As the only Nation writer that picked the Hawks to beat the Canucks in the first round of the playoffs it is only just that we give them their props for taking the series to a G7 despite being down 3-0 in the series. Try as they might the Canucks could not completely cock up the entire series although they looked shakier than the dude in the picture above.

Who allows a short handed game tying goal in Game 7 of a series with 1:56 remaining in the third? When Captain Serious potted that goal you could almost hear the collective cries of despair clear across the Rocky Mountains. We certainly saw it on twitter – which explodes hilariously with every turn of the Canucks fortunes.

Still, we suppose one has to give the Canucks some props for bouncing back in OT, although we would rather wear a beard of bees than give Burrows props for anything.

Luongo not starting in Game 6 and then allowing that late short handed goal in Game 7? Hardly the confidence building play one would expect from a player earning approximately $32.6 million dollars this season.The invisibility of not one but both Sedins? That has to be unnerving for the faithful followers of the Canucks.

The number 1 seeded Vancouver may have beaten the 8th seed Chicago Blackhawks after blowing a 3 game lead. But given the level of problems that appear – um just about everywhere one cares to look right now – we can`t see them getting out of the second round alive. Believe that.

We would be remiss to not give the Habs their props as well considering they have forced a G7 with the Bruins tonight. The series doesn`t have the same driving-by-a-car-accident level of horror as did the Canucks and the Hawks series but this too has been a dandy to watch.

The Habs claim to be ready tonight, as do the Bruins. The City of Montreal is ready too, deploying their police forces just about everywhere they can expect more than two Habs fans to congregate. Looking to avoid the annual torching of the Downtown Core, the police are closing down massive stretches of the downtown area and a "festive zone" will be set up for fans adjacent to the Bell Centre.

Assuming you find hundreds of riot gear wearing police to be festive, it sounds like a good time. Montreal police are also asking journalists to conduct live reports in designated areas in order not to stir up the Habs fans who have been known to beat each other senseless in the background of John Lu cut ins with terrifying regularity.

Ah the playoffs. We do love them so.

Not to be anti-Canadian or anything but we are going to stand by our original prediction in the series and call for a Boston win tonight.

You?