The NHL Conference Finals have begun, and the four teams left in the chase for Lord Stanley's Cup are holding nothing back.  The Carolina Hurricanes and Buffalo Sabres are playing for the Eastern Conference title, while the Anaheim Mighty Ducks and Edmonton Oilers battle it out in the West.  It has been a tough trial for these four teams to make it this far.  Dedication, aggression, and perhaps a bit of destiny have brought them to where they are.  Injuries plague players on all teams, but they have worked all their lives to lift the Cup, and no amount of pain is going to stand in their way.  Here are my predictions for the Conference Finals:

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Buffalo Sabres

These two teams have made it this far playing as mirror images of eachother.  They are both speedy teams, with no real huge superstars to steal the show.  They have great teamwork skills, and huge heart.  Dedicated captain Chris Drury leads the Sabres, while Rod Brind'Amour is the core for the Hurricanes.  The biggest factor for these two teams' success have been the young goaltenders, though.  Ryan Miller has been nearly unbeatable for the Sabres, and since being moved to starting goalie during the first round Cam Ward has let next to nothing get past him.  I think what the series is going to come down to is confidence.  The Sabres have it.  They are backed up by a city of great hockey fans, who show their support for the team game-in and game-out.  Carolina has great talent, and great fans, they just need to harness everyone's energy, and use it.  I think the series is also going to come down to injuries.  The playoffs are the toughest time of year for a hockey player; nobody is playing with one hundred percent health.  It's about who has the heart to play through the pain.
WINNER: Buffalo in six.

Anaheim Mighty Ducks vs. Edmonton Oilers

As in the East, these two teams have a very similar style of play.  They are both very physical teams with strong defenses.  Scott Niedermeyer and Chris Pronger must remain strong for their respective teams, and the goal scorers need to step up.  I think this is where the Ducks have an advantage.  They have genuine goal scorers on the team.  Guys like Selanne and Lupul thrive for putting the puck in the net.  They also have Adam Oates-like players in Penner and MacDonald, who are able to make great passes and set up amazing goals.  Edmonton's heroes of the first two rounds need to keep going to the net.  Ryan Smith and Jason Smyth need to be a presence for their team. 
WINNER: Anaheim in six.

Okay, so I wasn't exactly right with my first round predictions; but who would have guessed that every seed would be represented?  This season has been so unpredictable, anything is possible, but here are my predictions for the second round match-ups starting with 1-4 from the Eastern Conference.

(1)Ottawa Senators vs. (4)Buffalo Sabres

Although the Senators are ranked number one going into this round, I think Buffalo has got the energy to make them work hard for every goal.  I think the Sabres have a great goaltending team in Miller and Biron.  They also have great teamwork, and are able to make great passes to set up goals because of it.  The Senators started the season with Dominik Hasek, which I believe is the reason they gathered enough points to rank first.  I think Emery is going to really have to step up to fill his void between the pipes for Ottawa.  Players like Heatley are going to have to keep scoring and motivate others to keep getting the goals.
WINNER:  Buffalo Sabres in 6.

(2)Carolina Hurricanes vs. (3)New Jersey Devils

New Jersey really surprised me in the first round by sweeping the Rangers.  Players like Elias, who needed to step up, really did lead the team to victory.  If the Devils can keep playing like that, they should be able to get the goals they need in the second round.  Having Brodeur in net isn't a bad thing for their team either.  The Hurricane's rookie goaltender Cam Ward saved the team in the first round.  He stopped nearly everything the Canadiens threw at him, and he needs to keep playing that way for a shot at going to the Conference finals.  Carolina's offense is able to work flawlessly with their defense, and make plays to the goal, because they have learned to play so well together without having any true superstars on their team to pass the puck to all the time.
WINNER:  Carolina Hurricanes in 6.

Western Conference:

(5)San Jose Sharks vs. (8)Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers got a gift in the first round from the Red Wings not playing at the top of their game.  They need to keep playing the forecheck the way they did in the first round, and play the trap in order to keep players like Cheechoo, Thornton, and Marleau from scoring.  Dwayne Roloson has to play strong, like he has for the Oilers, and keep limiting the rebounds, like he has been.  The Sharks seem to have been playing perfect playoff hockey.  They've been physical, defensive, and able to generate goalscoring.  Whoever wins this series is going to win it at home, because their home arenas seem to show so much support, it creates a lot of well-used energy for the teams.
WINNER:  San Jose Sharks in 5.

(6)Anaheim Mighty Ducks vs. (7)Colorado Avalanche

The Mighty Ducks are able to read each other so well, they can create plays that lead to timely goals for the team.  Every player, from Selanne to Getzlaf, is able to contribute for the Ducks.  Bryzgalov is like a wall for this Anaheim team, making saves that seem impossible to stop.  After a grueling first round against the Flames, they have proved they deserve to be taken seriously in these playoffs.  The Avalanche also pulled off an amazing upset, only theirs was against the Stars.  Jose Theodore needs to keep his confidence up, and stop the Ducks' shots.  Joe Sakic needs to motivate his players, and create energy for Colorado, so they don't have ot play such close games like in the first round.
WINNER:  Anaheim Mighty Ducks in 5.

Wing nuts everywhere were devestated on Monday night, as the Detroit Red Wings lost game six of their series against the Edmonton Oilers, and eliminated themselves from the quest for Lord Stanley's Cup.  They played good enough to carry a 2-0 lead going into the third period, but then completely derailed, letting the Oilers score four goals in the last twenty minutes. 

As horrible as it was for Red Wings fans to watch, it shouldn't have come as that big of surprise.  The Oilers have owned the Wings all series.  They've played a successful trap defense, held the Wings on the forecheck, and had an amazing goaltender in Dwayne Roloson.  It hurts to say this, but Edmonton was the better team, and deserves to go to the second round.  It seemed like very few Detroit players gave 100 percent every game.  (I'm not one of those saying he should be traded, but where was Pavel Datsyuk?)  The only Red Wing that looked like a Red Wing was Steve Yzerman.  It will be a terrible blow if he leaves after this season, not only for the hole in next year's roster, but for Yzerman, himself, not going out on top like he deserves.

In fact, I think a lot of Detroit players' should be worried about how much time they have left with the organization after another first-round loss, their third in five years.  Chelios is already the oldest player in the league, Shanahan and Datsyuk are free agents already involved in rumors, Osgood was not up to par all season and then had an injury during playoffs, Babcock was brought in to win the Cup, yet didn't do any better in the playoffs than Lewis, and free agent Manny Legace has already said he doesn't think he'll be back next season after his playoff performance.  I guess we'll have to wait and see what Ken Holland does with this team.

Of course, the Red Wings weren't the only team to be eliminated already.  There were a lot of surprising results from this year's first-round match-ups, especially New Jersey's sweep over the New York Rangers.  It wasn't really so surprising that the Devils won, just that the Rangers couldn't pull out one victory.  It just goes to show what a big part of the organization that Jagr is, considering his injury that forced him to miss playing.

Ottawa beat Tampa Bay, which was expected.  Buffalo beat Philadelphia, which was expected.  San Jose beat Nashville, which was expected.  Carolina beat Montreal, which was expected, but it seemed as though Montreal had a real shot at beating the Hurricanes.  They played brilliantly in the first two games, and Christobal Huet was outstanding in goal.  The turn-around in the series for Carolina was Cam Ward being put in net.  He was like a wall for the Hurricanes, letting hardly anything past him.

The surprise for the Western Conference was Colorado's upset over the Stars.  Jose Theodore stepped up his game, and basically just outplayed Marty Turco.  Colorado was able to build offense, and capitalize on the mistakes made by the Dallas team.  Not to mention, they have one of the greatest playoff producers in the game in Joe Sakic.

The only series left undetermined as I type this is Calgary vs. Anaheim.  These two teams go to game seven in Calgary tonight, and I'm sure it will be a great battle.  Shockingly, it has been one of the most exciting series to watch.  The two teams have had exciting goals, overtime celebrations, and plenty of fights.  It's such a great match-up, no wonder they are going to game seven!

The Detroit Tigers are winning games 18-1 and 6-0, yet the Red Wings are one game away from playoff elimination.  Are the stars out of alignment? Or did they cross paths?  This may not be my best blog, as it is out of frustration, but something just isn't right with the Red Wings.

Pavel Datsyuk hasn't scored any goals, Steve Yzerman isn't even playing, and Manny Legace has let more players go five-hole than a puckbunny.  Whatever strange force has taken over my Wings needs to disperse immediately.  There's no more room for error in the dream for this year's Stanley Cup.

Detroit has got to find a way to get the puck through the trap Edmonton plays without using the dump-and-chase method they have chosen for games one through five.  It seems like when they do this, the Red Wings just end up passing the puck for a few minutes, maybe getting one or two shots off, and then the Oilers clear it out of the zone.  Detroit has got to start taking more shots without passing so much before doing so.  This will give them more chances, that they need, for the lucky playoff goals, because Dwayne Roloson is not going to give up many rebounds for extra chances at the net.

The Red Wings are also going to have to start pressuring the Oilers with the forecheck.  So far in the series, it seems this has been almost non-existant.  The Oilers, on the other hand, have consistantly pressured the Red Wings in this situation, and, in my mind, have made it look like they are on a constant power play against the Wings.  The Oilers look comfortable on the ice, whereas the Red Wings seem to start playing scared and nervous everytime Edmonton gets a goal.  They are going to have to put better coverage on players like Pronger, Smyth, Spacek, and Horcoff, to break them down offensively.  As previously mentioned, they are also going to have to find a way to get rebounds from Roloson.

Detroit's stars need to step up in game six.  Manny Legace is going to have to play at the top of his game, guarding the net with his playoff life.  Lidstrom, Chelios, and Schneider are going to have to lead a formidable defense, letting nothing past them.  Shanahan, Zetterberg, and Datsyuk have to find ways to score.  Most importantly, the Red Wings are going to have to play like they know they are better than the Oilers, because they are.  And they can win.  Hockeytown expects nothing less.

(*NOTE: I know the playoffs have already started, but I wrote this last week, and really wanted it posted.)

The NHL is always exciting to watch, but the playoffs are on a whole new level.  This is the time when players will skate like their lives are on the line.  Bone chilling bodychecks will be thrown, amazing saves will be made, impossible goals will be scored, and one team's dreams will come true.  Sixteen teams have the chance to lift the Stanley Cup, and nobody is giving up without a fight.  Here are my playoff predictions starting with the Western Conference:

(1)Detroit Red Wings vs. (8)Edmonton Oilers

The Red Wings have dominated the NHL's regular season, capturing the President's Trophy for best record, and setting plenty of NHL record throughout their journey.  With the leadership of Yzerman, Chelios, and Shanahan, the Red Wings will be tough to beat.  They have got the best defenseman in the game in Lidstrom, and two of the best young goalscorers in the league in Zetterberg and Datsyuk.  Edmonton won't go down without a fight, though.  They are a physical team, and have some key players like Smyth, Spacek, and Peca, that could destroy the Red Wings' game.  The addition of Pronger to their blueline this season will be another obstacle for Detroit's scorers.  I think this series is going to come down to special teams and goaltending.  Will it be Legace or Roloson who can handle the playoff pressure? My money's on Legace.
WINNER:  Detroit in 6.

(2)Dallas Stars vs. (7)Colorado Avalanche

The Stars have been at the top of their division for a long time.  They are a team that knows how to win, and Colorado will have to watch guys like Modano, Arnott, and Lehtinen, who know how to produce offensively.  They have got a strong goaltender with Marty Turco between the pipes.  He knows what the playoffs are like, and already knows how Colorado plays their game.  Jose Theodore, on the other hand, has not even been playing in the Western Conference for two months yet.  In his time with the Avalanche, he has not been the goalie Colorado hoped he would be.  If he can step up his game, he can be an unbeatable presence for his team.  Another great characteristic the Avalanche have is the heart and desire of their captain.  Joe Sakic is dedicated to his team, and is going to keep them motivated throughout the series. I think the battles between these teams are going to be fun to watch, because not only are there very skilled players on either side, but very physical players as well, including Morrow and Ott for the Stars, and Laparrier for Colorado.
WINNER:  Dallas in 5.

(3)Calgary Flames vs. (6)Anaheim Mighty Ducks

The Flames play one of the most defensive games in the league.  They have arguably the best goaltender in the NHL in Kiprosoff, and the Ducks are going to have a hard time getting the puck around a skilled Calgary defense.  The Ducks have also got to watch out for Iginla offensively, with his amazing puck-handling skills and ability to score impossible goals.  They also have players like McCarty and Yelle, who know how to contribute in playoff situations.  Giguere makes me nervous for the Ducks.  When he is playing his best, he is an amazing goaltender, but he seems to be prone to injuries.  If he can stay 100 percent healthy, he will be a huge asset to this Anaheim team.  The Ducks also have great leadership in Teemu Selanne and the Nedermeyer brothers, as well as some of the best young players in the game in Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry.
WINNER: Anaheim in 7.

(4)Nashville Predators vs. (5)San Jose Sharks

I believe these two teams are a few of the strongest teams in the league.  I think whoever wins this series will make it to the Conference final for the West.  Nashville is a great physical team, with players like Tootoo, Hartnell, and Legwand roughing up opponents, while guys like Kariya and Sillinger score the goals.  However, with Vokoun out due to injury, the Predators will have to rely on Mason, their back-up goalie, to carry the team.  He is going to have a lot of work to do, because the shots he will have to face are going to be fired from the sticks of Cheechoo and Thornton, the league leaders in goals and points.  The duo carried the Sharks all season, and brought them from not being near a playoff spot at the beginning of March to ranking fifth is the Western Conference a month later.  The Predators cannot, and will not, take them lightly.  Such a hot streak will be difficult to stop.
WINNER:  San Jose in 6.

Eastern Conference:

(1)Ottawa Senators vs. (8)Tampa Bay Lightning

The Senators have been atop the league standings all season, and for good reason.  They picked up top notch players in Hasek and Heatley this season, who both dominated opponents. Hasek had one of the best goals against averages in the league, and Heatley scored 50 goals for the Senators.  Hasek's late season injury will reduce their chance of winning teh Cup, but they have great players like Chara and Redden, who can step up, and lead Ottawa to victory.  To be honest, I'm surprised the Lightning made the playoffs at all.  Then again, I didn't think they had a chance to win the Stanley Cup last playoff season either.  They have got great leaders, as well as offense, in the young St. Louis, LeCavalier, and Brad Richards.  They are a team with great speed, which gives them a chance to take the series.
WINNER:  Ottawa in 5.

(2)Carolina Hurricanes vs. (7)Montreal Canadiens

The Hurricanes have had an amazing regular season.  With no real superstars on the team, Eric Staal and his boys have really stepped up their game this year, and put 100 percent into all their games.  They're a skilled team, who have great chemistry on the ice, making it hard for other teams to break their ability to pass the puck, and otherwise communicate on the ice.  The Canadiens will have to rely on the leadership of their veteran players, like Koivu and Kovalev, to win this series.  They have a great goaltending duo in Huet and Aebischer, which gives them a great defensive advantage over their opponent.  Being a fan of Mathieu Dandenault, I would like to see the Habs win it, but I don't think it will happen.
WINNER: Carolina in 6.

(3)New Jersey Devils vs. (6)New York Rangers

This is one of the closest matchups that I think has ever been paired together.  Their fight for third position in the Eastern Conference, until the last game of the regular season, shows that.  New Jersey has an obvious advantage by having Brodeur in net.  He is a goaltender who has been called the best in the world, and has plenty of experience in playoff situations, as well as playing for Team Canada in the past two Olympic games.  In addition to that, a lot of the Devils players were on the Stanley Cup Champion team of 2003.  They know how to get the job done, and what they have to do to get to the Finals again.  The New York Rangers also have a skilled player between the pipes in Henrik Lundqvist.  Some say that Lundqvist is the best new goalie in hockey, and now is his chance to prove it.  He's going to be facing a lot of shots from skilled New Jersey players, so he is going to have to play like he did at the beginning of the season, or when he won the gold with Team Sweden at the Olympics.  Jagr is also going to have to keep his game at the level he has been playing, scoring over 50 goals for the Rangers during the course of the season.
WINNER:  New York in 7.

(4)Buffalo Sabres vs. (5)Philadelphia Flyers

If someone would have told me at the end of last season that the Sabres would be a top Cup contender, I probably would have laughed.  Now, I am in awe of this team.  They work hard every game to win, and never give up.  They have the heart and skill that is necessary to win it all, and if they keep playing the way they have been, I believe they have a chance.  This is another team with a great goaltending pairing, with netminders Ryan Miller and Martin Biron.  I also like players like Dumont, Briere, and Pyatt.  The Flyers are also a very skilled team.  They are big and they are fast.  They've got some physical players like Hatcher and Gauthier, that the Sabres will have to watch for.  They are going to have to make up for the loss of their injured captain, Keith Primeau, though. 
WINNER: Buffalo in 5.