2007 Round 2 NHL Playoff Predictions

Detroit vs San Jose

The Red Wings have one of the league's oldest defense cores (Chelios, Lidstrom, and Schnedier) vs a young Sharks defense (Carle, Ehroff, and Vlasic). The Sharks have two of the strongest centerman in the league (Thornton and Marleau) but Detroit's experience and a defense led by Nicklas Lidstrom give them the edge.

Detroit in 7

Anaheim vs Vancouver

Vancouver shutdown the Dallas Stars and Luongo will repeat against sucess against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. The Ducks have the most lethel defensive tandem in the NHL but don't have the offensive depth to solve Luongo.

Vancouver in 5

Buffalo vs NY Rangers

The Rangers are on a hot streak and have no visible weaknesses. They won 10 out of 15 games in March and they won 6 out of 8 games in April. Lundqvist is hot, their defense is solid, and Jagr is leading the Rangers offense. The Sabres faced a mediocre competitior in the first round and will likely not adjust against the Rangers.

NY Rangers in 5

NJ vs Ottawa

Brodeur stopped Lecavalier, St. Louis, and Richrds. Now he faces a more balanced team and will repeat his sucess against a Senators team that doesn't have Chara or Havlat and failed to do anything with them.

New Jersey in 6

Dion-May Deal Has Rocked The Establishment

In has now been a week since the Dion-May Deal was announced and the effects of the deal not to run candidates in each other's ridings is clear. The political establishment is fuming and most Canadians want change in our political system.

Opportunist opponents claim this move was undemocratic because it limits the options of the parties that people can for. But in reality the present first past the post system is the problem that limits people democratic options. In ridings held by senior MP's like Dion and Mackay it's virtually impossible to defeat them and almost pointless to vote because everybody knows who is going to win.

It's undemocratic for a riding to elect a MP who earned under 50% of the vote and 600, 000 people across the nation to be unrepresented by a single MP. There has been no substantial changes in Canada's political system in decades except the funding of political parties. Most ridings MP's are elected by their riding by a vote under 50%. This forces Canadians to vote in many ridings for more competitive parties if they want their vote to count for something. Real solutions like run-off voting and proportional representation haven't been proposed by Canada's bigger parties. If veteran politicians are crying foul over this deal they should propose some solutions instead of all repeating that the current is system is democratic and change is bad.

This move motivates more people to vote in Peter MacKay's riding because people have a choice which makes the riding more democratic.

The United States is a Ticking Time Bomb

Another school shooting occurred in the US. Mass shootings with a lone gunman have become a recurring American event. When the phrase "school shooting" is heard throughout the world, automatically people assume it happens in the US because virtually of these shootings occur in the US.

Is the US filled with more people ready to snap or is their another reason for this phenomena?

The US significantly eclipses all other developed countries in gun crimes. Does it really matter how many people are killed at once, when so many Americans are gunned down individually each day? Individual shootings are ignored and the nation only questions its liberal gun laws and uncontrolled gun violence when a gunman kills several people rather than multiple people killing the same amount of people. Instead of solely attempting to stop mass shootings the US should look at root causes and stop the shootings that occur everyday. How can a society continue to strive when so many lives are abruptly ended due to unnecessary violence?

As long as the United States continues to ignore its high murder rate and gun enthusiasts still believe they are living in the 19th century the United States will continue being a ticking time bomb where any day another shooter will attempt to kill more than one person.

2007 First Round Hockey Predictions

In the new NHL new teams can stack-up with over-priced players. The teams are all on even ground and there is very little difference between the top-sided and bottom seeded teams. The teams that made the playoffs have a bit of an edge because it is tough making the playoffs and all of the bottom seeded teams have had to be hot to make the playoffs. Like last year I expect several upsets.

Detroit vs Calgary

Dominik Hasek is too old and past his greatnesss. The Flames have a huge edge in goaltending with Kipper one of the best goalies in the league. The Flames downfall is their skaters who have been struggling but the playoffs is the right time to turn it around. A playoff victory by Calgary could energize the struggling Flames to repeat a similar pattern that led the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final.

Calgary in 7

Anaheim vs Minnesota

All 3 Wild goalies have been amongst the best goalies in the league this year. The Wild added a few offensive players to adapt to the new NHL and with solid goaltending they are very difficult to beat. Sure the ducks have Niedermayer and Pronger but the rest of the team hasn't dominated as much as they were expected to.

Minnesota in 6

Vancouver vs Dallas

Robert Luongo has single handily made the Canucks a playoff team. The Dallas Stars are a team on the decline and the Canucks will be to overpowering for them.

Vancouver in 6

Nashville vs San Jose

A very close matchup. The difference is the Predators were able to acquire Peter Forsberg who will give Nashville the edge.

Nashville in 7

Buffalo vs NY Islanders

Will this be the Revenge of Ted Nolan who was canned 9 years by the Sabres? Probably not with Dipetero injured but this team isn't ready to drop dead yet.

Buffalo in 7

New Jersey vs Tampa Bay

Martin Brodeur has been the league's best player this season. But after playing in virutally every game this year, how much does he have left to stop St. Louis, Lecavailer, Richards, and Boyle?

Tampa Bay in 7

Atlanta vs NY Rangers

The NY Rangers made the playoffs with spectacular goaltending from Henrik Lundqvist who turned around his game. With a offense led by Jagr and Shanahan the Rangers will overpower the Thrashers in their first playoff appearance.

NY Rangers in 5

Ottawa vs Pittsburgh

Sydney Crosby, Malkin, and Fleury will all make their first playoff appearance and the Senators will the first team to witness the first run of a potential dynasty. But will the Penguins youth all struggle when times get rough.

Pittsburgh in 6.