After his Pittsburgh Penguins were eliminated from the play-offs last year, Mario Lemieux, NHL legend and team owner, explained what it takes to win in the post-season.
"You've got to have some guys in the playoffs with grit, with character, as well as speed," he told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
“Look at Montreal, the way they’re built. They have some smaller forwards, but they’re all speedy and they’ve got grit, and they’ve got character.”
And in two months time they will have the Stanley Cup. Carey Price will be play-offs MVP, PK Subban will burnish his legend, Max Pacioretty will score the winning goal and Sainte Catherine Street will erupt into a madhouse.
If only, if only ...
As a former Montrealer, I wish the Canadiens would end the drought of 22 years — far too long; unthinkably long — since a Canadian team won the trophy. But wishful thinking is more wishing than thinking. Take away the wishing, and the team that I have to think is most likely to claim the Cup is not Montreal but the Chicago Blackhawks.
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The key is Patrick Kane. More precisely, Kane’s left clavicle; it broke when he crashed into the boards during a February 24 game against Florida. The initial forecast was that he would be out for 12 weeks — in other words, until the early part of the third round of the play-offs.
The Hawks are not the same without him. They become a difficult but manageable opponent; whereas with Kane, they tend eventually to overwhelm benighted defenders.
When the St Louis coach Ken Hitchcock was asked in what ways the Hawks are different without Kane, he replied, as per the Chicago Sun-Times: "Every way. It's easy to play when your focus is on fewer players. They've got so many good players, but you can't check everybody. And one of the things that Chicago has is a sense of timing. They've gotten Cups and wins and play-off-round wins because their key guys have done it when it's all been on the line."
Speaking of a sense of timing, there was Kane back and skating at a team practice on March 30. Taking shots, which tests the shoulder. And then on Monday came surprising news: he had been cleared for contact and could play as soon as Game 1 against Nashville on Wednesday.
Which might be all it takes to turbo-charge an already strong team all the way to the title.
Back in October, I wrote in our season preview: "The finalists in the West will be two of the conference's big three — Anaheim, Chicago, Los Angeles. For the Eastern finalists, it will be among Boston, Montreal and — let's try an upstart — the New York Islanders, who finally have a decent goalie in Jaro Halak. Stanley Cup prediction: Anaheim over Montreal."
Five months later, Anaheim ended with the best record in the league. Yet the Ducks lack the feel of champions. They do not dominate. They have a phenomenal record in games decided by one goal (33-1-7) but, as the hockey blogger IJay Palansky has pointed out, a losing record in games decided by more than one goal (18-23). Neither of their goaltenders has closed out an NHL play-offs series. And, since 2009, the Ducks are 0-3 in Game 7s.
This is a team that puts itself in situations where it is vulnerable to a bit of bad luck.
And so Chicago it is.
Stanley Cup prediction: Chicago over Montreal in 6.
FIRST-ROUND PREDICTIONS
Pacific Division
Anaheim Ducks v Winnipeg Jets
Ducks swept teams' season series 3-0 Even if Anaheim is overrated, they have enough fire power to beat Winnipeg. Jets goalie Ondrej Pavelec has three successive shutouts. Anaheim in 5
Vancouver Canucks v Calgary Flames
Season series split 2-2 Vancouver has finesse, Calgary grit. With Ryan Miller healed, does scene-stealing understudy Eddie Lack still tend goal for Canucks? Calgary in 6
Central Division
St Louis Blues v Minnesota Wild
Season series split 2-2 Tight matchup. Wild's league-best penalty kill should blunt Blues' fourth-ranked power play. Rising Blues star Vladimir Tarasenko will be the difference. Blues in 7
Nashville Predators v Chicago Blackhawks
Hawks won season series 3-1 Nashville peaked too early: 28-9-4 in season's first half, 19-16-6 in second. Jonathan Toews's Hawks know the drill and peak for play-offs. Chicago in 4
Atlantic Division
Montreal Canadiens v Ottawa Senators
Senators won season series 3-1 Ottawa has a red-hot goalie in Andrew "The Hamburglar" Hammond; but Montreal has the world's best goalie in Carey Price. Montreal in 5
Tampa Bay Lightning v Detroit Red Wings
Lightning won season series 3-1 Tampa led league in goals with 262. Detroit's veteran experience will not be enough to hold back Tampa's unbridled youths. Tampa in 5
Metropolitan Division
New York Rangers v Pittsburgh Penguins
Rangers won season series 3-1 First round always has one big upset. Maybe Sidney Crosby rises to the occasion, maybe Rangers' mediocre power play costs them. Pittsburgh in 7
Washington Capitals vs New York Islanders
Season series split 2-2 Capitals' Alex Ovechkin led league in goals. Two Isles, Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck, led league in hits. This could get brutal. Islanders in 7
rmckenzie@thenational.ae
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
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THE BIO:
Sabri Razouk, 74
Athlete and fitness trainer
Married, father of six
Favourite exercise: Bench press
Must-eat weekly meal: Steak with beans, carrots, broccoli, crust and corn
Power drink: A glass of yoghurt
Role model: Any good man
Race card
6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (Dirt) 1.600m
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 2,000m
7.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 1,200m
8.50pm: The Entisar Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 2,000m
9.25pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,400m
Get Out
Director: Jordan Peele
Stars: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Catherine Keener, Bradley Whitford
Four stars
RESULTS
6.30pm UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) US$100,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner Final Song, Christophe Soumillon (jockey), Saeed bin Suroor (trainer).
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (Turf) 1,000m
Winner Almanaara, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson.
7.40pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner Grand Argentier, Brett Doyle, Doug Watson.
8.15pm Meydan Challenge Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Major Partnership, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor.
8.50pm Dubai Stakes Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Gladiator King, Mickael Barzalona, Satish Seemar.
9.25pm Dubai Racing Club Classic Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m
Winner Universal Order, Richard Mullen, David Simcock.
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What went into the film
25 visual effects (VFX) studios
2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots
1,000 VFX artists
3,000 technicians
10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers
New sound technology, named 4D SRL
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm
Torque: 300Nm at 1,900rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh130,000
On sale: now