Tonight the Carolina Hurricanes are coming home to play game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Edmonton Oilers. The Hurricanes are up 3-1 and are looking to close out this series at home tonight. The Hurricanes have proven they are a class above the Oilers and most people expect them to close the deal tonight. The books certainly do. The Hurricanes are a -200 favorite tonight.

I really don’t expect the Oilers to put up much of a fight. For them to win they will need (1) favorable calls from the refs, (2) some lucky bounces and (3) a shut down performance in net. The Oilers would really have to step it up a level to win this game and there is no reason to believe they will. Aside from game one, they have not shown any real ability to get the puck across the line. Players like Pronger have been silenced.

The Hurricanes just need to conduct business as usual. Keep blocking those shots before they reach Ward, dump the puck in and let it fly. I expect to post tomorrow that the Hurricanes have won the Stanley Cup. I really want to believe that the Oilers can get it done, but I can’t. I expected them to win game 3, but this is not their year. If they get those three items above, they can extend the series and their execution one more game. It’s very unlikely, so I am picking the Hurricanes to wrap up matters tonight.