I said it before, I’ll say it again. I knew the Icehogs would lose because they have Chicago’s innate ability to choke in their DNA. How else could they be the Blackhawks’ farm team? The parent isn’t looking much better against Nashville. I will read my friend’s arguments based upon his statistical data later about seeds’ success for the Stanley Cup, blah blah blah. Numbers and stats matter. However, I watch my team closely. Maybe not at the intense nor informed level as a professional scout yet I feel I’m attuned to the players’ je ne sais quoi qualities which tell me whether or not the Flyers or Stars “got it.” I’m not 100 percent right but I was dead on with the 2004 Eastern Conference Championship between Philly and Tampa; I could tell when the Lightning had it cinched during game seven with 10 minutes remaining…my team ran out of gas and how it showed in poorly they were playing.
In the Icehogs’ defense, they did play a good season and during the non-playoff times, they gave my Stars a hard time. I didn’t expect a 4-0 sweep. I was guessing the Stars’ victory would be more along the 4-2 lines.
Next up, the winner of the Chicago Wolves v. Milwaukee Admirals series currently tied at three games apiece courtesy of an OT victory for Beertown. Who do I want to win? Milwaukee of course. They’re the lower seed, giving us the home-ice advantage and I used live there, I have a soft spot in my heart for the place; as the residents call it…M’waukee.
This better prove to the AHL we’re worthy of a permanent franchise now. Even on a slow night, the Stars managed to draw a couple thousand people this season. Personally, I think the Icebats already made the argument. Love them, hate them, mock them, whatever…Austin’s previous team managed to exist for 12 straight years in various palooka leauges with 600-plus games before they were suspended (meaning, they exist on paper only, nothing negative). If that doesn’t say the 15th, 16th or 18th (depends upon the source) largest city in the US can’t support a team, then Rockford and Peoria are miracles.
Let’s go Stars! We’re a little closer to raising the Calder Cup in Central Texas.