Two Flavorites

Wow, it's already time for the conference finals in the NHL playoffs, and I'm more pumped than ever since my two favorite team, the Wings and Flyers, are still alive. I completely expected the Red Wings to be here for the second straight year, but although I love Philly and think that they're an above average team, I never really thought that they would be here in the conference finals the year after finishing dead last in the entire league. It was awesome to see them make a turn around like that, and being a fan, I'm loving every second of it. Also as a Wings fan, it's nice not to see them get upset in an early round like in 01, 03, 04, and 06. But yeah, I also really think that the Pens and Stars are really good teams teams, and no one has automatic trip to the finals. I got three out of the four series right last round, and I had one right on the money with Dallas over San Jose in 6 games. Though I did take the Rangers over the Penguins for obvious reasons like Jagr, Shanahan, Drury, Gomez, etc. I have to say that I am pretty surprised that the Pens won, though they are a very good and dangerous team. Also, I would just like to say that the Wing's Johan Franzen is on a absolute tear, as he had 9 goals in 4 games against the Avalanche, and he now has a total of 11 through two rounds. And I watched that Stars vs Sharks Game 6 4OT thriller, and even though the Sharks lost, Evigeni Nabakov had the most insane save ever in the first OT, and Turco had some nice ones of his own. Anyways, here are the second round predictions from yours truely...

#1 Red Wings over #5 Stars in 6
Yeah, so basically, the Wings are amazing. But it always seems like their downfall is that they play against a really good or really hot goalie thats able to shut them down. They've always been able to get the puck to the net and on net, but not always in it. Last series against the Avs, we saw what happens when the Wings play against an average goalie. Frazen puts in 9 goals, they clinch the series with a 8-2 win, and it's a sweep. But yeah, as for this series, they're going to play another good and red hot goalie in Marty Turco, who is coming in with five straight shutout periods. I really don't think the Chris Osgood is good at all, and he is basically the biggest flake of a goalie the league has ever seen, but thank to the defense and Chris' luck, they're not letting in very much. The Stars are a great team and will win a couple games, though they will never have the series lead and the Wings will just be too strong for them.

#6 Flyers over #2 Penguins in 7
Yep, I'm taking them again. I'm predicting a rematch of the 1997 Stanley Cup Finals, between my two favorite teams. The Penguins are a great team and will put up a great fight, and will even look like the better team for most of the series... but it won't be enough. The Flyers won't play pretty hockey like the Pens, they wont razzle or dazzle like Crosby or Malkin. Though they will win it. 4 games to 3 games. They'll hit, they'll block shots, and Marty Biron will come up huge, and the Flyers will be able to sqeak by the favored and fan favorite Penguins. It's gonna be awesome... just watch.