Dave B has been a Fantasy Football writer for us for 10 years. A couch potato wannabe, Dave’s insights have been read by 10’s of people for years. He hope’s for world peace + global relaxation. Enjoy and remember only smoke things that are completely natural.
Two teams coming off exhausting seven game semi-final series meet in the Western Conference Final that starts Saturday in Chicago. It isn’t much of a surprise that both the Kings and Hawks are in this position – each has won a Cup in the last four years and each has the quintessential formula for success in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
A very deep field heads to Ohio this week to play the 2013 Memorial Tournament at the revamped Muirfield Village Golf Club. As always, hitting the fairways shouldn’t be much of an issue but hitting the green and an emphasis on a good second shot is. Muirfield Village ranked seventh-lowest in greens hit in 2012 at 58.05 percent.
The Los Angeles Kings are right where they want to be – at home hosting Game 7 against the San Jose Sharks in a building that they have won all three games in their semi-finals series and have won 13 straight games overall dating back to the regular season. The Kings were also 7-0 last year in the playoffs during their Stanley Cup run.
The Chicago Blackhawks already passed a huge test in their second round series with the Detroit Red Wings – they survived their first elimination game Saturday night. Another huge test looms Monday night – another elimination game – this time in what is sure to be an amped up Joe Louis Arena.
Well, it certainly looked as if the Ottawa Senators incredible season was in its twilight Wednesday night when they lost Game 4 at home 7-3. Did it not seem like it was only a matter of time? The Penguins had peppered Senators goaltender Craig Anderson with 50 shots in a 2-1 double overtime loss in Game 3 on Sunday, but the offensive juggernaut would not be denied a second game in a row.
It is hard to believe that it was just over a week ago that the New York Rangers were celebrating a convincing Game 7 win against Washington and the optimism was palpable in the Big Apple.
A couple of weeks ago it seemed unimaginable that the Chicago Blackhawks could be outworked, outhustled and yes, even outclassed by any team in the NHL. But that’s precisely what is happening as the Detroit Red Wings prepare to take a 3-1 lead in their Western Conference semi-final series with the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Heavyweight Title will be on the line this Saturday when Antonio Silva tries to avenge a devastating loss to Cain Velasquez and in turn take his belt. Silva has emerged as maybe the best of the “B fighters” in the UFC after knocking out Alistair Overeem last time out.
The PGA Pros make the short trip to Fort Worth, Texas this week for the Crowne Plaza Invitational. Colonial Country Club hosts a pretty good field in a tournament in which distance off the tee is not essential. Zach Johnson’s win last year further proves this point – he is not exactly a bomber off the tee.
For the Pittsburgh Penguins Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semi-final was “the one they let slip away” but for the Ottawa Senators it was a reward for all of the good work that they did in the first two games against the heavily favored Penguins.
The San Jose Sharks and the Los Angeles Kings get back at it Tuesday night after a thrilling Game 3 at the Shark Tank saw the home team win yet again in the series. The home teams have won all three games so far this series and both teams are undefeated at home in the postseason this year.
For the second straight postseason series, the New York Rangers return home in a, 0-2 hole needing to win just to keep their heads above water. Their second round opponent the Boston Bruins have been clicking on all cylinders ahead of Game 3 – the Rangers are in tough against a team that boasts depth up front, a ton of talent on defense and wealth of playoff experience on the roster.
Wings Hope to Ride Wave Of Confidence to Game 3 Victory
To a man the Detroit Red Wings said they would be better in Game 2 of the Western Conference semi final after losing Game 1, 4-1 and they backed up their claim in a big way for Detroit’s first win against Chicago in nine tries – the Red Wings’ first in regulation since April 2011.
There is no greater sports rivalry than the only between New York and Boston but in hockey, playoff matchups between the two cities have been few and far between. In fact, the last time the Rangers and the Bruins met in the playoffs was way back in 1973 – the Rangers won that series.
The Ottawa Senators know that they will need to be much better in every aspect of the game to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night. They have to be more disciplined, they have to convert on absolutely every chance they get and most of all they have to return to the defense-first brand of hockey that got them into the playoffs in the first place.
The PGA Pros move back to the great state of Texas this week – some to recover after what was another scintillating PGA Championship last week. TPC at Four Season has not proven to be a picnic in the past however – it is extremely hard to hit the fairways and Greens In Regulation stats have favored the course over the players in recent years.
