Random Sports Thoughts 5/20/11

One of those lazy writing days…

• The scheduling for the NBA Playoffs is a joke.  Really three days between games for the Heat-Bulls?  I know TV ratings are important, but you know what is more important, the rhythm of a series.  And Stern and company just killed the flow of the Eastern Conference Finals.
• It seems I was about two rounds too early on calling out the Sharks for being perennial playoff disappointments.  Giving up 7 goals in a game that you have to win is not going to cut it.  They need Danny Boyle to step it up, -2 in game 2.  Have I mentioned that I hate soft offensive d-men?
• Interleague play?  Yawn.  If you are going to do it why would you break it up and have it for a weekend?  Once upon a time the idea was cool.  Then again, once upon a time rolling the bottom of your pants was cool.  Time to drop the gimmick Bud.
• If you would have told me on Opening Day that the Tribe would be up 5 games a week away from Memorial Day I would have gladly grabbed it.  But dropping those two games to the ChiSox the way they did gives me pause.  I am waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop.  I fear when it does it will drop hard.  I really should try to enjoy the moment.
• Okay, so Pro Wrestling is fake.  But I want to send out my condolences to the Poffo family.  R.I.P. Macho Man.  I hope “The Poet” gives you a killer eulogy.  Some may see that as disrespectful, but I would see it as appropriate…Macho Man was all about being over the top and that is what the celebration of his life should be.  Some people just should not have morose services and Randy is one of those guys.
• I am now a huge fan of Jason Baker, Panthers punter.  He nailed my thoughts on jersey number bartering.  Well played.
• The NFL lockout sucks, wake me up when it is done.  Until then I could do without all of the posturing.
• I am sorry Joe Munley, but if the Atlanta Thrashers move to Winnipeg and reclaim the Jets nickname then I am going to have to jump ship.  I always loved the Jets, the first NHL team of Teppo of Lorian.

2011 Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions: Western Conference Finals

It is one of my favorite times of the year: playoff hockey.  Thanks to cutting the cable cord and the NHL’s lack of vision in building an ad-based online streaming network I will be stuck with highlights the next day and NBC’s weekend coverage.  I never thought I would be so happy to see Pierre Maguire and his dancing hands of doom.

Western Conference Finals

#1 seed Vancouver Canucks vs. #2 seed San Jose Sharks

When in doubt, I go with the Canadian team. So I am rooting for the Canucks even though they knocked out Nashville.

And there is no doubt when it comes to rooting against the Sharks: I hate everything about them.  I hate their stupid teal color scheme.  I hate their soft players, most especially Joe Thornton and Dany Heatley.

I also loathe Dan Boyle’s game. He reminds me of a poor man’s Paul Coffey, and I hated him.  I am not a fan of soft offensive defensemen.  Yes, that means Phil Housley as well.

With that vitriol out of the way let me to get to the key of this series: whichever team has their  inconsistent goaltender play the most consistent will win.

That is basic enough.

If I were a fan of either team I would be nervous, both Antti Niemi and Roberto Luongo have had brutal games this post-season.  I expect that each will have one or two this series.

For Vancouver:

They are deep up front.  I have made no bones in regards to my hockey crush on Ryan Kelser.  He was the single reason that the Canucks are in this round instead of Nashville.    He had 11 points in 6 games and drew a number of penalties (some legit) that turned into key power play goals.  He will need to bring the same game to this series if the Canucks are to advance.

The Sedin line needs to be better in even strength situations.  The brothers are each -8 through two rounds.  That will not get it done against the Sharks.  If Vancouver is to finally get back the Finals these two need to play like MVP candidates.

The Canucks sure could use Manny Malhotra back.  He is still recovering from the horrible eye injury he sustained back in February.  If he is able to play he will be a factor both on the face off dot and in helping contain one of the Sharks potent lines.

For the Sharks:

As much as I loathe Thornton and Heatley, I love the young guns for the Sharks up front.  Logan Couture, Ryane Clowe  and Joe Pavelski all would have a place on my team if I had the opportunity to acquire them.  Pavelski has not had the same success in this year’s playoffs as the other two, but I could see him breaking out against the Canucks.

I already went over my distaste for Dan Boyle’s game…here is a bone for the Sharks D: I love Ian White and what he brings to the table.  While White does not excel in any aspect of the game he doesn’t hurt you in any zone either; he is a great 3/4 D-man.  I would not be shocked to see him pot a key goal in the series.  Unlike Boyle he won’t cost you a key goal due to pirouetting up the ice.

The pick:

It pains me so… I begrudgingly have to take Niemi and the Sharks to advance in a tight, pendulum swinging 7 game series.

I just do not trust Luongo.  He is coming off of a series where he was not really tested.  He was downright awful in the first round against Chicago.  Niemi has been shaky, but not even close to the Vancouver netminder.

“Mark it Dude”

2011 Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions: Round 1

It is one of my favorite times of the year: playoff hockey.  Thanks to cutting the cable cord and the NHL’s lack of vision in building an ad-based online streaming network I will be stuck with highlights the next day and NBC’s weekend coverage.  I never thought I would be so happy to see Pierre Maguire and his dancing hands of doom.

Without further adieu, here are my picks:

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

#1 Washington vs. #8 New York Rangers

Season Series: Who cares, this is the playoffs.

Any chance that the Rags had to take this series went the way of the Leafs when Ryan Callahan went down with a broken leg.  I think that the Rangers can take a few games.  Henrik Lundqvist is worth at least one win on his own. I still have faith in Chris Drury this time of year to take another.  The Caps learned tough lessons last year: Caps in 6.

#2 Philadelphia vs #7 Buffalo

This one is tough for me, my old flame against a team that I with loathe until the day I die.  The Sabres have been red-hot since fracking billionaire Terry Pegula bought them: best in the league.  The Flyers have struggled lately.  Again, regular season need not apply. What tips this series in goal-tending and I would take Ryan Miller over Sergei Bobrovsky any day of the week in a 7 game series.  I love the Flyers depth up front, but I do not think it will be enough. It’s Miller Time.  Sabres in 6.

#3 Boston vs # 6 Montreal

Montreal’s mini-mites up front will get swallowed up by the physical Bruins.  Any chance that the Habs had came and went last month when they no-showed the revenge game on Chara for his bush league hit on Max Pacioretty.  I know I said the regular season does not matter.  In this case it does.  Bruins in 5.

#4 Pittsburgh vs # 5 Tampa Bay

I know Geno and Sid the Kid will be no shows but I like the Ice Chickens in this one because I dislike Tampa’s back end for playoff hockey (save Hedman and Brewer). Their goalie options are underwhelming to say the least.  I love Rollie the Goalie, but time has passed him by. As a huge Jordan Staal fan I would love to see him shine here.  And I think he will. Pens in 7.

Western Conference Quarterfinals

#1 Vancouver vs #8 Chicago

Roberto Luongo has been as bad a postseason performer as any prime time player I can remember in hockey.  He is Bobby Bonilla-esque in the way that he falls apart when the lights are at their brightest.  Chicago has given the Canucks troubles the past few years.  But these Hawks are not the same squad.  Gone are the guys who win series: Versteeg, Eager and Burish, the guys who do the little things to win games.  And I think that will cost the Hawks in the first round.  I am huge Ryan Kesler mark.  I loved the way he plays the game, he is a straight up throw back hockey player.  Canucks in 6.

#2 San Jose vs # 7 Los Angeles

Anze Kopitar going down with an injury was a huge blow to the Kings, that is for sure.  I still think they have enough to pull off the upset.  Antti Niemi was great for the Blackhawks last year, but he had a stellar D in front of him. I think he flops here with defensive stalwarts like Dan Boyle and Kent Huskins in front of him rather than Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith.

To top it off the Sharks are still centered around perennial playoff underachievers Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau.  I look for Dustin Brown to lead the Kings to an upset with Jonathan Quick providing the saves that doom the psyches of the fragile Sharks centers.  Another year, another early exit for the Sharks: Kings in 5.

#3 Detroit vs # 6 Phoenix

I love the Coyotes young players.  I know that the Wings are long in the tooth and have a suspect  situation in the cage.  This sounds like a familiar cadence from Stanley Cup playoffs from the past.  This year I don’t bite.  I think Bryzgalov can steal one or two, but the Wings prevail in 6.

#4 Anaheim vs # 5 Nashville

I am on record with my friend Joe that I hate this match-up.  I am pissed that the Preds could not tip a Blues club that had their putters packed and planes fueled and ready for warmer climates.  But as a fan, I have to believe.  I see the Preds winning and aside from partisanship here is why: stud defensemen.

The Preds have two legit studs in Weber and Suter.  The Ducks have a collection of nice 3 and 4s; and that will cost them.  I love the Ducks size and skill up front, but  Rinne along with the two studs will keep them in check just enough to take the series.  Preds in 7, heart burn city.  If J.P. Dumont plays, Preds in six.

“Mark it Dude”