Three down, one to go. We are at the apex, the pinnacle of the season if you will. At long last, the Stanley Cup finals are set to begin Saturday night.
This seasons championship round features the sexiest match-up the NHL could ever have hoped for with the Penguins and the Red Wings. Personally speaking, I have my own bias in this series. I hate (I know it's a strong word, but believe me it fits) Detroit. Not just the Wings, every Detroit based team is on my 'BOO/HISS' list.
Anyways, I digress.
I have had theories over the years in regards with a certain league official (Kerry Fraser), as well as to which teams are going to win championships based on who they [the NHL] are desperately trying to market. Generally speaking, I am usually right with these. When everyone picked Calgary to beat Tampa Bay, I said Tampa would win because they would get "preferential treatment" with the refs, and Bettman is desperate to sell hockey to the southern states.
Game 6, Marty Gelinas of Calgary scores what would be the series winning goal. But wait, who's that? It's Kerry Fraser! He, as usual, screws the Canadian team, and disallows the goal saying it never crossed the line, even though the replay clearly showed it had. End result: Tampa wins games 6 & 7 to hoist the cup. Next cup final had Carolina (another southern team Bettman wants to market to) against Edmonton.
The Canes get the majority of the calls, and they win the cup. This year, the league is trying to push the dynamic duo of Crosby and Malkin, as well as the rest of the Pittsburgh Penguins as a great comeback from the brink of financial ruin story.
In other words, take a wild shot who I am going to pick to win. The NHL is not trying to push one of the three most boring teams in the league with Detroit are they? They are pushing one of the most exciting, young teams with the Pens.
And how, may I ask do you do that best? You manipulate the situation to get the desired result. Which in this case is having NHL cover boy Sidney Crosby lift the cup at the end of the series. You watch, the officiating has been suspect at best so far in the playoffs. You may see the worst ref job in recent NHL history if Bettman has his way. And like the Napoleon he thinks he is, he will.
My Pick:
Pittsburgh Penguins over Detroit Red Wings in 6 games.
Evgeni Malkin wins Conn Smythe as Finals MVP.
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4 months ago
While Crosby and Malkin are awesome -- sorry I just do not think the Pens are gonna get it done. Detroit has the experience as well as the poise. They know how to break down the opponent.
from 4 months ago
Fair argument. But remember, The Wings not only have to beat the Pens, they also have to beat the refs, and the league who want Sidney Crosby to win the cup!
4 months ago
Funny you should mention the skewed reffing and Bettman's master plan...it's a thought that has crossed my mind (and I'm sure many others) many times... he's hanging the future of the NHL on Crosby and Ovechkin's shoulders.... it's all about selling his product
I think the Pens are gonna hoist it this year, at least if Gary has his way
4 months ago
well i don't agree with the prediction, but i love the title!! i agree with that 100 percent!!!!
4 months ago
Is Detroit boring because they're so good at keeping the puck? or are they boring because of a lack of exciting players. I'm thinking its the first option, and as a fan of the Wings I can see how outsiders would find the team boring.
I think they're exciting as all hell, but then I'm biased.
from 4 months ago
Yes, I was wondering about the boring comment myself. So, one of the top offensive teams in the league is now boring? Shocking coming from someone that already stated he hates every Detroit team. He must hate winning.
4 months ago
LOL @ Wet Dream headline!
But I think this was the dream match-up for any hockey fan. The two best teams made it to the end. I can't wait!
However, my boxers are still quite dry!
4 months ago
Gary Roberts > Bettman
4 months ago
experience, shmeriance. The Pens are bigger, stronger and faster (and much younger) than Detroit. They have met their match and Sid will indeed hoist the Cup...in 6 games!
from 4 months ago
How'd that work out for them last night? I keep tellin'y'all, the West is the best. The only reason Pitt cruised to the Finals is they don't have to play anyone out there. I would have taken the first seven teams in the West over ANYONE but the Penguins in the East, and I would still have taken the Sharks, who couldn't even make the Western Finals, over the Penguins. The East would never win if the West didn't beat each other up to reach the Finals and have to travel three time zones to do it instead of always being within their own zone like the soft East.
from 4 months ago
The last time I looked, you still need 4 wins to win the Cup. Cocky western conference people, thats all that you are. Detroits division is a joke, the Pens would have won the Presidents Trophy if they were in that pitiful division.
4 months ago
MJ, you say that Pittsburgh didn't have to play anyone to get to where they are. What about the Wings? First round against a Nashville team that basically had no right to be even in the playoffs. Second round against, for the most part, Colorado's AHL team. Conference finals against a tired and worn out Dallas team. So far the only team that the Pens have been favored to beat is Ottawa. Both the Rangers and Flyers were the favored team odds wise at the start of the series. And Michael is absolutely right. You do need 4 wins to win the cup.
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