Alrighty….let me dust off the computer here….it’s been a long time, it seems, since the hockey masses have seen some playoff hockey. Well tonight, it begins again. The Stanley Cup Finals are upon us at long last. Game 1 is at the Honda Center…with the pregame beginning at 8pm EDT…the game is on VS. in the states and CBC in Canada. One city is going cuckoo and the other is laid back but its all about the hockey. What better time than for the Stanley Cup Finals Roundup brought to you by The NHL Arena Program.
Bloggers Paradise
The Battle of California has gone Duck crazy for obvious reasons and can you blame them. The slightly world blog famous JavaGeek is largely undecided about tonight’s game but gives a slight nod (52%) to the Ducks in Game 1. Earl from the BOC is predicting a 4-2 Ducks win. Also, for something a little different, try Daniel at the Ducks Blog….you will not be disappointed. Now, over at Scarlett Ice, Sherry is cooking up some finals primer….still hot off the presses. She thinks Ottawa can steal Game 1 on the strength of Alfredsson who has the mantra of Messier on his back….since a certain bald headed former player kind of bestowed that upon him a couple weeks back. Now I didn’t forget my friends over at Sens Army…they also have a blazing primer that is sure to help any Sens fan get familiar with the Ducks and vice versa very quickly. Finally, when all else fails…my good friend Derek at Hitting Back has some curious facts about this very intriguing Stanley Cup Finals matchup.
THE GAME ITSELF………
GAME ONE……for the right to be called the champs.
Ottawa Senators @ Anaheim Ducks 8pm EDT VS, CBC
Now…everyone sit down in front please! There is some hockey to be played…and these two teams would like to get acquainted with each other. They haven’t played each other all year and I think that may be the key tonight. The Sens really have not faced a team yet that can match them skill for skill and hit for hit. Anaheim is probably the first team that can accomplish that. Pahlsson is a force and with the two Norris candidates may be able to slow down the Heatley-Alfredsson-Spezza line which has destroyed the cup hopes of the Pens, Devs, and Sabres in convincing fashion. The Ducks have offense aplenty…with the Young Guns, Selanne, and even their checking line which has really scored some timely goals throughout the playoffs. Oh and Niedermayer and Pronger can score too.
HEY! We haven’t even delved into the goalies yet. JS Giguere may be the most rested Stanley Cup Finals goalie in awhile…well not really (he had a number of medical issues with his newborn son) but once he got in there, he has been a force. Ray Emery, in the other corner, hasn’t had to quite face the same level of intensity but has come up timely. Giguere has the obvious edge when it comes to experience at this level but Emery may steal the show a lot like Cam Ward did last year…one never knows. Anything can happen.
What will happen tonight? I know I predicted the Ducks will win in seven…but this will be a feel-out game for most of it…but once it gets going….its going to be rough and tough out there….I can see the Ducks winning this one tonight 3-2. Hope to see everyone there on the GDT….only at The NHL Arena.
