Well, we made it this far. The Anaheim Ducks forced a game seven against the dreaded Red Wings, this was after eliminating the top seeded San Jose Sharks. Neither team was easy, but it was against the Red Wings where the Ducks showed their future strengths and their current weaknesses. While some can place the blame at the feet of the officiating crew, league officials, etc... it all comes down to the energy and tenacity of the the team that wanted it more. In this case, it wasn't the Anaheim Ducks.
The team here that showed they really wanted it was the Red Wings. I hate to say it, but they were preventing the Ducks from setting up the zone, they did a good job blocking Hiller's view of incoming pucks, and they just dominated the checks along the boards (as well as a few cheap shots along the way).
So with the Ducks out of the playoffs, and the view of the possibility of a combination of either the Red Wings/Blackhawks v. the Hurricanes/Penguins, it looks like an interesting race to Lord Stanley's Cup.
But if I have to make a prediction: Blackhawks v. Penguins (And don't expect a big West Coast TV Audience for that one).
Some of the sights and sounds of Playoff hockey here in Orange County:
