The Hat Trick

After a weekend of weddings and sun, it's time to bet back to the pucks. But first I have to give congratulations to Kris Allen, this year's American Idol. I think it was good Fox hardly told the 17-year old girls that he was married or it might have turned out differently. All in all, I do wish him and Adam Lambert a good singing career. Now, off to the Hat Trick, the top three things I am looking forward to this week.

1) Stanley Cup Finals re-match: Will this rare feat happen this week? Since the NHL took control of the Stanley Cup in 1926, a rematch of the previous year's Cup finals has only happened 8 times: 1948 – 1949 Maple Leafs vs. Red Wings, 1954 – 1955 Red Wings vs. Canadiens, 1957 – 1958 Canadiens vs. Bruins, 1959 – 1960 Canadiens vs. Maple Leafs, 1963 – 1964 Maple Leafs vs. Red Wings, 1968 – 1969 Canadiens vs. Blues, 1977- 1978 Canadiens vs. Bruins, 1983-1984 Islanders vs. Oilers. For this to not happen for 25 years shows us how rare it is, and we couldn't have two better teams with better storylines than we do this year. I will have a full preview when the match up is set, but I am looking forward to seeing if this unusual instance will happen this week.

2) Hossa Gate: I know it is not set in stone yet, and yes the Blackhawks and Cardiac Canes could make a heroic comeback and my Hat Trick looks silly this week, but how can you not be looking forward to Hossa Gate. Leave a team you make it to the Stanley Cup Finals with for a ONE YEAR deal and then face the team you left behind in the next year’s finals, what a story.

3) Down on the farm: First of all congrats to the Windsor Spitfires becoming the first team to win both the tie-breaker game and the Championship Final after starting the Memorial Cup 0-2. Another congratulations is due to Tyler Hall of the Spitfires, who helped his 2010 number one overall pick status by being named by the Smythe Memorial Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of the Memorial Cup. Down in the AHL I am looking forward to the Finals with the Hershey Bears and Manitoba Moose on the brink of securing their spots in the Calder Cup Finals.