Wait to Make Picks to Click

Today started off just fine. A nice breeze through the living room just in time for the morning bowl of cereal, the loving cup of Joe and Stanley Cup highlight films on the big screen in the living room.

Bad news, Blackhawks fans, or should I say Black Hawks fans. The 1965 and 1971 Cup finals were being shown on the NHL Network. In both cases, the Hawks still lost. Glenn Hall with no mask. You gotta like that.

Anyhow, moving to the rest of my day, which required a little work be completed throughout the day, the 2010 Cup previews are coming through and they are entertaining. Sportsnet has a report on the Flyers and the Blackhawks, and there is a prize to be won for one of the writers.

ESPN, the network that does not show hockey and when it shows highlights, it's with a large dose of Barry Melrose or Matthew Barnaby? Pierre LeBrun, who can be seen on the Web or on CBC (speaking of the CBC, check out this preview from the CBC and compare it with any ESPN preview involving Melrose), but not ESPN, the TV, has a view on the finals, which is right here. The picks of the ESPN hockey crew, all six, are here, along with a look back at who they said would win in each round.

The Hockey News, the Web site, has a preview and it has a video roundtable. No Barry Melrose here, so I'd click in just for the fun of it.

Wes Goldstein at CBSSports.com makes his call for Chicago, and it's here.

Sports Illustrated? Yeah, I remember when I cared about that magazine, even when Mark Mulvoy was doing all he could to ignore the sport. I believed in hallowed news media institutions like Sports Illustrated back then. I was young and a sucker. I am not subsidizing Golf Plus, Golf Extra or whatever they were trying to sell me. But online, Allan Muir and his colleagues do a lot with whatever small commitment the SI franchise gives them. Here's that preview.

Over at Puck Daddy, there are several good views of both teams heading into the finals, which start Saturday night. Here's one from Justin Bourne looking at the difference in forwards on the two teams. Greg Wyshynski also has an opinion on the forward lines. Compare and contrast, if you will.

As for me, the Lounge's picks to click come tomorrow, after I've consumed a few more previews, a few adult beverages and at least one more bowl of cereal.

And now, I urge you to make your picks smartly, or you'll be singing a song similar to this fine gem by The Deep Dark Woods. Enjoy.