Chris Drain
Published: April 12, 2006
It’s nearing the time of the year that hockey fans across the country glue themselves to a couch in front of a television and begin avidly watching every game they can; yep, you’ve got it-it’s almost time for the Stanley Cup Playoffs to begin in our beloved NHL.
Now, personally, I’m a Detroit Redwings fan, and I like to pretend that everything is wonderful in the world and the Redwings are going to win the Cup, which they haven’t done since 2002, which happens to be the same year Brazil won the World Cup; have I mentioned I am a soccer fanatic and love Brazil?
2002 was a good year for me; both my teams won. But I digress.
Either way, the Redwings have done wonderfully this year; they’ve won more games than any other team in the league (52 out of 75), and have clinched the division win. They’re also at the top of the Western Conference, and I’m thinking they’ll win that, as well.
I, however, am not too crazy to say that there is no competition for dear old Detroit. In the Western Conference, the Dallas Stars are looking pretty good, too; on the eastern side, three teams have already clinched playoff spots: the Carolina Hurricanes (who I DESPISE, by the way), the New York Rangers, the Ottawa Senators, and the Buffalo Sabres (who I might be just a little fond of; I used to live up there, you know).
Needless to say, my Redwings have some definite competition coming their way; not to say they won’t win the Cup, but they’ll have to fight to do so. They’ve got a great line-up, though I am sad to say that Dominik Hasek isn’t playing; he went to the Senators in the beginning of 2005 and is currently out with a groin injury due to which he missed the Olympics.
However, even without The Dominator, several players from the successful 2002 season remain on the Redwings team: Chris Chelios, Brendan Shanahan, Nicklas Lidstrom and the great Steve Yzerman.
Since I’m not psychic, I won’t make any predictions; I do think, however, that I’ll be watching and cheering the Redwings all the way through the final.