Pete's pool tips

With the NHL season in its final stages, I thought it was time to fire
up the old blog and get into pool mode. So hot off last year's Sons ofManitoba pools where I placed 26th out of 38 people, I decided to let you in on some of the strategies that kept me solidly in the Top 30.

1) Don't get too cute. Sure picking the perfect upset makes you look like
a genius, but there's an even better chance of looking like a chump. I
mean what is thelikelihood of all the underdogs winning in one conference in the same season.

2) Don't go with your heart. This applies mostly to all the Leaf fans who
keep picking the Buds despite the fact they haven't won a cup since the
end of the Original Six era. This rule doesn't apply to Flames fans
because we all know they're going to take home the Cup this year.

3) Don't over think
your picks. This is something I've learned from experience. In the past
I'd been known to brood for hours over various permutations and
combinations. No more, now it's all about the gut feeling.

4) Don't seek advice from sportswriters. They have no idea what they're taking about when it comes to sports pools.

5) Most importantly get your picks in on time.