Battle of Ontario

sitting here in front of my computer during the second intermission of game 6 between the Leafs and Sens, i began pondering if the series is living up to the hype generated by the media. the leafs haven't played particularly well this entire series, being out-shot, out-chanced, and pretty much out-played by the sens the entire series thus far, and somehow the sens have been shut-out three times by the leafs. with the leafs up 1-0 at this point of the game, i see this game going two ways. either the sens forces a game 7, or the leafs win in 6 and have just defeated an already defeated opponent. if the leafs win, it will all be about beating up a team they have defeated 3 of the last four years, it will be no big deal because........(fill in the blank) should ottawa come back, tie the series and force it go game 7, where the team live up to alfie's promise, it will simply be a team getting what they deserve for out-playing their opponent for the entire series. don't mistaken what i'm saying here, both teams have played good hockey, old fashion end-to-end rushes, not the boring trap that we have seen from the devils in recent years. i just feel that regardless the outcome of this series, media and fans alike will somehow pick out the negative of this series. while many predicted the winner of the series to go on to represent the east in the stanley cup finals, watching all but one game thus far caused me to think twice about these predictions. the leafs haven't played a solid game for the full 60 minutes so far, at times struggling to get the puck out of their own zone, while the high-powered sens offence have been blanked 3 times so far. it makes me wonder if they can survive into the finals. with either the flyers or the bolts waiting to play the winner of this series, it certainly will not get any easier for the winner of this series. the bolts have proven themselves to be a force with their 5 game victory over the isles, while the flyers have showed their goltending problems are behind them with esche stepping up to defeat the devils. either the bolts speed game or the flyers physical game will be next for either the leafs or the sens, and whoever they face, the ontario teams must step up their game to the next level. the leafs must be more agressive on the forecheck, maintain good pressure in the opponent's zone, and most of all get the puck out of their zone. if the sens somehow defeat all the odds against them and defeat the leafs (high unlikely), they must take the offence to the next level, for a team to get shut-out three time in a series (i predict the final leafs win will also be a shut-out) when their offence was #1 in the league in the regular season is inexcusable. bondra has been held pointless, and he must step up his play. the entire sens offence must step up.

ok, third period starting, so my prediction, leafs 2-0 in game 6...montreal will beat boston (yes, i know i predicted boston to win in 6, but the way montreal is playing lately, i changed my mind) 4-2 on monday.
leafs will play flyers next round
and finally, flames and canucks, what a game that was, too bad one of these teams have to go out. it was one of the most entertaining games i've seen for awhile. end-to-end rushes, heavy checks, just great hockey. for those who missed it, you missed out on a great game. flames will win 3-1 on monday.