The finals are finally here; live-blogging fun tonight
Who is the last NHL player to score a goal in a Stanley Cup playoff game? If you guessed Stephane Robidas, buy yourself a beer (we'd suggest a tasty Bass Ale for those of age, and an ice cold Stewart's for our younger readers). Yes, it does feel like Robidas's goal in Game 6 against the Detroit Red Wings came in 1972 rather than back on May 19. But we've never believed that puckhead passion about a clash of the titans, like the one between the Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins, would somehow be muted by the delay between conference and Cup finals. We don't need some forced "fan fest" featuring Kid Rock and Bob Probert trading verses on "Bawitdaba" to keep our interest. The most important series of the season should be interesting enough.
I'm on record as predicting Penguins in seven; although Detroit's team defense can be so dominating that it could go completely in the other direction, with the Wings winning quickly. Leahy likes the Penguins in six, and says the difference will be goaltending: "Say what you want about Marc-Andre Fleury, but he will carry the Penguins in this series." He also has a nice collection of picks from around the Web on Going Five Hole. Faceoff Factor has a great tally of MSM media and blog predictions, with only about three or four pundits claiming this series is going less than six. Amazing.
We'll be live-blogging every game of the Stanley Cup finals, beginning with Game 1 tonight -- Puck Daddy's Matt Romig will host the fun. (We'll be using that great Cover It Live technology for our live-bloggin' that Skeets has used to perfection over on Ball Don't Lie.) Stop by, join in the excitement and bring the funny as these teams finally face off for the Chalice. It should be a blast.
