Lost Continent Words

NHL Round 2!

So a nice recap from Andy in the comments of the previous post. I, too, was highly disappointed that the Flames turned out to be far more evil than I remember, especially as I have an annoying habit of being a Canadian team apologist. I do tend to walk away from series in which the Wings are beaten with a newfound respect for the opponents (the best example probably being my secret love affair with the NJ Devils ever since 1995). To behave as reprehensibly as Calgary did at the end of game 5 and then spend the next day trying to spin it rather than just saying, "Listen, we screwed up, sorry" was almost worse than the original behavior. You can at least claim being carried off in the moment. Even the evil TB didn't have the audacity to say, "Yeah, I was trying to get Steve Moore to fight, and its his fault his neck is broken for being such a pansy" which was essentially the line Playfair took. As it was happening I felt that Playfair must have been at least condoning if not encouraging the behavior on the ice at the end of Game 5. After listening to him talk, I'm sure of it, and that makes it just disgusting.

In any case, we're on to Round 2, and I feel very good about our chances. Sharks or Stars, determined tonight. I guess I don't have a strong preference.

Suspension Talk

Article From the Calgary Herald

So it goes

No Damn Cat, No Damn Cradle.

Sail On, Mr. Vonnegut, you'll be missed.

NHL Playoffs

As requested by Andy, I am again submitting my totally wrong predictions for the NHL playoffs. This is a tradition we have maintained for at least 5 years now (with a year off for the lockout), with each of us looking stupid by the time the cup got rolled out (or frequently much sooner). But what the hell,

So here are my predictions (made before the games started Wednesday)

First Round East:

Buffalo vs. NYI
Buffalo. Although they won the president's cup and look unbeatable (which should prompt a first round exit) I still think they've got enough to push past the isles.

NJ vs. TB
NJ. Because they're NJ.

ATL vs. NYR
NYR. I hate the rangers (like most NY teams) but for some reason I think they're the best candidate for "come from nowhere team that kick ass in the playoffs."

OTT vs. PITT
PITT. Because I've got family ties to them, and Sidney Crosby is awesome and you can almost never go wrong picking against Ottawa.

1st Round West:
DET vs. CGY
Motown. If they win this series then I think they've got what it takes to win it all. If they lose.... well then I look like dumbass don't I?

ANA vs. MIN
MIN. Because MIN is in MIN and ANA is in ANA and because I don't think the Ducks are as good as last year.

VAN vs. DAL
VAN. Because I think they will score more goals at the end of a majority of the games.

NSH vs. SJ
SJ. Because they look good at the end of the season and have a goalie that looks like this years wunderkind.

Conference Finals:

NYR vs. NJ
NYR. I don't know why I'm giving this shitty team I hate so much credit. Boy am I gonna feel like an idiot (or a genius).

DET vs. VAN
DET. I've already obsessed enough about this so I"ll stick with my horse.

The Cup: Detroit Red Wings

Feel Free to tell me how stupid I am.