I'd love to say ``Carolina in 6'' but having already blown both my previous predictions, I'm going to have to say Detroit in 6.
At least we're getting two very healthy teams at the top of their games (i.e. nobody limped into the finals).
Irbe will make it interesting unless the Carolina defensmen fail to protect the front of the net from Shanahan et al.
Carolina lives and dies by Francis and Irbe, not the BBC line. Carolina also leads the league in faceoffs won: this is a much more important stat than you'd think. They won't roll over, but I don't think they're New Jersey '94 either...
/tarnish... I'm a disturbed and bitter herb, like salt water and parsley... -- Prince Paul
Like Tarnish mentioned, Carolina wins alot of faceoffs. Francis and Brind'Amour have been brilliant in getting the puck to their guys. The key to beating Hasek is to just keep firing. That's what Carolina is going to have to do - throw, throw, throw.
I know I'm completely insane for backing the Hurricanes - but I'm not about to give up on my hockey club. They took out New Jersey, they made Theodore look human, and they humbled the Leafs. Detroit nearly fell to Vancouver early, and was taken to the limit by Colorado. Two very good teams - but Carolina's been fighting the whole way through and hasn't ever looked like a desperate hockey club next.
I think Vacitek said something along the lines of "They have to beat US." THAT is an awesome mindset to have going into the finals.
Come on Carolina - these playoffs have been more than I ever expected. Frankly, when they made it to the second round I celebrated and figured the party was over then.
The West: Tight-checking league, it's harder to win games. Case in point: if Carolina had been in the West, they would not have made the playoffs AT ALL. So, the West is harder. Since the Wings won more games in a tougher conference, they should beat the hell out of Carolina. SHOULD.
Detroit in five.
Bart: Hey, immigrants! Beat it! Country's full! Sailor: OK people, you heard the lady. Back into the hold. We'll try Canada. [the immigrants moan] -- "The City of New York Vs. Homer Simpson"
Like Tarnish mentioned, Carolina wins alot of faceoffs. Francis and Brind'Amour have been brilliant in getting the puck to their guys. The key to beating Hasek is to just keep firing. That's what Carolina is going to have to do - throw, throw, throw.
yzerman and draper are also very good at faceoffs, and federov isn't bad either. i disagree about beating hasek...the more shots fired at him, the more confidence he gets. the avs were outshot every game they beat detroit(i think). without the shots, hasek gets a bit erratic. i don't think the wings are going to take the hurricanes lightly...they leave that for the fans and media. however, even as a wings fan, i live in massachusetts (right on the border of connecticut) and the whale have always been my 2nd favorite team. how can you not root for them? i'm sure aaron ward figured that he'd be playing the wings in the finals, right?
edit: just read this, so i thought i'd pass it along: Steve Yzerman along with teammate Brendan Shanahan will attempt to be the 2nd and 3rd players to win a Stanley Cup and Olympic Gold medal in the same year...Ken Morrow first accomplished the feat with the Islanders in 1980.
(edited by quagmire on 3.6.02 2236)
(edited by quagmire on 3.6.02 2325) Marge: Mr. Scorpio, this house is almost too good for us. I keep expecting to get the bums rush. Scorpio: We don't have bums in our town, Marge, and if we did, they wouldn't rush, they'd be allowed to go at their own pace.
They are just too talented not to win this series. I hope Carolina can just keep the games interesting, and perhaps squeek one out...
Wings in 5, then all the old guys can retire...
(edited by haz on 4.6.02 0930) ---------- Whatcha Gonna Do??? ---------- "Thank you - thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for your irrelevant opinion..." ---------- And the real wonder of the world is that we don't jump too ---------- So there's no simple explanation for anything important any of us do and yea the human tragedy consists in the necessity of living with the consequences under pressure, under pressure. ----------
I don't see this as being much, but then again, I figured the Canes were going to get swept by New Jersey in the first round. So I hope I'm wrong, but I'd say Detroit in 5.
I was in Vegas last summer and was prepared to put down a couple of bills on the Wings at 6:1 but the in the week before I left the odds dropped to 5:2.
Needless to say I did not make the bet.
Prime evil of Kaiju Big Battel is very mysterious and expensive doctor.