Hockey fans are set for the NHL Conference Finals as Marc Andre Fleury (above) and his Pittsburgh Penguins lock horns with their cross-state rival Philadelphia Flyers and Dallas tries to knock off the Presidents Cup champion Red Wings. (CP Images)
Outside of being based in a U.S. city, we know one of these four things will ring true about the eventual Stanley Cup champions.
The Flyers will end a 33-year Cup drought. Or, yikes - Marc Andre Fleury will be the winning goalie on the Stanley Cup champions and most of the Penguins will probably get carded for ID at the bar afterwards. Perhaps we can look forward to at least another year of hearing just how much of a genius Ken Holland is. Or the Dallas Stars will beat the Cowboys to another championship.
Pittsburgh. Philadelphia. Detroit. Dallas. The Bra Size Series (DD) and the Outhouse Series (PP). Yeah, I just made that up. Lucky you.
Here's a sneak peek on how I see things shakin' down in the conference finals of the Stanley Cup playoffs:
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (2) VS PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (6)
WHO THEY BEAT: Philadelphia def. Washington in 7, Montreal in 5
Pittsburgh def. Ottawa in 4, NY Rangers in 5
LAST PLAYOFF MEETING: Philadelphia def. Pittsburgh in six games, 2000 Eastern semi-final
CONN SMYTHE CANDIDATES: PHI: G Martin Biron, C Daniel Briere , F R.J. Umberger PIT: C Evgeni Malkin, C Sidney Crosby, G Marc-Andre Fleury
OUR TAKE: OK, I'll admit the Flyers have bucked me off both times I called them to go meekly and quietly into the playoff night. But have I learned from my mistakes? Am I ready to see Cinderella all the way to the ball? Not a chance. While Marty Biron and Philly held back the potent assaults of both the Capitals and Canadiens, they are about to meet a whole different beast that looks like they can score at will. Crosby, Malkin, Hossa and Company slipped it into cruise control in the first two rounds, although they are about to get a much more resilient fight from the orange and black than they did from Ottawa or the Rangers. The Flyers' balanced attack will keep them in this series, but unless Marc-Andre Fleury pulls a Jose Theodore, the extra home game should be the difference in what could be a classic Battle of Pennsylvania. PENGUINS IN 7.
DETROIT RED WINGS (1) VS DALLAS STARS (5)
WHO THEY BEAT: Detroit def. Nashville in 6, Colorado in 4
Dallas def. Anaheim in 6, San Jose in 6
LAST PLAYOFF MEETING: Detroit def. Dallas in six games, 1998 Western final
CONN SMYTHE CANDIDATES: DAL: G Marty Turco, F Brenden Morrow, F Mike Ribeiro, F Brad Richards DET: F Johan Franzen, F Henrik Zetterberg, F Pavel Datsyuk
OUR TAKE: Just like the Flyers, the Stars found another gear at the ideal time and have knocked out a pair of heavyweights in the Ducks and Sharks. The difference this season other than in years past is that Marty Turco is being the difference-maker for the right reasons rather than performing like a sieve, and shows no sign of being content with merely a berth in the West final. But again, like the Flyers, Dallas is going to have to contend with an explosive unit from Motown that was merciless in a four-game sweep of the Avalanche. Of course, with Brenden Morrow, Mike Ribeiro and Brad Richards leading the charge, the Stars no longer rely on that boring, lull-you-to-sleep style that used to be their trademark. If they can get to Chris Osgood, which is not nearly as tough as it sounds, all bets are off. As tempted as we are to go with the underdog here, there is no way we can go against the Wings after watching that methodical destruction of Colorado. RED WINGS in 7.