My 2024 NHL Today’s Picks (Second Round)

Well hockey fans, the NHL is about to start the Second Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. All but one series, but that will be settled by the end of Sunday. I have a bonus pick in that one, so stay tuned later in the blog for it. Well it just seemed like a typical 1st round playoff series with some teams. Take the Florida Panthers who seem like it was all too simple to beat Tampa Bay Lightning. Now the Panthers have to take on a Bruins team that had to go the extra mile in eliminating the Toronto Maple Leafs in Overtime (Game 7). The New York Rangers made quick work of the Washington Capitals. What is even astonishing is that Alexander Ovechkin didn’t record a single point in the series. That was the biggest difference of the series, and the reason the Rangers are in Round 2. The Rangers face a Carolina Hurricanes team, that had a tough New York Islanders that refused to go away in the end. In the West, both the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers will renew their rivalry here in Round 2. This series I am generally interested in because this will insure a Canadian team in the Conference finals at least. The last Canadian team to win a Stanley Cup was the Montreal Canadiens back in 1993. The last series is Colorado Avalanche against who, we don’t know till later. So here is my Round 2 picks:

Eastern Conference: (Best of Seven Series)

New York Rangers over Carolina Hurricanes

Florida Panthers over Boston Bruins

Western Conference: (Best of Seven Series)

Edmonton Oilers over Vancouver Canucks

Colorado Avalanche over (Stars or Golden Knights)

There you have it, my second round picks are up, and here is bonus pick for Game 7. I have the Dallas Stars over the Las Vegas Golden Knights Later on before the day is out. Enjoy the games, folks!

My 2024 NHL Today’s Picks (Opening Round)

Well we have reach the greatest postseason in sports today. The Stanley Cup Playoffs is here in earnest. I can’t wait to get started on this round. We got some good matchups here, and you should not be disappointed. So how about we get started with the opening round picks:

Best of Seven Series:

Eastern Conference:

New York Rangers over Washington Capitals

Carolina Hurricanes over New York Islanders

Boston Bruins over Toronto Maple Leafs

Florida Panthers over Tampa Bay Lightning

Western Conference:

Vegas Golden Knights over Dallas Stars

Colorado Avalanche over Winnipeg Jets

Edmonton Oilers over Los Angeles Kings

Vancouver Canucks over Nashville Predators

There you have it my opening round picks are up and its time for some Stanley Cup Playoff action.

My Latest OFF THE ICE Commentary

The poor sage of the Arizona Coyotes, and its pending future

Well it seems like yesterday it look liked the Coyotes were determined and adamant on staying in Arizona in hopes in building a new arena. They even announce that they were coming back for at least next season. That was then and how much has it changed within this week alone. Now there is a lot of momentum to bring the Coyotes to Salt Lake City, Utah as early as next season. The owner of the Utah Jazz Basketball team (Ryan Smith) is ready for an NHL team to come to Salt Lake City. Now it has not been announce yet, but it is coming sooner than you think. In fact the NHL Regular Season comes to an end sometime next week. Maybe at that point, something will possibly be announce in regarding the Coyotes future. The Coyotes was supposed to have a pending auction bid to buy some land on June 27. Now it would take a miracle to even get that far, that is if the NHL has its way. The Arizona Coyotes have been linked to so many relocation rumors through the past decade and a half. First there was the Hamilton, Ontario where it appeared a done deal. Only for the NHL to step in and take over the franchise at that point. There was the constant rumors of being moved to Houston, Texas the last few years. Even moving to Quebec City, Quebec was always out there. I mean enough is enough, but we will see about it. The best part that this will be resolved kind of quickly here. It looks like from here that they are moving to Salt Lake City, Utah unless otherwise. The Coyotes have a home game on April 17, and it may be the last one for good. So long Arizona and it was fun while it lasted.

My 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs Picks (The Stanley Cup)

You know sometimes you have to put things and people in perspective sometimes. This has been a weird year in sports, and its only about the halfway point of the season. This Stanley Cup Playoffs season has been a weird one from the opening round. We have seen teams get beat for a variety of reasons, and there are other teams that have no business being in the postseason at all. The Florida Panthers who came out of nowhere to get into the playoffs as one of the wild cards in the Eastern Conference. All they do is keep winning against teams where the impossible has come possible. They beat teams like the Boston Bruins (best regular season of all time), Toronto Maple Leafs (who still cant get to the Finals since 1967), and the Carolina Hurricanes who was the last great hope of getting into the Finals. The Panthers beat them and then some, and now have a grand opportunity to do something that they have never done: win a Stanley Cup. Its there first opportunity in a long time (since 1996), and its been a while for sure. However, a team from Las Vegas has made ice hockey relevant in just a short time (6 years) and now they are in there 2nd Stanley Cup Finals appearance. They are thinking of achieving a championship themselves. So why not Vegas you ask? I believe they can do it, here and now. The Golden Knights have has its challenges thats for sure. Ask the Dallas Stars about them, as they have a new perspective after that brutal series they went through. Ask both the Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets about them? Well somebody will get there 1st ever Stanley Cup Championship and i cant wait to watch it. So here is my pick for the 2023 Stanley Cup:

Vegas Golden Knights over Florida Panthers (in 7 games)

Well its about time for the offseason for the NHL and then everything else. I will be back soon hockey fans!

My 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs Picks (Conference Finals)

Well i cannot think of a single person that guess that these 4 teams would be in the conference finals of this season’s Stanley Cup Playoffs. Yes there are several surprises, but its been happening all playoffs long. We have Florida Panthers vs Carolina Hurricanes, now i know these 2 teams were not the best all season. Maybe Carolina has played well all season, the Panthers had a late season surge in order to get in the playoffs. The Dallas Stars have been impressive at times this season, and they always seem to be in the mix when you think they are not. I think they are the favorite to win a Stanley Cup this season. The Vegas Golden Knights continue there great run in a bounce back year for them, as they didn’t even make the playoffs last season. Now they have a chance to take another swing at getting to a Stanley Cup Final, maybe they can do better the 2nd time around? Let’s see how they do vs The Dallas Stars. Now for my conference final picks:

Eastern Conference:

Carolina Hurricanes over Florida Panthers (in 7 games)

Western Conference:

Dallas Stars over Vegas Golden Knights (in 7 games)

Now i cannot wait for the Stanley Cup Final which would be next for the 2 teams advancing!

My 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs Picks (Opening Round)

Well it is that time once again, and my favorite time on the year. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are here once again, and here come the usual favorites. Oh I’m sorry no Sidney Crosby or even Alexander Ovechkin for the first time since 2006. Hard to believe from this season, and there is one surprise to emerge into the postseason. The Seattle Kraken made the playoffs in only its Second season. So congratulations to them, and there reward is: they play the defending Champions in the Colorado Avalanche. I thought it was a cruel joke at first, but that is who they get. The Boston Bruins had perhaps the greatest regular season (in a single season) of all time with 65 wins and 135 points. Now that is impressive, but it could be all for not if they don’t win it all. Don’t worry Tampa Bay Lightning, we have not forgotten your pursuit of a three peat in winning the Stanley Cup? They will have a difficult road this postseason like the previous ones. I look forward to the games taking place soon. So here is my opening round picks of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Eastern Conference:

Boston Bruins over Florida Panthers (6 games)

Tampa Bay Lightning over Toronto Maple Leafs (7 games)

Carolina Hurricanes over New York Islanders (5 games)

New York Rangers over New Jersey Devils (7 games)

Western Conference:

Colorado Avalanche over Seattle Kraken (5 games)

Dallas Stars over Minnesota Wild (7 games)

Vegas Golden Knights over Winnipeg Jets (4 games)

Edmonton Oilers over Los Angeles Kings (6 games)

There you have it, my playoff picks are up and it is time for one of the greatest postseason tournaments in all of the sporting world to take place.

My 2022 Stanley Cup Finals Preview + Pick

This has been a fantastic playoffs all around, but now the final series of the season is here. We have our 2 teams to compete for Lord’s Stanley (The Stanley Cup) a championship that is worth playing for. The Colorado Avalanche is playing the 2 time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning is trying to win 3 Stanley Cups for the 1st time since the 1980’s New York Islanders (they won 4 cups in a row 1980-1983). However, the all time record is held by the Montreal Canadiens who won 5 cups in a row from 1956 to 1960. The Colorado Avalanche and there star player Nathan McKinnon are primed for this matchup, do they have enough fire power to outplay the Lightning. They have breeze through these series all playoffs long. Can the Avalanche get to Tampa Bay goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, and throw off his game is the key factor. The Lightning have beaten the following: Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, and the New York Rangers. I think this series will display a lot of offense and the specialty teams will be huge factors as the last of the titans get under way. Now here is my pick:

Tampa Bay Lightning over Colorado Avalanche in 7 games

My 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs Picks (Conference Finals)

At last we have our 4 remaining teams competing for Lord’s Stanley. The Colorado Avalanche playing the Edmonton Oilers. The defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning takes on the New York Rangers. What a second round that was. Tampa Bay made quick work of removing the Florida Panthers from postseason play. Rangers never felt they were out of it vs Carolina Hurricanes. It was a long series for the Rangers for sure. The Avalanche handled the St Louis Blues with some authority. Even though the series went to 6 games. The battle of Alberta was intriguing for awhile, in the end the Oilers showed the Flames how it is done. So now here are my picks for the conference finals.

Eastern Conference: NY Rangers over Tampa Bay Lightning in 6 games

Western conference: Edmonton Oilers over Colorado Avalanche in 7 games

There you have it as the Stanley Cup Playoffs lives on and rolls on from here. It only gets better from here.

Time running out for the Coyotes on a new arena

June 2 is a key day for the Arizona Coyotes as a vote will take place in Tempe, Arizona on a possible new arena. If they get this approved, it would take 4 or so years to build the arena. However, if it does not get approved by the board of the city of Tempe? Then what could be next for the Coyotes would possibly relocate to Houston, TX or Quebec City, or Milwaukee, WI, or somewhere else. The Coyotes will be playing at Arizona State’s hockey arena for at least 3 to 4 years at least for now. After that is anybody’s guess on what to do with the Coyotes. The NHL really should not have let it come to this, and it is a total embarrassment and the league should be ashamed of themselves. So next week we should have some idea of the future for the Coyotes on whether they stay in Arizona, or not. By 2026 will there be any hockey in Arizona, well you will have to stay tuned to this sports blog for the latest word on this hideous soap opera involving the Arizona Coyotes. By the way, next month the Coyotes do have to leave the city of Glendale by June 30 as they are no longer playing hockey there regardless. So the waiting game begins for now, whether it works out for the Coyotes or not remains to be seen. By next week the Arizona Coyotes and there fans wants some sort of clarity on a possible new arena or relocation.

My 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs Picks (Second Round)

I have to tell you, if you not a hockey fan at this point of the season? Something is seriously wrong with you. This past season the opening round had more twists than i could ever remember. Some teams like Toronto and Pittsburgh having 3-1 leads and not closing the deal. The Maple Leafs have not won a playoff series since 2004 (Now they have lost there last 6 playoff series). Also they have not won a Stanley Cup since 1967 (55 years ago). The Penguins i am more stunned at because i thought the NY Rangers season was over, but its not. The Florida Panthers finally won a playoff series for the 1st time since 1996 (since the Bill Clinton Administration as U.S.A president). Well the St. Louis Blues had to contain the Wild of Minnesota, granted it was an okay series. However, a bigger challenge awaits the Blue Notes. The Colorado Avalanche have been waiting for a while to play hockey, since they finished so quickly sweeping the Nashville Predators. Ah yes there were 5 Game 7’s in this year’s playoffs. So no wonder they called this sport the greatest postseason in all of North American professional sports. The battle of the province of Alberta will occur for the first time since the days of Messier, Coffey, Anderson, Fleury, Roberts, and Vernon. Yeah, that is how long it has been. Im talking the early 1990’s when hockey was at its best. Well the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning is still alive, and they get a rematch with the Florida Panthers. So with all this and then some, now time for the picks:

Eastern Conference:

New York Rangers over Carolina Hurricanes (6 games)

Tampa Bay Lightning over Florida Panthers (7 games)

Western Conference:

Calgary Flames over Edmonton Oilers (7 games)

Colorado Avalanche over St. Louis Blues (5 games)

Here are the picks and the games get underway soon so the wait won’t be a long as you think. Enjoy the games folks!