Round Three, The Conference Finals

DISCLAIMER : This has to be posted by me, so that there is written proof that this is the way I said it would go down.


So with the Detroit Red Wings / San Jose Sharks series being the only Semi Finals series left, the much hated Red Wings could end it tonight with a win.

That said, I would love to see the Sharks win two in a row, and manage to take it from them.

It's a bit early for my pics, as Detroit hasn't won yet, but assuming the worst:

The Eastern Conference Finals
- The Buffalo Sabres (1) will play the Ottawa Senators (4). A lot of people are going to write off Ottawa right away, but I think that this series is going to be a long tough one, and may go all the way to 7 games, with Ottawa winning it. Statistically in the playoffs, both teams have great goaltending, and while Buffalo has scored more goals, they have also faced the #8 seeded team, and then the #6 seed. Ottawa (while in no sense an underdog), has had to play against teams with better goaltending, and so I would expect closer margin games, and less overall scoring. That said, I also think that Ottawa just will have the drive and play better.

The Wester Conference Finals
- Assuming that the worst things all happen at once, the Detroit Redwings (1) will play the Anaheim Ducks (2). This series will be another tough one, and I think in the end, Detroit will manage to win if they get to play the Ducks. The Red Wings (though fiercely hated by many) are a phenominal hockey team, and will have the momentum of just coming off of the win against San Jose. Anaheim has great goaltending in Giguere, but his numbers are better than they should be. He spent the entire first series at home with his wife, because apparently his new baby is more important than The Stanley Cup... (We can all see why Stormin will never find a suitable wife...) So his Goals Against Average, while GREAT is still having played 4 games less than Hasek. Had he played the games in the first series, that number would have surely increased (look at Bryzgalov... 2.04 GAA in the first 4 games).
But then Anaheim does have the best penalty killing in the playoffs (3 goals allowed in 56 PK situations (5.35%), NEVER allowing a power play goal at home). Meanwhile, Detroit has the best power play stats (5 for 25, a straight 20%), so maybe that doesn't matter.
Like I said, it's going to be tough...