2010 NHL Stanley Cup Semi-finals Ultimate Guide...

To humour BTOG's non-hockey fans, I give you this week's photo of note of a young Hamer girl at the Turme market in the Omo valley (Ethiopia) posing for two, two, two Birr. Where did she get those seashells for her necklaces???

I'm not the one who toots his own horn too often but I'll take a moment to point out that I've accumulated an outstanding prediction accuracy rate of .750 through the first two rounds of the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Not bad for a self professed part-time hockey observer.

I take great pride in predicting the demise of the Boston Bruins and the Penguins of Pittsburgh of all teams. I was a little nervous after the Flyers spotted the Bruins a 3-0 games lead to start that series only to come back from that deficit with a historical 4 game winning streak. I was pretty sure history was to made in that series.

I should get these 3rd round predictions off my chest...

San Jose Sharks vs the Blackhawks of Chicago...

I predict the demise of the Sharks who will finally fold like a house of cards this round. Where have I heard that before?

I'm surprised they are still in the hunt. I'm most surprised by the play of Joe "no longer chillaxin'" Thornton. I've never seen him show such urgency as I did in the series with the Wings. Scary stuff...

Even with Joe Thornton on the warpath, it won't be enough to derail the very talented Blackhawks.

It's going to be a close series though. The only chink in the Blackhawk's armour is their goaltending which seems to be a bit shaky at times.

Hence, my prediction is:

Blackhawks in 7 or much earlier if San Jose folds like a house of cards.

Montreal Canadiens vs Philadelphia Flyers...

Hey look what the cat dragged in...two teams that weren't supposed to be here at this stage of the season.

The Canadiens have been a miracle on ice for the last two rounds, knocking off the Cup favourites (Washington Caps) and then the defending Cup champs (Pittsburgh).

In this round, they are in tough against the Broad Street Bullies. They're bigger and play a much more physical brand of hockey than any team the Habs have dealt with so far.

But in my books, you have to first catch up to a speedy smurf before you can drill him into the boards.

That's the only come back I have...

Keys to the series: the Habs have to shut down Flyers' Richards, Briere, Giroux, and Gagne. Hab's goalie Halak must stand on his head again and again...it's like a broken record, eh?

If the Habs stick with their total team concept, I predict:

Habs in 7 (maybe 6, but Habs win nonetheless).

So there you have it. I predict an All Original Six Stanley Cup Final.