The FCF Revisited And A Finals Prediction

You may recall a couple of weeks ago we discussed the FCF - the Former Cap Factor, a proven scientific method of predetermining playoff series winners. To recap, the FCF holds that:

1. If one team has fewer former Capitals than its opponent, it is most likely going to win any given series.
2. If teams have the same number of former Capitals, the team with the fewer games played for the Capitals is most likely going to win any given series.
3. If neither team has a former Capital and one team has a former Capital head coach behind the bench, that team is most likely to lose any given series.
4. If both teams have former Capital head coaches, the team with the fewer games coached for the Capitals is most likely going to win any given series.
5. If neither team has a former Capital or former Capital head coach, the team with the fewer former Capital draft picks is most likely going to win any given series.

Well, the FCF worked like a charm in Round 3, as Buffalo's immunity to its forces finally ran out. For those of you keeping score at home, that brings the FCF up to 85% accuracy for this year's playoffs (11 for 13).

But now, it appears, the FCF is at an impasse. As far as I can tell, neither the Oilers nor the Candycanes has a former Cap, former Cap coach or former draft pick on the payroll. Ah, but wait! As we drill down deeper, we find that Hartford has two former Caps (Stephen Peat and Chris Hajt) listed as "In The System," while Edmonton's goaltending coach is none other than former Cap Peeeeeeeeeeeeeete Peeters.

Which is enough to tip the scales in the Finals? Neither Peat nor Hajt played a game with the big club this season and Peeters isn't now and has never been a head coach. I guess we'll see soon enough which sixth point needs to be added to the FCF, but I'm going to have to go with the 'Canes in this series. Peeters is a former Cap player currently associated with Edmonton's NHL team (unlike the AHL affiliations of Peat and Hajt) and therefore the FCF is stronger in him.

Hartford in 6.