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By Ed Jennett


If the Stanley Cup Playoffs were a movie, the theme would have to be believe in yourself. That would be because no one else believed that any of the teams that made it to the Final Four would have done so when the season began. In fact most experts predicted that the Eastern Conference Finalists, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Buffalo Sabres, would not even make the playoffs. While the Western Conference Finalists flipped the script as well both the Anaheim Mighty Ducks and the Edmonton Oilers were considered probable playoff teams, their success is not as surprising.

The new rules following the NHL lockout did not just lead to a more exciting on-ice product. The rule changes have also led to a changing of the guard as all four finalists were built for, and play, the fast paced game that league had in mind. This speed-based style lead to early eliminations for their list of victims, which is comprised of most of the recent perennial powerhouses: Detroit, Colorado, Philadelphia, New Jersey, and Ottawa. The only traditionally favored club that was not knocked off by one of the semi-finalists was Dallas. The Stars were eliminated in the first round by Colorado.

Another similarity in the two series is that they each feature a battle of a northern/traditional hockey city versus a sun-belt/non-traditional hockey city. Hockey purists should prepare to become upset while watching the Stanley Cup Finals this year. An all sun-belt Finals is on the way.

(2) Hurricanes vs. (4) Sabres

It is a rarity in sports. A Cinderella team against another Cinderella team. The upstart Hurricanes versus the shocking Sabres. The clock will strike midnight and the ball will finally have to end for one of them.

Both clubs feature young goalies (Cam Ward of Carolina and Ryan Miller of Buffalo) that look like veterans. While they are quick and offensive minded, the teams also pay attention to the defensive side of the game. Although this series, unlike the Western Conference Finals, does not feature any big-name defensemen, the D-men for both sides will quickly jump into the play if the opportunity to do so presents itself.

The similarities will make for a tight series, which will give Carolina an edge. The Hurricanes have gone 5-2 after surrendering the first goal of the game. So they have the resiliency to come out ahead in the tough battles that are ahead of them with Buffalo. Even more impressively, Carolina gets better as the games goes on. In the final game of the New Jersey series they trailed 1-0 and failed to register a shot on goal until halfway through the first period. The Hurricanes rallied back to win the game 4-1.

Center Eric Staal of Carolina is the only superstar on either team and the only player on either side capable of taking over a game. Having a game breaker such as Staal will certainly give an edge to Carolina if any of the games go into overtime, where the teams are a combined 7-0 in the playoffs. The series should go the full seven games which also benefits the Hurricanes since they have the home-ice advantage.

Prediction: Carolina in 7 games


(6) Mighty Ducks vs. (8) Oilers

It is appropriate that in a Final Four that looks like it is directly from a Hollywood script that the team that got its name from a successful Hollywood movie would be involved. Also appropriately, the Western Conference Finals features two teams that are just as similar as the clubs in the Eastern Conference Finals.

There are a few things that distinguish this side of the bracket however. The Western Finalists have made yet another script change by being the most physical teams left in the postseason. Traditionally the Eastern Conference has been more physical than the Western Conference. Anaheim and Edmonton both feature superstar defensemen in Scott Neidermeyer and Chris Pronger, respectively. Pronger leads all skaters in the playoffs in ice time, with Niedermeyer coming in second. The talented two-some has also led their teams as the clear-cut best players on their respective squads.
As the only Canadian team remaining in the playoffs, Edmonton carries the pressure of representing an entire country. The flip side to that is the Oilers also have the support of an entire country, which will translate to a much better advantage in their games at home. Anaheim does have the home-ice advantage in the series, however.

In two final similarities to the Eastern Conference Finals, the Western Conference Finals will take the full seven games and end with the home team advancing. That is the only ending that makes sense, since Hollywood is located in Southern California, not Western Canada.

Prediction: Mighty Ducks in 7 games