Thursday, April 20, 2006
Playoffs - how I've waited for thee!!
Seeing as most of my colleagues are doing the same, I think it's high time I mentioned my picks for the Stanley Cup.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
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QUARTER FINALS
(1) Ottawa vs. (8) Tampa Bay - I think this series will be a lot closer than the season series would indicate. If Tampa's goalies can contain the Sens, look for it to go to 7.
Pick: Senators in 5
(2) Carolina vs. (7) Montreal - Carolina's got Montreal's number, and I don't know if I can see that changing here. Granted, the loss of Eric Cole is a huge one for Carolina. Still, Montreal needs to figure out just who their number one goalie is before they can make too much progress.
Pick: Carolina in 6
(3) New Jersey vs. (6) New York - Jersey's got to be considered the hottest team coming into these playoffs from either conference. When Brodeur is on, he is unbeatable. Also, the EGG line looks really really REALLY damned good. Watch for Jagr to be strong, but not enough for the whole team to ride.
Pick: Jersey in 5
(4) Buffalo vs. (5) Philadelphia - Buffalo was marginally more of a surprise than New York in terms of their positioning this year. Nobody picked them to be as high as they are in the standings. Philadelphia, meanwhile, has a TON of pressure to win. This team was stacked with the likes of Forsberg, Rathje and Hatcher. Having seen what Philly does under pressure, and with a minor goaltending controversy brewing, I'm not optimistic for their chances.
Pick: Buffalo in 6
EAST SEMIS
(1) Ottawa vs. (4) Buffalo - This will be much closer for the Sens than the Tampa Series, but they're different this year. Hasek could be back by the Semis, and if so, that's a huge advantage for the Sens.
Pick: Senators in 7
(2) Carolina vs. (3) New Jersey - This is as much of a crapshoot as I can think of. Depending on how the series with New York goes, I think Jersey has the marginal edge.
Pick: New Jersey in 7
EAST FINAL
(1) Ottawa vs. (3) New Jersey - gotta go with the boys!!
Pick: Senators in 6
WESTERN CONFERENCE
==================
QUARTER FINALS
(1) Detroit vs. (8) Edmonton - Edmonton's got lots of confidence, and that's a really important x-factor in the playoffs. However, Detroit is one of the scariest teams I've ever seen, and they won't falter.
Pick: Detroit in 6
(2) Dallas vs. (7) Colorado - Dallas has been overlooked this year by the fact that Detroit's been beating the snot out of everyone in the West. The Stars have got a very strong team, and I don't think Theodore's got his confidence back yet.
Pick: Dallas in 6
(3) Calgary vs. (6) Anaheim - Does Giguere have the magic he did a few years back? Will it matter when Kiprusoff is in the other net? To both questions, the answer is "I don't think so."
Pick: Calgary in 5
(4) Nashville vs. (5) San Jose - This is the only upset I'm predicting, which means it'll be the only one not to happen. Thornton and Cheechoo are playing like they're possessed, and the loss of Vokoun does not spell happy times for Nashville ahead.
Pick: San Jose in 5
WEST SEMIS
(1) Detroit vs. (5) San Jose - Detroit will solve San Jose's top scoring duo, and will make Vesa Toskala look really bad in the process.
Pick: Detroit in 4
(2) Dallas vs. (3) Calgary - The fact that the playoffs don't have a shootout hurts the Stars as Jussi Jokinen is the master in that regards. Calgary is still going ot be hungry after last season's letdown.
Pick: Calgary in 6
WEST FINAL
(1) Detroit vs. (3) Calgary - Red vs. Red. All bets are off for this one, but I like the idea of a Canadian team bringing the cup north of the border.
Pick: Calgary in 7
STANLEY CUP FINAL
(1E) Ottawa vs. (3W) Calgary - Get ready for the shit to hit the fan. This would be one of the most exciting matchups I can imagine, and I really hope it comes to fruition. It would be fast, hard hitting, hard shooting, and both teams have stellar goaltending (if Hasek can play). I'm a believer, and I still think this is the Sens year.
Pick: Senators win the Stanley Cup in 6 games
There you have it. Lampoon it all you wish.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
==================
QUARTER FINALS
(1) Ottawa vs. (8) Tampa Bay - I think this series will be a lot closer than the season series would indicate. If Tampa's goalies can contain the Sens, look for it to go to 7.
Pick: Senators in 5
(2) Carolina vs. (7) Montreal - Carolina's got Montreal's number, and I don't know if I can see that changing here. Granted, the loss of Eric Cole is a huge one for Carolina. Still, Montreal needs to figure out just who their number one goalie is before they can make too much progress.
Pick: Carolina in 6
(3) New Jersey vs. (6) New York - Jersey's got to be considered the hottest team coming into these playoffs from either conference. When Brodeur is on, he is unbeatable. Also, the EGG line looks really really REALLY damned good. Watch for Jagr to be strong, but not enough for the whole team to ride.
Pick: Jersey in 5
(4) Buffalo vs. (5) Philadelphia - Buffalo was marginally more of a surprise than New York in terms of their positioning this year. Nobody picked them to be as high as they are in the standings. Philadelphia, meanwhile, has a TON of pressure to win. This team was stacked with the likes of Forsberg, Rathje and Hatcher. Having seen what Philly does under pressure, and with a minor goaltending controversy brewing, I'm not optimistic for their chances.
Pick: Buffalo in 6
EAST SEMIS
(1) Ottawa vs. (4) Buffalo - This will be much closer for the Sens than the Tampa Series, but they're different this year. Hasek could be back by the Semis, and if so, that's a huge advantage for the Sens.
Pick: Senators in 7
(2) Carolina vs. (3) New Jersey - This is as much of a crapshoot as I can think of. Depending on how the series with New York goes, I think Jersey has the marginal edge.
Pick: New Jersey in 7
EAST FINAL
(1) Ottawa vs. (3) New Jersey - gotta go with the boys!!
Pick: Senators in 6
WESTERN CONFERENCE
==================
QUARTER FINALS
(1) Detroit vs. (8) Edmonton - Edmonton's got lots of confidence, and that's a really important x-factor in the playoffs. However, Detroit is one of the scariest teams I've ever seen, and they won't falter.
Pick: Detroit in 6
(2) Dallas vs. (7) Colorado - Dallas has been overlooked this year by the fact that Detroit's been beating the snot out of everyone in the West. The Stars have got a very strong team, and I don't think Theodore's got his confidence back yet.
Pick: Dallas in 6
(3) Calgary vs. (6) Anaheim - Does Giguere have the magic he did a few years back? Will it matter when Kiprusoff is in the other net? To both questions, the answer is "I don't think so."
Pick: Calgary in 5
(4) Nashville vs. (5) San Jose - This is the only upset I'm predicting, which means it'll be the only one not to happen. Thornton and Cheechoo are playing like they're possessed, and the loss of Vokoun does not spell happy times for Nashville ahead.
Pick: San Jose in 5
WEST SEMIS
(1) Detroit vs. (5) San Jose - Detroit will solve San Jose's top scoring duo, and will make Vesa Toskala look really bad in the process.
Pick: Detroit in 4
(2) Dallas vs. (3) Calgary - The fact that the playoffs don't have a shootout hurts the Stars as Jussi Jokinen is the master in that regards. Calgary is still going ot be hungry after last season's letdown.
Pick: Calgary in 6
WEST FINAL
(1) Detroit vs. (3) Calgary - Red vs. Red. All bets are off for this one, but I like the idea of a Canadian team bringing the cup north of the border.
Pick: Calgary in 7
STANLEY CUP FINAL
(1E) Ottawa vs. (3W) Calgary - Get ready for the shit to hit the fan. This would be one of the most exciting matchups I can imagine, and I really hope it comes to fruition. It would be fast, hard hitting, hard shooting, and both teams have stellar goaltending (if Hasek can play). I'm a believer, and I still think this is the Sens year.
Pick: Senators win the Stanley Cup in 6 games
There you have it. Lampoon it all you wish.
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Me? Employed? Yes, Mr. President!
So I gots me a job for the fall!
I will be working for Queen's Admission Services as an Admissions Rep. That means I'll travel around to high schools and sell Queen's to students there. I'm looking forward to it for a lot of reasons.
First, it means workin in an office I enjoy working in. I've worked there for four years as a campus tour guide, and last summer fulltime as the summer tour coordinator. The people are awesome (when they're not throwing staplers at me), it's air conditioned, and it's not moving furniture!
Second, I'll get to travel all over the place. Anyone who's hung out with me long enough knows I love to drive as much as I can, and this sounds like it'll be perfect to cure of me of that obsession.
Third, I now have a good reason to stay in Ktown for the summer. This town is sooo much nicer in the summertime than in the fall/winter. The festivals are going to be great, much greater now that I don't have to work at the pub (which I am going to miss.. honestly.)
All in all, I think this job will be a great fit for me!
I will be working for Queen's Admission Services as an Admissions Rep. That means I'll travel around to high schools and sell Queen's to students there. I'm looking forward to it for a lot of reasons.
First, it means workin in an office I enjoy working in. I've worked there for four years as a campus tour guide, and last summer fulltime as the summer tour coordinator. The people are awesome (when they're not throwing staplers at me), it's air conditioned, and it's not moving furniture!
Second, I'll get to travel all over the place. Anyone who's hung out with me long enough knows I love to drive as much as I can, and this sounds like it'll be perfect to cure of me of that obsession.
Third, I now have a good reason to stay in Ktown for the summer. This town is sooo much nicer in the summertime than in the fall/winter. The festivals are going to be great, much greater now that I don't have to work at the pub (which I am going to miss.. honestly.)
All in all, I think this job will be a great fit for me!
