Ranking the finals

If anyone else has some candidates for who put the NFL jerseys curse on this province, we can do a mass burning of jerseys of the suspected culprits and break this curse. Maybe we can even invite Damaso Garcia to start
I had the rare opportunity of attending two Game 7s in a span of 24 hours.
First, I attended the finale of the Pittsburgh-Washington series, which was a complete dud compared to the first six games.
But last night in Boston, the hockey gods were smiling on me, as I witnessed one of the few Game 7 overtime finishes in league history.
Scott Walker joined an exclusive club of players to score Game 7 overtime winners. That list includes Russ Courtnall, Stephane Matteau and David Volek. (And any club that includes David Volek is definitely exclusive).
But Walker's goal also eliminated the Bruins - and the chance that we could have our first Original Six Stanley Cup Finals in three decades.
Instead, the Hurricanes could make their third appeance in the Finals in this decade alone. (Twice with Paul Maurice as coach. Sorry Toronto fans. I didn't mean to rub it in, but it just worked out that way).
So here (in order) are my rankings of the four potential matchups in the 2009 Stanley Cup:
#1 - Pittsburgh vs Detroit. There is nothing better than a sequel in sports. And a rematch between last year's Cup Finalists would be the most appealing match-up for one reason: Marian Hossa. On the "Most Despised Athlete in Pittsburgh History List", Hossa probably falls just behind Barry Bonds and a little ahead of Neil O'Donnell. He turned down a lucrative long-term deal in Pittsburgh to sign for one year in Detroit. How much would the Penguins and their fans like to stick it to Hossa? How much would Hossa like to justify his decision? How weird is it that I brought up Neil O'Donnell in a Stanley Cup preview blog?

#2 - Chicago vs Pittsburgh. Right now, I'm going suggest Sportsnet hires Alexander Semin as a guest analyst if this series comes to fruition. First question for him: "Hey Alex - what did you say about Sidney Crosby and Patrick Kane back in the fall?" Now that's golden television. (Who cares if he can't speak English). But seriously, this would be a terrific and entertaining series. And if this series goes to a seventh and deciding game, it should be obligatory for Jean-Claude Van Damme to make an appearance.
#3 - Detroit vs Carolina. Remember when I said there is nothing better than sequels in sports? Well, I kind of lied. Seeing Detroit and Carolina in the Finals again would be like being forced to watch "Weekend At Bernie's 2". These teams met in 2002, which seems like yesterday - until you remember that Arturs Irbe was in goal for Carolina. I don't think this matchup is too appealing, but if Cam Ward beats Detroit, he should be our starting goalie at the 2010 Olympics.
#4 - Chicago vs Carolina. Here's NBC's tagline for this series: "Have you been dying to find out who won the Tuomo Ruutu for Andrew Ladd trade?" Enough said.
So what Stanley Cup Finals matchup would you like to see in two weeks?