While the Anaheim Ducks (they're not the Mighty Ducks anymore) wait for the winner of the San Jose Sharks-Detroit Red Wings series in the Western Conference, the Eastern Conference is set.

In a surprise, there is one team most hockey fans did not expect to be there, while hockey "people in the know" not only would have, but also expect them to win the Stanley Cup.

What team am I talking about?

It's the Buffalo Sabres, which defeated the New York Rangers four games to two in their recent series.

Their opponents are the Ottawa Senators, who defeated the New Jersey Devils four games to one.

In defeating the Devils so handily, the Senators also beat one of the premiere goaltenders in the league, future Hall of Famer, Martin Brodeur.

When the Senators face the Sabres, they will meet up with another stellar goaltender in Ryan Miller.

The Ottawa-Buffalo series should not only be an exciting one, chock full of scoring, but it may also turn into a very physical series.

A few months ago, the Sabres and Senators were involved in one of the nastiest brawls this hockey season, in which both goaltenders, Miller and the Senators, Ray Emery were both given penalties for fighting.

Players to watch for on both sides are Daniel Briere and Chris Drury for the Sabres, and Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley for the Senators,, who seem to have found new life in Canada's capital.

Most hockey "experts" say that the Sabres will win the Stanley Cup, but they have been wrong before.

Either way, by the end of June, hockey fans will see if these so called experts got it right this time.