6. Carolina @ Tampa Bay (1):

OZ: Carolina isn’t a boring team to watch, but the Buccaneers are. The Panthers are a lot like the Patriots of a few years ago. They weren’t explosive, but they won games. Lots of them. This Carolina team reminds me of them. Good running backs, efficient quarterback, great coach. The Panthers go into the pirate ship and rob those pussies.

Carolina +1

Joker: I agree, Tampa Bay is boring and they don’t do anything really well.  They are a good all around team, but I don’t understand what happened last week.  Tampa can be tough on any given week, but Carolina is just a bit stronger at everything.

Panthers +1

Each week the Joker and Oz will be providing a breakdown, conversation, and some comedy regarding each NFL game for us at the Union. You can find Joker blogging every once in a while at Downtown Padres and OZ at The Matthew Osgood. Records after week 5, Joker is 37-34-1 and OZ is 36-35-1.

The Philadelphia Flyers are jumping on board the “Straight Talk Express.”

Vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, aka America’s Hockey Mom, will drop the puck at this Saturday’s Flyers’ home opener against the Rangers.

Palin has been responsible for building a $15 million hockey rink in her native Wasilla, Alaska…when the community’s budget for the whole year is $20 million.

Ouch.

But now she’s a hot commodity…in debates, on television, even Saturday Night Live.

Apparently one lucky hockey mom will even join Palin on the ice for the ceremony.

From the AP story: “Last month, Palin visited a Philadelphia bar with Flyers owner Ed Snider, who has donated money to Republican presidential nominee John McCain’s campaign.”

And then decided that it would be a great way to get people in the seats for the home opener.

Either Palin is that popular, or the Flyers are that bad. You decide.

The National Hockey League opens its North American schedule tomorrow, and this year could be one of the most interesting seasons in recent memories. There is no clear-cut Stanley Cup matchups because there are too many good teams vying for a spot. Those teams that stay relatively healthy, and can weather the storm of a 82-game schedule will have a great shot at the postseason.

Today I’m going to take a look at three teams to watch in the Eastern Conference. These teams should make the playoffs and have a chance at Lord Stanley’s Cup.

Tampa Bay Lightning: What an offseason it has been for the Lightning as the rebuilding has almost come to a completion. Out is John Tortorella and in is Barry Melrose. The former ESPN analyst has been behind the scenes for so many years, one wonders if he can motivate his team in the new NHL. My answer is yes, and Melrose has a chance to lead this team back to the Cup finals.

Signing Vincent Lecavalier to a mega deal, acquiring Andrej Meszaros from Ottawa and drafting Steven Stamkos with the first overall pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft could swing the franchise in the right direction. This has been a turning point for the 2003-04 Cup winners, who have struggled since the lockout.

Goalie Mike Smith has a chance to be the real deal in Tampa. After backing up Marty Turco in Dallas, Smith should step out of the shadows and become a solid NHL starter. Olaf Kolzig will backup Smith, and could spell the youngster for 20-25 games this season.

RW Martin St. Louis is due for a big year. He has the ability to score 100 points, but has only done so once in his career. If he can score 40 goals, watch out. And this is a team that could feed off his leadership and work ethic, especially Stamkos.

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