Moving on in the hockey world...

Well, with the Spokane Chiefs done for the 2008-09 season, I can only get my hockey fix at the top level these days, unless I feel like torturing myself by watching Kelowna take on Vancouver and thinking "This should be us still playing" for the next two weeks. No thanks.

So now, my attention turns to the National Hockey League, which started their postseason last night. Since I don't have a team yet (stay tuned...next season, I'm adopting a franchise, but even I don't know which one it will be) I'm pulling for the Boston Bruins in the East (shocking) and the Vancouver Canucks in the West (because of Luke Van). Yeah, I used parentheses three times in one sentence. I will not be using this piece as a clip for my future journalistic endeavors.

I figure that since my WHL Predictions have been fairly solid through two rounds, I'll take a stab with a league I followed considerably less. I spotted myself four opening games just to try to even things out.

Eastern Conference:

Bruins over Canadiens 4-1
Capitals over Rangers 4-3
Devils over Hurricanes 4-2
Penguins over Flyers 4-1

Penguins over Bruins 4-3
Devils over Capitals 4-2

Penguins over Devils 4-2

Reasoning: Ever since the Pens jettisoned their coach during the regular season, they have been on a ridiculous tear, going from a bubble playoff team to the 4 seed. They won 18 of their final 24 games and ripped Philadelphia in Game 1. Pittsburgh split four regular-season contests with the East's top seed, Boston, and also split in six games versus New Jersey, but defeated both in their season-ending surge, scoring six goals in each contest.

Western Conference:

Sharks over Ducks 4-1
Blue Jackets over Red Wings 4-3
Canucks over Blues 4-2
Blackhawks over Flames 4-2

Sharks over Blue Jackets 4-1
Blackhawks over Canucks 4-1

Sharks over Blackhawks 4-2

Reasoning: San Jose was the NHL's top regular season team, so it would be no surprise to see them advance to the Stanley Cup Finals, especially if Columbus knocks off the Wings (the teams each won three of six meetings). The West is filled with really good teams, but the Sharks are the class of the conference and if they manage to avoid having to face last year's Stanley Cup Champions, should have little resistance in their playoff run.

Stanley Cup Finals:

Sharks over Penguins 4-2

Familiar territory for Pittsburgh as, once again, they just don't have enough to seal the deal. In their only meeting during the season, the Penguins were outshot 34-11 during a 2-1 loss, though in fairness, that game took place prior to the coaching change. There's no denying that the Pens can score, but whether they can limit opponents offensively (12th of 16 playoff teams) remains to be seen.