Wednesday, April 11, 2007
I Know Little About Hockey
I love the game, it's just that I don't know anything about it, other than that my favorite team -- Colorado -- isn't in the playoffs, and that Sidney Crosby might one day be pretty good. And not knowing much about something has never stopped me from offering opinions about it, so as you head to Vegas -- yes, here is the standard E.K. Nation prediction disclaimer -- keep in mind that you should not keep this post in mind. I know nothing. And I will be wrong.
• #8 Calgary will beat #1 Detroit in seven games. #2 Anaheim will sweep #7 Minnesota. #3 Vancouver and #6 Dallas will play five overtime games, with Dallas winning in six. And, our Western Conference winner from back in October, #4 Nashville, will get past #5 San Jose in seven tough games.
Eastern Conference 1st Round:
• Our pre-season pick to win it all, #1 Buffalo, will sweep the #8 Islanders. #2 New Jersey, backed by Martin Brodeur's stellar goalkeeping and aided by #7 Tampa Bay's inability to score goals, will win in five. #3 Atlanta, making its first playoff appearance (if I remember correctly, and maybe I don't), will win Game 7 against the #6 Rangers. And #5 Pittsburgh, despite Sidney Crosby's presence in this sereies, will lose to #4 Ottawa in six.
Western Conference 2nd Round:
• The Ducks will take it to a tired Calgary team, winning in five. And the Predators will handle Dallas in six.
Eastern Conference 2nd Round:
• The Sabres will continue to roll, defeating the Senators in six. And what more can you say about Brodeur? Devils in five over the Thrashers.
Western Conference Finals:
• We're going to stick with Nashville. Dance with the one that brung ya. Predators in seven over the Ducks. Having Peter Forsberg is a boost, even if he's not the player he once was.
Eastern Conference Finals:
• Sticking with Buffalo, even though I recognize Martin Brodeur's great season. Sabres over New Jersey in seven.
STANLEY CUP FINALS:
• Sure, why not stay with Buffalo over Nashville? After all, I know so little that making an adjustment would be just silly. After all, I had Philly beating Nashville in the Finals last year, and it turned out not to be anything remotely close to what happened. Don't over-think. (Looking back on who I picked to be the 16 playoff teams, I actually missed only one playoff team from the West, while missing three from the East, at one point comically deciding Columbus played in that conference, which of course it does not.) Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Let's go with Tomas Vokoun, Nashville's goalie.
Western Conference 1st Round:
• #8 Calgary will beat #1 Detroit in seven games. #2 Anaheim will sweep #7 Minnesota. #3 Vancouver and #6 Dallas will play five overtime games, with Dallas winning in six. And, our Western Conference winner from back in October, #4 Nashville, will get past #5 San Jose in seven tough games.
Eastern Conference 1st Round:
• Our pre-season pick to win it all, #1 Buffalo, will sweep the #8 Islanders. #2 New Jersey, backed by Martin Brodeur's stellar goalkeeping and aided by #7 Tampa Bay's inability to score goals, will win in five. #3 Atlanta, making its first playoff appearance (if I remember correctly, and maybe I don't), will win Game 7 against the #6 Rangers. And #5 Pittsburgh, despite Sidney Crosby's presence in this sereies, will lose to #4 Ottawa in six.
Western Conference 2nd Round:
• The Ducks will take it to a tired Calgary team, winning in five. And the Predators will handle Dallas in six.
Eastern Conference 2nd Round:
• The Sabres will continue to roll, defeating the Senators in six. And what more can you say about Brodeur? Devils in five over the Thrashers.
Western Conference Finals:
• We're going to stick with Nashville. Dance with the one that brung ya. Predators in seven over the Ducks. Having Peter Forsberg is a boost, even if he's not the player he once was.
Eastern Conference Finals:
• Sticking with Buffalo, even though I recognize Martin Brodeur's great season. Sabres over New Jersey in seven.
STANLEY CUP FINALS:
• Sure, why not stay with Buffalo over Nashville? After all, I know so little that making an adjustment would be just silly. After all, I had Philly beating Nashville in the Finals last year, and it turned out not to be anything remotely close to what happened. Don't over-think. (Looking back on who I picked to be the 16 playoff teams, I actually missed only one playoff team from the West, while missing three from the East, at one point comically deciding Columbus played in that conference, which of course it does not.) Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Let's go with Tomas Vokoun, Nashville's goalie.
