Cup Finals Time

[Lil' Lavery]

Well, its finals time. Here's my official, and final prediction and breakdown of the series:
TB-fast, lightning fast. St. Louis is the best player still in the play-offs. Along with Peter Forsberg, one of my best 3 offensive players in the game today. Khabibulin is the second best goalie in the eastern conference, behing only Brodeur.
offense-they have a well balanced, lightning quick offense. Six 20+ goal scorers prove that stopping one player, like St. Louis, wont prevent them form scoring. Lecavalier may not be having the greatest year, but he is still a threat.
defense-Khabibulin is once again playing like a shutdown goalie. We've seen him do it before, and we know how good he can be. His back-up, Grahm, can also provide a solid tender if Khabibulin falters. Solid defenders, like Dan Boyle, make up for a lack of superstar defensemen.
X-factor-captain Dave Andrechyuk(sp?). Another Ray Bourque situation, in which his passion and thirst for the cup can inspire his team to victory, just this time, the cup wont have to be passed to him, since hes the captain.

Calgary-Jerome Iginlas team. Need I say more? the 3rd member of my top 3 offensive players club.
offense-others have stepped up behind Iginla to prove they have more scoring threats. Gelinas has produced very well. And then, Iginla, despite being a defensive magnet, has still produced, and produced very well...
defense-this team was the most physical play-off team this year. With fore-checking up in the play-offs, that could help them. Kiprusoff is a Vezina finalist, and had the best regular season GAA and Sv%.
X-factor-Ville Nieminen, if he cuts down on penalties, especially fighting, he has proven he can be an offensive threat, and still play solid defensive hockey.

The western conference has been far superior over the last decade, the only eastern conference team to win a cup since the Rangers in '94, has been the NJ Devils. None of the teams in the South East division have ever won a stanley cup. But hockey is changing. The trap is all but dead in the play-offs this year, forecheckin is up. High cost superstar teams like detroit and colorado have fallen. Now, finally, to my prediction:
TB over Cal in 7. Expect at least 2 OT games, probably early in the series, before the coaches can beat eachothers systems effectively. TB will win game 1, but Calgary will take the next 2. Then all heck will break lose and the scramble for the cup really begins. Its time for some REAL play-off action.

[Matt_Kaplan1902]

I had predicted Tampa Bay to win it all in 5, but now I fell we are in for a long series. Calgary flat out outplayed TB tonight, and Kiprusoff was solid in the net. However, Tampa Bay has too much depth and I believe they hoist the cup when it all over.

I wouldn't count Calgary out....yes TB played very bad last night and they can play much better, but Kiprusoff obviously has brought his A game, Iginla is on top of his play right now and hasn't looked better.

Traditionally, the team that makes their first cup appearance usually always loses. The last 2 teams to win on making their first finals appearance was the Avs in 96 and the Devils in 95...

This series will easily go 6 or 7 games and either team has the talent to pull off a series win, but im going to go out on a limb here (can't believe im betting against the team I said would take it all weeks ago).... and call Calgary in 6.

[Matt_Kaplan1902]

WOW.

What an amazing game. I can't believe that a Stanley Cup Victory is being celebrated in Florida...

...goes off to order Lighting Championship shirt

[Elgin Clock]

I thought the hockey team in FL was called the Florida Panthers?

Has it really been so long since I have followed sports a bit?

(Heck, I was told that my favorite B-Ball team changed states since I used to like them when they were based in North Carolina....)

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

I thought the hockey team in FL was called the Florida Panthers?

Has it really been so long since I have followed sports a bit?

(Heck, I was told that my favorite B-Ball team changed states since I used to like them when they were based in North Carolina....)

Jeez, Elgin.... The Lightning have only been around 12 years

[spears312]

YES, lightning ROCK, I just wish I didnt have my wisdom teeth pulled that day so I could have gone and hung out at the Forum.

Im glad at the way we played tho, Iginla was just compleatly shut down and Fedotenko did an awesome job gettin in those goals. I did get a little nervous after Calgary scored the goal, but we kept up our "Safe is death" mentality and stayed in the lead till the last buzzer.
I just hope the league dosent fold next year

GO LIGHTNING!!!

(ok, bucs have won, lightning have won, now its your turn devil rays)