The third round of the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs get underway tonight as we have reached the final four this year. I was completely wrong in making my picks for the conference semifinals, going 0 for 4. Detroit annihilated my favorite team, the Colorado Avalanche; Pittsburgh blitzed the New York Rangers; Dallas upset favored San Jose; and Philadelphia stunned regular season Eastern Conference winner Montreal rather easily. With this turn of events, I am reduced to rooting for Pittsburgh to win the Cup this year. Pittsburgh last won the Stanley Cup in 1992. Here are my picks for the conference finals:
= EAST: Pittsburgh Penguins v Philadelphia Flyers=
The Penguins have the edge in team speed, offense, and goal tending, Philly has an edge in defense, special teams, and physicality. This will be Pittsburgh's stiffest series this postseason, and the Flyers have all the pieces to win this conference final. The Battle of Pennsylvania will be a bruising, close, tough struggle, but in the end, I see the Pens returning to the Stanley Cup Finals.....
PENGUINS, 4 games to 3
=
WEST: Detroit Redwings v Dallas Stars=
It is difficult to find an area of the game where Dallas would have an edge over the machine that is Detroit. The Redwings are deep, fast, skilled, and strong. Dallas was able to overcome a sloppy and underachieving San Jose club that was more talented in the semis through hard work and taking advantage of their opportunities. This will not be the case in this series with Detroit. The workman-like Redwings are going full throttle in every way and will make easy work of the overmatched Stars.....
REDWINGS, 4 games to 1
=
*****
Eddy Arnold was a giant and legend in country music with 28 number one hits and the greatest charts performance in music genre's history. Arnold rose from humble beginnings in Tennesee and was a standard for listeners throughout the 1960s. His voice and music were quite relaxing and soothing. I remember listening to records of his as a youth as he was a favorite, among others, of my parents. Occasionally when I and my siblings were put to bed in our early youths, our mom would play his music on a record player to help us fall asleep. Arnold was married for 66 years to his wife whose own death preceded his by less than two months. He leaves two adult children as well as other heirs.
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