Oslo Vikings (1) vs. Winnipeg Jets (4)

Predictions

Michel Bourassa: Jets in 6

Matt Burch: What can I say about my predictions this season? Atrocious? Abysmal? I think the best term would be 'Norm-esque'. If the first three rounds of the Smartitude Cup were the regular season, I would be on hole 9 on the green by now. So who can I pick? It can't be fair to whoever I pick because surely they will be the loser. If Mark would let me, I would pick a tie so each team has a fair chance, but I know Mark (aka Mein Fuhrer) would frown upon such a prediction. So here goes...... (Sorry Michel, but congrats to Kasim!)

Jets in 6

Guy Flaming: Norway? More like Yes-way!

Vikings in 6

Gary Graves: Jets in 6

Kasim Husain: Winnipeg is a challenge unlike any Oslo's faced so far - Las Vegas had the all-star defence, but not the goaltending, and St. Louis had the opposite. The Jets have both, which should slow down the Ovechkin-Marleau-Nash show enough for the Vikings' run to come to an end.

Jets in 6

Mark MacRae: When you look at the SICHL page in the paper, you can't help but notice the huge margin of points that the trio of Ovechkin, Marleau and Nash have over the rest of the league. All three of them have a shot at matching Eric Lindros' incredible record of 43 points if the final series goes the distance. Ovie will most certainly break Dany Heatley's record for most goals in the playoffs. Well, that is unless Henrik Lundqvist keeps up his incredible playoff run.Though Lundqvist doesn't look poised to shatter any records, he's head and shoulders above the rest of the league's goalies in this year's playoffs.

Which of these two stories will end happily? I have to go with defence wins cups and the team from the better conference.

Jets in 6

Don Morrison: Born as the Winnipeg Jets after the 2004 -2005 season, the move north from Boston for the Hitmen may payoff this year? Jets have had an ace in the hole so far in every series they have played this playoffs, he is the top goalie in these playoffs, Henrik Lundqvist . With a 2.08 goal against average and a .920 save percentage, it is not even close in the stat department, he is the King. Lets take a look at Win. D men. Mark Streit is tied with team mate Brent Burns and Viking Chris Pronger with 17 points. Hard checking Shane Doan and Scott Hartnell are ginders who can score and go to the rough places.Will give the nod to the Jets in net and on defense, so I guess with Zach Parise, Ales Hemsky,and Vincent Lecavalier gunning up front, the Jets should be easy winners Eh? Not so quick....

Vikings are the gunslingers of this years playoffs, an expansion team that was stocked with the picks of the departed Dragons de Montreal, this club led by Kasim is a power house.Kasim had a lot to start with, but the additons are very key. Chris Pronger was added to the back end, feeding pass to a stacked forward group and beating on forwards in front of his net. Kasim also added free agent signing Alexei Kovalev to put his stamp on this club. But the reason the Vikings are still kicking and are in a battle for the S.I.C.H.L. cup, is the big three. Superstars all on one line, but shutting them down has proven to be a big problem is this years playoffs. Alexander Ovechkin is leading the playoffs in scoring with 32 pts and also is punishing teams with 54 hits. Big gun Rick Nash is right behind OV, with 30 pts and has a huge four game winning goals. The third big gun is Patrick Marleau, with a plus 12 rating and three game winners, he also like the other two can make a case for playoff M.V.P.. So this brings us to the one weak spot in the Vikings line up, goaltending. Martin Biron is a battle tested S.I.C.H.L. vet, but his numbers have been poor. With a poor .876 save percentage and a weak 3.03 goals against average, yes get me 5 and I will do the rest seems to be Birons game plan.

My pick has to go to the Canadian conference and the Winnipeg Jets to beat the Oslo Vikings in seven games.

Eric Schneider: I must say, I'm feeling very clever for picking these guys the whole way. Were I to rationalize, I'd say Lundqvist hasn't seen the kind of firepower Oslo's packing, but truthfully I just can't bring myself to bet against my best man. Take it home, Kaz!

Vikings in 6

Henry Skey: Vikings in 6