Conference Finals

These teams when they drop the puck may think they are looking in a mirror since they are many similarities. Before the lockout both teams struggled on and off the ice, both teams have turned to rookie goalies in the playoffs with Ryan Miller starting over Martin Biron for the Sabers, and Cam Ward taking over for Martin Gerber for the Hurricanes. Both teams are filled with young stars with veteran captains who have been down this path before, and both teams are coming off stunningly easy victories in the second round. What this series may come down to is who has the best finished and that finisher, with three overtime wins over the Senators the Sabres have shown they are capable of finishing and that’s where this series will turn look for several big goals from Chris Drury as the Sabres win in 6 games.

In the playoffs look out for the hot goalie, when you find him keep your on him and that’s the path to who will win the Stanley Cup. Three years ago it was Jean-Sebastien Giguere who took the Ducks to within 1 game of the Promised Land winning the Conn Smythe along the way. Guguere struggled this time around and its been Iyla Bryzgalov that has been Lightning in the old water bottle on the goal net. If the Oilers are to have a shot in this series they must get off to a fast start and take advantage of the Ducks rust, because if Bryzgalov is able to stay as hot as he was in the last six game it will be over quickly. Look for Bryzgalov to get another shutout or two thanks to the Ducks defense led by Scott Niedermayer who knows how to win a cup or three as the Ducks shuffle off to Buffalo in 5 games.