(It should be noted that at the very start of the season, that would be: October 2006, I predicted a Ducks/Sabres final - close, but it seems unlikely at this point).

Anyhoo, it was fun watching Pronger snap. Kinda reminded me of his St. Louis days (see Blues/Sharks playoff series when things got heated and Pronger and “Mr. Team guy/clutch playoff performer” *sarcasm* Keith Tkachuk squared off in an epic “who can take the most penalty minutes in one playoff series” contest). Gotta love the zebras - Rob Niedermayer takes the 5-minute major and game misconduct as Pronger slams Holmstrom’s face into the glass partition from behind….

The Red Wings reminded me of a plucky Roltek Rhino or Ingersoll Houseleague squad circa 1990-91 (yes, teams I played on, and I understand you might not ‘get’ that reference) by playing smart, sound yet tough hockey, while the Ducks, like the dirty Simcoe/Langton or Mens’ D-League team that should be in B, ran around taking penalty after penalty trying to intentionally mame their opponents.

Memo to the Ducks (or players from Simcoe/Langton and B-League teams coasting so they can win the Mens D-League - you know who you are): The Red Wings weren’t intimidated by the Flames, Sharks or you in the first two games of the series. You can lay off this whole “we’re the second coming of the Broad Street Bullies” mentality…. You’re going to have to skate. Like the aforementioned teams I played on - we were small, but crafty and just tough enough. Sure, we were outclassed physically, and at times, even in talent, but we were quick and smart enough to capitalize on mistakes, and powerplay after powerplay. Having Shayne D. Allison in our lineup didn’t hurt either, but you get the point.

Second memo to the Ducks: you can’t win a game in the penalty box, and giving your opponent maximum powerplay time isn’t going to help wear them down after they just made a cross-country trek across 3 time zones….

With the Sens/Sabres series looking like a quick one, here’s hoping the Ducks can rebound from last night’s debacle. I’m not counting on it though - I was hoping the conference finals could ’save’ this year’s playoffs for me - looks like I’m hoping for a barn burner of a Cup final to do that now.

My guess is that there are some serious injuries to Buffalo to key players that we’ll hear about after the fact (such as Crosby’s broken foot, and a few years ago when guys like Tucker and Roberts for the Leafs should have been in a body cast). That’s the only way I can explain Buffalo’s performance thus far. Ottawa has been good, don’t get me wrong - but the Sabres have looked disinterested after such an amazing season and postseason run so far. I know Ottawa has played them tough this year, so I think it’s a combination of both - the Sens give them fits and I’m sure there are a few guys so banged up that it’s hard to play through and perform at the level needed.

The way the Sabres inexplicably tied up games late vs. the Rangers and now Ottawa - I still can’t say the Senators will win this thing until it actually happens…. (see, I’m learning from my earlier prediction).

Ottawa looked good in continuing their mastery over the Sabres this year. It’s funny how Buffalo pretty much toys with every other team except the Sens (this year, anyway) - the normally meek, mild-mannered Ottawa Senators we’ve all come to know and love. The ones normally doing post-mortem interviews from the golf course right now, explaining how they inexplicably lost yet again to the Leafs in the playoffs. I used to live for this time of year, watching Alfie squirm after being asked about ‘character’ and ‘choking’ when he knew damn well his team was head and shoulders better than their provincial rival, but just handed the series to them like they just didn’t care to keep playing anymore. These Sens seem a little different - maybe it’s this whole Ray Emery “I’m the baddest mutha____ in the NHL” thing he’s got going on which has take the pressure off all of the usual suspects, I don’t know. This is hard to get used to, but you gotta think Buffalo ties this thing up Saturday.

Don’t give up on the Sabres yet, even though Ottawa has stolen home ice - Buffalo is a killer road team and Ottawa has a tendency to implode at home in crucial games (I won’t cite years right now, but remember the ‘Gary Roberts show’ for the undermanned Leafs in a game 6 in Ottawa when they had a chance to close out the series as well as Jeff Friesen’s goal in the last minute of game 7 of the Eastern final lifting Jersey to the Stanley Cup finals after Ottawa dominated them all series long). Still, there’s definitely a bizarro-world thing going on here…. Even so, I can’t call the Senators to win this yet - even if they take BOTH games in Buffalo. I need to see them reach the finals to believe it.

Ducks over Wings four games to one.
Can’t believe that the back breaker for JD was the injury to Schnieder, you’d think a decision like that would be reserved for an injury to Lidstrom, not some guy named after a Hot Dog company.

Sens over Sabres 4 games to two.
Keep your head up Drury or Neil is going to Lindros you!
This is Alfredsons year to play in the finals. Can’t wait to see Emery and Peters square off again!

Happy first Smog Advisory of 2007!

Then I wussed out and picked Selanne or Zetterberg….

Watch for Holmstrom in this series. If the Wings have any chance, he’ll have to be draped over Jiggy like a blanket.

Ducks over RedWings in 6 games. (Although if you’ve ever seen Tomas Holmstrom play, you’ll understand why I consider him the most “Canadian Swede in the league”.)

QUACK QUACK QUACK - the ducks in 5 games - just because I hate Detroit - not the best logic for making a sound pick, but I think my feathered friends can make my wish come true.

Same thing with Ottawa - it seems like the stars are aligning for them finally, but Buffalo has it going on too. No way Ottawa wins a game 7 in Buffalo. No freakin’ way. If they want to win the series, it’s going to have to be in 6. Doubtful. Ryan Miller is a stud in net - best goalie in the league in my opinion.