FINAL FOUR

The 'final four' matchups are a real treat any way you look at. Out west, Dallas, who had a tough time getting to the Western Conference finals almost blowing a 3-0 lead to the San Jose Sharks, will face the Detroit Red Wings for the first time in the playoffs since 1998. The Stars upset both the reigning Stanley Cup champions, Anaheim, and the Sharks, a team many thought would go all the way this year.

Detroit, who had a somewhat less bumpy ride getting here, are my favorite to advance to the finals. Sure, the Stars will prove a more difficult obstacle than the Avs were, but ultimately I have to go with what I still consider the best team in the playoffs. I think the key is that the Wings are finally getting sufficient scoring from their second line to take some load off the the dominant first line. On their way through the playoffs, Johan Franzen has been breaking several of Gordie Howe's old records while also picking up some early condsideration for a Conne Smythe.

The Stars have yet to face a team in the playoffs boasting the kind of scoring power the Wings possess. Also, Chris Osgood still haven't lost a game in these playoffs and is 6-0 since taking over from Dominik Hasek.

Pittsburgh seems to be everyones favorite to move on to the finals from the Eastern Conference. I'm not so sure. To do so they will have to dismiss the surging Philadelphia Flyers and that is no easy task.

The Flyers don't have the kind of young talent the Pens have in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, but they have a solid group of hardworking players who play tough and with determination and heart on every shift. They have so far dismatled the fast and talented Washington Capitals and the Eastern winners, Montreal, and it looks like they're just getting started.

The Flyers also have Martin Biron, who has been spectacular so far, Daniel Briere, who has really stepped up to prove all doubters wrong, and R J Umberger, who has turned in to a virtual scoring machine.

The Penguins need more from captain Sidney Crosby than what he showed in Game 5 against the NY Rangers. On the other hand, whenever Crosby turns in a mediocre performance, Malkin is there to dominate the game. This guy is unhuman at times.

The 'Battle of Pennsylvania' will just that, a battle, and I think Philadelphia will be victorious in the end. Also, I would not be surprised if it goes to a Game 7.

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Lastly, I want to say how pathetic I think it is the way the crowd at Mellon Arena boed Jaromir Jagr during Game 5. This guy spent almost eleven seasons with their team and helped them win two Stanley Cups and, I don't care what reason they say they have, they have no right to give him anything but applaudes. They should be ashamed.