There are only two professional sports that Walt gets excited about. One is hockey -- ice hockey, for those of you residing in warmer climes. The other is not.
The other is certainly not soccer -- or football as the alleged sport is misnamed in the ROTW. What kind of a game is that?! I mean, you can't use your hands, you can't hold a piece of wood and clobber somebody. Some sport. Bah.
So, the National Hockey League regular season is over. It must be spring because the Leafs are out. Only 16 teams are left to begin the contest for Lord Stanley's silverware. Here's Walt's call for the first round.
Western Conference
Colorado Avalanche (finished 8th) gets a shot at the San Jose Sharks (1st). The Avs have youth, but that could be a minus rather thana plus. And they have Duchene, my pick for rookie of the year (just ahead of Tyler Myers of Buffalo). But the Sharks have a top gun in Dany Heatley. Sharks in 6.
Nashville Predators (7th) takes on Chicago Blackhawks (2nd). References to "a Cinderella team" are such cliches that I hesitate to use the phrase, but here we have two. Chicago's got two great young players in Kane and Toews, plus the best sweaters in the NHL. Nashville is the classic Team No-Name, to the point where I can't name even one of their players. But if there's going to be an upset in the west, this is the series in which it will happen. Nashville in 7.
Los Angeles Kings (6th) are supposedly in tough against Vancouver Canucks (3rd). Vancouver has the Swedish twins and Rob Luongo, who shone in goal for Canada in the Olympics. But Luongo's star has dimmed a bit, perhaps due to the weight of the gold medal around his neck. And a winning team needs more than one line. Still, CBC is making this the marquee series, so I see it going 7 games, with the Canucks coming out on top...just barely.
Detroit Red Wings (5th) vs Phoenix Coyotes (4th). What's this about Detroit having a hard time? Phoenix has home ice advantage but so what? They play in a market that just isn't ready for hockey, to the point where they've had trouble giving away tickets. They've got a hot goalie but Detroit's rookie Jimmy Howard is 15-0-2 in his last 17 outings. How hot is that?! Phoenix will be lucky to win one. Detroit in 5.
Eastern Conference next time.
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