and then I joined a playoff pool and made predictions to show just how much I knew.

First off, the predictions:

Canadiens vs Bruins - I couldn’t put down the B’s… I just couldn’t!

Capitals vs Rangers – who knew this Varlamov kid even existed, let alone could play this well? I thought “no way Jose” was going to lose the series for the Caps, but now we will never know.

Devils vs Hurricanes – Devils with a rested Brodeur? this shouldn’t even have been a series, but apparently the Canes weren’t informed of this fact. stupid Whitney.. retire already!

Penguins vs Flyers - I believe I picked the Penguins in this one, so go me for betting the team with two superstars could defeat Biron and Nittymaki.

Flames vs Hawks – I really thought we could win this series, and the way they played in the first two games gave me hope. just figure a few minor things out and bingo, series win. we never did figure things out, or we did and then promptly forgot them in the final two losses.

Sharks vs Ducks – not a fair fight in the animal kingdom, and I seriously thought the Sharks had made enough changes to win this series. way to prove me wrong.

Canucks vs Blues – perhaps mostly wishful thinking, I hoped the Blues incredible run from 15th to 6th in the west hadn’t left them with nothing for the playoffs… my hopes were misplaced.

Wings vs Jackets – the only one I got right in the west, and I’d have had to be suffering some sort of brain damage to bet against the Wings in this series.

As for the pool itself, I lost 5 Devils, 3 Sharks, 1 from the Blues, Flames, Rangers and Canadiens in the first round. I now sit with Johan Franzen as my only hope, and a 35 point deficit to make up to catch first.

I don’t like my chances.