The Stanley Cup playoffs enter the conference finals stage on Sunday as the upside-down Eastern Conference sees the seventh-seeded Philadelphia Flyers hosting the eighth-seeded Canadiens.
The Western Conference has been much more predictable with the top-seeded San Jose Sharks hosting the second-seeded Chicago Blackhawks.
Both series should produce some great hockey, but if you don't want to have an ulcer or don't like on-the-edge-of-your-seat hockey, you may want to stick to the West. The Habs are coming off back-to-back seven-game series while the Flyers just completed a feat only three other pro sports teams had ever done, erasing a three-game deficit to beat the Boston Bruins in seven.
But who knows? With the way this Stanley Cup playoffs has gone, there could be a sweep in the East and a seven-game series in the West.
Here's one man's predictions:
Eastern Conference Finals
7. Philadelphia Flyers vs. 8. Montreal Canadiens
Two Cinderella teams collide in this series as not many media pundits (including this scribe) and fans gave these two teams a chance of playing for the right to play for the Stanley Cup.
But here they are, destiny's children, the Habs and the Flyers in a rematch of the 2008 Eastern Conference semifinals series that the Flyers won in five. To say who has the most momentum here would be really tough since both squads are coming off dramatic wins in the second round.
We'll side with Mike Cammalleri (a NHL-leading 12 goals in the playoffs), the wall Jaroslav Halak and the Montreal Canadiens. The Flyers do seem to be deeper up front and maybe even on defense, but that's on paper and one thing the Habs have going over the Flyers on paper and on the ice is the only thing you need in the playoffs — goaltending.
Prediction: Canadiens in 6
Western Conference Finals
1. San Jose Sharks vs. 2. Chicago Blackhawks
The Sharks and Blackhawks were certainly better favorites than the Flyers or Habs, but still many doubted the Sharks, perennial playoff failures, would get over the second-round hump.
They did, and Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau seem hell bent on shedding the "choke" image. But unfortunately, they run into a very talented and hungry Blackhawks team that is led by captain Jonathan Toews, who leads the NHL with 20 points in the playoffs.
Chicago has surprisingly gotten solid goaltending from Antti Niemi and with the deepest defense left in the playoffs, the Hawks get the edge here. I know I picked against them last round but they proved me wrong and an Original 6 Stanley Cup Finals sounds great!
Prediction: Blackhawks in 7
