Hockey Thoughts: What it Feels Like to Win

I guess it's about time for me to address what happened on Sunday.  I was drunk Sunday night, hungover on Monday, and simply spent Tuesday and Wednesday.  So, I'll do something "productive" in the thirty minutes I'm required to wait after getting my allergy shots!  If I wait too much longer, the second round will have already started. 

I still haven't wrapped my brain around it, and I'm not sure I'm ready to say much at all.  I'm not ready to make my predictions for the second round, particularly since I've been trying to give my brain a hockey vacation for the last few days to recharge emotionally from the Preds' win.  I'll try to work on picks later tonight or tomorrow.  With that said... 


I'll admit that toward the end of Friday's game I was not feeling positive.  With about five minutes remaining I was utterly depressed.  Then the unthinkable happened.  We tied the game with 35 seconds remaining by pulling our goalie.  Then we won in OT.  Going into Sunday's game I wasn't nervous.  I had a feeling.  Charles called it.  And all was well. 


It was exciting and emotional.  I cried for the last three minutes of the game, after holding back tears for the whole second half.  With the exception of Sully's goal, I did a good job of maintaining composure--aided by shovelling popcorn into my face.  We yelled, partied, celebrated, etc...

It was unbelievably relieving and exciting at the same time.  I felt like I was floating for days, even with a brutal hangover and running on too little sleep.  It kinda felt like we'd won IT.  Not the Stanley Cup...I'm sure the excitement at that point is off the charts...but just that we'd won IT.  You know, IT.  Whatever IT is.  The last battle, the final match.  My brain wasn't ready to abandon the happiness and joy it felt from winning to think about what happened next.  that we'd actually have to play another team, and one (out of any of the potential options at the time) that was vastly better than either us or the Ducks.  It was too amazing to look ahead.  Why spoil it with depressing thoughts of actually having to play another round...when we WON IT!


I'm not sure it's really sunk in.  Until late Tuesday night we didn't even know who we were going to play.  Once I found out, I refused to overthink it.  I had deep-down wanted Detroit.  I had mentally prepared for Detroit.  Vancouver, well, that's a whole other animal.  Then they sprung it on us late yesterday afternoon that the first game would be tonight.  I'm simply not mentally or physically ready.  I haven't run down the possibilities in my mind and I'm exhausted.  The only thing I'm grateful for right now is the start time that's an hour earlier than usual, so I have some hope of getting a little rest tonight.  I'd like to believe that I'll either be so excited or so upset that I won't be able to sleep much.  I think that I'll be so drained that all I'll want to do is sleep.

One thing about making it to the second round is that immediately after the euphoria wears off, it's exponentially more stressful than the first round.  Even though I had a good feeling about the Preds this time around, and picked them to win (in 6, no less), I still wouldn't have been surprised had they lost.  Processing those emotions is familiar.  I have plenty of practice.  By now, I'd have started to feel better. 

I'm used to not really caring at this point.  Frankly, I'm not sure I have enough hockey-energy in reserve to make it through even a short round two, let alone a protracted battle to 6 or 7.  Hopefully, once the puck drops tonight I'll feel differently and find renewed energy I didn't know I had.  And hopefully the Preds do, too.  Even more hopefully, the Canucks will be out of steam after their hard-fought battle with Chicago.  But why think about that now?  I'll go crazy if I do!  I'll think about it tomorrow...because tomorrow is another day!

Hockey Thoughts: Playoff Picks, Part 1

I know everyone is just dying for my Round 1 Playoff picks, so here we go...

#4 Ducks vs. #5 Preds
Yeah, yeah it's out of order but I'm going with my team first!  This is the highest seed the Preds have ever been blessed with, and everyone keeps saying this could be our year to make it to the second round.  My head tells me otherwise, but my heart and gut are telling me it's go time!  On the one hand, we've owned the Ducks this season.  On the other hand, we are notorious for first round flops.  On the other, other hand the Ducks' staring goalie, for all intents and purposes is Dan "It's all in my Head" Ellis.  The Preds haven't been scoring much this season, but when they do, it's a group effort.  The Ducks have one solid scoring line.  However, they don't need much more when the Rocket Trophy winner is on their team...plus my favorite sleazy-moustache sportin' player Teemu Selanne.  Used to be Johan Franzen I feared when it came to one-man Preds killing ability (to get the puck in the net) but the past two years, it's been Selanne.  I expect the Preds to put up a fight, and I expect the Ducks to fight back even harder.  But if we can control Perry and Selanne, I think we have this one.

Verdict: Preds in 6

#1 Capitals vs. #8 Rangers
This series scares me.  The Rangers had the Caps' number all season long, but most of the times they played were during the Caps' dark days of rebuilding.  The Caps need this.  The Caps want this.  I expect this to be gritty and dirty.  I don't have much faith in the Caps' goaltending.  But I do have faith that my boys can finally bring it home.  The Caps aren't known for wrapping it up early, though.  I fully expect this to go the full seven games. 

Verdict: Caps in 7

#1 Canucks vs. #8 Blackhawks
I've said more than once that if one team had a chance of unseating Vancouver it would be Chicago.  I also didn't expect Chicago to squeak in by the seat of their pants.  In the end, Chicago is not the same team they were last year, and Vancouver is hungry.  Deflate Towes and you deflate the entire team.  Despite all the injuries, Vancouver is a scoring powerhouse that isn't lacking on defense either. 

Verdict: Canucks in 6

#2 Sharks vs. #7 Kings
They split the season series 3-3, with two of San Jose's losses coming in the shootout.  What appears at first blush to be a difficult one to call seems pretty clear to me.  The Kings just don't have it.  I don't see much different in them this post-season over last post-season when everyone had them pegged to go deep.  Except they are missing their leading scorer and haven't had time to adapt.  San Jose becomes a different team in the Playoffs, and although I don't think they'll go all the way this year (again), I do think they will plow through the Kings with relative ease. 

Verdict: Sharks in 6

#3 Wings vs. #6 Coyotes
Yeah, the Coyotes gave the Wings a run for their money last year, but I don't think this Phoenix team has as much heart.  The Wings have a little weakness in net, but they are a Playoff Machine.  Expect the Wings to want some revenge over last year's near embarrassment.  Once the Wings turn it on, it's over.

Verdict: Wings in 5

#2 Flyers vs. #7 Sabres
Everyone thought the Flyers were the team to beat, but they lost quite a bit of steam as the season came to a close.  I'm not sure they can get it back, especially facing a team as hot and desperate as Buffalo.  This one will be a battle of wills between the goaltenders, but I think Philly is going to pull out the mother of all disappointments, even though they will take it to the wire as usual. 

Verdict: Sabres in 7

#3 Bruins vs. #6 Canadiens
Due to the history of this regular season series between these two it has the potential to be the hottest match-up overall.  I just have a feeling that it will not meet those expectations and will fizzle out after the first game.  Boston is likely to underestimate Montreal after the total beat-down they put on them in the last game of the season series.  Montreal has a major chip on their shoulder, and has lots to prove.  The Caps greatly underestimated them last season at their peril.  Price and Thomas will be the stars of the series, but without team support Thomas will, unfortunately, lose this battle.  Price seems to do best when unsupported by his teammates.  The longer the series drags on the more it favors the Habs.

Verdict: Habs in 7

#4 Penguins vs. #5 Lightning
Unfortunately, this one isn't hard to decide.  The Lightning just don't have what it takes.  They looked good early on, but lost traction.  Stamkos will probably not wake up in time to help his team.  Pittsburgh is on a Mission from God, and vastly outscored Tampa in the regular season. 

Verdict: Shittsburgh in 5