First I want to get something off of my chest. What on earth is ESPN doing by hiring Don Cherry?

No. 1, he is a complete moron and this can be seen by the horrendous outfits that he wears. Is he trying to be funny? Unique? Or is he just a complete idiot?

No. 2, How can you be analyze hockey when you can’t even pronounce the names of players and coaches. I understand hockey names are the most difficult to pronounce out of the major sports, but, come on, this is your job, you live in Canada, your life is hockey, how don’t you know the names.

I realize that ESPN doesn’t have the rights to any hockey games, and that is why their coverage of the sport is so poor, its a business, I get it, but why hire Cherry?
You already have Barry Melrose, who is a cult favorite, and analyzes the game pretty well, as well as having good writers for the website, Buccigross, Burnside, Hradek and Gallo.

Once again no need for Cherry or his suits. He is a joke, the atmosphere that surrounds him is circus-esque. He brings down the legitimacy and integrity of the broadcast.

Ok so now that I got that out.

On to the Conference Finals. Both series are at 3-0. What can you say? The better teams are winning. The teams that the heads of the NHL want to see play in the Finals. A Penguins v. Red Wings final is just what everyone wants to see and will bring the sport back to relevance.

The Red Wings, who have been the NHL’s most consistent team for over a decade, winning the President’s Cup for most regular season points on numerous occasions, offer great offensive stars, Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Franzen, etc., the best defensive player in the game Lidstrom, as well as a goalie combo that is unmatched in the playoffs, Osgood and Hasek.
The produce offensively, defensively and can be physical and will out a game.
They can be explosive, yet relaxed. They have won 9 consecutive games.

The Penguins, the “new” NHL’s prototype team. They are fast, strong, and can score at will. They boast the NHL’s poster child, Sid Crosby, arguably the best player in the world, and Geno Malkin, who is in his own right is arguably the best player in the world right now, as well as in these playoffs. They have a killer powerplay, underrated blue-liners, a penalty kill that is clicking on all cylinders, role players who understand their roles and pump energy into the lineup, and a goalie who is doing his best impersonation of a wall throughout these playoffs. They are led by a hard disciplinarian, who knows how to the get best out of his players.

The Penguins went through years of losing, not only on the ice, but they almost lost their city. Without the work of Mario Lemieux and his partners the Pens would be in Kansas City.

Instead they have used high picks in the draft to refuel their team and re-energize the city. Ryan Whitney, Marc-Andre Fleury, Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, and Jordan Staal, make up the nucleus of the Penguins and all were Top-4 picks in the draft.

Trade deadline pickups, Hal Gill, Pascal Dupuis, and Marian Hossa, have meshed well and are important cogs in this well-oil playoff machine. Gill adds size and grit to the defensive, Dupuis brings energy to both ends of the ice, while Hossa is the sniper that Crosby has always dreamed of playing at his side.

The Pens are poised to hoist the cup this season and for years to come.

Detroit v. Pittsburgh is just what the NHL needs. Two great teams, superstars galore, great goaltending, and high-flying, high paced, goal scoring action.

The only thing that can taint this series is having Don Cherry anywhere near the arena.