I’m afraid that my 2009 NHL Stanley Cup playoff viewing days are over – I continue to be the harbinger of doom to the teams I root for.

Living in Calgary, I am naturally rooting for the Flames. Yet, that support seems to be having the opposite effect. They are now down two games to zero in their series, with prospects not looking particularly favourable after dropping a two-goal lead last night. It will be in their own best interests if I quit watching their on-ice efforts.

Their division rivals, the Vancouver Canucks have leapt to a two game lead in their series, thanks to my rooting for the St. Louis Blues. I may just as well have laid ancient curses on the Blues’ players, the way they are getting stymied to date.

So clearly, if I hope to see the Flames advance past the first four games of the playoffs, I had better leave their efforts to viewers that don’t cast a dark shadow on their fortunes. Hey, that’s why I subscribe to a daily newspaper, isn’t it? I can always see the score the morning after…

On the plus side, if there’s anyone out there that absolutely despises a particular team vying for Lord Stanley’s cup, perhaps you can sway me to root for them. That will very likely ensure that their parachute develops gaping holes, and that they will subsequently tailspin down in an irreversible plummet to the cold hard earth of playoff despair.

For a small fee…

Chow for now!!