The red ink spills

Hello Poolies: There wasn't much carnage in the streets of Montreal after the Canadiens lost the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night, but that wasn't the case as I marked the hockey pool sheets. The red ink was flowing as the Habs, the top choice to win the Cup, were eliminated. The same thing happened Sunday when many people's Western Conference darlings the San Jose Sharks bit the dust.

This means that there are precious few poolies who still have a chance to win this, at least on the team side. Of the final four teams, the Detroit Red Wings are the most popular as eight poolies (including Your Truly) predicted the Presidents' Trophy winners would win the big prize. Five people took the young kids in Pittsburgh and one, our current leader, has the Philadelphia Flyers drinking from Lord Stanley's mug. Not a single poolie took the Stars to win this thing, in fact only Mark Brennae has them making the third round.

As for the final four, no one called all four teams correctly. Only one, Mike James, got three out of four and for the first time in a long time a handful of people were skunked.

So without further ado here are the team side standings after the second round. The player side will be updated before the third round starts on Thursday.

1) Mike James 37 Only poolie to hit three of the final four teams correct
T2) Kim Landon 32 I take cash, cheque or money order
T2) Brad Bouzane 32 The smart money is on you
T4) Jordan Stein 30 Still very much in the hunt
T4) Liam Lynch 30 Don't get your hopes up
T4) Lloyd Mack 30 Both your conference champs are still alive
T4) Ron State 30 Campbell was the goat again
T4) Mary James 30 Happy Birthday (a few days early)
T4) Terry James 30 Still a chance this could be your year to break into the winner's circle1)
10) Sean Hutchinson 29 You went 7/8 in round 1, but only 1/4 in round 2
T11) Mark Brennae 28 I remember when your were a contender. Note the past tense.
T11) Ryan Plesko 28 This is your high-water mark
13) Jason Anthony 27 Mediocre no more
T14) Peter James 26 At least this is respectable
T14) Adam Fulton 26 That Sharks loss is enough to drive a man to drink
T14) Richard Warnica 26 Congrats on the new gig
17) Dave Washburn 25 You will not win the pool, but your team could
T18) Barry Horeczy 24 Don't worry you're not the only person to lose both your conference champions
T18) Cliff Hosfield 24 Your Cup champion is still very much in the running
T18) Don McGowan 24 Much better than the player side, but you can only go down from here
T21) Julianna Nowaczek 23 I have yet to look at your pictures from your trip, but I will
T21) Mary Kay Hosfield 23 The Hosfields are really high on the Penguins this year
T21) Rob Shaw 23 You're in Ottawa when?
T21) Dale Oviatt 23 I hope you didn't bet using your picks from this pool in Vegas
T21) James Peters 23 I'm now beating you in one side of the pool
T21) Arthur Casement 23 As an Oilers fan, does that Dallas win make you angry?
T27) Natalie James 22 Great pictures from your trip
T27) Justin Lee 22 That game Sunday was indeed amazing
T27) Jeff Sandelli 22 How did the run go?
T30) Scott McCleery 21 Not a bad rookie showing. You'll improve next year
T30) Jack James 21 Giordano will be a good, and cheap, addition to the blue-line
T32) Neil MacKinnon 20 Did you have a sympathy riot in Calgary?
T32) Debb Coghlin 20 Morrow snuffed out your last chance at any points
T34) Jenn Hosfield 19 A Penguins run will move you up considerably
T34) Colleen Turnbull 19 This was perfect 'blading weather today, eh
T36) Janet Pringle 18 You still have room to grow
T36) David Forbes 18 An all-Canadian final would have been nice, but it wasn't to be
T36) Steve McKinley 18 Your knees are holding up better than your pool picks
T36) James Gordon 16 You got the number of games right on 50 per cent of your correct picks
40) Ali Hewitt 15 I will get to mock your picks in person this weekend
41) Colleen Racine 14 A Wings win will allow you to catch the other Colleen
42) Chris Chapman 13 Zero points after the first round
43) Stacey Tomlinson 12 The whole big upset thing backfired big time