Stanley Cup Finals

At the start of the season the Ducks were the trendy pick to win the Stanley Cup with both television and written prognosticators, they were supposed to be here, the Senators were not. Last year in fact was supposed to be the Senators year, before Dominick Hasek was injured during the Olympics, and the Senators had their seemingly annual postseason fade. This year that fade has not come as the Senators have been nearly flawless in the playoffs with dominating five game series victories over the up and coming Penguins, the veteran cup tested Devils, and the Sabres who won the President’s Trophy. Leading the Senators in to the final has been their top line led by Captain Daniel Alfredsson as they have been red hot, even making Martin Brodeur look average. The Ducks have arrived here on defense as Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger are both Norris Trophy Finalist, while Goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere is quickly becoming one of the best playoff goalies in the NHL. On talent alone the Ducks seem to have the upper hand as it would be hard to imagine the Ducks losing a short series. However, the Senators are red hot, and getting great play from their own Goalie Ray Emery, but the Senators momentum could have already been stopped, as by the time the Finals start it would have been nine days since the Senators beat the Sabres in overtime. While the Ducks themselves have been off six games momentum is not as great as worry for them, as their talent is more on the defensive side, as opposed to the groove the Senators offense was in. Game 1 could be very telling either way as if the Senators offense is still clicking and able to draw first blood in Anaheim, the cup could be on its way to Canada’s Capital City, but if the Senators are rusty and out of sync it could be a quick series in favor of the Ducks. In the end look for the Ducks to get the jump, but the Senators to be rejuvenated at home, in the end home ice will be the difference, as this series goes seven games with the Stanley Cup calling Southern California home for the summer.