It’s my Parting Shot to give The Fearless Predictor another shot at picking Stanley Cup playoff winners…..

Naturally, to the glee of Gary Bettman, there are no Canadian teams left in the running to win the N-H-L championship. That means I only had two of four Conference semi-final predictions correct, and my “new” thought as to who will be in the Stanley Cup final is still alive!

That means I’ve got to follow through on who wins the respective Conference finals, which start over the next two nights, despite those teams coming up against different opponents than Toronto and Edmonton that might have, normally, changed my thought pattern!

That is the case in the Western Conference where I have Dallas qualifying for the title series. The Stars were an easy pick, in my mind, over the Oilers – based on team defence and goaltending. Now, Dallas has to contend with a very competent defensive squad in Vegas. But, I’m still going with the Stars in six games!

The Eastern Conference final begins tonight in Raleigh, North Carolina, as the Hurricanes host Florida. The Panthers have ousted Boston and Toronto, but expended a lot of energy in doing so! Carolina is coming off a relatively worry-free five-game win over New Jersey. The Canes are rested and should be ready to use their superior team game to declaw the Panthers in six games!

That means a Dallas-Carolina final, starting in two weeks – or June as the calendar will read. And, the high temperatures will be in the 30s on every game from now on as all four remaining teams are in the Sun Belt – again, much to the glee of Gary Bettman!!

Like it or not!

That’s my Parting Shot. I’m Les Lazaruk…and it turned out nice again!