So I nailed the conference finals pretty well, only off by a single game combined in both series. Overall, I went 6-2 in the opening round, 2-2 in the conference semis, and 2-0 in the conference finals, for a combined record of 10-4. Respectable, but not transcendent.

As for the finals, I have only one hope, and my prediction reflects that hope. I want the series to go as long as possible. The conference finals were pretty anticlimactic, with both series jumping out to 3-0 leads. I just want to see some good hockey, with games in doubt until the end, which is more that I could say for the ultimate games in the last round.

I’d say the story of the playoffs so for has been the way the Pens have quietly played very good defense. With the 8,000 time Norris winner and old man river, everyone expected the Wings to be strong defensively, and they haven’t disappointed. But the largely unknown Brooks Orpik, Rob Scuderi, Kris Letang, and Hal Gill have played very well for Pittsburgh. And their only well known D-man (Gonchar) has played even better, despite being known as a scoreboard threat. I expect the series to be the most offensively exciting series of any we’ve seen yet this year. And I hope to the gods of hockey (that’s means you, Barry Melrose) that the series goes at least six.

Detroit in seven.