Hockey play-offs are always an exciting time of the year. This exhilaration is heightened by unpredictably and exceptional moments.                                          

The Prince George Cougars have recaptured the pulse of the city. It's like the clock has been turned back to the late 1990's with capacity crowds returning to the CN Centre.

Although the first round victory against Kamloops wasn't a surprise, the fact they did it with a sweep certainly was.

The round two triumph against Everett can be compared to the victory 10 years ago against Portland. In 1997, the Winterhawks finished first in the WHL (alongside Lethbridge) and ended the regular season 34 points ahead of PG, yet the Cougars beat the Winterhawks in six games in the post season. This year's Silvertips team finished with the league's best record, 37 points ahead of the Cats. However, the Cougars dumped the highly touted Everett team also in six.

On the other hand, there are some differences between the two clubs. Ten years ago, the Cougars finished 11 games below .500 and came out of nowhere, thanks in large part to the stellar goaltending from Chris Mason, to beat Portland, then Spokane 3-0 before dropping the Conference final 4-2 to Seattle.

This year's Cougars finished with 74 points after 72 games, and were considered the biggest underachievers in the league. Much more was expected from an older team with several top end players. Obviously, the Cats peaked at the right time!

The Cougars smoked the Silvertips in part because PG’s better players rose above Everett’s top guys. Peter Mueller (Everett) was good. Devin Setoguchi (PG) was great. Zach Hamill (Everett) was decent. Nick Drazenovic (PG) was excellent. Goalie Leland Irving (Everett) struggled and Real Cyr (PG) was sharp. You get the picture.

“In order to win in the playoffs your best players have to be your best players. Their best guys were their best guys. It's just that we stuck to it and our best guys came thru with the big effort when we really needed it” said Cougars coach Drew Schoneck.

This series will always be remembered for the improbable comeback in game five. The Silvertips, who seldom lost at home, especially with a 3-0 lead after 40 minutes, cracked like a leaky faucet as the Cats scored four unanswered goals in the final period. The momentum carried into the next game when the Cougars scored the first six goals coasting to an 8-2 drubbing. 10 consecutive goals over two games. How could anyone have predicted this?

Keeping these stats in mind, it's difficult to pick a winner in the Western Conference final against
Vancouver. The Giants play a different style than the Silvertips.

“The biggest difference is that Vancouver will be a more physical hockey club. It's been a physical matchup every time we have played them. And they have been to the Western Hockey League Final. They have lots of guys there that have been to the Memorial Cup. They have a lot of late round experience. Our guys, not so much, but we just have to keep riding our momentum,” said Schoneck.

Vancouver beat PG 4-1 in last year's playoffs and won 7 of the 8 regular season meetings. They finished 26 points ahead of the Cats and have had a week's rest. Even though Setoguchi, Drazenovic, Cyr and others are playing as good or better than anyone else in the league right now, recent history still says Vancouver should win.

Therefore, my pick is the Giants in 6. But I learned from the last series, experience doesn't always win out. When it comes to the cardiac comeback Cougars, expect one thing; the “unexpected.”

“The Kings expect Cliche to give 110 per cent, take it one game at a time, know there is no 'I' in team, be a real gamer and take it to the next level." Brooks Melchior of sportsbybrooks.com, on Marc-Andre cliché signing a 3-year contract  with the LA Kings.

“Which goes perfect with this year's lineup."    Seattle Times reader Janice Hough, on the San Francisco Giants' new AT&T Park scoreboard using 78 % less power than the old one.

“Henry Aaron says that he does not plan to be in attendance when Barry Bonds breaks his home run record. Bonds responded by saying that he is boycotting "Oh, Henry" candy bars.” Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California

Elsie McLean became the oldest person to score a hole-in-one on a regulation golf course.  The 102-year-old accomplished the feat with a driver on the par-3, 100-yard fourth hole  at a course in Chico, California. According to Ian Hamilton of the Regina Leader-Post: “Expect McLean's feat to be turned into a feature-length golf movie called Tin Hip ... Using a driver on a 100-yard hole shows McLean, like many seniors, suffers from an iron deficiency.”