Conference Finals

This one promises to be a war and it could be a classic seven game war as bad blood has already been spilled this year when Chris Neil hit Chris Drury and Ray Emery took on all comers. The path to the Eastern Finals has been easier for the Senators as they took out the young Penguins and the veteran Devils in five. Meanwhile the Sabres have emerged as the Kings of New York beating the Islanders and Rangers. While the Islanders series was easy the Rangers series was a struggle as the Sabres were only 7 seconds away from a crucial Game 5 loss at home. Sometimes teams that come that close to the brink expend all their energy, while other times it gives them a boost. Look for the latter to be the case this time around as the Sabres have a team of destiny aurora surrounding them. Look for it to be close, but Chris Drury to come through again as the Sabres shuffle off to the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Red Wings should not be alive; they were badly outplayed in the first four games against the Sharks. However, after the Sharks let two 2-0 leads slip away including a heartbreaker in San Jose in Game 4 the series was 2-2. From their it was all Wings, as they outscored the Sharks 6-1. Meanwhile it has been a cake walk for the Ducks as they beat the Wild and Canucks in five games. If the Red Wings put themselves in the same hole this time around they will not be climbing out as the Ducks defense led by Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer has been smothering so far. Look for them to continue to smoother as the older Wings get out physicaled while the Ducks 1-2 Goalie Combo of Giguere and Bryzgalov keeps the Wings off the scoreboard. Look for the Ducks to control the series from beginning to end as they advance to the Stanley Cup Finals in six games.