Stormin Norman Rumack

There is absolutely nothing sweeter in life, than being an underdog in almost anything, whether it is professional sports, or something relevant to one’s own personal life, and then showing all the doubters and prognosticators, how useless and obsolete their predictions and evaluations were.

I have been through this in my career recently, and I can tell you that overcoming the odds when they are stacked against you, in any scenario, is one of the most rewarding life experiences one can have. It is a feeling that you can’t buy, and can only be realized through first hand experience.

I suppose that special endeavors, like climbing a mountain, or achieving supremacy in sports or any profession, would also generate this kind of satisfaction, for those who have lived the reality of being an underdog for whatever reason.

Even before I started my career, I had to beat the underdog tag. The first time I applied to Syracuse University, I was declined, because the scores on my Graduate Record Exam...

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NASHVILLE VS VANCOUVER

I wrote in my preview of round one of the playoffs, that for the Canucks to beat the Blackhawks, it would require that Roberto Luongo overcome his past poor performances, and that of his teammates, against last season’s Stanley Cup champions. He and most of the Vancouver roster struggled horribly after gaining a 3-0 lead in the series, with Luongo being pulled during games 4 and 5, as well as being benched at the start of game 6.  With all the pressure of a seventh game, at Rogers Arena, the former Florida Panther puck-stopper, did just that. He was simply brilliant, and the work ethic of the entire Canucks crew was inspiring. Even after surrendering a late third period goal to the Hawks, the “Nucks” never waivered, and prevailed with sheer determination, and a bit of luck in the overtime period.

In facing the Nashville Predators, Vancouver is dealing with the Barry Trotz coached club, that thrives on tenacity. They are not a star studded team, beyond defenseman Shea Weber,...

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WASHINGTON VS TAMPA BAY:

The Lightning almost seem like a new team, under the leadership of general manager Steve Yzerman, and coach Guy Boucher. The acquisition of veteran goalkeeper Dwayne Roloson, owner of the best playoff save percentage so ( .949 ) in the postseason as of this moment, was a brilliant move by the former longtime captain of the dynastic Detroit Red Wings. It is not surprising that Yzerman would make wise moves in his first year on the job, considering that he was groomed for the job, by two of the smartest hockey men, in terms of Wings executive vice-president, Jim Devellano, and general manager, Ken Holland.

Bruce Boudreau realized that for his star studded team to become a Stanley Cup winner, they needed to improve at the defensive part of the game. They can score as well as any team in the NHL. The change in their style of play has been obvious to even the most casual of hockey fans. It was particularly noticeable in their first round match with the New York Rangers. Michal...

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NHL Commissioner, Gary Bettman, is not exactly the most popular person in the history of the National Hockey League, and certainly not in Canada.

Most hockey fans, based on false information, blame him for the departure of both the Quebec Nordiques,as well as the Winnipeg Jets. The truth of the matter, is that no Canadian citizens or corporations,  made offers to purchase either team from their respective Canadian owners at the time ( Marcel Aubut-Quebec, Ben Haskin-Winnipeg ). The Canadian dollar was very weak in contrast to the American dollar at the time, and player salaries were being paid in U.S. funds. Obviously, team revenues from tickets were in Canadian dollars as well, so it is easy to see how small market Canadian franchises might get into financial difficulties, and especially in the smaller cities, that don’t have access to major corporate support, as would have been the case at that time, in the mid nineteen-nineties. The net result, was the Jets moving to Phoenix,and the Nordiques relocating...

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ANAHEIM VS NASHVILLE:

The Ducks are loaded with talent. Corey Perry had 98 points, Teemu Selanne: 80, Ryan Getzlaf: 76, Bobby Ryan: 71, Lubomir Visnovsky: 68. Conversely, the Predators are stacked with high character players, who buy into coach Barry Trotz’s  system, and deliver a solid work ethic against any and all opponents. Just ask the Chicago Blackhawks about their playoff round last year. It was as challenging of a series, as any the Hawks experienced, on their way to winning the Stanley Cup. Their most high profile players, are defenseman Shea Weber, with 16 goals, and 32 assists, in 82 games, along with goalkeeper Pekka Rinne, who registered 33 wins, 22 losses, 9 OTL, as well as a 2.12 GAA, and a solid .930 SV%. The Predators are overdue for a long playoff run.

Nashville wins in 7.

DETROIT VS PHOENIX:

With a run of 20 straight playoff appearances, and 4 recent Stanley Cup championships, the Wings are a dynasty. As long as they can avoid devastating injuries, and get decent goalkeeping from Jimmy Howard, they are always a threat to win the Cup. There is no team that they can’t beat. Henrik Zetterberg is currently sidelined with a left knee injury, and it is not yet known, when he will be available.  Detroit coach Mike Babcock is one of the best in the business, as his track record indicates. Coyotes bench boss, Dave Tippett, is highly respected throughout the NHL, and is known to be a brilliant strategist, who inspires his athletes with his insights and knowledge of the game, that amazes even the very experienced veterans.

Wings win in 6.

CHIGACO VS VANCOUVER:

There is not much analysis required here for most hockey fans. It is very simple to break down. The Canucks have everything needed to win the Stanley Cup this year. The only question that remains about them, is if Roberto Luongo, can play at the top of his game, against the Blackhawks, who shattered his confidence the last two seasons in the playoffs, and made him look very ordinary. Whether the Hawks can even come close to being as pesky in front of the Vancouver net, as they were a year ago, without Dustin Byfuglien, a vital role player for them in last year’s playoffs, who was acquired by the Thrashers last off-season, is doubtful, and especially with Chicago having squeezed into the playoffs on the last day of the regular season, with the help of the Dallas Stars. The Hawks seem to be a shadow of the championship squad they were a year ago, primarily because of all the players, including Byfuglien, who are no longer with this year’s club, due to salary cap issues.  

Vancouver...

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PITTSBURGH VS TAMPA BAY;

The Pens did an amazing job of surviving injuries, especially losing Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. They have an incredible system set up, so that all the players in their organization, at every level, understands the systems that they use in every situation, so any player who is promoted to the Pittsburgh from the minor leagues, knows exactly what is expected of them in any and all situations during a game. Even the words they use are identical for anything involving strategy or systems. That would largely explain why there was so little drop off in their play, after they were hit with the losses of their franchise players. Steve Yzerman, made a brilliant move, in acquiring Dwayne Roloson. He has had Stanley Cup finals experience with Buffalo in 1999, carried the Oilers on a lengthy playoff run a few season ago, and has had more than a few games,where he has faced 60 or so shots on goal. He has also had international exposure, playing in world hockey tournaments for Team Canada....

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CAPITALS VS RANGERS: Bruce Boudreau might have trouble keeping his job, if the Caps are upset victims in this series. A hot goalie can make that happen. Washington is a much better team on paper, but New York has stronger goalkeeping, with Henrik Lundqvist ( 68 GP, 36 W, 27 L, 5 OTL, 2.28 GAA, .923 SV% ). The Caps goalkeeping isn’t bad, but they have less experience. Michael Neuvirth stats are certainly respectable. (48 GP, 27 W, 12 L, 4 OTL, 2.45 GAA, .914 SV% ) Washington has improved it’s penalty killing, moving up from 25th last year, to second best this season.  Colorful Coach John Tortorella, is also outspoken, and sometimes tough on his own players, as he was in leading the Tampa Bay Lightning to their Stanley Cup championship in 2004.

Capitals win in 6.

PHILADELPHIA VS BUFFALO: The Flyers are the better  team, but the Sabres have been on a roll since they introduced their new owner, who is dedicated to doing whatever it takes, to help the Sabres become a Cup contender. Ryan Miller is one...

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have not qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs since 2004, the season before the year long lockout by the NHL. It is precedent setting with each and every passing season. They did provide some optimism after the All-Star break, when they managed to close the gap between themselves and the 8th spot, and final playoff position in the Eastern Conference of the league. The blue and white had trailed by as many as 14 points in early February, and pulled to within 4, but as has been the case since the lockout ended, it was too little too late.

The major difference with the 2010-2011 club, is that they now appear to have enough skill on their roster, and some prospects, to at least have a team that can stay in the middle of the pack of the league. The Leafs certainly don’t have a lot of skill, but at least enough to stay where they were in the final third of the schedule.

James Reimer,( 20-8-5, 2.51 GAA, .923 SV% ) the goaltender who was drafted by previous general manager John...

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