2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Round Two (Part Four)

I love a good Game Seven. There’ll be at least one of those in two nights time when the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins face off for a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals at the Capitals home arena, Verizon Centre in the District of Columbia.

If Pittsburgh’s effort to beat Washington at home in Game Five was big, well the Capitals breaking back to tie the series at a charged-up Mellon Arena in the Steel City was monumental. This series has been so spectacular. You almost don’t want it to end. The momentum shifts back and forth have been awesome to watch. Just when you think one team has the edge, it shifts back the other way. Game Seven is wide open. I can't pick a winner.
Congratulations to the Chicago Black Hawks for becoming the first team in the league to qualify for a Conference Final. They’ll be in the Western Series, facing the winner of the still-to-be-decided series between defending champions Detroit and the 2007 Stanley Cup Champions, the Anaheim Ducks. It could be decided tomorrow at Honda Centre in a Game Six that’s suddenly a sudden-death game for the Ducks.

Chicago were huge tonight. They are insanely fast, and there’s two kids on that roster, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Towes, who’re going to be at the top of this league for a long time to come. Add in guys like Patrick Sharp, Kris Versteeg, Brian Campbell and Brent Seabrook and you have a damned good hockey team. I think the Black Hawks are going to figure at the pointy end of the Western Conference for many years to come. They’re young and motivated and they don’t know what losing is all about.

As for whether they can beat either Detroit or Anaheim – the series seems to be leaning in the Red Wings’ favour, but who knows what the final two games may hold for either team – well, the jury’s still out on that…
So, we have two big games tomorrow: the afore mentioned Game Six in Southern California between the last two Stanley Cup Champions, Detroit and Anaheim. I think the Red Wings might win the game and the series. They have been dominant these last two games. They’ll oust Anaheim and go on to play Chicago for a slot in the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals.

A few hours before that, Game Six between Carolina and Boston. It’s back at RBC Centre in Raleigh. If Carolina – and Eric Staal – play tomorrow night like they played Game Four at home, they’ll be damn near unbeatable. Of course, if they leak four goals like they did in Game Five they’re in trouble and will probably lose, forcing a Game Seven at TB Banknorth Garden in Boston. And then it’s anyone’s series to win, a la Pittsburgh and Washington. I still think Carolina can get it done.