2010 NHL PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS

Final Results - NHL Home Ice staff

- Scott Laughlin went 10 for 15

- Shawn Lavigne went 10 for 15

- Joe Thistel went 9 for 15

- Mick Kern went 9 for 15

- Peter Berce went 9 for 15

- Mike Ross went 9 for 15

- Boomer Gordon went 5 for 15

2010 Champions - Scott Laughlin & Shawn Lavigne

2009 Champions - Scott Laughlin & Mick Kern

2008 Champion - Mick Kern

2007 Champions - Mike Ross & Mick Kern

- Mick Kern

WHICH TEAM WINS THE 2010 STANLEY CUP?

NHL HOME ICE 2010 PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS

Scott Laughlin  (10 for 14)

Philadelphia Flyers in 7 games

Shawn Lavigne  (9 for 14)

Chicago Blackhawks in 7 games

Joe Thistel  (8 for 14)

Chicago Blackhawks in 7 games

Mick Kern  (8 for 14)

Chicago Blackhawks in 6 games

Peter Berce  (8 for 14)

Chicago Blackhawks in 7 games

Mike Ross  (8 for 14)

Chicago Blackhawks in 7 games

Boomer Gordon  (4 for 14)

Chicago Blackhawks in 5 games

Ben Miner  (1 for 2)

Chicago Blackhawks in 6 games

JP Leblanc

Chicago Blackhawks in 4 games

Terry Mercury 

Chicago Blackhawks in 6 games

Dan Zaiontz

Chicago Blackhawks in 6 games

Orla Lawrie

Chicago Blackhawks in 6 games

Jamie Shalley

Chicago Blackhawks in 7 games

Rob Higgins

Chicago Blackhawks in 7 games

Bruce Bolton

Chicago Blackhawks in 7 games

Mark Farmer

Chicago Blackhawks in 7 games

Michael Lippa

Philadelphia Flyers in 7 games

- Mick Kern

2010 NHL Playoffs - Third Round Predictions

The second round was not kind to the staff of NHL Home Ice.  Thistel, Kern, and Lavigne went 6-for-8 in the first round.  Thistel and Lavigne each got one right in the second round, while Kern was perfect in predicting the losers, except he thought they would all be the victors.  Rumour has it he is holed up somewhere, watching Howard The Duck on his Betamax machine.

Laughlin and Kern tied for the win last spring.

SCOTT LAUGHLIN  (8 for 12 so far)

Chicago Blackhawks in 6 games
Philadelphia Flyers in 6 games

JOE THISTEL  (7 for 12)

Chicago Blackhawks in 6 games
Montreal Canadiens in 7 games

PETER BERCE  (7 for 12)

Chicago Blackhawks in 6 games
Montreal Canadiens in 7 games

SHAWN LAVIGNE  (7 for 12)

Chicago Blackhawks in 6 games
Philadelphia Flyers in 7 games

MICK KERN  (6 for 12)

Chicago Blackhawks in 7 games
Philadelphia Flyers in 6 games

MIKE ROSS  (6 for 12)

Chicago Blackhawks in 6 games
Philadelphia Flyers in 6 games

BOOMER GORDON  (4 for 12)

San Jose Sharks in 7 games
Montreal Canadiens in 5 games

BEN MINER  (first time contributing - how 'about those Bruins?)

San Jose Sharks in 6 games
Philadelphia Flyers in 6 games

- Mick Kern

1942...1975...2010

At one point, I never thought I’d see the New York Rangers win the Stanley Cup.

1994 took care of that.

At one point, I never thought I’d see an NHL goaltender shoot the puck into the opposition’s net for a goal.

Ron Hextall took care of that in 1987.

At one point, I never thought I’d see another NHL team come all the way back from a 3-0 game deficit in a playoff series.

Tonight, the Philadelphia Flyers took care of that.

What’s next on that to-see list, an NHL team in Europe?  The Chicago Blackhawks win the Cup?

When the New York Islanders became the second-ever NHL team to come all the way back from the edge of oblivion against the Pittsburgh Penguins, I had to be content with some grainy film footage of Eddie Westfall scoring the only goal in the deciding game.  Back in 1975, there was no NHL Network, or Versus, and the U.S. Military wasn’t sharing the Internet with anybody.  You had to wait for the local TV news sports report, after the weather.

When the Toronto Maple Leafs became the first team to pull off the miracle back in 1942, in the Stanley Cup Final, against the Detroit Red Wings, well, I still had about 21 years to go before my rookie season.

On May 14^th, 2010, there were plenty of opportunities  to watch hockey history unfold.

Question.  At what point does a game become a great game, or a classic, if you must?

When the Bruins stormed out to a 3-0 lead in this one, I began to conjure up images of the upcoming Boston-Montreal Eastern Conference Final, visions of my favourite rivalry in all of sports dancing in my head.

It took the unencumbered-by-history vision of my six-year-old son to pop that balloon.  Staring at the TV, with his Corey Perry plastic stick-in-hand, he informed me that the Flyers would now score three goals.

Which they did.

When they dropped the puck to start the third period, the pace and level of play was as good as anything I’ve watched this spring.  It took over five minutes before there was a whistle.  Back-and-forth hockey, with plenty of scoring chances, good hitting, and no cheap shots or fighting.

Hockey distilled to its purest essence.

Without a rooting interest, I was free to watch the period unfold without bias.  Hey, I hate both teams.  As of tonight, I also have a deep respect for both teams; great hockey from two proud NHL franchises.

The 2010 Philadelphia Flyers made sports history tonight, and history will be unkind to the Bruins.  Looking back over a dusty old record book years from now, some kid will wonder how the B’s blew it.  What the black-and-white print won’t show is that most of these games were close.  If the Bruins had only popped in the OT winner in Game Four.  If the stellar Tuukka Rask wasn’t fooled by that off-speed shot tonight.  If if if.

The Flyers rallied from a 3-0 deficit tonight, and won the game 4-3.  Just like the series.  Perfect.

And now there were four.

Chicago, who haven’t been to the Final since 1992, and haven’t won the Stanley Cup since 1961.

San Jose, who have never been to the Stanley Cup Final in their 19 years in the league.

Montreal, who last won the Cup in 1993, seventeen years ago, the longest Cup drought in franchise history.

And Philadelphia, who haven’t been to the big dance since 1997, and haven’t won it all since 1975.

Someone is going to be very, very happy.

Finally.

- Mick Kern

SECOND ROUND NHL 2010 PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS - NHL Home Ice