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. Cory Snyder Jersey . During the furious first few hours of free agency Tuesday, the team agreed to terms with strong safety Donte Whitner, a Cleveland native who cant wait to play in his hometown. Franmil Reyes Jersey . -- Josh MacDonalds second goal of the game kept his team alive as the Peterborough Petes edged the host Kingston Frontencas 6-5 in overtime on Friday in Ontario Hockey League playoff action. https://www.cheapindiansonline.com/578u-...ndians.html.com) - Calgary Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau has been selected as the NHLs Rookie of the Month for December, the league announced Friday. Roberto Alomar Indians Jersey .C. -- Duke sophomore Rodney Hood is entering the NBA draft. Toby Harrah Indians Jersey . -- Kyle Busch edged teammate Joey Logano at the Bristol Motor Speedway finish line Friday night to become the all-time winningest driver in Nationwide Series. OAKLAND, Calif. -- Now that hes a key part of the Athletics starting rotation, Drew Pomeranz has tried to maintain the same aggressive approach on the mound that he had coming out of the bullpen. Its turned out better than anyone could have hoped for so far. Making his second start of the season after replacing Dan Straily as Oaklands fourth starter, Pomeranz and three relievers combined on a four-hit shut out as the As beat the Chicago White Sox 9-0 on Tuesday night for their sixth consecutive win. "Thats that mentality, Im kind of just trying to go right after people," Pomeranz said. "Thats what I was doing out of the bullpen and I had success doing that. I dont see any reason to change that." Pomeranz (3-1) went five shutout innings in his first start on May 7 and matched that with another stellar five-inning outing against Chicago. The Athletics left-hander struck out a career-high eight, walked two and gave up just three hits -- all singles. "Thats a tough lineup to navigate through," As manager Bob Melvin said. "He strikes out the first three hitters of the game, sets the tone, and then the offence was terrific across the board." Brandon Moss homered twice and drove in five runs, Josh Reddick also homered while Yoenis Cespedes added two hits and scored twice to anchor a shuffled Oakland lineup that had catcher John Jaso batting leadoff for just the fourth time this season. Jaso had three hits and scored twice. The White Sox lost their fourth straight. "Guys swung through some pitches and (Pomeranz) pounded the strike zone," Chicago manager Robin Venture said. "We got outplayed all the way around. Nothing went right." Oakland improved to 25-15, matching its best record after 40 games since 2003. The As won their second straight over the White Sox in much the same fashion theyve put together the second-best record in the AL -- strong starting pitching and plenty of offence. Pomeranz, who replaced Dan Straily in the As rotation after Straily was optioned to the minors, blanked the White Sox through five innings and allowed only two runners to reach second base.dddddddddddd. He struck out the side twice and fanned leadoff hitter Marcus Semien three times. Dan Otero pitched two innings, Fernando Abad worked the eighth and Joe Savery handled the ninth to complete the four-hitter. That continued a stellar streak by Oakland starting pitchers. Over a six-game stretch that began when Pomeranz helped blank the Seattle Mariners, As starters are 5-0 with a 1.13 ERA. "I think we feed off of each other," Pomeranz said. "You want to keep it going. You dont want to be the guy that doesnt pitch well." The offence has been just as sharp. The As matched their season-high with 17 hits and had at least three home runs for the fourth time this season. Reddick hit a two-run home run as part of the As four-run fifth while Moss had a two-run shot in the sixth and another two-run homer in the eighth. Eight of Oaklands nine starters had at least one hit. Reddick, Moss, Cespedes, Jed Lowrie and Craig Gentry had two apiece. The As jumped on Chicago starter Scott Carroll (1-3) early then held on behind Pomeranz and the bullpen. "(Carroll) was mixing his pitches but when youre throwing a lot of strikes (hitters) can be aggressive with pitches in the zone," Moss said. "Thats what our guys were doing. Those kind of nights are fun four everybody." NOTES: 3B Josh Donaldson was given the day off by Oakland manager Bob Melvin. ... As LHP Eric OFlaherty threw 25 pitches in the latest step on his recovery from Tommy John surgery. Trainers allowed OFlaherty to throw breaking balls for the first time since having the surgery. ... RHP Ryan Cook (forearm strain) is pain-free but has yet to resume throwing. ... Chicago LHP Chris Sale, on the disabled list since April 22 with a left flexor strain, will make his first rehab start Thursday for Triple-A Charlotte. ... RHP Andre Rienzo (3-0) starts the series finale for the White Sox in his first career appearance against the Athletics. LHP Tommy Milone (1-3) goes for Oakland. ' ' '