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Which NHL Player is Dumber Than Sean Avery?

Let me start off by saying we all know Ryan Hollweg is a dumber player.  However a new force in stupidity has emerged.

This new hero of the stupid is none other than Philadelphia Flyers Daniel Carcillo.  With the Flyers leading 3-0 in yesterdays must win with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Carcillo thought it would be the perfect time to throw some big hits, and then challenge light weight Maxime Talbot to a fight.  He of course won the battle but the Flyers lost the war.  The fight charged the otherwise sleeping Pens and they scored 5 unanswered goals and win the series. 

NY Rangers Best Players Are Home Grown

Regardless of whether the Rangers win this series against the Washington Capitals or not I will feel positive about one thing.  The core group of home grown drafted New York Rangers are really starting to stand out.  This group includes Korpikoski, Hank, Dubinsky, Callahan, Staal, and Girardi.  Shift after shift these players bring hustle, intensity and moxie which is more than I can say for the veterans.  During this first round playoff series this group has been carrying the play for the Rangers.  Now what this also says is the hired guns are failing miserably. 

Yes I mean you Scott Gomez, Naslund, Zheradev, Wade Redden, Derek Morris, Andropov and to a lesser degree Chris Drury (injured).  Each and every one of these overpaid vets needs to look in the mirror and start playing with some passion.

2009 NHL Playoff Round 1 Predictions - Western Conference

Alright here are the Red Line's NHL Round 1 playoff predictions for the Western Conference:

                                                  Chris       Matt       Nick        Ron       Colin   

SJ Sharks Vs Ducks                      SJ           SJ            SJ           SJ          SJ

Wings vs NY Blue Jackets            Wings     Wings      Jackets   Jackets Wings  

Canucks vs Blues                         Blues     Blues        Canucks   Blues    Canucks

Blackhawks vs Flames                 Hawks    Hawks     Hawks     Hawks   Hawks   

          

2009 NHL Playoff Round 1 Predictions - East

Alright here are the Red Line's NHL Round 1 playoff predictions for the Eastern Conference:

                                         Chris       Matt       Nick        Ron       Colin 

Bruins Vs Canadians           Bruins      Bruins   Bruins    Bruins     Boston 

Caps vs Rangers                 Caps        Caps     Caps       Caps       Caps

Devils vs Hurricanes           NJ           Canes    NJ          NJ          Canes 

Pens Vs Flyers                    Pitt          Pitt       Flyers     Pitt        Pitt

          

Stanley Cup Game 5 - Bad Timing

Yesterday I watched most of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup finals.  When I say most I watched until Detroit scored to make it 3 to 2 and then I headed off to bed secure in the knowledge that Detroit had just won the Cup.  I woke up this morning totally shocked to hear that the Pens won in triple overtime.  Oooops!  This sets up a truly pivital game tomorrow.  Not because the Cup is on the line once again but because Pittsburgh might finally be getting into this series.  The Red Wings looked extremely nervous for the first half of the game and now Pittsburgh has a ton of momentum going back home for Game 5. 

If the Wings don't manage to clinch the series tomorrow night I believe the Pens will win it back in Detroit.  If the Wings were nervous before Game 4 they'll be turning their sticks into splinters in Game 7 they'll be gripping them so tight.  It would be the biggest modern day choke in the NHL.  A team hasn't lost the Stanley Cup after already winning 3 games since the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs beat the (you guessed it) Detroit Red Wings.  Now that's one piece of history the Wings have no desire to repeat.  For history buffs, the 1945 Red Wings almost returned the favor (coming back to win the Cup after losing 3 games) against the Leafs but lost in Game 7.