The Blackhawks advance to the Second Round

The Preds were tough, but my prediction (and most predictions I've come across) panned out: the Blackhawks in six. Last night's 5-3 victory over the Predators in Nashville sets up a re-match of last year's second round series against Vancouver.

I expect the Canucks to be even tougher than the Preds were. I'm going to predict another six-game Hawks victory, although it wouldn't entirely surprise me if it went seven.

I the meantime the Dogs have taken Detroit to a seventh game in the first round, and the Habs have done the same with Washington over in the other conference. I'd much rather face Phoenix than the Wings, and the Canadiens than the Caps. Still, the situation over in the Eastern Conference sets up an interesting situation. If we get to the Finals, we may well face one the last two teams that beat us there, Pittsburg and Montreal. Renewing one of those old rivalries with the Cup on the line would do something that is almost impossible: add even more of an edge to the crusade to bring Lord Stanley's Mug home to Chicago for the first time in 49 years.

Interestingly, it seems that not one but two rookie goalkeepers- Niemi of Chicago and Halek of Montreal- are making their mark in a big way in this year's playoffs. It would be interesting to see a matchup of those two in the Finals. Generally the team with the hotter goalie wins a short series, and these two budding stars might
well wage a spirited battle to see which one can carry their team over the top.

In the meantime... Go Hawks! ONE GOAL!