The weather is better, there is a warm breeze in the air, birds are singing; spring has sprung and the long journey to hoist Lord Stanley’s coveted mug has started.

 

I don’t know about you, but my enthusiasm for the NHL playoffs usually peeks in the first round.  

 

Perhaps, it’s the excitement of knowing that I am cheering for one or more teams. That may not be the case as the contenders dwindle.

 

Perhaps it’s the fact that there are numerous games each night. In other words, there’s always something good to watch.

 

Perhaps it’s the lure of the upset. The anticipation of the lower seed beating the higher seed is always greater in the opening round.

 

Perhaps it’s the excitement of hockey pool picks and the loss of interest as players disappear after each round from your roster.

 

Perhaps it's knowing the gimmicks like three point games and shootouts are gone.

 

Whatever the reasons, there’s a buzz, an emotion, an attitude. It’s hockey at its finest or an NHL tradition like none other.

 

 

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Only three Canadian teams are in the sweet 16 derby. Optimism isn't at a premium in two of the three:

 

The Montreal Canadiens stumbled into the playoffs and likely won’t beat Boston.

 

The Calgary Flames also slipped down the stretch and aren’t a good bet to beat Chicago. If they do, the Flames will not advance further.

 

That leaves the surging Vancouver Canucks. Yes, 100 points, a division title, a great second half and numerous superb individual efforts have created a buzz throughout the province. Vancouver has been chosen by many pundits (not I) as a “sleeper” pick to hoist the Cup.

 

Good economy, crappy economy; it doesn’t matter, the “watering holes” in Prince George, and throughout BC can make up for a slow winter; especially if the Canucks go on a run.

 

Vancouver should win its first round series against St Louis, but after that potential opponents may include Detroit, San Jose and the Eastern Conference champions. So, although it may be a long shot to win the Stanley Cup diehard Canucks fans have hope. While hope may not be enough, at least it’s plenty more than Toronto Maple Leafs supporters have had the last four years.

 

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Who will win take home NHL hardware? Here are five well thought out guesses to ponder:

 

Hart Trophy (MVP): Who will win? Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals

Who should win? Ovechkin. He is the leader in goals, second in points and the league’s most exciting player. Ovechkin is a no-brainer.

 

Vezina Trophy (Top goalie): Who will win? Boston’s Tim Thomas!

Who should win? Thomas. I kept flip flopping between Thomas and Columbus rookie Steve Mason. The deciding factor was that the 35-year-old Thomas led the league in both save percentage and goals-against average.

 

Norris Trophy (top defenceman):  Who will win? Mike Green of the Washington Capitals!

Who should win? Boston’s Zdeno Chara! However, voters will focus on Green’s offensive stats, leading all defencemen in goals (31) and points (73). The 32-year-old Chara was just 12th in scoring among blue-liners, but he is a physical intimidating force and the best two-way defenceman in hockey.

 

Calder (top rookie): Who will win? Steve Mason!

Who should win? Mason. Although there is a great crop of rookies, including sniper Bobby Ryan of Anaheim and Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne, Mason and his 10 shutouts heads the list. Without him,
Columbus wouldn’t have made the playoffs.

 

Jack Adams (top coach): Who will win? Claude Julien of Boston!

Who should win? Andy Murray of St Louis. Yes, Julien did a terrific job leading the Bruins to the best record in the East, but Murray performed magic with the Blues. St Louis was at the bottom of the Western Conference in mid-February and decimated with injuries, including ex Cougar Eric Brewer. Led by another ex-Cougar, goalie Chris Mason, the Blues finished a league-best 25-9-7 in the second half to gallop past several teams and achieve what few had predicted, a playoff berth (first time in five years).

 

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I am puzzled by this year’s choice for Vancouver Canucks MVP. That honor should have gone to Roberto Luongo, ahead of Ryan Kesler. No question, Kesler had a breakthrough season, is a good two-way player and is worthy of many accolades, but was he more valuable than Luongo? The 30-year-old Luongo was second in the NHL in shutouts, fourth in goals against average, fifth in save percentage and boasted a sparkling 33-13-7 record.

Kesler, on the other hand, was third in “team” goals and points, 6th in penalty minutes and tied for just 7th in “team” plus-minus. Yes, Kesler possesses intangibles that are more than just stats, but this decision should not have even been close.

Let’s put it another way. Which player hurts the Canucks more if out of the line-up, Luongo or Kesler? Case closed!

 

 

 

The Royal Canadian Mint has issued a new $1 coin featuring the famous "CH" logo of the Montreal Canadiens. The mint mulled the idea of a Maple Leafs dollar coin, too, but reconsidered. It didn't want to deal any further blows to the economy. Gary Loewen of the Toronto Sun

 

This post-Easter week has been a great time to relax and head to Hawaii, especially for people with time on their hands....like students on spring break and the Maple Leafs.

Boston University won this year’s Frozen Four. For readers in the San Francisco area, that’s the NCAA hockey tournament, not the last fans left at an extra innings game when the Giants played at Candlestick.

Usain Bolt, 22, of Jamaica, has just admitted smoking marijuana in his youth. In homage to Saturday Night Live - “I’m really shocked,” said absolutely no one.

Doritos has just come out with “late night” flavors of their tortilla chips. Seriously, the flavors are “Taco” and “Jalapeno Poppers.” Presumably that allows them to get one flavor each endorsed by Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps. Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California (www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com)


A recent article said that the Mets new home, Citi Field, has some seats with restricted views. Hey, given the last two seasons, Manager Jerry Manuel is hoping they are in the dugout.  Comedy writer Marc Ragovin of New York

Donte Whitner became the third member of the Bills to run into trouble with the law this offseason when he was arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest at a party in Cleveland. Who'd have thunk it--Terrell Owens was signed to bring in stability.  Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California

 

 A woman recently went to hospital and found she had a bullet in her head for 12 years and when asked about it said she always knew her relationship with Plaxico Burris had a shot to succeed.

I guess it was fitting Angel Cabrera won the Masters on Easter Sunday as it was obvious he got up early to finish off the chocolate eggs. Contributor Derek Wilken of Calgary (http://smacksport.blogspot.com/)

 

A man in Michigan has been arrested for owing more than half a million dollars in child support for fourteen different children. We do not know which NBA team he plays for.  Comedy writer Jerry Perisho http://monologuewriter.blogspot.com/

 

 
According to a Callaway Golf survey, 78 percent of male respondents would rather play a round of golf at Augusta National (site of the Masters) rather than have a date with Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Bar Refaeli. No word on how much alcohol that 78 per cent consumed prior to filling out the survey.