Well, well, well, it's been a crazy run so far, and only two rounds remain. A few questions:<
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>--What the hell happened to the West? A conference usually dominated by the top four teams is instead dominated by the two teams that defeated the top four teams (the Ducks slaying the top-seeded Stars and second-seeded Wings; the Wild knocking off the third-seeded Avs and fourth-seeded Canucks.)<
>--Since when did the East become the West? The top teams ruled in the upset-prone East this year, with top-seed Ottawa facing second-seed New Jersey in the conference final and the high seed winning every series.<
>--From what voodoo factory did hte Wild steal an offense in the last three games of the Vancouver series?<
>--Who the hell's going to beat the Ducks anyway?<
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>OK, now onto predictions.<
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>1) Ottawa vs. 2) New Jersey - Ottawa's offense against New Jersey's defense is the marquee matchup here. The Devils have a capable offense as well, but nothing compared to the Sens' firepower and likely not enough to
eak the Sens' defense. Great goaltending should shut down great offense in the playoffs, but the only way the Sens won't be able to manage just enough is if the Devils' defense is on its game. If it is, we might be looking at several 1-0 games this playoff season and a lot of overtime.<
>PREDICTION: Senators in seven<
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>6) Minnesota vs. 7) Anaheim - OK, who are these Western playoff teams and what have they done with the teams we saw in 2002? And can we count on the trends we have followed in the first two rounds of the playoffs? Simply put, the Wild bend but don't
eak early, get their game going in the second, and put it away in the third - when they win. When the Ducks win, they stay one step ahead of their opponents, keep the puck out of the net when they need to, and score clutch goals. Expect a defensive battle with the winner very often coming in the third period on a clutch goal.<
>PREDICTION: Wild in seven<
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>STANLEY CUP FINALS<
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>Ottawa vs. Minnesota - Who would have guessed it that a team that fought bankruptcy earlier in the year and a team that came back from two 3-1 deficits in the playoffs would play for the title, especially when that second team is in its third year? Unfortunately for Wild fans, their run
ings back memories of another Cinderella team; that team is the 1996 Florida Panthers. Think about it - third year of existence, fought off elimination from teams that should beat them soundly, but in the end playing a team that outmatches them. While the Sens are not going to have nearly as easy of a time putting away the Wild as the Avalanche did the Panthers in 1996, the series should go to the Sens in, say, six games. <i></i>