The Best of Hockey 2010

It’s almost impossible to cover everything from hockey 2010 without completely losing all of your short 21st century attention spans. I mean, I’d add it in for the sake of completeness, but really, who wants to read the words “Jim Balsillie” and “Phoenix Coyotes” in a sentence ever again? Fank q, but no fank q. So without further ado, here are my top favourite hockey stories, noteworthy news items, and moments of the year 2010. Be prepared for lots of multi-media masturbation. If your computer can’t handle it, I say, get a new one.

The year of the Meme: 90% of the users on Twitter are twits. But the other 10% usually have some things to say that are pretty interesting. Puck Daddy blog editor Greg Wyshynski, the king of the Internet hockey realm, and Sean McIndoe of Down Goes Brown both helped to create the culture of the hockey meme in 2010 - here is some of their best work:

• Shane Doan face: Photoshop enthusiasts singled out the Shane Doan face as a target probably because Doan had on the expression of a manic serial killer on a murdering spree high. Puck Daddy threw a Reader Art Contest and received some gut-splitting submissions. Make sure to check them out here.

• Sidney Crosby face: Similar to the DoanFace Gallery, but with less relocation jabs and more references to gladiators, monsters, and Ovechkin. It’s brilliant fun. Please see it here.

The Twitter hashtag

• #danellisproblems: One of the Internet’s finest and most long-lasting hockey memes. Unfortunately for Dan Ellis, it will probably hound him for the rest of his NHL career. You probably already know the story by now, and if not you can find it here. If anything, the meme is a good lesson to sports athletes to be careful of what they say online, because surprisingly not everyone wants to hear millionaires complain about the creases in their white napkins or the lack of good butlers.

• #bettmansweater

The #bettmansweater meme was the result of a bit of encouragement from Down Goes Brown and the compliance of a very competent and very willing Internet. Laughter and ridicule arose after CBC played an old clip of Gary Bettman conversing with Brian Burke in what appeared to be the ugliest sweater known to mankind. Afterwards, Twitter mercilessly erupted in a plethora of screenshots and snarky one-liners aimed at the often disparaged NHL commissioner. Some of the better ones from the night:

Burke immediately knew he had to convince Bettman to only expand to short-sleeve weather markets. #BettmanSweater

Burke was stunned. Bettman had called his tie raise, and gone all-in with a sweater. #BettmanSweater

What has four eyes, two-and-a-half hair styles, one hockey brain and no first round draft picks? #BettmanSweater

That Komisarek pass was #BettmanSweater ugly.

• The Jagr meme: The “What, no Jagr?” meme was spawned after Puck Daddy released their “Mount Puckmore” feature, in which they picked four of each franchise’s all time top players and photoshopped their heads in the places of Mount Rushmore’s original inhabitants. A swarm of outraged and astonished readers attacked the New York Rangers’ Puckmore when it decided to include Jaromir Jagr while leaving off arguably more deserving players, such as Mike Richter or Adam Graves. Afterwards, readers would arbitrarily comment on subsequent Mount Puckmore articles with a “What no, Jagr?” even if he hadn’t played for the team in question, sparking the meme. The entire thing was hilarious and surprisingly enduring, inspiring a blog by the same name as well as a Twitter account.

The Golden Goal: What can I say about “The Goal” that hasn’t already been said? I can only express what it meant to me, personally. I kept telling myself before the game started that it was okay if Canada lost because we had had a wonderful run, beaten down Russian, fueled the nation with plenty of drama. I gave myself logical reasons for failure, but looking back, they made no sense at all. This was because there was only one ending that truly made sense for me, for the fans, for the nation – and that was hockey gold. When Sidney Crosby potted the immortal tally I (apparently) screamed, ran into a corner of the room, jumped up and down yelling “CROSBY, CROSBY, CROSBY,” rolled on the ground, took a quick moment to rub it in my Russian friend’s face, leaped onto the innocents sitting on the couch and writhed with glee. And I’ll admit, as a Crosby fan, I was more than a little pleased that he had taken the spotlight on the biggest sporting stage possible. James Duthie put it beautifully: “[Crosby] was born to score that goal.” Sidney deserved it, his teammates deserved it and Canada, through all our four years of sweating and headaches and wringing of wrists, deserved it. It was the “Henderson scores for Canada!” moment of our generation and it is something I will never, ever forget.

However, the Olympics weren’t all about Canada. I think. Some other big stories included the Swedes early exit, Slovakia’s miracle run, the colossal defeat of Alexander Ovechkin and the powerhouse Russians, and Jaromir Jagr’s triumphant if transitory return to spotlight. Ovechkin’s hit on Jagr was one of the most bone-crushing shoulder-to-shoulder blows I have ever seen, further magnified because it resulted in a turnover and a huge Evgeni Malkin goal that put the Russians up by two early into the third.

Playoffs? PLAYOFFS?: The 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs contained a lot of special moments – the monumental 0-3 series comeback by the Philadelphia Flyers over the Boston Bruins, the joyride of Jaroslav Halak and the Montreal Canadiens, the end of the 49-year Cup drought in Chicago. My favourite moments, however, involved the simpler things. And by simple, I mean Patrick Kane’s classic mullet, rated Gretzkian in greatness, Crosbian in greasiness.

Chris Pronger also provided a welcome infusion of personality with his puck stealing skills and general media snarkiness. I’m probably one of a very small minority, but Pronger is among my favourite players in the League – I love his leadership, his toughness, his skill. Also, I like mean people.

WAFFLEROFL: Making fun of the Toronto Maple Leafs has been a time-honoured tradition among Canadians for decades, but one disgruntled Leafs fan took it to a whole new level when he decided to show his frustration in the most obscure way he could: waffles on the ice. The "Eggo Bomber," who also keeps a Twitter, has been lauded and lambasted by fans and media alike, but none can doubt his audacity or his inevitable future prosecution.

For now, the Waffle Cup may be as close to the actual Cup as the Leafs are going to get. So they might as well savour it. Nom nom nom.

You Want Magic, You Want Money?: Jordan Eberle was already a minor Canadian celebrity for the ones who followed the World Junior Hockey Championship. For the few and the clueless who hadn’t been watching, Eberle’s first ever NHL goal was one of the top "stand-up and look-at-me" moments of the year. If you didn’t know about the kid then, you did after this.

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10 Awesome Things To Look Forward To In The Upcoming NHL Season

1. Young Guns: So. Many. Good. Youngs in the NHL. And they all has guns. In particular, we're talking about the trifecta of Edmonton Oilers talent, Jordan Eberle, Magnus Paajarvi and Taylor Hall. While the Oilers may not be close to contending this year, fans can take solace in the fact that nightly, their team will be an electrifying one to watch.

2. Washington's Year: Many pundits are predicting the Washington Capitals to win the Stanley Cup this year - and once again, their biggest question mark leading up to the season will be in net. With the departure of Jose Theodore, the Capitals turn to Semyon Varlamov and rookie Michal Neuvirth to shoulder the load between them. The Capitals are solid at every position, and their goaltending only has to be good - not great - for them to stand an excellent chance of hoisting the Cup.

3. Canada's Best Chance: After a complete defensive breakdown and out-of-character play in last year's playoffs, the Vancouver Canucks will be looking to rebound after making a couple of key acquisitions in the off-season. Gone are defencemen Willie Mitchell and Shane O'Brien, and in come prized unrestricted free agent Dan Hamhuis and the rough-and-tumble Keith Ballard. Many wonder if the two d-men will be enough to push the Canucks to the next level, and more importantly, if Roberto Luongo will be able to bounce back after some shaky post-season play. If so, the Canucks are poised for a long Stanley Cup run.

4. Will Olli Jokinen Suck? Now I'm not trying to be a Negative Nancy or anything, but once Darryl Sutter reacquired the much-maligned NHL centreman, fans went a little crazy in Cowtown. I think I've said enough about this already, so I'll just say only one thing more: if Olli's amazing, Sutter's a genius, if he tanks, Sutter's fired - but I'm thinking he'll be somewhere in between. Just mediocre. Olli okay. Besides, Flames fans will have much more to worry about if they fail to make the playoffs again. Like their collective sanity.

5. What Will Sidney Crosby Improve Next? Foot-speed? Check. Stick-handling? Check. Faceoff percentage? Check. Goals? Check. Beard growth? Desperately needing work.

6. Blackhawks Down: The off-season saw the departure of Dustin Byfuglien, Kris Versteeg, John Madden, Brent Sopel, Andrew Ladd, Antti Niemi and Adam Burish - but throughout their cap management gymnastics, Chicago still managed to maintain their core group of players. However, many are questioning if the Blackhawks have done sufficient damage control in the acquisition of new players like Marty Turco and Fernando Pisani. The loss of toughness, size and character could mean the Blackhawks will have to shape themselves a new team image. With it could come a whole new outcome.

7. Price Ou Halak: Pierre Gauthier's decision to ship out Jaroslav Halak was a choice not taken lightly by Habs fans, some who, just weeks before, had feverishly purchased Halak jerseys during Montreal's playoff run...those poor suckers. So now the inevitable question: who will have the better season? It's going to be one of the more intriguing mysteries to unravel this season. Remember Habs fans: Carey Says Relax. But actually. Relax. Christ, you guys are nuts.

8. The Saves, The Hits, The Highlight Reel Goals: It's what we live for, these moments. It's what makes this game so special. I'm ready to have my mind blown apart, reassembled, then ripped to shreds again by the awesomeness that is soon to ensue. Speaking of mind-blowing...Jordan-FREAKIN'-Eberle, anyone?

9. Winter Classics: This year's annual Winter Classic festivities will feature the Washington Capitals versus the Pittsburgh Penguins (omgsocreative), but the most awesomest part of it all is that a few weeks before, HBO will be airing their own mini-documentary on all the pre-game preparations leading up to the big day on January 1st. This is a win for hockey.

10. Hockey Players All Sweaty: And finally, the NHL marketing team always comes out with amazing advertising campaigns - that's one part of the league that never fails to impress me. Well. Except for this. This was bad.

Their latest advertising foray is called "Questions Will Become Answers", and it's fantastic. It features the likes of Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, Ryan Miller, Jonathan Toews, and Mike Cammalleri all up in the gym just working on their fitness. There's more to it than that though, I promise.

And Sid's:

[Photo: Montreal Gazette]

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Forget Crosby and Ovechkin - Market Patrick Kane

I know it sounds bad. How could Patrick Kane - sleazy, hairless, unable-to-sacrifice-20-cents Patrick Kane -become the next emblem of the NHL? At first, there doesn’t seem to be room in the league between the Sidney Crosby-Alexander Ovechkin rivalry and the constant bombardment of Washington-Pittsburgh merchandise. At most, Kane’s role is secondary, and further reduced to background noise next to the League's more marketable stars.

But I have a proposition to make: Patrick Kane, the next new face of the NHL.

Kane, age 21, has emerged as the unlikely poster boy for Generation Y. Unlike his fellow linemate Jonathan Toews, Kane doesn't shy away from flaunting his youth and enthusiasm. He isn’t afraid to party and shuffle down a couple beers while he’s at it. And in an instant, Kane can shed the playfulness and display a fire and drive akin to that of a Stanley Cup champion. [Sidenote: What represents our generation more than Twi-hards? Patrick Kane is one of them...which is hilarious, we can all agree, but endearing, too.] Unlike Crosby, who has been more or less shackled to the league's demands of propriety, Kane is the league's most relatable – and most human – player, whose god-like talents are balanced by a down-to-earth disposition.

We all know by now the infamous cab driver incident, and by no means do I intend to suggest these actions are excusable. But as the maxim goes, no one is perfect, and I think it’s safe to dismiss his mistake as a product of youth, not as a flaw in personality. I don’t believe Kane is the “douchebag” some people let him out to be. Reading up on his recent outings with the Stanley Cup suggests his maturation is coming on quickly.

With a league that is so stilted in personality – half of the players are your typical “good Canadian boys” who say and do all the right things (although it beats players who shoot themselves in the legs at clubs), Kane represents the all-American face the league should endorse if it wants to further attract markets down South. He might not appeal to all demographics, but for young people just beginning to dig their fingers into hockey, Kane would be an excellent ambassador of the game. He represents prodigious skill, talent, and youth unfettered by regulation. Let Crosby and Ovechkin be the landmarks of this era – but give Patrick Kane and others like him the chance to shine too.

[Photo: Zimbio]

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Picture of the Day: Jonathan Toews and the Stanley Cup Like Public Transit

I love this photo. I love it for the baby in sunglasses, the fact that they're on a bus, the hint of Blackhawks sweater on the side. I love it for the casual slouch in Jonathan Toews' shoulders - just another day in Winnipeg with the Stanley Cup.

[Photo: Puck Daddy]

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HAPPY FREE AGENT FRENZY DAY! Also, Jonathan Toews and Snookie Together...At Last.

GOOOOOOOO NUTS!

In just a few hours, July 1st, otherwise known as "Free Agent Frenzy," kicks off. As a special treat, here's Jonathan Toews in an interview with Jersey Shore's all around best person ever, Snookie. Thanks to Puck Daddy for the link.

And to all in Canada, have a Happy Canada Day! I'll be sporting my Team Canada Crosby jersey from noon till night.

[Photo: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

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Dustin Byfuglien traded to Atlanta, Canucks fans cry with happiness

It's hard to terrorize Luongo when you're stuck in the other Conference.

Dustin Byfuglien, the maniacal behemoth that has ruled over the goaltending crease of Roberto Luongo for so long, is off to Atlanta, which means he will play the Vancouver Canucks only once every regular season. I think I just heard the *pop* of a champagne bottle.

The trade: Dustin Byfuglien, Ben Eager, Brent Sopel, and Akim Aliu to the Atlanta Thrashers, in exchange for the 24th overall pick, the 54th pick, Marty Reasoner, Joey Crabb and Jeremy Morin, via Bob McKenzie.

Canucks fans: are you happy? Or are you really happy?

Okay, okay, and the more important question: good trade for both teams? We knew Chicago had a ton of salary to dump. They lose a little bit of depth, but gain a veteran presence in Reasoner, and as if they needed more young talent, a boatload of prospects. As for the Atlanta side, does anyone...care? (I kid, I kid)

The trade is still in progress, meaning nothing is finalized. I'll keep you guys posted.

Update: Alright, it's finalized. Happy now?

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Video: Patrick Kane is a Tank

Here's a video of Patrick Kane chugging champagne, then throwing a nerf ball, then drinking a beer, then drinking from the Cup, then breaking it down, then drinking more beer, then saying things like this:

"I tell ya one thing, I'm going to try to keep my shirt on all summer, just for you guys."

Can I just say, Best. Video. Ever.

[Photo: WIVB]

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The Top 10 Moments of the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs

1. Live This Down…Just Try

Dan Boyle’s own goal in Game 3 against the Colorado Avalanche will forever be solidified in the annals of SportsCentre’s Not Top Ten Plays, but it was the call from Av’s radio play-by-play man Marc Moser that was the real highlight of the night. Favourite moment: “I THINK THE SAN JOSE SHARKS…JUST THREW IT INTO THEIR OWN NET!!! (voice breaks) THEY DIIIIYIIID!”

2. How the Mighty Fall Really Fast

One of the Montreal Canadiens’ victims in their improbable Cup run was the Washington Capitals, a team many were picking to go all the way. Alexander Ovechkin arguably has had one of the most miserable years in hockey. Russia was trounced 7-3 by the Canadians in the Olympics, the Capitals were eliminated early, and then at the World Hockey Championships, Ovechkin had a chance at redemption, but lost in a shocker to the Czech Republic.

3. Sid’s Tricks

First, a dazzling defensive play to sweep the puck away from the goal line, then at the other end of the ice, wheeling and dealing around Jason Spezza four dizzying times to set up the game-winner. These are two lasting images I will take away from these playoffs.

4. Montreal, and the Little Habitants That Could

The Montreal Canadiens’ remarkable run through the playoffs is one of those jaw-dropping times in life you just have to sit back and enjoy. On the back of goaltender Jaroslav Halak, the Canadiens put to rest Cup favourites Washington Capitals, then out-lasted the defending champs Pittsburgh Penguins, before finally subjecting to the Philadelphia Flyers who were as much of a Cinderella team as they were.

5. Cinderella II: Flyers Frenzy

If the Canadiens were the Cinderella team of the playoffs, then the Philadelphia Flyers were Cinderella’s doppelganger. We all know by now how the Flyers climbed out of a 0-3 series deficit against Boston, and how they gleefully repeated that feat in the final game of the series, just to screw with their fans. The 0-3 series comeback was only one of three in NHL history, and one of four in the major North America sports leagues.

6. Wheeee!

Two spectacular saves that were eerily similar stood out for me this post-season. Martin Brodeur and Robert Luongo were both down-and-out, but made swiping snatches to take away sure goals.

7. Cue Drowning and Sinking Metaphors

By now we’ve all learned to keep our expectations at a minimum when it comes to the San Jose Sharks in the playoffs, but for one fleeting moment I was convinced that the Sharks were, this time, for real. They reached the Western Conference Finals for only the second time in franchise history, and Joe Thornton was finally playing like he wasn't Joe Thornton. Unfortunately for the Sharks, they ran into the Chicago Blackhawks, a team that who was destined for greater things.

8. Too Many Too Many Men Calls

There were a ridonkulous amount of Too Many Men Calls in the post-season (final tally: 36), so much so that TSN started a TMM count, complete with cheesy block lettering and clown music.

9. Wacky, Tacky, and Unfortunately True

Sami Salo got nailed in the sensitive area on a Duncan Keith shot and received a ruptured testicle for his trouble. Back at GM Place, a chant spontaneously cropped up to honour their wounded warrior: “BALLS OF STEEL, BALLS OF STEEL!”

Patrick Kane’s playoff mullet made the highlight reels almost as much as Vince Vaughn did (okay, we get it, he’s a Chicago Blackhawks fan, stop), and for a good reason. The hairdo spawned a phenomenon of merchandise as well as a healthy number of copycats.

Remember the kerfuffle over Scott Hartnell’s alleged biting of Kris Letang’s finger a year ago? Well, it happened again, this time involving another reputable Flyers player, Dan Carcillo. Only this time, he was the one accusing Marc Savard of munching a little too hard in Game 2 of the Bruins/Flyers series.

Chris Pronger provided some of the best sound bites of the playoffs. I know a lot of people hate him and want him to die of rabies, but I love him. He’s massive, intimidating and skilled, and I’ve heard many players around the League remark on how incredibly tough he is to play against. Also…kind of hot. No? Okay. My favourite quote from him this post-season: “I’m hurt…I’m day-to-day with hurt feelings.”

10. Stanley Cup Winner

So how'd my Cup pick turn out? FREAKING AWESOME, THAT'S HOW. It wasn't the bumpiest of rides to the Stanley Cup final for the Chicago Blackhawks - let's be honest, they out-classed the Predators and the Canucks, then demolished the San Jose Sharks - but it was a different story against the Philadelphia Flyers. The first four games were close and tightly-contested. Perhaps the turning point in the series was in game 5, when Joel Quenneville decided to split up his top line and force Peter Laviolette to mix and match Chris Pronger. Turns out, Pronger is only one large man who can't possibly contain three different players on three different lines. This was none more apparent than when Patrick Kane head-bobbed his way around Kimmo Timonen to score the biggest goal of his life.

Congratulations to the Chicago Blackhawks! A well-deserved Cup winner. Note to Patrick Kane: go shave that mullet and put it in a museum. That hair should never see the light of day again.

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Duncan's Teeth - June 10th, 2010

[Duncan's Teeth is a round-up of the seven most interesting and intriguing hockey links of the day. Named in honour of Duncan Keith and the late seven teeth he lost on that fateful day of Sunday, May 23rd, 2010. May the chicklets rest in peace.]

Video: Adam Burish calls Chris Pronger "the biggest idiot in the world." Funny or just classless? [Pro Hockey Talk]

Yesterday's Game 6 yielded the highest ratings for the NHL since 1974. [National Post]

Video: Jeremy Roenick gets emotional talking about the Chicago Blackhawks. Mike Milbury continues to be an asshole. [NBC]

James Mirtle with some great quotes from Blackhawks players right after the game. [Globe and Mail]

Video: Brent Sopel and Kris Versteeg share some champagne fun with the fans. [Puck Daddy]

Video: Duncan Keith being interviewed after the game. Worth it just to hear him talk with seven missing teeth. [Puck Daddy]

Jonathan Toews will be presenting at the MMVAs. If I watched the MMVAs, I would be fan girl screaming right about now. [CTV Toronto]

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IT'S MY 2010 STANLEY CUP PREDICTION, BITCHES

Last Round just called to demand that I stop trying to be so darn original and start conforming with the consensus pick (which is no fun at all, but Last Round was really angry, so...)

For what it's worth, here's my vanilla pick of the playoffs.

Does anyone think that this is the most epic match-up ever? I'm not talking about the hockey teams: I'm talking about the hockey fans. Philly fans are ridiculous. They intentionally vomit on other fans. They are some of the most in-your-face, disgusting, idiotic, flat-out crazy albeit wildly entertaining group of weirdos you will ever come across. Did I mention that one of them intentionally vomited on an 11-year-old girl? I mean, COME ON.

Chicago's fan base is a bit more "tame," but they mess with you psychologically. I remember one game between the Hawks and the Vancouver Canucks at the United Center. The Canucks were getting shellacked. The score was something bloated and ridiculous. And every time Luongo would let in a goal, the Hawks faithful would serenade him in "Luuuuuuuus," which is customary of Canucks fans whenever Luongo makes a save. Chicago violated sacred territory. It's the same with Philadelphia fans: they touched Montreal's hallmark "Ole Ole" song, which was just...well...wrong. It sounded icky. But Philly fans don't care.

Here are a couple more amusing Philly and Chicago fan links:

• Jim Rome's take on "The Philly Fan," here. Rome is one of my favourite radio personalities ever, and his take is no less brilliant.
• A female Philadelphia Flyers fan dropped an f-bomb on live television a couple days ago. Let's just say it's...fucking amazing. Find it here.
• A Vancouverite wearing a Canucks jersey walked around the upper concourse between innings at a Chicago Cubs game, and got a solid ribbing from the fans, found here.
• Here's an assumption if you've ever seen one: this year, the city of Chicago decided to paint a humongous homage to Jonathan Toews and the Stanley Cup he has yet to win. They later took it down, probably out of shame. Find it here.

Oh yeah, a prediction.

So as you may know, I failed miserably in my last two rounds of predictions. The process of watching my picks go spiralling out of control kind of made me want to pry my eyes out with a spatula. So here's my pick outright, no bells and whistles:

Chicago in 6. I guarantee you that this is right (no I don't).

My reasoning in a nutshell: you've probably heard by now how evenly matched these teams are in terms of skill, grit, determination, special teams, defence - even their captains are similar. So here's the X-factor: speed, and lots of it. An older and slower Philadelphia defence won't be able to handle the likes of Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Patrick Sharp, not to mention the smooth skating, play making abilities of Duncan Keith. Chicago is a deeper team than Philadelphia, and when they come at you in waves, it can be overwhelming.

Here's another X-factor (or a duh factor, depending on how you look at it): goaltending. Antti Niemi stole at least two games for the Blackhawks in their sweep of San Jose and has played well all playoffs long. He's also shown terrific poise whenever he's had a rusty outing, although those have been few and far between. The Flyers' Michael Leighton has yet to face any major obstacles (all he's been doing is winning), but he'll encounter a larger amount of shots versus a high-flying Blackhawks squad. And the Flyers fate will depend on how well he handles it.

I just don't know what I'll do if this is wrong. Probably round up a bunch of chocolate bars and go into hiding. Mike Halford of The Kurtenblog has done even worse than I have in the last two rounds and he's gone a bit off the cliff, started blaming his childhood, etc...

The culprit who threw up all over an 11-year-old girl. With a face only a mother could love. And even then, only if she were short-sighted.

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Playoff Prediction: San Jose Sharks vs. Chicago Blackhawks

Western Conference

San Jose vs. Chicago: What a funny disparity in seed ranking between the Eastern and Western Conference match-ups. If we compare goaltending, defence and offence, I feel like this series is the most evenly matched of the two, and games will likely be decided by other determining factors like special teams, toughness, grit, and lucky breaks (don't do anything dumb Dan Boyle).

I think you'd have to give the goaltending match-up to Evgeni Nabokov over Antti Niemi, although these two come in with pretty similar statistics. Nabby has a GAA of 2.43 and a SV% of .907, while Niemi has a GAA 2.57 of and a SV% of .909. I give the edge to Nabokov because of the "experience" factor, but as these playoffs have shown, "experience" does not necessary equal wins.

The Sharks mainly generate offence from their top two lines, whereas on good nights Chicago can receive goals from up and down their line-up. Besides this, both teams match-up pretty evenly. Both can strike quickly and often, and both have players on the blueline that can rip it home. Obviously the Sharks' two biggest lines, led by Joe Thronton and Joe Pavelski, will have to continue to light the lamp, while Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews will be counted on to carry the brunt of the Hawks offence. P.S. where is Marian Hossa? Only two goals in 12 games. We know you want that Cup Marian, work for it boy!

Maybe I'm just more familiar with the Chicago defence, but I think they're slightly deeper and more dependable. When Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook are gelling, they're one of the best defensive tandems in the NHL. Brent Sopel, Niklas Hjalmarsson, and Brian Campbell nicely round out the rest of the Blackhawk "D". Rob Blake and Dan Boyle are San Jose's two titans on the back-end, but besides those two and the quietly reliable Douglas Murray, they don't have much else.

After picking against the Sharks in the first two rounds, I've seen enough of them to convince me that this team is for real. They say that you have to lose a round or two before you win it all, and the Sharks have lost plenty of rounds, ho yes. So it's their time. Since the teams match up fairly evenly across the board, I think the X-factor will be goaltending, as it so often is in the playoffs. Niemi hasn't had to steal a game so far - the Nashville Predators didn't pose much of an offensive threat, and the Vancouver Canucks only a little more so - but against the Sharks I think he'll have a difficult time juggling the two Joes while also keeping an eye on Dany Heatley and Patrick Marleau. I think this is the last year for this San Jose group to prove they can win, otherwise GM Doug Wilson may just have a nervous breakdown and trade away all his stars for like...Mason Raymond and a fourth round pick. San Jose in 7.

P.S. I've been going through some of the predictions around the Web and NO ONE is picking the Sharks, which makes me a little nervous, but I'm stickin' to it. Werd to yer mamma.

[Photo: Life]

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