid (second thought don't - I'm sensitive!), call me superstitious, but I don't feel 'the magic' from the Sharks. Both teams are a few years overdue for a real good showing in the playoffs, and everyone seems to be picking the Sharks to go all the way, even to lift the Cup. But they weren't entirely convincing in knocking the Flames aside and Dallas had the greater challenge in ousting the defending champs. I see Marty Turco continuing to lock things down in the Stars net.