There’s only 12 days until the start of the Oilers regular season, and their training camp roster still sits at 42 players. With a maximum allowed roster of 23 players come opening day, there remains 19 more cuts to make. Some of these are easy, such as Dean Arsene, Ryan O’Marra, Taylor Chorney, etc. Some however will not be so easy. Jordan Eberle has seemingly played well enough to merit a further look much as Sam Gagner and Andrew Cogliano did at training camp in 2007. Not to mention the Brule/Pouliot debate for the 4th line centre position. And then the grand daddy of all: What to do with Robert Nilsson?
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Yes, two games have already been played. Yes, both of those games have gone to the Detroit Red Wings. Yes, I still stick by my previous prediction: the Pittsburgh Penguins will win the Stanley Cup this year.

Stanley Cup Finals

DETROIT vs PITTSBURGH
PREDICTION: PITTSBURGH PENGUINS in 7 games.

Much as with my Conference Semi-Final picks, I did make this prediction before the start of the series, I just haven’t had time to write this entry. Pittsburgh, at least before the series started, looked more determined, and better than they did last year. With Crosby and Malkin playing better than anyone has played in the playoffs since the lockout and with Jordan Staal looking like an even better shutdown man than before, it looked like easy going. It hasn’t been that way thus far but I still have faith.

Home-ice advantage for Detroit really hindered Crosby’s ability to get anything done other than a few great plays in the first two games. Zetterberg is a talented shutdown guy. Home-ice for Pittsburgh should really let the Penguins play their game and bring it back to Detroit for game 5 tied at 2 games apiece.

One can hope at least.

Tim Thomas and Michael Ryder stunned by Scott Walker's OT goal in Game 7.

I’m at a total loss as to what happened last night in Beantown. Boston was clearly the better team on paper, but the Canes seem to play like a team possessed in the post-season. They made the Cup final in 2002, missed the playoffs in 2003 and 2004, then the lockout, the again made the Cup final (and won) in 2006, missed the playoffs in 2007 and 2008, and now they’re back to the Conference finals in 2009. Almost seems pre-destined.

I’d also like to point out how disappointed I am in Washington’s game 7 performance. Clearly the team that actually showed up to play was going to be the winner and that was the Penguins. I’m not, however, angry or disappointed that Pittsburgh still has a shot at the cup. My roommate, as I’m learning this post-season, is a complete bandwagon jumper. We’re both devout Oilers fans during the season, and yes, I do pick teams to cheer for in the playoffs when the Oilers are out, but I don’t go head over heels for one team or another. Most of the time you just naturally end up cheering for the team you pick to win a certain series, however he practically becomes that team’s #1 fan. During game 7 he was all up in Ovechkin’s face saying he didn’t want Washington to win because Ovechkin is cocky and Crosby is a true gentleman who never whines. I was beside myself at that statement. He was also Vancouver’s biggest fan during both first round series.

Regardless, I went 2-2 in the second round, winning the West and losing the East. So far this post-season I’m 7-5.

Eastern Conference Finals

#4 PITTSBURGH vs. #6 CAROLINA
PREDICTION: PITTSBURGH PENGUINS in 7 games.
I’ve mostly chosen Pittsburgh because I want to see a repeat of last year’s final with a different outcome and if the Penguins can get past a strong Carolina team in the Conference finals I think they have a great shot at beating Detroit in the Finals. I also have to think that Carolina has to lose a series eventually. In their last 6 series they’re 6-0 going back to the ’06 playoffs. I’m hoping the strain of back-to-back 7 game series will finally take its toll on Carolina. In the words of my roommate “I LOVE THE PENGUINS” but really I’d just prefer them over Carolina.

Western Conference Finals

#2 DETROIT vs. #4 CHICAGO
PREDICTION: DETROIT RED WINGS in 6 games.
Eventually, falling behind 2 goals in practically every game and clawing your way back to victory has to catch up to you, especially in the playoffs, and that’s exactly what’s going to happen in this series. Chicago won’t be able to squeak out victory in the dying seconds of every game against Detroit. I’m going to chalk this one up to youth. Chicago’s defense is too inexperienced, and the shutdown pair of Keith and Seabrook is no much for the likes of Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Hossa, Franzen, and Holmstrom. If Pronger, Neidermayer, Whitney and Beauchemin couldn’t do it, I can’t see the Blackhawks getting it done. This will, however, be the first time I cheer for the team I didn’t pick. Detroit’s got a dynasty going and I’d love to see Duncan Keith (with whom I graduated high school) make the Finals.

Stanley Cup Finals

DETROIT vs. PITTSBURGH

STANLEY CUP WINNER: PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
In the repeat of last year’s finals, Pittsburgh will hopefully come out on top. Marc-Andre Fleury will have to stand on his head, and Malkin can’t disappear like last year, but otherwise I like their chances.

Let me preface this by saying these picks have not been influenced whatsoever by the games that have been played thus far. I’m simply behind the 8-ball getting this posted.

Results from the First Round: 5-3

Not as strong as I would have liked obviously, but above .500.

Eastern Conference

#1 BOSTON vs. #6 CAROLINA
PREDICTION: BOSTON BRUINS in 6 games.
Again, Boston is just too strong a team for their opponent. They proved that in the regular season sweeping Carolina and now they’re going to prove that they’re the elite team in the playoffs. Eric Staal just doesn’t stand a chance up against Zdeno Chara.

#2 WASHINGTON vs #4 PITTSBURGH
PREDICTION: WASHINGTON CAPITALS in 7 games.
This one is a crapshoot. I can’t really say that one team is stronger than the other. I would just like to see Washington advance ahead of Pittsburgh since they had their shot last year.

Western Conference

#2 DETROIT vs #8 ANAHEIM
PREDICTION: DETROIT RED WINGS in 6 games.
Aside from the fact that Anaheim looks like they could easily become the next Edmonton in terms of a Cinderella run to the finals, Detroit is still just too strong of a team all-around. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see this go either way.

#3 VANCOUVER vs #4 CHICAGO
PREDICTION: CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS in 7 games.
Again, perhaps I just don’t like the Canucks that even if they are the only Canadian hope left I can’t bring myself to cheer for them. It would seem almost silly to bet against the Canucks after their easy first round win but I like the youth in Chicago and their never-quit attitude.

Stanley Cup Prediction

BOSTON vs DETROIT

STANLEY CUP WINNER: BOSTON BRUINS

With San Jose taking the early exit their spot is taken by the next most likely team, Detroit, in the finals. But Boston will prevail. They have more consistent goaltending, an offence that rivals Detroit’s for depth but they play a system that will wear down the Wings veterans.

I promise to try to get my Conference Finals predictions up before they start.

The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs have finally arrived. Despite the fact that my beloved Oilers failed to make the post-season for the third straight season this is still the best time to watch hockey. Every game is a battle to the bitter end. Rarely is there a boring game. This is a time where heroes are made, such as Fernando Pisani in the 2006 playoffs when he scored 14 goals including the first two goals in the game 6 comeback against Detroit (witness that here as I often do) and the shorthanded OT winner in Game 5 of the final against Carolina (again, you can see the highlights from that game here).

So I’ve decided to make predictions by round this year as well as predict who, from the remaining teams, I think will win the Stanley Cup. Here we go:

Eastern Conference

#1 BOSTON vs #8 MONTREAL
PREDICTION: BOSTON BRUINS in 5 games.
Boston is just far too strong for this Montreal team. I predicted a Detroit/Montreal Final at the beginning of the season however this is as far as Carey Price, Alex Kovalev and the rest of the Canadiens are going to make it this year.

#2 WASHINGTON vs #7 NEW YORK RANGERS
PREDICTION: WASHINGTON CAPITALS in 7 games.
Washington’s offense is far too deep and their third and fourth lines are big. They will wear down the Rangers defense and not even King Henrik will be able to stop Alex the Great & co.

#3 NEW JERSEY vs #6 CAROLINA
PREDICTION: CAROLINA HURRICANES in 7 games.
This is a tough series to call with New Jersey not playing well down the stretch and Carolina on an absolute tear coming into the playoffs. I just don’t think New Jersey has what it takes to beat this team. Brodeur hasn’t exactly been himself in the playoffs the past few years.

#4 PITTSBURGH vs #5 PHILADELPHIA
PREDICTION: PHILADELPHIA FLYERS in 6 games.
Another tough one to call when the stats on these two teams are so similar. I think Philadelphia will have learned from their experience last season and they have a more balanced attack than Pittsburgh. If the Flyers can shut down the dyanmic duo of Crosby and Malkin they should have this series.

Western Conference

#1 SAN JOSE vs #8 ANAHEIM
PREDICTION: SAN JOSE SHARKS in 5 games.
San Jose is just far too good and Anaheim was far too mediocre this season. Anaheim, despite their all-star defense corps of Pronger, Niedermayer, Whitney and Beauchemin, won’t be able to handle the Sharks offense.

#2 DETROIT vs #7 COLUMBUS
PREDICTION: DETROIT RED WINGS in 5 games.
As much as I want Columbus to be this year’s Cinderella story, it’s just not going to happen against this Detroit team who looks every bit as good as the team who won the cup last year. The only question mark for Detroit this year is in goal, and despite Steve Mason and his 10 shutouts during the regular season, it won’t be enough to propel the club’s first post-season appearance into their first series win.

#3 VANCOUVER vs #6 ST. LOUIS
PREDICTION: ST. LOUIS BLUES in 7 games.
Maybe it’s just because I dislike the Canucks but I really feel this St. Louis team could give the Canucks a run for their money and sneak away with the series. Granted, it could be in the same fashion as Dallas’ series victory over Vancouver a few years ago.

#4 CHICAGO vs #5 CALGARY
PREDICTION: CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS in 5 games.
Again, maybe it’s the Oilers fan in me coming out, but Chicago has owned Calgary all season, winning all 4 games. It’s Nikolai Khabibulin’s first playoff appearance since he won the cup with Tampa Bay and despite Calgary having a distinct advantage in playoff experience, it won’t be enough to overcome their injuries.

Stanley Cup Prediction

BOSTON vs SAN JOSE

STANLEY CUP WINNER: BOSTON BRUINS

I know I’m going out on a big limb to say that it will be the top team in the East vs the top team in the West, but it’s the most likely outcome as I see it. I’ve been known to be wrong on more than one occasion so I won’t accept any responsibility if you use my predictions in your betting.

In a couple of weeks I’ll be back with my second round picks.

Saturday was Hockey Day in Canada. All 6 Canadian teams were in action against each other. Ottawa vs. Montreal. Vancouver vs. Toronto. Calgary vs. Edmonton. My friend Nathanael won tickets through his work and invited me to go with him. I couldn’t pass up my first Battle of Alberta and after making sure it was alright with the fiancee (note to all prospective grooms out there, ALWAYS check with the boss first). I decided to liveblog the game taking a cue from one of my Twitter friends who had been doing the same from the Blue Jackets game. Here are some of the better Twitter posts from that night. You can read them all on my Twitter starting about halfway down the second page in reverse chronological order.

Starting the night off right:

2 beers to start the game: $15.50
7:51 PM Feb 21st from TwitterBerry

One beer down for puck drop. No Hemsky on the starting lineup. Penner Horcoff and Cole. Weirdness.
8:11 PM Feb 21st from TwitterBerry

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For those who know me, I’m a big Edmonton Oilers fan. Always have been, and not just because of the glory days back in the 80′s, or the ’06 Cup Run (which still saddens me). I think the reason I love them so much is because they’re a challenge. They’ve always been a team that should be good but never performs up to expectations. This dynamic makes it like a relationship that you have to work at. You can’t just turn on a game and know that they’re most likely going to win, like if you’re a Wings fan (or Sharks and Bruins as it is this year). You make a connection to the players and feel like if you give them enough love you can will them to win. It’s a generally futile effort which more often than not leaves you feeling like you’re the one doing all of the work in the relationship.

Maybe that’s why there are so many Leafs fans? Hmm… I digress.

Ales Hemsky and Lubomir Visnovsky celebrate

Another big reason why the Edmonton Oilers are one of the hardest teams to love is their inability to find any consistency in their game. They’ll be riding a high for 3 games and all will be right in Oil Country (that’s what we call it), but then they’ll lose 2 or 3 in a row and all of a sudden The O.C. is calling for the coach’s head, with yours truly wielding a pitchfork leading the angry peasantfolk to The Pharmacy (Rexall Place) chanting “Fire MacT! Fire MacT!”.

Not only is the team as a whole inconsistent, but the players themselves are as well. That might go without saying, but some players just seem to play a consistent game, game in and game out (Ales Hemsky, Ethan Moreau and Dwayne Roloson come to mind), but others struggle to find the net for 8-9 games but then all of sudden score 4 goals in the next 3 games, but disappear again for another 10. Others just never get it going in the first place yet the coaching staff continue to give them icetime thinking they’ll eventually turn it around. Such naivety!

Without going much further, let’s just say that for some the Oilers just aren’t worth the effort citing their lack of consistency. For others, the “fairweather fans” have nothing but good things to say when they’re playing well, but jump off the bandwagon when the going gets tough. But, for a guy like me, I’m there through thick and thin; the good times and the bad. Whether it’s a 10-2 blowout like against Buffalo on January 27, or a 7-2 win like against Columbus on November 18, I’m there, cheering the team on like a good boyfriend should.

So Oilers, let’s buck up for the next 32 games, play a consistent well rounded game at both ends of the ice and make some noise in the playoffs like in ’06.

GO OILERS GO!!!