CHICAGO – Josh Johnson wants to know who Mark Buehrle likes in the Stanley Cup final before making his own prediction.
“Whatever he picks, I’ll take the other one,” says the Toronto Blue Jays right-hander, before looking over at his southpaw teammate. “Just to go against you.”
“Just to be difficult,” counters Buehrle, who’s picking the Boston Bruins over the Chicago Blackhawks in six or seven games.
“Blackhawks in six,” replies Johnson.
“They’re going to win it on the road?” asks Buehrle.
“They did last time in Philly,” answers Johnson.
“They’re going to wait and win it in seven at home, I think,” says Buehrle.
“I don’t know, it’s only going to go six,” says Johnson.
Buehrle, it’s worth noting, is 3-1 so far in his picks with sportsnet.ca. Johnson is 5-3 while Brett Cecil is 5-7. With J.P. Arencibia registering a pick in this poll for the first time this season, the four Blue Jays asked were split down the middle on who gets to raise the Cup.
“It’s so hard, you don’t think Boston is going to sweep Pittsburgh, so obviously anything can happen,” says Buehrle. “It should be a good series going all the way to the end.”
Boston Bruins vs Chicago Blackhawks
Buehrle – Bruins in six or seven: “My heart is saying Boston because of being so hot, sweeping the No. 1 team everyone thought was the best, the Penguins, but in my mind I’m kind of thinking Chicago just obviously playing there, I know a bunch of those guys. They’re both hot teams, they both came off some good victories, so it’s going to be a good series. But I’m going to go with Boston. (Zdeno) Chara is going to be out there 45 minutes a game.”
Johnson – Blackhawks in six: “I’m just going against (Buehrle), might as well.”
Cecil – Bruins in six: “I like the way Tuuka Rask is playing, everybody likes a hot goalie in the Stanley Cup final. Chara is playing really well, guy’s like a brick wall, you don’t need a goalie with him.”
Arencibia – Blackhawks in six: “I’m picking based on Chicago being really good. And Boston took out Toronto, so I want Chicago to win. That’s pretty much it.”