Here we are. All bets are off, as the winners of the Western and Eastern conferences square off to determine who hockey’s champion is for the 2006-07 season. It has been a long year, filled with surprises. One of the surprises will be representing the East in the Ottawa Senators. Ottawa finds themselves in the Stanley Cup Finals after not much of a challenging series against Buffalo. Meanwhile, the west will see one of its best teams from start to finish, the Anaheim Ducks. Anaheim took out the Detroit Red Wings in six games. Before we take a surmise at what is going to happen, let’s visit the past to tell you how each team got here. Anaheim was one of the best teams all season, posting a 48-20-14 regular season record, giving them the two seed, and the third best conference record. As the second seed, they drew the Minnesota Wild in the first round, and easily won in five games. In round two, the Ducks drew Vancouver Canucks, who had just come off a seven game war with Dallas. Despite three overtime games, the Ducks did dispatch the Canucks in just five games, with game five going to a second overtime. To win the West, they would have to play one of the league’s hottest teams in the Detroit Red Wings. Many, including myself, thought that the Wings are an overrated number one seed, and did not expect them to go this far. After giving them a tough four games, the Wings lost the final two games.
On the other side of the coin, Ottawa faltered out of the starting gate this season, starting 17-18-1, before becoming the league’s hottest team heading into the playoffs. They finished with the second best conference record, but thanks to the Sabres having a better record, they would have to settle for a four seed. They would continue their hot ways in one of the best looking match ups in the first round, when the Pittsburgh Penguins came calling. Ottawa answered the bell, and took care of the Pens in five games. After embarrassing the Pens, and their up and coming superstars, the Senators would move on to face a sure-fire Hall-of-Famer in Martin Brodeur. Although the scores would say something different, the Sens took care of the Devils in five games to move to the Eastern Conference finals. Some would argue that if the season was a week longer, the Senators would have possibly won the President’s Trophy. After Buffalo dispatched the New York Rangers, the division foes would meet in a match up that looked tons better on paper. The Sabres barely showed up, and the Senators quickly dispatched them in five games.
With the back story out of the way, it’s time to break down the series, and tell you who gets to walk away with the hardware.
(W2) Anaheim Ducks vs. (E4) Ottawa Senators
Why Anaheim will win
Tough physical hockey, that’s what has brought Anaheim to the dance. Andy McDonald and Teemu Selanne have looked nothing short of spectacular, while Ryan Getzlaf is one of the leaders in scoring. Samuel Pahlsson, Rob Niedermayer and Travis Moen will most likely be given the task of shutting down the Spezza line for Ottawa, and all three are capable of doing that. On the blue line, the Ducks are loaded. Chris Pronger, one of the key cogs of Edmonton’s run last year, is back in the Cup Finals, playing some of the best hockey he has in his career. Scott Niedermayer, Francois Beauchemin, Kent Huskins, Joe DiPenta and Sean O’Donnell make up one of the best supporting blue line casts in hockey. Between the pipes, Jean-Sebastien Giguere is a top candidate for Conn Smythe. The key for the Ducks will be to keep their physical play up, and bring the fight to Ottawa.
Why Ottawa will win
The Senators are red hot, with a 12-3 record so far in the second season. They are more known for their scoring prowess, but it has been their stellar defensive play that has them where they are. They have shut down guys like Sydney Crosby, Evgini Malkin, and Chris Drury. Daniel Alfredsson, who has been criticized in the past as Ottawa’s captain of underachieving teams, has been leading the way this post season, and would have to be Ottawa’s choice for Conn Symthe. Of course, it doesn’t hurt when your line mates are Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza. Yet, with all the talk for line one; their defense hasn’t exactly been chopped liver. Chris Phillips and Anton Volchenkov have been stellar in these playoffs, shutting down some of the league’s top stars. Between the pipes, Ray Emery has played out of his mind this post season. The key for Ottawa will be to get some scoring help beyond line one. There is no question the Ducks are the more physical team, but that should not stop Ottawa.
Who wins the Cup?
Let the entire speculation end. This has potential to be a memorable Stanley Cup Finals. Can Anaheim get revenge on the man who built the foundation of team? Can Ottawa survive the physical play of Anaheim? Those questions will be answered, but the series will be won by the Ottawa Senators in six games. Speed will conquer over power.
One reply on “Stanley Cup Finals Preview and Prediction”
I like ANaheim to win… Even though I’ll probably be wrong like I’ve been all playoffs.
Ottawa’s penalty killing has been so successful because it was hyper-agressive against the Sabres, Devils and Penguins, just attacking the puck relentlessly. The Sabres were on a 5-3 and the penalty killers were mugging the hell out of anybody who touched the puck instead of retreating into the box in front of the net. I’ve never seen anything like it. Problem is, if they try that with Niedermayer and Pronger, they’ll get eaten alive.
Also, I think Anaheim is the physical match of Ottawa unlike the Pens and Sabres (and the Devils ain’t as big and bad as they used to be either).
And lastly, as great as the Sens have been, they’ve gotten their choking label in the past from not being able to handle adversity. How will they handle it if it goes to game 7 after blowing a chance to clinch in Ottawa in overtime or something like that?