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.
