2011 NHL Playoffs

(left to right) Steven Stamkos, Vincent Lecavalier, and Martin St Louis

The New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Montreal Canadians, Buffalo Sabers, defending champions Chicago Blackhawks, Anaheim Ducks, Phoenix Coyotes, and Los Angeles Kings all went home early, as the rest of the playoff teams moved on. Then the Flyers, Capitals, and Predators were the next to go. The only series remaining is the Detroit Red Wings vs. San Jose Sharks, which is going to a game 7 tomorrow night on Versus. I  believe that the Sharks will move on to the Western Conference Finals because they are a younger, more skilled team than the Red Wings. The Red Wings are too banged up and I don't think they have anymore gas left in their tank. So my Conference Final picks are between the Sharks vs. Canucks and then Lightning vs. Bruins. The Lightning will win in 5 games because the offense is too much for the Bruins. The Western Conference should be a 7 game series, Sharks and Canucks, with the Canucks coming out as the winner. Both teams are evenly matched from offense to defense. There are two reasons why I am going with the Canucks. First off, the Canucks will have game 7 at home, advantage Canucks. The second reason is that whenever Roberto Luongo is hot, so are the Canucks, therefore he will be big in this series. My Stanely Cup Finals is between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Vancouver Canucks. I have the Lighting wining in 6 games. Since the All-star break, I have really started to believe in the Lightning with their 'Big Three'. Most sports fans would agree that the 'Big Three', in Flordia, are Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh who are members of the Miami Heat. While the underrated 'Big three' (in Flordia) are Steven Stamkos, Vincent Lecavalier, and Martin St Louis. The Lightnings 'Big Three' will rase the cup in June for the second time in the Lightning's history (last time 2004).

Edited by Allyson Finck
Photo: http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Vincent+Lecavalier/Steven+Stamkos/Nashville+Predators+v+Tampa+Bay+Lightning/Uc8F_4bd33V