The StatMan  

What did we learn from this Stanley Cup postseason on Sports With The StatMan?  Essentially, we learned that Heather believes in the Chicago Blackhawks.  We learned more, but that was the big one.  In one of the most exciting playoff seasons in my 16 years of intently watching the Stanley Cup Playoffs, we previewed and broke down just about every game of the playoffs and you can listen for yourself in our past episodes (No. 2-11). 

Hockey contributor Heather Yunger and I made picks along the way, which were detailed in the blog and on the show. 

Heather and I both hit the jackpot in figuring the Penguins to win the whole shooting match.  I had the Pens in 7, improbable as it was to pick the road team in a Game 7, especially against the almost-dynastic Red Wings at the Joe.  I did not even realize that road teams in a Stanley Cup Final Game 7 were 2-12 going into that game and the two steely goalies in those two wins were Frank McCool (1945 Maple Leafs) and the inimitable Ken Dryden (1971 Canadiens).  Add the enigmatic Marc-Andre Fleury to the list.

Heather had more faith in the Penguins and had them winning at the Igloo in six games.

So, I got the last laugh by picking the correct amount of games.  Or, did I?  Here is how we did:

CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
#1E Boston vs. #8E Montreal: StatMan - BOS/6; Heather - BOS; Result: BOS/4
#2E Washington vs. #7E N.Y. Rangers: StatMan - WSH/7; Heather - WSH; Result: WSH/7
#3E New Jersey vs. #6E Carolina - StatMan - CAR/6; Heather - CAR; Result: CAR/7
#4E Pittsburgh vs. #5E Philadelphia - StatMan - PIT/5; Heather - PIT; Result: PIT/6
#1W San Jose vs. #8W Anaheim - StatMan - SJS/7; Heather - SJS; Result: ANA/6
#2W Detroit vs. #7W Columbus - StatMan - DET/5; Heather - DET; Result: DET/4
#3W Vancouver vs. #6W St. Louis - StatMan - VAN/5; Heather - VAN; Result: VAN/4
#4W Chicago vs. #5W Calgary - StatMan - CGY/6; Heather - CHI; Result: CHI/6
StatMan: 6-2 (1 was correct on winner and games (WSH))
Heather: 7-1 (Heather matched me on every pick, but disagreed with CGY-CHI)

CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
#1E Boston vs. #6E Carolina - StatMan - BOS/6; Heather - BOS/6; Result: CAR/7
#2E Washington vs. #4E Pittsburgh - StatMan - WSH/7; Heather - PIT/7; Result: PIT/7
#2W Detroit vs. #8W Anaheim - StatMan - DET/5; Heather - DET/6; Result: DET/7
#3W Vancouver vs. #4W Chicago - StatMan - VAN/7; Heather - CHI/7; Result: CHI/6
StatMan: 1-3 (just wrong all over the place and the only time I was right, I thought Detroit

would have a much easier time against the Ducks)
Heather: 3-1 (1 was correct on winner and games (PIT))

CONFERENCE FINALS
#4E Pittsburgh vs. #6E Carolina - StatMan - PIT/6; Heather - PIT/6; Result: PIT/4
#2W Detroit vs. #4W Chicago - StatMan - DET/6; Heather - CHI/7; Result: DET/5
StatMan: 2-0 (big rebound)
Heather: 1-1 (going with your heart does not win Championships)

STANLEY CUP FINALS
#2W Detroit vs. #4E Pittsburgh - StatMan - PIT/7; Heather - PIT/6; Result: PIT/7
StatMan: 1-0 (on the mark on winner and games)
Heather: 1-0 (she must feel like having a full house and losing the hand)

Overall: Heather: 12-3 (1 right on the number); StatMan: 10-5 (2 right on the number)

Well, it looks like Heather laughed last and laughed best.  We'll see how she does picking the NHL Award winners.  I will be posting that later today.