for the first time, its devastating," Arians said. "When yo

Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. This week, they give a special NHL playoff edition of Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down, where the panel gives their Stanley Cup winner prediction. Bruce Arthur, National Post My thumb is up to the Boston Bruins who I think are going to be the 2014 Stanley Cup champions. Remember last season, there was a thought that Claude Julien would get fired if they lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round and jeopardy could extend all the way up to the general managers chair and they did what they did. I think theyre in better shape heading into the playoffs then they were last season, when they had a compressed schedule following the Boston Marathon bombings, they were a tired team in the first round and really, more than anything, they have the easiest road to the Stanley Cup Final of any Stanley Cup contender. I think Bostons ready. Steve Simmons, SUN Media It hurts me to say this just because of the history but Im going thumbs up to the San Jose Sharks, who year in and year out disappoint at this time of year, but I look at this team and all that size up front. The move of Joe Pavelski to left wing has really completed this forward group nicely and I think Marc-Edouard Vlasics play at the Olympics taught him that hes a big-time guy now. He can elevate his game and I think that team, with Todd McLellan coaching, can come out of the west and can beat the Boston Bruins. Theyre too big and theyre too fast. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated My thumb is up to the Chicago Blackhawks because consistency is the hob gobble in little minds and nobody has a littler mind than I do. I picked them at the start of the year, I picked them at the deadline, and Im picking them now because Patrick Kanes going to be back, Jonathan Toews is going to be back, and because the Blackhawks have the best defenceman in the Stanley Cup tournament in Duncan Keith. Dave Hodge, TSN Im going to go through the apparently easy route in the east and say thumbs up to the Presidents Trophy winning Boston Bruins. Sure, they dont win as often as they lose but in this case, this is the best home team in the NHL, lots of playoff experience, theyre obviously good defensively, good goaltending, good special teams and they are reasonably healthy. Then theres that Eastern Conference path to the Stanley Cup Final again, and I think that ends up being the bottom line for my reason to pick Boston. Isiah Thomas Jersey . She was 30. The former British No. 1 died peacefully surrounded by family and friends, the Womens Tennis Association said on its website. 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Reggie Bullock Jersey . "[People] keep asking that question and its not a legit question because we dont have that right, we havent arrived yet," Casey responded. "Weve got to take each game at a time, each possession at a time and look at it that way. Grant Long Pistons Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable.TEMPE, Ariz. -- Tyrann Mathieus terrific rookie NFL season has come to a premature end. Arizona coach Bruce Arians on Monday confirmed Mathieu tore an ACL and sustained further damage in his left knee and will undergo surgery. Mathieu, who earned the nickname "Honey Badger" in his days at LSU, was Arizonas starting safety and had been in on almost every defensive play for the Cardinals. He was injured returning a free kick after John Abraham had tackled Kellen Clemens in the end zone in the third quarter of Arizonas 30-10 victory over St. Louis on Sunday. After Mathieu was buried in a pile of tacklers, he tried to jog off the field but his knee buckled and he collapsed. Mathieu blew a kiss to the crowd as he was carted off. "I appreciate everyone prayers," he said in a tweet on Sunday. "We go through things in life to test our faith & strength." Arians indicated the injury was extensive and said he doubts Mathieu would be ready for training camp next year. The surgery probably will happen next week and the recovery period will be "a long one," the coach said . "Hell have some ACL and LCL repair and too many other Ls for me to get into," Arians said. "Its a shame." Mathieu was considered a risk when the Cardinals selected him in the third round of this years draft. A Heisman Trophy finalist at LSU in 2011, he was dismissed from the team and kicked out of school for marijuana-related issues and was out of football in 2012. But the 5-foot-9 dynamo was a great addition to the Arizona squad and nearly impossible keep off the field. "Hes been fantastic and hes a leader," AArians said.dddddddddddd "Very seldom do you see young guys come in and become a leader, especially in the secondary like he has. His personality is infectious with the guys because he loves football. Hell stay out there and practice all day and go as hard as he can. Those are guys you miss." Rashad Johnson will return to the safety spot. Arians said Mathieu cried when the two talked. "He was sad. Hes never been injured. These guys that get hurt for the first time, its devastating," Arians said. "When you take away the thing he loves the most and works so hard for, he was devastated. But hell get over it. Hes strong. Hes got a lot of support." In his first game, he chased down St. Louis Jared Cook and knocked the ball out of the tight ends hands just before the Rams receiver reached the goal line. Mathieu, a starter from the second week of the season, has the second-most total tackles on the team with 63 and second-most solo tackles at 56. He had one sack, one interception, one forced fumble and 15 passes defenced. "I still think he should get rookie of the year defensively," Arians said. "The job he did in the three positions that he played (safety, nickel back and cornerback). I dont know if it will hurt him where somebody else will get it, but he meant a lot to us because of his flexibility and his positions. It will take two guys to take his place." Close friend and teammate Patrick Peterson tweeted his support. "Man I just want to wish my boy (at)Mathieu--Era for a speedy recovery," Peterson wrote. "Hurt me to my heart to see a King go down like that." ' ' '