Well the NHL regular schedule is over for another year
Now the teams will have to shift it into another gear
The most exciting time in hockey starts it’s second season
The right to hoist the Stanley Cup is the only reason
Sixteen teams will vie for it, the first round starts this week
It won’t be until the month of June that it will reach the final peak
All series are the best of seven, the first to win needs four
To capture it in the final round, you have to win twelve more
Now before the first puck is dropped to start the initial round
Hockey fans have their own agenda in hopes of being crowned
They will enter hockey pools and try to predict the outcome of every game
So many factors to consider and not all pools are the same
Some want you to pick out players and total scoring will win the pot
Others are straight forward while others require much thought
Some that want you to predict the team in each and every round
If you get the number of games right, some bonuses can be found
Still there are some out there that expect you to go right to the limit
Figure out every round including the finals, and every team that wins it
Now I’ve watched a lot of hockey and it’s time to put it to the test
Which teams are the pretenders and which ones are the best
In the eastern conference, Tampa Bay seems to be the team to beat
Holding the record for most points in a year is quite a tremendous feat
They shouldn’t have any trouble beating the Jackets in round number one
I think after the first four games, Columbus will be done
This is just one prediction, I really put myself out there
This is the only round that I will risk to share
I have a form in front of me that’s blank and needs to fill
Never won a hockey pool before and probably never will
Should I do some research and see what the experts have to say?
Sometimes I kind of wonder how they earned that status anyway?
Should I go with my gut and just to feel it out?
No that has never worked before, I’ll try a different route
Maybe flip a coin or roll a pair of dice?
Call a friend and get some sound advice?
I am going to get this entry done after this poem is done
I’m not going to worry about it, will try to make it fun
I’ll fill out with my picks before the deadline end
Maybe this will be the start of a winning trend
I won’t let anyone steal my picks, I’ll keep it out of sight
What a time for hockey! There will be a game on tv every night
So stand behind your favourite team and give them a rousing cheer
If you are a real hockey fan, it’s the best time of the year
The Black Sheep Poet 