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Conference Finals Review and JJ's Stanley Cup Final Outlook

May 28, 2009, 11:01 AM ET [ Comments]

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Versus is running my second playoff piece on their site today. Catch the article (now corrected - thanks, folks) here.

With two correct predictions in the conference finals, my overall playoff prediction record now stands at 11-3. Overall, I’m pretty happy with that (especially considering my performances in years past) though I’ve still only managed two perfect picks, in terms of series length, all the while (with a few very near misses).

A look back at my conference finals picks:

JJ’s Western Conference Final Review

(2) Detroit Red Wings vs. (4) Chicago Blackhawks

JJ’s Prediction: Red Wings in 6
Series outcome: Red Wings in 5

For a five-gamer, this series was pretty close, though if Detroit gets a goal in game three’s extra frame rather than Chicago, we’re talking sweep. The lingering feeling for me is that the elder, more experienced Wings simply waited out their adversaries before finally putting them away on Darren Helm’s OT winner last night. Still, the Blackhawks have plenty to be proud of after one hell of a run this season and I’m sure we’re only seeing the tip of the iceberg from this bunch.

What I said:

“ I see the Wings using the Anaheim series as a lesson – a scare, if you will – and I think the elder, wiser, more experienced club provides a lesson of their own for Chicago in this one. Chris Osgood outduels Nikolai Khabibulin and Detroit will get their shot at defending the Cup.”

What happened:

Well, basically, the elder, wiser, more experienced club provided a lesson for Chicago, did they not? The ‘Hawks will no doubt look back on games one and four and pick those contests apart as teaching tools as they ready themselves for the next step in their development. Ozzie was great again and Khabibulin didn’t see any action after a game three lower body injury. Cristobal Huet did what he could in Khabibulin’s absence but the depth and deftness of the Winged Wheel prevailed in the end, despite injuries of their own to key cogs Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom.

JJ’s Eastern Conference Final Review

(4) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (6) Carolina Hurricanes

JJ’s Prediction: Penguins in 7
Series outcome: Penguins in 4

I guess the Carolina tank ran dry after consecutive seven-game victories over New Jersey and Boston. After a tightly-played opener, the Penguins took ‘em to the ol’ woodshed in this series.

What I said:

“ Very evenly matched, with a slight edge in star power favoring Pittsburgh, I’m giving them the eventual advantage based on their Stanley Cup experience from last season and the presence of a veteran like Bill Guerin to lift them to the next level once again.”

What happened:

Not so evenly matched after all and make that a huge edge in star power for Pittsburgh. A major factor in this short series turned out to be the play of Cam Ward, who surely would want to have that game four infield fly, finger-rollesque goal off the sticks of Max Talbot and teammate Anton Babchuk back, among others.

And now, for the first time all postseason, I don’t have to rewrite my Cup Final prediction!

JJ’s Stanley Cup Final Outlook

Detroit Red Wings vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

A rematch of epic proportions. The defending champs against the league’s hottest club. Not exactly David vs. Goliath. Goliath vs. Goliath might be more accurate. As I wrote in today’s Versus piece:

The Penguins are playing their best hockey of the season but face their toughest test yet in a return engagement against a stalwart Wings team that will no doubt refuse to fork over the coveted hardware that they truly see as their personal possession.

Is it time for Sid and Geno to bask in Stanley Cup glory? Or will the Big Red Wing Machine send the Pens waddling home for the second straight season? With as much momentum as Pittsburgh carries into the final showdown, it’s hard to side elsewhere. At the same time, Detroit’s as close to a sure bet as this league has seen since the dynasty days of the Edmonton Oilers and the New York Islanders.

With both teams in possession of explosive offensive potential, more than capable blue line groups and clutch goaltending, the outcome of this year’s Stanley Cup Final could still go in either direction.

But I’ll go the way of the flightless bird in a reversal of fortune from last season’s finale.

Penguins in 7

Bonus: Sidney Crosby earns Conn Smythe honors, silencing his remaining critics (and hopefully shaving that dreadful mustache!)

Looking forward to a weekend of Stanley Cup action. Back-to-backs are a great start!

Until next time …

JJ

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