I have greatly enjoyed these playoffs so far, despite the fact that both teams I like to cheer for went on holiday two weeks before they started and failed to qualify.
The odds that you could cheer for two teams and have them both comfortably in the playoffs only to both lose their starting goalies and then go on to lose five (or more) games in a row to miss them, have to be extraordinary.
The odds are about the same I could make such horrible playoff predictions.
Or are they? I don't really believe that making predictions is really worth anything at all. You see, psychic powers, "feelings" and "hunches" have all proven to be scientifically about as real as ghosts, astrology, and magic. In reality, they are fictional.
The best sports handicapper in the world operates somewhere around 60% and the only way to accurately pick higher than 50% (over a reasonable amount of time; anyone can get lucky in a short spurt) is to bet the favorite all the time. Betting the favorite all the time cannot win you any money, since the underdog will win occasionally and wipe out all your winnings.
Basically sports betting is a foolish endeavor for everyone except the experts who are willing to pour over data until their eyes bleed. For everyone else, whether sports blogger or random person, the picks are no more meaningful than ones made by an arbitrary observer who has never watched hockey.
Just for example, anyone who "predicted" the Habs would beat the Bruins was just guessing. The Bruins were the heavy favorite and probably had a better chance of winning the longer the series went- for example if they were to play a best 10, 15, 20, the Bruins chance of winning would go up and up, since they obviously have the better overall roster.
That preamble just to explain why I picked by picks randomly: they don't matter.
For round one I was 2-6.
In round two, since I was so terrible at round one, I decided to go "Opposite George-style" and make my picks in the fashion of George Costanza when he decides he is a failure and will get better results if he does everything opposite his initial instincts.
No doubt some readers would agree that I should probably do this for more than just making playoff picks.
Anyways, going Costanza-Style and also using the help of noted psychic and master hockey prognosticator Mrs. Cleo, I managed to go 1-3, predicting the Rangers win only.
However, had I actually went with my legit choices, I would have been 3-1, so going Opposite was in fact a terrible idea. I should never have put my rent payment on the Ducks, that is for sure.
Overall, my published predictions are 3-9. That is pretty terrible.
And Mrs.Cleo is totally fired.
For this round, the picks are easy.
First, the Chicago /LA series.
Everyone knows that the Hawks are stacked, but what they don't know is that Kris Versteeg has a new album out. His MC Skillz are going to propel the Hawks to an early lead, but then due to an ill-advised rap beef, the team will be mired in controversy and distracted to the point that an LA comeback will be inevitable.
All kidding aside, this is the real Stanley Cup Final. All due respect to the Rangers and Canadiens, but these are the two best teams in hockey.
As much as I was hoping for a little fresh blood, I have to admit, it's pretty cool as well when the two best teams meet up.
Now, if the NHL was smart they would have a 1-16 seeding system and this would be the REAL Final, but alas, that isn't the case. (Save me the travel and geographic diatribes, I do know why this isn't actually done).
Unfortunately a real danger here is that LA and Chicago kill each other and then are let down playing the Eastern team who then goes on to win the Cup.
For real, anyone picking the winner of this series is kidding themselves. A pick is a guess. LA has an edge in goal, maybe, the Hawks have one on Defense, maybe, and the forwards are a wash. This is going to be a grind and it's impossible to give either team an edge: they both have great rosters, great coaches, great goalies (you have to give Crawford some credit, eventually. And if you're going to give it to Quick, why not Crawford?) both have a recent Cup or two, both have experience etc. etc. etc.
I don't even care who wins this series, both teams are good and both are deserving. It should be fun to watch. As for the East,it is Montreal vs. the Rangers
I am cheering for the Canadiens. I love this team. Especially PK who is, along with Phil Kessel, Patrick Kane, Crosby, Stamkos, OEL and Erik Karlsonn and Ovechkin one of the most exciting players to watch in the whole league. Certainly, even if you hate the Habs he makes their games worth watching.
Again, hard to make the case for one of these teams over the other, but it feels like maybe the Rangers are a bit of an illusion. (It feels that way, but how could I know?) Look for Rick Nash to score some goals finally, and keep an eye on Derek Stepan, who is an underrated player who is also very fun to watch.
Overall, and keep in mind this completely meaningless, I am picking the Canadiens in five and the Kings in seven.
Thanks for reading. Tweets: @james_tanner123