IT'S OBVIOUS: THE SHARKS WILL WIN THE STANLEY CUP

by Mike Jack, Staff Writer

I’m certain of it. The Stanley Cup finalists will be the San Jose Sharks and the Montreal Canadians. San Jose will take home the Cup. I’ve even bet all my family's goats (7) on it. That’s our life savings of goats!

You see, this Stanley Cup conclusion will mark the end of a pattern. The last three Stanley Cup winning teams are all from different warm American cities that have never won a Cup and they've all met different Canadian teams in the final.

Here’s a refresher:

2007: Anaheim over Ottawa

2006: Carolina over Edmonton

2005: Lock out

2004: Tampa Bay over Calgary

The first two winners in this pattern were from the East and the second two will be from the West. San Jose is the only remaining Western Conference team to have not won the Stanley Cup and Montreal is the only Canadian team left in the playoffs.

You may think this is a just random craziness, but you'll see when I'm right!