And Now There Are Two

The quest of hockey’s holy grail was finally set last night with the Anaheim Ducks winning over the Detroit Dead Things, er, Red Wings to clench the Western Conference title.

They now meet the Ottawa Senators for a best-of-seven series for hockey’s ultimate prize, the Stanley Cup.

My predictions?  I’m going for the lesser of the two evils 😉 .  After a 14 year absence, the Cup will finally return to Canada with Ottawa winning in 6 games.

Here’s something called “The Senators’ Prayer” (I got this from the Aeros messageboard via a fellow season ticket holder):

Our God who art in Scotiabank Palace, Senators be thy name.
Thy puck come, Thy save be done in the air as it is on ice.
Give us this day our Stanley Cup and forgive us our slashing,
As we send out Neil for those who slash against us.
And lead us not into golfing, but deliver us from injury.
For the Senators are the team the power and glory,
For ever and ever,
Amen…

Go Sens!

Another Canadian Team In The Stanley Cup Finals

Congratulations to the Ottawa Senators! 

For the third year in a row (sort of 😉 ), a team from Canada is in the finals.  As I noted before, I hoping for one of three teams (Calgary, Vancouver and Ottawa) to be in it.  Granted, though, I was pulling for Calgary. 

To quote the rock group Boston, it has been a long time since the Sens have been in quest of the holy grail.  The last time they won was in 1927  against the Boston Bruins. 

Now it’s time to scope out a parking space at H-town’s Canadian hangout, the Maple Leaf Pub. 🙂

No Happy Feet…So Now There Are Four Left

The Baby Pens lost in overtime against the Hershey Bears last Friday night in Hershey. 

This means that Hershey will be meeting the Manchester Monarchs for the Eastern Conference finals.  The Western Conference will be the ever-present, strong willed Chicago Wolves (whom I think has one of the best logos around) against the Hamilton Bulldogs.

Predictions?  Hershey and Chicago, respectively, winning in 6 games. 

Let’s see if I’m right when the end of the month comes (the Conference finals are suppose to end around May 31st.).

Put The Broom Back In The Closet, Hershey!

Something I was afraid of, but didn’t happen happened last night. 

The Baby Pens avoided a sweep from the Hershey Bears by winning in overtime, 3-2!

Yee-haw! 

Time for some of that momentum to shift the whole series in the Baby Pens favor in Hershey tomorrow.

🙂

And Then There Were Four

It’s the Frozen Four.  NHL style. 

In the West, there’s #1 seeded Detroit v. #2 seeded Anaheim.  One name: Chris Pronger.  He helped Edmonton get to the Stanley Cup last year and he’ll help Anaheim this year.  I see Anaheim winning in six games.

In the East, there’s #1 seeded Buffalo v. #4 seeded Ottawa.  If this series is like the game from earlier this season, hopefully it lives up to the hype.  Even though I would love to a Canadian team go to the Final and grab the long overdue Cup, I don’t think it’s going to happen.  Buffalo should win this conference final in six games, also.

So, there it is, my prediction of who will meet in the Stanley Cup Finals: Buffalo Sabres v Anaheim Ducks.

Let’s see it happen. 😉

In other belated hockey news, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins eliminated the Norfolk Admirals 4 games to 2 in the first round.  They are now playing against the defending Calder Cup champs, Hershey Bears.  Unfortunately, the Baby Pens are down three games to none and I’m afraid they’ll be swept up by the Bears tonight.   😦