Tiss the Season for Allsports and the NHL Playoffs

So if you follow sports on the web or watch any hockey at all, you're already aware that the National Hockey League regular season is over and that we are on the verge of the playoffs beginning.

Allsports, a Maple Leafs supporter, has had to take it on the chin again this year. The usual jokes like,

               “How can you tell that it is Spring, cause all the Leafs are gone,"

surface again, so I endure even though the first time I heard most of them I “kicked the slats out of my cradle.”

What makes the sarcasm even more biting this year is the fact that my cousin is a big Boston Bruins fan. Yes, those same Bruins that finished first overall in the East.

You would think he did not have a regular job with the amount of bad jokes he finds and sends my way. To make matters worse I like the Bruins chances this year to fight for Lord Stanley’s Mug. Here are a couple of Bruins commercials that I thought were funny, enjoy!

Never tuck in your Jersey (You Gota like the fish slap)

Never date in your own Conference

Here are my picks for the first round of the playoffs. Based on my past record, the good money won’t be following my advice, lol.

NHL Eastern Conference:

1) The Boston Bruins vs 8) The Monteral Canadiens: Boston in Five (Six?)

Boston and Montreal is a hard one for me.

Being a Canuck myself, I usually root for the Canadian teams while there in the playoffs. The problem with this series is that unless the ghost of Maurice Richard comes back to score for the Canadians, I can’t see them winning it.

Boston is big, strong, and fast. Unless Carey Price stands on his head and Tim Thomas is a sieve, Boston will win it in about five or six. The Habs do have history on their side though but allsports thinks there will be just to much bruising Bruins for them to overcome.

2) The Washington Capitals vs 7) The New York Rangers: Washington in Six

the Washington Capitals and the New York Rangers seems intriguing.

The Caps have to much size and firepower for the Rangers, who I feel are soft anyway. If Henrik Lundqvist shines and Jose Theodore is average though, New York could take it. Washington in six.

3) The New Jersey Devils vs 6) The Carolina Hurricanes:  Carolina in Six

The Hurricanes and Devils were going in opposite directions near the end of the season. Paul Maurice has done a great job with the Canes and deserves credit. However, Unless Martin Brodeur puts on a goal tending clinic the Devils will be done in six games.

4) Pittsburgh Penguins vs 5) The Philadelphia Flyers: Pittsburgh in Seven

With the Penguins and Flyers you have a great rivalry. They are in the same division and bad blood exists between them. The big question is, can Marty Biron match Fleury save for save? This series will go seven games with the fire power of the Pens coming through in the end.

NHL Western Conference:

1) The San Jose Sharks vs 8) The Anaheim Mighty Ducks: San Jose in Six

The San Jose Sharks finished with the best record in the league and won the Presidents trophy.

Can Joe Thornton finally come through and win it all?

These are the questions about their series with the Ducks of Anaheim. The Ducks are experienced, having won the cup a couple of years back, and are playing their healthiest and best hockey right now.

This will be a tough series but I think the Sharks will come through because they have too many weapons for the ducks to handle. Sharks in six.

2) The Detroit Red Wings vs 7) The Columbus Blue Jackets: Detroit in Six

The defending champion Detroit Red Wings play the upstart Columbus Blue Jackets who are making their first playoff appearance.

Rick Nash and Steve Mason will give Detroit some fits and there is a question mark for Osgood in the Wings goal but in the end the Wings are just too good and experienced so they will prevail in six.

3) The Vancouver Canucks vs 6) St. Louis Blues:  Vancouver in Six

The Vancouver Canucks and the St Louis Blues will be interesting. The blues have had to play playoff hockey for the last month just to qualify while Vancouver has been playing quite well too. In the end Roberto Luongo will hold the fort for the Canucks and they will advance in 6 games.

4) The Chicago Blackhawks vs 5) The Calgary Flames:  Calgary in Seven

The Chicago Blackhawks are making their first appearance in the playoffs in the last seven years.

They have great young talent and should be there for many years to come if they can stay together. The Calgary Flames have run into some injury trouble but they have experience over the Hawks. Chicago has owned the Flames this year in their head to head meeting but the playoffs is a new season.

Allsports hopes Jerome Iginla and company can get it together and win the series in seven games. I am picking the Flames by default because they’re a Canadian team. I do like the Hawks though and would be rooting for them if they were playing any of the US teams. I have liked the Blackhawks since the days of Bobby Hull.

So there you have it, Allsports picks for the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

“No Guts No Glory”

Walt Webb

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