Chicago Is the Pick to Click

A smart bettor/picker/forecaster/loudmouth takes in all factors before putting down the name and the money on the counter.

You look at players you trust (Jonathan Toews, Chris Pronger, Dave Bolland, Duncan Keith, Simon Gagne) and those you hold as suspect (Patrick Kane, Daniel Briere, Brian Campbell, Brent Sopel, Scott Hartnell).

If that doesn't make things more lucid, then you go to the off-the-wall stuff, like predictions from other journalists. Then if you are truly scratching your head, you look for stray thoughts and try to string them together.

I admire the spirit of the Flyers, their franchise, the fans and the felonious on-ice acts to which they still cling. The logo has always attracted my eye. In junior high, when the Broad Street Bullies were punching out victories like license plates, one Tracy Larson wore an orange Flyers T-shirt to school. The shirt looked good; she looked good in the shirt. Win, win situation for a teenage boy.

Again all this is just clutter that I wade through whenever I make my picks. And here is what I believe will happen.

Chicago Blackhawks over Philadelphia Flyers in 5 games: I see these two teams as twins. In the classroom, one had a better daily report; the other struggled with its focus and did not reach the level that was expected. But that was the daily classwork. They're on equal terms now. At forward, defense, in goal and behind the bench.

For me, it comes down to Patrick Kane. He is third in playoff points with 20, 13 of them being assists. So why do I struggle to see him on the ice? I expect goals off the rush, goals in tight and plenty of speed. I haven't really seen all of that through three playoff rounds. I expect I shall see all that in this round.

He and Marian Hossa (2 goals, 9 assists, 11 points) are at the point where they steal the show or they become the bit players they were not billed to be. If Pronger manages to hinder Dustin Byfuglien's ability to get his stick on the puck, then the goals have to come from somewhere else. Toews, who leads in playoff scoring with 26 points (7 goals, 19 assists), is doing his part. That leads us back to Mr. Kane. You are X in the equation of Y Chicago will win. Elevate your game, and it should be a runaway.

Punch up 5G on the jukebox. It's time for some Del.