My picks to emerge from the last round were right...although I picked Ottawa in 6 and they wrapped it up in 5. That being said, I'm still in shock that Ottawa has made it to the Stanley Cup Final!!! I'm even more surprised that I scored tickets...but that's another story...and they have to get to game 6 or I'm S.O.L!!!
So let's re-cap...in the first round I was 6 and 2...in the second round I was 3 and 1...and in the third round I was 2 and 0...that puts me at 11 and 3 so far...not too shabby!!! At least I'm beating TSN's monkey.
For the final I think I'm in the majority when I say the Senators are going to take the series. The way they've played to get here has been phenominal. It's completely out of character when comparing this team to their performances in playoff's past. Alfie is playing like a man-possessed and is the current front-runner for the Conn-Smythe trophy. Redden is starting to kick it in gear. Phillips is loving his role as the top defenceman. And his partner, Volchenkov, is living up to his nickname...The A-Train!!! He stops pucks and he'll level the opponent with a body-check that you swear you can feel through the TV. Also, the top line is playing like the top line...absolutely amazing!!! And let's not forget Emery who I think still has another level he can hit.
Now Anaheim is no slouch. They're a very big mobile team that is loaded with talent!!! Chris Pronger, The Niedermayer brothers, JS Giguere, the emergence of Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf, Teemu Selanne, and the list goes on. They're just as hungry for this cup as Ottawa. This will be the toughest opponent Ottawa has faced thus far and their biggest issue may be the travel. They are heading to Anaheim this Saturday to get an extra day to climatize...personally I think they should've gone today (Thursday) and get some ice time starting tomorrow...but that's just me.
Let's look at some numbers...funky or otherwise...
- 1927 - The last time the Ottawa Senators won the Cup
- Any year that ends in a 7 has seen the Detroit Red Wings or a Canadian team win the Cup
- 2002 - 2004 - Bryan Murray was General Manager of the Anaheim Ducks and saw his team quickly make a mark in the playoffs, reaching the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals. Many of the players currently on Anaheim's roster are from his work as GM.
- 80 years ago, Frank "The Shawville Express" Finnigan won a Stanley Cup with Ottawa and scored the last goal in franchise history before that version of the Senators moved to St. Louis. Bryan Murray is also from Shawville.
- The Anaheim Ducks led the league in penalties in the regular season.
- On the power-play in the playoffs, Anaheim ranks seventh at 15.3% and Ottawa ranks second at 20.0%.
- Penalty killing in the playoffs has Ottawa fourth at 88.6%. Anaheim is sixth at 87.5%.
- In the playoffs Mike Fisher (47), Christoph Schubert (44) and Chris Neil (41) are the Senators' leading hitters. Samuel Pahlsson (57), Ryan Getzlaf (25) and Chris Kunitz (25) lead in the playoffs. Pahlsson leads the league with 57 playoff hits.
- The top face-off man for Ottawa is Antoine Vermette at 60.1%. Anaheim's Andy McDonald leads his team at 54.1%.
- Anton Volchenkov leads the playoffs with 61 blocked shots.
- Dany Heatley leads the Senators with 21 points in the playoffs.
- Daniel Alfredsson leads the Senators with ten goals in the playoffs.
- Chris Pronger leads the Ducks with 14 points in the playoffs.
- Andy McDonald, Teemu Selanne and Ryan Getzlaf lead the Ducks with five goals in the playoffs.
As you can see the numbers are slightly tipped in Ottawa's favour. It all depends on how bad they want it. Anaheim will be bringing their best game so it will depend on who wants it more.
My pick is Ottawa...I was going to take them in 5 but since I got free tickets to game 6 I'm gonna say Ottawa in 6!!!!
See ya at the parade!!!!
CHEERS!!!
The Rokpig...
