Round 1, Game One: Bugs vs. Brahmas

Looking back to opening night of this Mudbugs season and the ensuing craziness of the Bugs/Brahmas series-renewed rivalry, Hollywood couldn't have written a better script. What a mini-series this would make. Where's MapleLeaf TV when you need it?

I missed a few Bugs/Brahmas tilts this year, but I saw enough of the games to know this series is going to be extremely entertaining. I'm not even going to try make any predictions, never was too good at those anyway (a dead person would do better than me at the boats or the track. Now, my grandma, she was something else. Somehow that gene missed me.)

All I know is, I'm up on a Sunday at 5 a.m., the anticipation making for a bit of sleeplessness. (Plus I have to get back into the groove of getting up earlier and going back to school tomorrow.)My hockey friends and I have discussed that a rather large bottle of Tums may be a needed accessory for this series, as we know how past contests between these two teams have played out.

But the Bugs have three lines that will score, a wily veteran whom we all know as Soupy, a smothering defensive corps that was ranked #1 in the regular season, and two tremendous All-star goaltenders, all being coached by two outstanding guys, which, when all is said and done, is the definition of excellence and success for this season.

Mudbugs fans are poised and ready to do their part in this series, signs, horns, clappers, chants. We've had enough time off, dagnabit! It's time for playoff hockey, Mudbugs hockey. Bring on the Brahmas, the Mudbug Nation is ready.