Stanley Cup Final

[Daniel from Montréal]

Two "teams of destiny", one who finished 2nd overall and another who got through 3 top-seeded teams to get there.

Calgary vs Tampa Bay.

One of these 2 teams will be "2004 Stanley Cup Champions".

Weird, eh? ;)

[kwik1980]

I have a feeling it's going to be a homer type of series. So, the question then becomes, can Calgary steal a game? If there's one to be had, it's probably game 1. So, here goes the prediction, though I am going to cover my bases a bit.

IF Calgary goes into game 6 up 3-2, they win the Cup that night. If it goes 7, Tampa wins it. I don't see this being a 4-0 or 4-1 series.

[SABuffalo786]

Blech, exactly what the NHL didn't need.

[Daniel from Montréal]

Blech, exactly what the NHL didn't need.

Screw the NHL! This is exactly what the fans need!

Rather this than NJ-Anaheim zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

[SABuffalo786]

Maybe up in Canada, but the interest levels in American cities not named Minneapolis, Buffalo, and Detroit is going to be close to zero.

[JMU Soccer!]

Screw the NHL! This is exactly what the fans need!

Rather this than NJ-Anaheim zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

You mean a 7 game series? Giggy often times standing on his head to make some ridiculous saves?. Scott Stevens getting hurt, and then coming back to score a very important goal? Or Paul Kariya practically getting knocked unconscious and then coming back to practically win a game by himself? Yep, that's what I call a no-drama, no-interest, boring series.

That being said, I don't see anyone stopping the Lightning. And I'm sure that most people will be rooting for the Flames because of course Tampa doesn't deserve a Hockey team.

[Cannon]

Screw the NHL! This is exactly what the fans need!

Rather this than NJ-Anaheim zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Obviously I was praying for a Flyers-Flames Final but I agree that the play this year should be more exciting than that dreary display.

Go Flames!

[JMU Soccer!]

You mean a 7 game series? Giggy often times standing on his head to make some ridiculous saves?. Scott Stevens getting hurt, and then coming back to score a very important goal? Or Paul Kariya practically getting knocked unconscious and then coming back to practically win a game by himself? Yep, that's what I call a no-drama, no-interest, boring series.



My bad, this wasn't the series where Stevens got hurt. And I'll admit, it wasn't the most exciting 7 game series. However, it certainly was a lot more interesting then those sweeps in the late 90's.

[Foots]

That being said, I don't see anyone stopping the Lightning. And I'm sure that most people will be rooting for the Flames because of course Tampa doesn't deserve a Hockey team.

It's so funny that hockey "purists" have their panties in a bunch knowing that there is a possibility of a "non-traditional" hockey city winning the Cup.

[SweetOwnGoal]

It's so funny that hockey "purists" have their panties in a bunch knowing that there is a possibility of a "non-traditional" hockey city winning the Cup.

I couldn't care less where the Lightning play their home games. They could play in Mexico City in front of four confused Mexicans and 25 Canadian ex-pats for all I care, they play a very attractive style of hockey and absolutely deserve to be in the Final.

Of course it is always nice to see a traditional market in the final if for no other reason than you know that there are many fans that have waited a long time to see their team win. In Tampa's case, I'm sure there will be many fans in the building who became diehard Lightning fans sometime around last week. Oh well.

That said, I will be cheering for the Flames because I am Canadian and I want to see the Canadian teams win. I'm not going to apologize for that (at this time last year I lived three hours east of Calgary and went to about a Flames game a month, so I have other reasons to cheer for them as well -- although I'd be cheering for them regardless).

I'm not going to get into a north/south pi$$ing match over where teams 'deserve' to be located. Teams deserve to be located in places where they can succeed. I don't like to see places where teams are under appreciated -- Atlanta springs to mind, are those people aware of how good that team is going to be very soon? -- but that has little to do with geography. For instance, I think Dallas is a great hockey town and the league is much better off with a team there.

I, for one, think this is going to be a great final. Both of these teams rely of speed to get things done and hockey is at its most attractive when it is played free flowing. It might be a challenge to get someone in Middle America to watch this series, but if they do, they will love it. If they don't...honestly, I don't care, it's their loss.

I feel the same way about soccer. Who cares if the next door neighbor likes the game or not? I do, and that's all that matters.

Flames in 6.

[adam]

http://www.hendersongraphics.com/Images/leopold2.jpg

Not surprisingly, most people here will be pulling for Calgary.

[Frieslander]

I am very very pleased with the teams in the finals this year. Of course, I don't think the Devils are boring so what the hell do I know?

[DevilDave]

I'm sad that neither San Jose nor New Jersey are in the Finals, but I will gladly root for the team that vanquished the Sharks. I'm not doing it, however, because I'm a Tampa-hater... but rather the reason I've got extended family in Calgary and would love to see the Cup north of the border again.

[Ian McCracken]

I hate the Flames for ousting the Red Wings, but they earned my respect in the playoffs. They are a gritty, face-paced team that never says die. I hope they win, despite the fact that they represent Canada. Besides, it would be so wrong for a Florida team to win the Stanley Cup (even though their owner is from Detroit :) ).

[Daniel from Montréal]

I doubt that many people in NYC or LA were watching last year's final.

CBC should get some good ratings, and that's all I care about :P.

[JMU Soccer!]

Thanks SweetOwnGoal for making sense.

[ElJefe]

Maybe up in Canada, but the interest levels in American cities not named Minneapolis, Buffalo, and Detroit is going to be close to zero.
Here's a newsflash for you:

You could have a Detroit Red Wings-New York Rangers Stanley Cup final and the interest level outside of Detroit, New York, Buffalo (allegedly), and Minneapolis would be close to zero.

You know why the NHL's TV ratings suck in the US? Because people only watch their local team on TV and don't really give two ********s about watching anyone else, whether it's the Philadelphia Flyers, the New York Rangers, the Colorado Avalanche, the Dallas Stars, or the Tampa Bay Lightning.

[BlueMeanie]

I hope they win, despite the fact that they represent Canada. Besides, it would be so wrong for a Florida team to win the Stanley Cup (even though their owner is from Detroit :) ).
Both teams pretty much represent Canada. That's what cracks me up about the provincial rednecks who are rooting for Calgary because they "represent Canada" or TB because they "represent the USA"...they don't. Both teams are mostly Canadian. Made me want to puke when about 1/3 or so of the Sharks fans at Game 5 v. Calgary started chanting "USA! USA! USA!". Un-*******-believable.

I want Calgary because they knocked out my favorite team, and they have several folks with ties to SJ.

Flames in 6.

[USAsoccer]

I am probably the ONLY Lightning season ticket holder at Bigsoccer.com (309 row B...Great seats...behind the goal, 1st and 3rd period the Lightning are on offense...Third season with season ticks, but first season with Full season ticks-had half season the two year prior to this year. 45 (4 preseason) tickets for $500...NOT BAD!). It has been frustrating for me, since I have been deployed this year, and have only been able to attend games while on leave. My Dad (a Canadian, who moved to Florida when he was a kid, but his love of hockey was passed down to me) got to go to most of the games, but I did attend 11 games this year, and 2 playoff games.

First, the Lightning have always had a loyal following. They averaged over 22,000 a game in 1996, the first year they made the playoffs.

They were 12th in attendence this year, averging 17,800 a game.

People underestimate the following in Tampa for hockey, which is second only to Football.

Hockey in Tampa does not compete with the NBA for headlines, and the Devil Rays annually suck, so once the Bucs are done, the entire Cities focus is on the Lightning, with the occassional distraction from Spring Training Baseball, or March Madness.

Lightning will win the Cup in 5 games. You heard it here first. Calgary will not be able to contend with the Tampa's speed, special teams, and Khabibulan is playing exceptional in the nets. Tampa has two great lines who can score, and blueliners who contribute to the offense.

[yellowbismark]

Even though I live in Minneapolis, I am not a big hockey fan. In fact I probably hate hockey. But let me tell you TB-Calgary sounds like an intersting matchup and I may even tune in to a couple of games. I don't buy the two small market teams/one small Canadian team argument equals boring argument at all. For me seeing the same teams in the finals, be it the Devils, Yankees, or Lakers, does nothing for me. Seeing two teams who either haven't been there in a while or at all is interesting. Canada hasn't had a team in the cup for 10 years, also very interesting. Of what minimal exposure I've had to this years playoffs, I have seen passionate fan excitement in Calgary, a remarkable playoff run where the top 3 seeds were ousted, a series showcasing some of the league's most talented players StLouis, Iginla, Lecavalier, etc and a solid goaltender matchup featuring this years' Jiggy. I am looking forward to this series and I think it will be a great one.