NHL Playoffs Preview

The National Hockey League (after playing a shortened 48-game schedule due to the owner imposed lockout) will begin the playoffs tonight and the Chicago Blackhawks, who won it all three years ago, are the

favorites to win the Stanley Cup.
The Blackhawks dominated the Western Conference from game one this season and haven't let up as they had an incredible unbeaten streak to start the season.
The overall points leaders (36-7-5 for 77 points) will face off tonight in Chicago against the Minnesota Wild. 
Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Penguins are the favorites to advance from the Eastern Conference and face the Hawks in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Penguins finished the regular season with 72 points by compiling a 36-12-0 record.
Pittsburgh lead the NHL in goals scored while the Hawks led the league in defense, allowing the fewest goals this season.
But one thing to remember is to expect the unexpected when it comes to playoff hockey.
Last season's Stanley Cup champions, the Los Angeles Kings, were the bottom seed entering the Western Conference playoffs and they wound up winning it all beyond solid defense, consistent scoring and the emergence of goaltender Jonathan Quick, who was outstanding last spring.
With all that said, here goes nothing as Heftyinfo attempts to pick this year's Stanley Cup champions.


WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Chicago Blackhawks over (8) Minnesota Wild, 4-1
(2) Anaheim Ducks over (7) Detroit Red Wings, 4-2
(6) San Jose Sharks over (3) Vancouver Canucks, 4-3
(5) Los Angeles Kings over (4) St. Louis Blues, 4-3

EASTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Pittsburgh Penguins over (8) New York Islanders, 4-2
(2) Montreal Canadiens over (7) Ottawa Senators, 4-1
(6) New York Rangers over (3) Washington Capitals, 4-3
(4) Boston Bruins over (5) Toronto Maple Leafs, 4-2

The NHL re-seeds the playoffs following the opening round, so if the first round picks hold true, here are the rest of the picks ...

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Chicago over (6) San Jose, 4-0
(5) Los Angeles over (2) Anaheim, 4-3

EASTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Pittsburgh over (6) NY Rangers, 4-2
(2) Montreal over (4) Boston, 4-3

WEST FINALS

Chicago over Los Angeles, 4-2

EAST FINALS

Montreal over Pittsburgh, 4-2




                          
                                        STANLEY CUP FINALS

                                        Chicago over Montreal, 4-3



        

 

                                                                               

He Gone!

The New York Jets cut quarterback Tim Tebow from their roster today .... Tebow time no more.

Only In America

The George W. Bush Library is dedicated.

They Got Him

NBA Playoffs Preview

The 2012-13 NBA Playoffs get started this weekend and the thinking seems to favor a re-match of last

year's NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the defending NBA champion Miami Heat.
The Heat, led by LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh are prohibitive favorites to roll to another championship in June.
Miami (66-16 in regular season) has the home court advantage throughout the playoffs and also had that infamous 27-game winning streak, which was ended in late March by the Chicago Bulls, who have been without superstar Derrick Rose all season.
Meanwhile, the OKC Thunder, led by Kevin Durant and Russel Westbrook, are looking to get back to the NBA Finals and gain redemption after being blown out by the Heat last summer. The Thunder finished strong, going 60-22 and over taking the San Antonio Spurs down the stretch to gain home court advantage in the Western Conference playoffs.
Here is a capsule style preview of the first round for the playoffs along with predictions on which two teams will meet in June in the NBA Finals.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

 The Heat should roll in this series without a doubt.  Pick - Heat wins, 4-0

Two old NBA rivals go at in the first round of the playoffs.  Pick - Knicks win, 4-3

This series could be a surprise the way Pacers have been slumping down the stretch. Pick - Pacers win, 4-3

The Bulls, without Derrick Rose, dominated the Nets in the regular season meetings. Pick - Bulls win, 4-2


WESTERN CONFERENCE

The Thunder will not be denied in this series.   Pick - Thunder wins, 4-1

The Spurs are banged up entering the playoffs, but the Lakers are without Kobe Bryant. Pick - Spurs win, 4-2

This could be a very entertaining (and high scoring) series.  Pick - Nuggets win, 4-2

Which ever team wins this series will face OKC and be eliminated in the West Semi-Finals.  Pick - Clippers win, 4-3


The rest of the picks (if the first round comes out correct) follows ...

Eastern Conference

Miami Heat over Chicago Bulls, 4-1  New York Knicks over Indiana Pacers, 4-1

Western Conference

Oklahoma City Thunder over Los Angeles Clippers, 4-2  Denver Nuggets over San Antonio Spurs, 4-2

EAST FINALS

Miami Heat over New York Knicks, 4-2

WEST FINALS

Oklahoma City Thunder over Denver Nuggets, 4-3

NBA FINALS 

Miami Heat over Oklahoma City Thunder, 4-2

United

Tragedy In Boston

With hundreds injured and three people reported killed, including an eight-year-old child, from two massive

Explosions rocked the city of Boston, killing at least three people.

explosions at the Boston Marathon, this indeed is a tragic day in the United States of America as another senseless act of violence occurs.
Today is "Patriots Day" in Boston, a tradition which has taken place for decades and the people in that city were just celebrating the city's heritage with the race and the Boston Red Sox playing their annual home baseball game at Fenway Park.
In the days to come, there will be (and already is) speculation as to who did this and why... but the fact remains it is a sheer act of violence.
Whether it is gun violence, bombings, stabbings, etc. the fact is something has to be done to thwart these hideous and cowardly acts.
God forbid the people who perpetrated this heinous act were doing it for political statements or something similar to promote a sick and twisted agenda.
Here is hoping that this is solved and justice is swiftly served.