Eventually, every baby boomer came to realize Bugs Bunny/Looney Tunes cartoons can be enjoyed by all ages, but were really more for adults than kids.
My all-time favourite is ‘High-Diving Hare’ where Yosemite Sam is determined to see a vaudeville show mainly because it includes Fearless Freep, a high diver. Sam buys a huge amount of tickets — “I’m a-splurging!” — but shortly after entering the tent, he and the rest of audience are informed by emcee Bugs Bunny that Freep couldn’t make the show.
Sam will have none of this and insists, at gunpoint, that Bugs take the place of the star — “I paid to see a high-divin’ act, and I’m going’ to see a high-divin’ act!’
There is a similar (comical?) air to The Telegram’s annual NHL playoff predictions.
We have mostly proven through the years — especially in these days of salary cap-induced parity — be something less than stellar in our choices; fair to middling may be the best description. But there seems to be some sort of Sam in the background who insists, despite the promise of amateur hour, that the show must go on.
Your participants are once again the two present and one former (Kenn Oliver) members of the Sports Department. And has been the tradition, we’ve added one other from the newsroom.
This year’s guest prognosticator is reporter Glen Whiffen, who is known as the best hockey player at the Tely (at least that is what he tells us).
It may be worth your while to pay attention to Whiffen’s choices since he has no real dog in the fight. Glen has no particular favourite NHL club — it used to be whatever team featured fellow Bonavistan Michael Ryder.
And so, as we prepare to dive into it, the rookie will be first on the springboard.
Glen Whiffen
EAST
Devils-Lightning
The devil is in the details — there’s too much talent and scoring ability on the Lightning for the Devils to answer to. Tampa Bay in 5
Blue Jackets-Capitals
No one can dispute the talent and ability of Alex Ovechkin, but it’s just not enough to take the Capitals deep into the playoffs. Columbus in 7
Bruins-Maple Leafs
The Leafs will conquer the Bruins this time around. They will redeem themselves for that disastrous third-period flop in Game 7 against the Bruins in the 2013 playoffs. Toronto in 7
Flyers-Penguins
The Crosby-Giroux battle will be exciting to watch, but Giroux has had a great season, so he might have the edge in this series. But Malkin has stepped it up this year, and Crosby can explode in the playoffs. Pittsburgh in 7
WEST
Avalanche-Predators
Can’t see the Avalanche advancing past Round 1 this year. Though, I’d say the same for the Predators if they weren’t playing the Avalanche. But I like the idea of Mike Fisher coming out of retirement and would like to see him succeed in the playoffs. Nashville in 5
Golden Knights-Kings
The Kings scoring centres around their star Kopitar. Will that be enough? Not sure. However, the Golden Knights will have to strategize quite a bit at the round table to take this series. Los Angeles in 6
Jets-Wild
The Jets are a determined bunch this season with a lot of team chemistry. That alone can get you far in the game. They’ll ride the jet stream past the Wild. Winnipeg in 7
Ducks-Sharks
The Ducks will be mighty and mean and take the bite out of the Sharks early in the series. Anaheim in 6
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Kenn Oliver
EAST
Blue Jackets-Capitals
The Blue Jackets have never won a playoff series and it’s not happening against Ovechkin and the Caps, even if their goaltending is questionable. Moreover, Washington almost always makes it to the second round. Washington in 5
Devils-Lightning
After a Hart trophy-worthy regular season, I’m excited to see what Taylor Hall does in his first taste of playoff hockey after eight seasons. Furthermore, I remain unconvinced by Lightning. New Jersey in 6
Bruins-Maple Leafs
The only thing I’m looking forward to seeing in this series is Nazem Kadri and Brad Marchand going to absolute war to determine who’s the best at being the worst. Boston in 7
Flyers-Penguins
I’m calling three-peat now. The top three are healthy and dominant, they have a major edge in goaltending, and I’m willing to bet Letang is hungry to a factor in another cup run. Pittsburgh in 5
WEST
Avalanche-Predators
Depth and determination following last year’s final loss to the Pens should easily push the Preds to Round 2. Nashville in 4
Kings-Golden Knights
Even after an amazing debut season for the expansion club, it’s hard to argue with the Kings’ combined playoff resumes. Los Angeles in 7
Jets-Wild
The Jets may not be flush with playoff experience, but they’ve got a goalie in Connor Hellebuyck with incredible chops and the Wild won’t have Suter. Winnipeg in 7
Ducks-Sharks
The only true rivals in this year’s playoff will produce a great series, but one that might be too close to call. Siding with the Ducks’ momentum here. Anaheim in 6
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Robin Short
EAST
Devils-Lightning
There’s always an upset or two in the first round, right? Well, here’s No. 2. Tampa had the most wins in the league, but the Devils have Taylor Hall (yeah, yeah, I know, the Lightning have Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos, but Hall could be the league’s MVP this year). New Jersey in 6
Blue Jackets-Capitals
I never have faith in Washington to win when it counts. Columbus is my sleeper team this season, for whatever reason, especially so since Caps’ coach Barry Trotz is leaving Braden Holtby on the bench to start the first round. Columbus in 7
Bruins-Maple Leafs
Maple Leafs’ fans will have to hang on for another year for that long-awaited Stanley Cup parade down Yonge St. The Bruins are fairly healthy now, and Boston has perhaps the best all-round player in the game this season, Patrice Bergeron. Sorry Toronto fans. Boston in 6
Flyers-Penguins
There’s a part of me that’s always liked Philly (same goes for the Phillies), dating back to the Bobby Clarke-Bernie Parent days. But the Pens are the defending champs and they still have Crosby and Malkin, the best one-two punch in the NHL (apologies to Kucherov and Stamkos). Pittsburgh in 5
WEST
Avalanche-Predators
Ladies and gentlemen, meet your 2017-18 Stanley Cup champion Nashville Predators.
Quick, somebody queue up Hank Snow. Nashville in 5
Golden Knights-Kings
The expansion Vegas Knights were the story of the year in the National Hockey League, finishing with the fourth-highest win total in the league. But these are the playoffs, and many of the Los Angeles veterans are battle-tested with Stanley Cup rings. Los Angeles in 6
Jets-Wild
Ever notice that sometimes a team, which has shown promise for a while, breaks through with a big regular season but then folds in the playoffs? Then they go on to win a Cup or two? Meet the Winnipeg Jets. Chalk this one up as a learning experience as the Wild is winning this first-round series. Minnesota in 7
Ducks-Sharks
Eeeny, meeny, miny … Anaheim in 6
———
Brendan McCarthy
EAST
Devils-Lightning
Taylor Hall has been a great story this season, but it’s largely been a one-man show in Jersey (hence the justifiable Hall/MVP talk). Tampa was so-so down the stretch and Steven Stamkos’s health is again question, but the Lightning have so many more weapons. Tampa in 5
Blue Jackets-Capitals
The Blue Jackets are better a lot of folks realize and the Capitals have what nobody wants heading into the playoffs — goaltending issues. But no team in the East was better than Washington at the end of the season (8-2) and that should carry over into the playoffs. Washington in 7
Bruins-Maple Leafs
You’re hearing a lot about their last playoff meeting, in 2013 when Toronto held a 4-1 lead in the third period of Game 7 of their first-round series but lost to Boston 5-4 in overtime. Truth is, this plays more into fans’ and commentators’ thinking. Only 10 players (six Bruins and four Maple Leafs) who skated in that series face-off this time around. You may know I’m a Bruins fans, so here’s hoping this one doesn’t have to go that far. Once in a lifetime is enough. Boston in 6
Flyers-Penguins
Recent history has shown you can never count out Crosby and the Penguins. So, I won’t … at least for the battle of Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh in 6
WEST
Avalanche-Predators
The Predators are primed for another long run this post-season. Denver will be the first temporary stopover. Nashville in 5
Golden Knights-Kings
I’ll admit I’m pulling for Vegas, but not so much because I want an extension of this Cinderella story. I just like seeing Marc-Andre Fleury smile. Vegas in 7
Jets-Wild
Even with so few contending teams in Canada, the marvelous Winnipeg Jets — with the second-best record in the league — have been mostly overshadowed by the success of the Maple Leafs. Here’s an opportunity to show the country we should be paying more attention. Winnipeg in 5
Ducks-Sharks
If this was nature, you’d go with Sharks. But here, the Ducks will have the last quack. Anaheim in 6
Twitter: @telysports
