Conference Final Preview

Due to "high demand" I have decided to put my Conference Final predictions up. For your enjoyment...

As I discussed in my last post, the Eastern Conference has been competely turned upside down in the 2010 playoffs. After elimating two powerhouses in the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals, the Montreal Canadiens now move onto a completely different foe in the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers are arguably tougher, deeper, and are running at full speed after coming back from a 3-0 series deficit to win the series 4-3 against the Boston Bruins.

Montreal has played very well in these playoffs and has a lot of confidence heading into round three as well, but they also have not faced a defense quite like the Philadelphia Flyers either. Chris Pronger is still doing what he does best in shutting down the opposing teams top scorers and punishing anyone who tries to take liberties with his goaltender or teamates. In addition, he also provides a booming shot and great passing abilities which helps create offense.

Along with solid defense, the Flyers have been getting the maximum from its forwards. Mike Richards and Scott Hartnell have been brilliant in these playoffs, providing the perfect balance of grit, leadership, and offense. Between getting Simon Gagne back from injury, the rejuvinated Danny Briere playing some great hockey, and the emergence of Claude Giroux, Ville Leino, and James van Reimsdyk the forward lines seem to have hit their stride. This is all despite the fact that the Flyers are playing without one of their top scoring forwards in Jeff Carter.

As I said last week, I have to say that the Philadelphia Flyers win this series. They are simply playing too strong and the Habs will not be able to contain their depth on forward. It will be interesting to see how the Canadiens react to the embarassment that occured in game one.

Onto the Western Conference where things turned out a little more predictable with the first and second seeds meeting in the Conference Final. This matchup is fitting coming out of the west, as both teams battled back and forth all season for first place in the Western Conference.

One thing that I really like about this series is that both teams have a lot to prove. Has San Jose finally risen up from past playoff failures? Can they finally do what has been expected for years and win a Stanley Cup Championship? Or, will the young talented Blackhawks prove that they are finally ready to win a Stanley Cup Championship?

In the case of San Jose, anything less than a Stanley Cup win will prove to be a failure. On the other hand, this extremely talented Blackhawks squad is hoping to show the rest of the NHL that they will be the best team in the NHL for years to come.

I think this series is going to be hardfought and close the whole way. Both teams want this win bad. My instinct is that Chicago wins this series, but not without a good fight from the San Jose Sharks.

So there it is everyone. I say that we get a Philadelphia Flyers and Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup Final matchup.