After going a miserable 50% in the conference semi-finals, I am almost ashamed to be writing this.  First let me vent a little about the teams that embarrassed me.

Most embarrassing was the San Jose Sharks. I predicted this in round one, but then started to drink their Kool-Aid after they dismantled what I thought was a good Nashville team. To me the turning point of this series was when they blew a 2 goal lead at home in game four. Detroit had played so poorly on the road in these playoffs up to that point. San Jose had stolen home ice, all they had to do was play half way decent defensively and they take control of that series. They folded like an amateur poker player with pocket kings facing a big raise with an Ace on the board. Inexcusable. I heard one of the commentators on Versus say during the late stages of last nights game, “maybe San Jose hasn’t improved as much as they thought.”  I couldn’t agree with him more. They came out flat in an elimination game at home. They got out played physically against an older club. They didn’t win battles and they didn’t look like they thought they could win. Detroit might not have better players, but they definitely are the better team.

Onto Ottawa, this one is easy. I just completely over estimated the reputation of the Devils. Bottom line, Brodeur isn’t what he used to be. They have abandoned their defensive style in order to adapt to the “new” NHL, and Ottawa was just too fast and talented.

Now for the picks:

Eastern Conference Finals

(1)  Buffalo Sabres VS (4) Ottawa Senators

After the line brawl between these teams earlier in the season and the playoff series last year, there is definitely bad blood between these two teams. The only downfall for me is Marty Biron is no longer a Sabre so he won’t get the rematch with Emery we would all like to see. (Even though Miller would be a tougher opponent for Emery, in my opinion). This series should be very up tempo as well as physical, a rarity nowadays and it will be one of the most exciting series in recent playoff history, no matter how many games it goes. I like Buffalo in seven.

Western Conference Finals

(1) Detroit Red Wings VS (2) Anaheim Ducks

I think Anaheim will be a lot tougher then San Jose mentally and look for that to put a strain on the Redwings attack. Anaheim has more skilled defensemen in all three zones then San Jose did and I think ultimately that will be the end of the Red Wings. While Vancouver was able to dominate play for stretches, Luongo made that series as long as it was. I don’t see Hasek being able to take control of the series the way Roberto did, I like the Ducks in six.

After getting 7 of the 8 series correct, I'm giving myself the Vancouver series as well because I said they would win a game 7 at home if it went that far, and getting 4 of the eight in the exact amount of games (again I'm taking credit for the Vancouver one), I will now unleash my round two picks. Feel free to take them to the bank.

Eastern Conference

(1) Buffalo Sabres Vs (6) New York Rangers

Only one team from New York will be left at the end of Round 2, and it will be the Sabres. They did seem to stuggle at times with the Islanders and the Rangers made quick work of the Thrashers. But again, Buffalo is too deep and Ryan Miller will only continue to get better. Sabres in 6.

(2) New Jersey Devils Vs (4) Ottawa Senators

I ussually love the Devils in the playoffs because they typically play consistent defense and get great goaltending. Both were shaky in round one. On the other hand, the Senators cruised through round one and looked like an offensive juggernaut. I like the Devils in 7 games. I think Ottawa will win a few games easily (meaning 3+ goals) but I still like the Devils in close games, and that's what wins playoff series.

Western Conference

(1) Detroit Red Wings Vs (5) San Jose Sharks

The Red Wings looked unstoppable at home, but pretty average on the road. You can count on San Jose to win atleast one game in Detroit, and eventually take the series on home ice in game 6.

(2) Anaheim Ducks Vs (3) Vancouver Canucks

The Ducks are playing some really good hockey right now and have had plenty of rest, while Vancouver had trouble scoring and played 7 hard fought games. I like the Ducks to cruise in five.

Here we go again, the second season is upon us and it's time for my picks for round one of the NHL Playoffs.

Eastern Conference

(1) Buffalo Sabres vs (8) New York Islanders

    The Islanders have been playing playoff hockey for a while now and normally that is bad news for the higher seed. While the Islanders could win a game, I just think Buffalo is too deep, Sabres in 5.

(2) New Jersey Devils vs (7) Tampa Bay Lightning

    Martin Brodeur and the  disciplined defensive play of the Devils will not allow Tampa's offense to operate at their normal pace. Goaltending is also a question for the lightning. Devils will sweep.

(3) Atlanta Thrashers vs (6) New York Rangers

  I like the Rangers in this one. Atlanta got the third seed by winning their division, and only finished 3 points ahead of the Rangers in the regular season and 8 points behind the fourth and fifth seeds, I think the Rangers will take home ice away in game one and win in 6.

(4) Ottawa Senators vs (5) Pittsburgh Penguins

   To me this is going to be the best playoff series of the entire playoffs. Two teams the epitomize the new NHL. I think home ice as well as experience will win this series. Senators in 7 but a great experience for Crosby, Malkin, Stall, Fleury etc...

Western Conference

(1) Detroit Red Wings vs (8) Calgary Flames

    The Wings have not fared well latley in early round series. If the Flames can steal home ice they always have the advantage at the Saddle Dome, overall though I think Detroit takes it in 6.

(2) Anaheim Ducks vs (7) Minnesota Wild

   If this was youth hockey I'd take Minnesota in a sweep. But this is the NHL and while the location of the teams creates a hockey paradox, I like the Ducks to win in 5. Brian Burke has done an amazing job in Anaheim and going into the season as a Stanley Cup favorite and finishing in second in the west shows that the Ducks have what it takes to play under pressure.

(3) Vancouver Canucks vs (6) Dallas Stars

    A perfect example of the NHL playoff system is flawed. If the playoffs went by strictly points the Canucks would be the 7th seed in the west, instead they have home ice against a team that finished with more points then them. I like Dallas to win this in 6. If it gets to a 7th game in Vancouver though, the Stars are in trouble.

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

      I like Nashville in 7, imagine that a game 7 in Nashville, TN. Joe Thornton needs to prove that he can carry a team to a playoff series win. Last year, I thought his departure from Boston would be enough to light that fire under him but now I have little faith in him. Until he proves he is not the NHL's A-Rod I won't pick his team in the playoffs.

Ottawa vs Buffalo

The debate hasn't really existed as far as people coming out and saying that you should or shouldn't go about it one way, but the pros and cons of this decision have been talked about quite often. I'm talking about putting a forward on the point for the power play. Daniel Alfredson has been a forward, and a great one at that, throughout his whole career. However, Saturday night Ottawa hung him out to dry. Buffalo recognized his lack of experience playing "D" and attacked him, turning a harmless 1-2 shorthanded rush into a series ending goal.

Granted the reason for the goal was 3-fold. A) Alfredson not knowing how to handle a 1-1, from the defensive aspect. B) Emery playing too deep in his crease and giving the forward the room to get all the way across the crease. C) The other defensemen not helping in time, which also allowed the Buffalo forward to get to his forehand and beat Emery.

You could argue either way for putting Alfredson at the point in that situation. On one hand you need to win, being down 3-1 in the series, so you want a playmaker running the powerplay, fine. However, being down 3-1, you can not afford to lose. When you have so many quality defensmen, which Ottawa does, why would you take that risk. Obviously hine sight is 20-20, and the Sens would have been better served having a defensemen to stop any sort of counter attack, but this is not what lost the series for them. Emery played a subpar series in net, the forwards were unable to establish any sort of constant pressure. I know that Ottawa outshot Buffalo in most games, but as I've heard many times, shots on goal is the most overrated statistic in hockey. Ottawa was unable to create traffic in front of Miller, with the Sabres collapsing having 4 players in front of the net for most of the series, and doing a good job of not allowing Senators players to collect rebounds.

The mark o####ood team is how you fare in one goal games, I'm sure the Senators won their fair share of them during the season, however every game in the series was a 1-goal contest, and the Sabres looked like the team who kicked it up a notch, rather than playing conservative and not to lose, like the Senators. Point being, a Stanley Cup Contender should not go 1-4 in One goal games at any point in the season, and obviously not in the playoffs.

The style Ottawa played also wasn't very smart. I feel like a guy such as Patrick Eaves, who has a big body, and good offensive skills, should have been playing a key role. While you can't deny the offensive skills of Alfredson, Heatley, Havlat and others. You need to win one on one battles every where on the ice, not just in open ice. I feel like Eaves could have been used a lot more in the corners and he has the ability to set up these guys around the net. Unlike a guy like Chris Neal, who would be out there to "irritate" the other team, he would be able to go in the corners, but lacks the ability to create scoring chances from those situations.

Basically every aspect of Ottawa failed, and that's what needed to happen if they were to lose. I honestly feel that they were good enough to win, as long as they were clicking on one or two cylinders.

Sabres quest for Lord Stanley

The Sabre's will get solid goaltending, but after watching the Hurricanes regain their early season form in the first two rounds, and dismantle the Devils who pride themselves on playing great defensive hockey, I'm picking the Carolina(ford) (Whaler)'Canes to beat Buffalo. Miller is going to see shots from everywhere on the ice, just ask Marty Brodeur. While shots from the corner seem harmless, they can create crazy bounces, or good rebound opportunities, as a rebound off a shot from the corner ussually comes back in front of the net. The 'Canes seemed to follow the rule there is no such thing as a bad shot, and when given odd man rushes their skilled forwards will finish most of the time. This is a bad combination. However, I feel that the line with Drury and Grier will be able to generate scoring chances, and if the other lines follow suit Buffalo could make it interesting. I don't know how successful guys like Briere and Affinegenov will be. While I think they are great players, they will have to play out their element (more physical) then they are used to in order to get quality chances.

Refs

A new aspect has crept into this years playoffs. Due to the new rules, teams are getting a large number of powerplays. We saw the Devils fail to convert on four first period power plays and end up losing 4-1 yesterday. Special teams will play a huge role in this series, and I think Carolina has the advantage on the power play. 

On the side, I feel like the refs have done a good job enforcing the new rules all year, even in the playoffs. I do miss the "Old Time Hockey" playoffs, I feel like the Stanley Cup should be decided with as much 5-5 hockey as possible. However, teams were aware that they would need a solid powerplay to succeed this season, so if you didn't build a team that can score on the power play (not to beat a dead horse but see the ::cough:: ::cough:: Boston Bruins) you won't be an elite team.

NHL PLayoffs

Well Ottawa stays alive last night with a 2-1win  in Buffalo, if there is a team that can come back from down 3-0 it's the Sens. However, I don't think that the Sabres, Ryan Miller in particular will let that happen. Miller has played phenomenal, as the Sens have outshot the Sabres by large margins in almost every game. Each game has been a 1 goal contest, I could see Ottawa winning at home but Buffalo taking the series in game 6.

Anaheim beats the defending (1 year removed) Western Conference Champ the Calgary Flames, and then sweeps the Avalanche to advance to the conference finals. I didn't see many of these games, or any of them. But what  a job Brian Burke has done turning that team around. He deserves a ton of credit.

The ducks will face either San Jose or Edmonton. The sharks lead 2-1 but I  have money on Edmonton, if Dwayne Rolloson can regain the form he showed in the Detroit series, and he is capapable (see 2003 playoffs when he was with the Wild). The Oilers will take this series in 7. Which would set up a 6 seed playing an 8 seed in the conference finals, weird.

In the East the Devils look done, a Carolina vs. Buffalo Congerence title would be a great matchup. Both teams have solid goaltending, quick forwards, and tough defensemen. Maxim Affinigenov, of the Sabres, I think is one of the most highly under rated forwards in the NHL, the guy has phenomenal hands, is a big strong kid, and has amazing vision. The playoffs isn't the style of hockey where his full skill level will show, tight games with no room for error, but just watching him skate you can tell that this guy is for real, and that he has an uncanny ability to make something happen everytime he is on the ice.

Yanks and Sox

The sox took 2 out of 3 this week in the Bronx, like any Redsox fan I'm excited. It was announced today that Matsui is expected to miss 3 months with a wrist problem, that is too bad I think Matsui goes out and busts his #### everyday (which is how he got hurt), I hate the Yankees but don't wanna see people hurt for signifigant periods of time. Schilling looked good except for the 3 pitches that ended up over the wall, Randy Johnson looked awful again. The sox got offense from the bottom of the order (Gonzalez, Lowell, Harris) and the slumping Loretta appears to be getting back on track. Wakefield was good, and so was Beckett. The Sox bullpen porved superior over their Yankee counterparts.

I would like to discuss Jonathan Pappelbon. It was very eerie watching him pitch against Mariano Riveria this week. I see some very similar charachteristics in these two closers. They are both able to come out and just blow a pitch by you, then when your sitting on the fast ball they mix in a different pitch that batters end up chasing (Pappelbon with the splitter, Riveria with the cutter). It will be interesting to see Pappelbon develop because he is capapble of being a starter, he did it last year. But if he continues to dominate in the closer role, 13 of 14 in save opps, ERA under 1, I don't see why you would move him. Regardless, he will be fun to watch, and you almost the "wow this games over" feeling when he comes in, the same feeling you used to get at Yankee Stadium when "Enter Sandman" came over the PA System.

NBA Playoffs

I don't care, wish I did but I don't. I'm rooting for the Clippers just because they seem to be the feel good story, sucking forever and now they don't suck as much. The East is boring, Pistons will win easy, they don't need and injury to Dwayne Wade to win this year. In the west, I'm gonna go with the Spurs. Dallas has gotten better defensivley but not enough, clippers and Suns are built for regular season, not a long playoff run. One will advance by default since they are playing each other but expect the Spurs to have an easier time in the conference finals then against Dallas.

Other thoughts

I have two, and both concern Barry Bonds. First, Yes he took steroids but you don't have to write a book about it, wheres Giambi's book, he's won an MVP and comback player of the year (for coming off steroids), and he has admitted to juicing. And what about Rafael Palmerio, joind the 3,000 hit and 500 HR club, and also a member of I shot roids in my #### club). Write a book about these guys. While it's painfully obvious Bond's used steroids, he hasn't failed a test or admitted it yet. I'm sure the government will reveal it to us soon enough though. My point of all this being that I hope Barry hits a foul ball into the press box and knocks out those 2 guys cold talk about irony. Second, why does it matter if he passes Babe Ruth. Babe Ruth is IN SECOND PLACE. Yes it something BONDS should be proud of (if he can be morally), but there is no reason to celebrate the fact that someone is within 40 homeruns of being the All-Time leader, that's like letting the All-Star game end in a tie....oh wait. 

Aside from Mach Madness, this is my favorite time of year. The NHL Playoffs are here. For those of you who don't like hockey, I recomend watching atleast one playoff game because it is by far the most intense sporting event you will watch. Players seem to step it up in the playoffs and often "no name" players turn into stars (I.E. J.S. Giguere). For others the playoffs are the defining aspect of players careers (IE Ray Bourque), all the awards you can win can't even come close to lifting Lord Stanley's Cup over your head in mid-june. It is by far the toughest stretch of the season mentally and physically, playing with the win or go home menatility in a 7 game series of a contact sport, unlike basketball or baseball, with the lack of contact or even football where it is one game a week.  Not to take away anything from the playoffs of the other sports, I love watching them. And I realize taht you can't even begin to understand the toughness factor of hockey unless you have played it, but trust me this is hard. The playoffs are finnally set, and with the second season ready to begin here are my predictions for the first round.

Western Conference

1 Detroit over 8 Edmonton - The Oilers will put up a fight, they always do, maybe a 6 game set if they get a couple bounces. Detroit isn't young so it would be beneficial for them to win this series a quick as possible.

2 Dallas over 7 Colorado- Dallas has been playing great hockey, while the Av's have had goaltending issues all year. The stars should win this one in 5.

6 Anaheim over 3 Calgary- The Duck's have been playing playoff hockey for a while now. They beat the Flames in 7.

5 San Jose over 4 Nashville- No Thomas Vokoun spells doom for the predators, especially with San Jose's red hot Thornton and Cheecho line having their shot at a playoff rookie.

Eastern Conference

1 Ottawa over 8 Tampa Bay- Now we won't have to answer the question is it considered a repeat championship or 2 in 3 years.

7 Montreal over 2 Carolina- Carolina hasn't been on top of its game the last month or so, they can thank an easy end of the year schedule for the #2 seed, and an early exit.

3 New Jersey over 6 New York- The Blue Shirts are back in the playoffs...not for long though the Devils have better goaltending, and let's be honest goaltending is key in the playoffs.

4 Buffalo over 5 Philadelphia- Will Forsberg be healthy, will the Flyers finnally get decent goaltending in the playoffs?..too many questions for Philly, the Sabres are a solid club it is not a good draw for the Flyers.