NHL Finals: Fate Calls on the Ottawa Senators

The stage is officially set: from 16 teams, two are left standing.

Representing the Eastern Conference, from the icy wilderness of Canada, the Ottawa Senators.

Representing the Western Conference, from the warm coast of Southern California, the Anaheim Ducks.

That's right... the Stanley Cup Finals are finally here: the team that could never go all the way versus the team that needed the Heimlich every time they got close.

Here's the lowdown on the final throwdown of this NHL season:

I Got Five on It

 

Led by Daniel Alfredsson, the Senators finished off the Penguins, Devils, and Sabres in five games apiece. In the process, Ottawa took out Sidney Crosby (Penguins), Martin Brodeur (Devils), and Ryan Miller and Milan Hejduk (Sabres)...and will look to dispatch a few more future Hall-of-Famers when they visit the Anaheim Pond.

 

 

Brotherly Love

 

Is there anything the Niedermayer brothers can't do? Scott and Rob sent the Vancouver Canucks packing with a double OT victory in Game Five, then picked up where they left off in Game Two against the Red Wings: Rob opened the scoring; Scott finished it off in overtime.

 

Both of these boys have been down this road before, but only Scott has hoisted the Cup. Could this be their time to shine?

 

 

Underachievers No More

 

After years of postseason futility, Ottawa has been the most dominant team in the 2007 playoffs. With the monkey of their back, and with three postseason eliminations at the hands of the Sabres behind them, they'll look to continue their Cinderella run all the way to a championship.  

 

 

Why the Ducks Win

 

With an All-Star cast led by Chris Pronger, Anaheim looks ready to finally get over the Stanley Cup hump. The Ducks overpowering offense will keep the Senators on their heels. Their defense has to find ways to pressure Alfredsson and hope that Ottawa doesn't have a Plan B.

 

If they pull it off, and if the sports gods have another upset up their sleeve, Californians will have something to be proud of this sports season...besides beating Michigan senseless in the Rose Bowl.

 

 

Why the Senators Win

 

Call it the New England Patriots/Boston Red Sox effect. If timing really is everything, Ottawa will be raising the Cup when the dust settles. Ottawa's physical play is what got them here; applying pressure where it's needed is what helps them win. The Senators have waited 10 years for this opportunity, just like the Patriots waited for the Lombardi and the Red Sox waited for a World Series.

 

It's hard to argue with fate. A little luck wouldn't hurt either.

So those are the facts for you. The Senators are rested...but so were the Tigers last October. The Ducks were dominant during the regular season...but so were the Mavericks this spring.

 

No matter what happens, expect a slugfest. Chris Pronger gets his chance to redeem last season's flop with Edmonton. Rob gets his chance to live Scott's dream. Alfredsson gets the opportunity to end a decade of waiting.

 

Judgment Day has arrived.

 

And what's more fun than watching the Stanley Cup Finals? Predicting who wins. One bit of information to remember: Ottawa hasn't gone deeper than five games in any series this postseason. They'll be tested here...but it'll still be over in six.

 

Don't like it Californians?

 

I got two words for ya: Blame Canada! 

 

 

Prediction: Anaheim wins Games 1 and 3; Senators win Games 2, 4, 5, and 6. Ottawa takes the Cup 4 games to 2.