4 GAME 1'S

THERE ALL DONE. NHL AND NBA PLAYOFF CONFERENCE FINALS ALL HAVE CONCLUDED GAME NUMBER ONE. AND HERE IS WHAT WE LEARNED...

HAWKS VS. SHARKS

THIS IS GOING TO BE THE BLACKHAWKS TOUGHEST OPPONENT THUS FAR AS THE CHASE FOR LORD STANLEY'S CUP CONTINUES. THERE'S PLENTY OF 2ND GUESSING GOING ON IN SAN JOSE AS SHARKS HEAD COACH TODD MCLELLAN DECIDED TO GAMBLE ON THE FACE OFF IN THE DEFENSIVE ZONE THAT LEAD TO EVANTUAL GAME WINNING SHOT BY DUSTIN BYFUGLIEN BY NOT CHANGING HIS LINE AND LEAVING HIS FIRST LINE OUT THERE. IT CAN BE ARGUED THAT GAME 1 SHOULD'VE WENT INTO OVERTIME AND WE WOULD BE DOWN 0-1. HOWEVER THE WAY THAT NIEMI WAS PLAYING BETWEEN THE PIPES MAYBE WE WOULD'VE WON ANYWAY. A HUGE GAME ONE WIN NONETHELESS.

FLYERS VS. CANADIENS

IT APPEARS THAT THE HABS NETMINDER JAROSLAV HALAK CAN INDEED BE RATTLED AS THE FLYERS TOOK GAME ONE IN A DOMINANT FASHION SHUTTING OUT THE CANADIENS 6-0. HALAK GAVE UP 4 GOALS ON 14 SHOTS AND WAS PULLED EARLY ON IN THE 2ND PERIOD. THE PRESSURE IS SURLY ON MONTREAL NOW....AS IT WAS WHEN THEY STARTED OFF IN THE PLAYOFFS AS THEY BEAT BOTH THE CAPITALS AND PENGUINS ON THE ROAD IN GAME 7'S. THIS IS NOT A SITUATION THERE NOT ACCUSTOMED TO AND PERHAPS THEY PLAY BEST WHEN BEHIND THE 8BALL.

CELTICS VS. MAGIC

NOT ONLY ARE THE CELTICS HEALTHY, THERE PLAYING LIKE THEY DID 2 YEARS AGO WHEN THEY WENT ON TO WIN THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP. THE MAGIC ARE NO STRANGERS TO BEING DOWN TO THE CELTICS HOWEVER, LAST YEAR THE CELTS WERE TAKEN TO A GAME 7 AND LOST TO A HUNGRY MAGIC TEAM THAT HAD TO WIN THE LAST 2 GAMES TO ADVANCE. THE DIFFERENCE? KEVIN GARNETT WILL BE ON THE COURT PUMPING HIS CHEST AS OPPOSED TO DOING IT IN A SUIT AND TIE. ALSO RASHEED WALLACE IS ACTUALLY SHOWING UP IN THIS POSTSEASON. SOMETHING HE DIDN'T DO IN 82 GAMES FOR BOSTON.

LAKERS VS. SUNS

IF THE SUNS THINK THEY CAN TRY AND GET INTO A SCORING CONTEST WITH L.A. THEN IT'S GONNA BE A QUICK EXIT FOR ALVIN GENTRY'S SQUAD. KOBE ABSOLUTELY LIT THEM UP IN GAME ONE. I'M VERY INTRIGUED TO SEE WHAT THE SUNS DO TO THE BLACK MAMBA IN GAME 2. IF I'M A SUN, I'M GONNA LET SOMEONE ELSE BEAT ME. PROBLEM IS THAT PAU GASOL ANDREW BYNUM AND LAMOR ODOM AT TIMES PROPOSE MISMATCHES ON THE COURT AND INSTEAD OF LOSING BY 20 THEY'LL LOSE BY 10. THEY HAVE THEIR WORK CUT OUT FOR THEM.

SO THERE YOU HAVE IT. 4 GAME 1'S IN 2 MINUTES. 3 GAME 2'S WILL TAKE PLACE LATER TONIGHT. SOME SERIES MAY BE EVENED UP. OTHERS MAY TAKE A TURN FOR THE WORST AS HOME ICE/COURT MAY VERY WELL BE TAKEN ABRUPTLY BY CHICAGO AND BOSTON. PHILLY TRIES TO CONTINUE THEIR MOMENTUM BUT I GOT A FEELING HALAK IS GONNA HAVE ONE OF THOSE GAMES............CATCH YOU AT THE LOCAL WATERING HOLE!!!!