By Denis J. Puska
The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are down to the final four as the conference finals are now set.

Chicago Blackhawks vs. San Jose Sharks:
In the West, it's the Chicago Blackhawks versus the San Jose Sharks. This match-up was expected with the top two teams all season meeting up. The Blackhawks have woken up since that first round disaster against the Nashville Predators where they almost got bounced out of Music City. But now this Chicago team could be headed to the Stanley Cup final for the first time since the 1990s and the debut of Dominic Hasek.

One of the keys in the series will be the scoring beyond the superstars and who can capitalize on that. Will the grinders or the third and fourth lines contribute offensive at all? On defense, both teams will have to be better inside their own end and must prevent the other from opening it up.

Goaltending is a unique battle of European goaltenders as Evegny Nabokov faces Anti Niemmi. The young Finnish goaltender has gotten better since the first round and Nabokov has been either really good or really bad and there has been no consistency.

Result: Take the Chicago Blackhawks to win the series in seven games. This one should be outstanding.

Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers:

In the East, how about those Monteral Canadiens excusing both superstars from the post season dance. First it was Alexander Ovechkin from Washington and then Sidney Crosby and Pittsburgh. Sorry NHL and the NBC who needed those two stars to help with ratings.

This Canadiens' team reminds me of those magical ones from the past that featured the emergence of a goaltender. In the 1970s, it was Ken Dryden when he stonewalled the Chicago Blackhawks and in the 1980s it was Patrick Roy over the Calgary Flames.

Montreal has done all of the little things correctly and they believe in themselves. This is a team that has been playing playoff hockey since March and has lived up to the old saying ‘It's not how you start but how you finish.' I think the Cleveland Cavaliers need to look at this more closely.

The Philadelphia Flyers have had a flair for the dramatic rallying from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Boston Bruins. Even in Game seven the Flyers were down 3-0 and bounced right back to win. The difference in that series was coaching, and the Flyers outworked and out hustled the Boston Bruins.

This series should also be an outstanding one, but I think one of the differences here could be Jaroslav Halak who will be better than Michael Leighton. The Habs have one too many weapons, but you can't count the Flyers out.

Result: Yes for the first time in a while, there will be a Canadian team in the Stanley Cup final. Montreal over Philadelphia in six games. This series will be very close.

So my Stanley Cup Final features an Original Six match-up between Chicago and Montreal.