Predictions

Here are my 2007 Stanley Cup Predictions. Those who know me understand that I am terrible at this sort of thing. I think I have picked one Cup winner correctly in the past ten years (Detroit) so if you are reading this and are inclined to bet, I totally disavow any culpability in the deal.

East:

8 Islanders over 1 Buffalo in a stunning upset after seven games. Perhaps I am delusional and perhaps I am drunk on the Ted Nolan Kool-Aid. Whatever. The Islanders are my boys and I am sticking with them. Hey--Ryan Smyth and the Edmonton Oilers made the playoffs on the last day of the season last year and they went all the way to the finals. I'm not saying that Smyth has some sort of magic talisman or anything like that. We already know that Wade Dubielewicz has the other half of a magic amulet. Why not the Islanders? And no, I am not drunk.

2 Devils over 7 Lightning. This one could seriously go either way. It all depends on the Lightning goaltending. I expect Vinny Lecavalier and Martin St-Louis to have big games and Brad Richards did win the Conn Smythe before the lockout. Dan Boyle has had a great year and is earning Norris consideration around the league. The Devils are the Devils. Martin Brodeur is the best goalie on the planet. Devils in 6.

3 Atlanta over 6 Rangers in seven. Yes, I base this pick on the fact that the Rangers are the Rangers and that I think Jagr will pull a disappearing act just like the one he did last season when that phantom check of his undid his shoulder.

4 Ottawa over 5 Pittsburgh in six. Bill Parcells used to say that before you learn how to win, you have to learn how to lose. This will be a lesson learned by Sidney Crosby and his ultra-young Penguin teammates.

West:

8 Calgary over 1 Detroit. I just think it is going to happen again. Datsyuk makes a lot of money now with his new contract but it still won't help his playoff slide. Flames in seven.

2 Anaheim over 7 Minnesota in five. I think the Ducks are probably the favorites to represent the West in the finals this year.

3 Canucks over 6 Stars in six. Marty Turco is a great regular season goalie and a heck of a funny guy when they mic him up at the All-Star game but he is (oh, how do you say it politely?) an unproven commodity in the playoffs. The Canucks have Roberto Luongo in his first playoff action. Luongo is, by the way, really really good. We sure could have used a guy like him on Long Island back in the day...oh, wait. Forget I said that.

5 San Jose beats 4 Nashville in five. San Jose has been knock knock knock on heaven's door for a while now. Joe Thornton has a chance to make a splash in the playoffs and be the kind of leader the Bruins thought he would never be. Maybe they knew something everyone else in the free world didn't; I don't know. But right now, Mike O'Connell looks like he made a terrible mistake that could set the Bruins back for years. They sure looked disinterested in the games I saw them play.