Pittsburgh – When the Carolina Hurricanes and the Pittsburgh Penguins match-up in tonight’s Game 1 at Melon Arena, more than the Eastern Conference Title will be on the line. Bragging rights between the two Staal brothers will be at stake. One team is captained by Sidney Crosby and has Evgeni Malkin and Marc-Andre Fluery. Meanwhile, the other is looking to claim another victim, after sweeping it’s way through Boston and becoming the second team to upset a #1 seed this playoff season. Can Jordan Staal and Crosby avoid the category 5 force in which these little talked about Hurricanes swept through Boston with? Can Cam Ward shut down Sidney Crosby? Will Sid and Jordan send these gale-force Hurricanes into a tropical depression?
The Sheriff’s pick? Marian Hossa and Sidney Crosby have a date in the finals.
The key for Pittsburgh to survive gale-force winds will be Brooks Orpik and how well the ‘Canes can hit Sidney in waves. This series has the potential to go seven, just like its counterpart in the West, Detroit and Chicago. In the end, Carolina will be nothing but a whisper in the wind as Crosby, Orpik, and Staal will go to the finals where they will meet up with Hossa and his Red Wings.
