Stanley Cup Playoffs

What a great playoff season thus far. It has been a real bonus for an ex-pat Canadian like me to have access to NBC Sports Channel and the NHL Network as they have broadcast every NHL playoff game. I think I have been able to watch 90% of the playoff hockey to this point. It has been wonderful - access to the NHL as if I were in Canada while at the same time looking outside & enjoying the beauty of Southern California.

 In the Western Conference the LA Kings have secured a spot in the finals by dispatching the #1 seeded Vancouver Canucks in 5 games and then the #2 seeded St. Louis Blues in a 4 game sweep. This has been by far the most impressive performance of any team to this point of the playoffs. I am ashamed to say that prior to the playoffs I may have watched less than a period of King's hockey during the regular season. This is a group of honest, hard working grinders that score just enough and rely heavily on the excellent goaltending of Jonathan Quick. I have paid special attention to London native Drew Daughty and observed that he together with team captain Dustin Brown are the team leaders.

 The second half of the Western Conference bracket looks like it will be filled by the league owned Phoenix Coyotes as they are up 3 games to 1 over the Nashville Predators. Wouldn't that be something to have two teams from the beach & the desert squaring off for a spot in the Stanley Cup finals!

 In the Eastern Conference the games right from the beginning in every series have been hard fought. At this point the Washington Capitals coached by recent London Knights coach/owner Dale Hunter and the New York Rangers are knotted at 2 games each with the pivotal Game #5 tonight. The other series has been equally entertaining with the New Jersey Devils up 3 games to 1 over the Philadelphia Flyers. Based on the performances of the 1st Round I would have predicted that the Flyers were a sure thing for the Finals after they convincingly dispatched of the Pittsburgh Penguins. I must admit that my sentimental favorite in this series is the Devils in the hopes that Martin Brodeur at age 40 can have one more dance in the Finals

 I am off to watch Game #5 in the Senators/ Rangers Series followed by what could be the clinching game of the Coyotes/Predators series. I have taken to Tweeting during the games in case anyone is interested.

 Oh, by the way, Go Dodgers! Beat the hated Giants tonight.