Eastern Conference:
Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins. This series may be a landslide, but since it's the NHL playoffs anything can happen even though Montreal won the series 8-0. The Canadiens will be going into the playoffs with a rookie phenom, Carey Price tending goal. I think the the playoff pressure might get to Price, but he has a very solid defensive core to fall back on. My only worry for Price is if he has a shaky start to the series and the Canadiens lose, the Montreal media might crucify him and GM Bob Gainey destroying Price's confidence. Good news for Boston though, Patrice Bergeron should be back for the series after missing practically the whole season due to a concussion. My pick: Montreal in 5.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Ottawa Senators. This is a rematch of last season's first round match up which didn't end the way the Pittsburgh Penguins had hoped. Ottawa took the series last season 4-1 and went on to the cup finals where they were defeated by the Anaheim Ducks. That was last season and the teams this year look totally different. Ottawa won the season series between the Pens 3-0-1, but the Sens never saw the Pens' complete roster. I have to go with the Pens in this series due to the fact that they have a healthy lineup non like their foes the Ottawa Senators. The Sens will be missing captain Daniel Alfredsson or Penguins killer Mike Fisher. Chris Kelly is questionable for the series due to a hairline fracture in his leg. Another reason I have to go with the Pens is because of Martin Gerber's playoff past...nothing to get excited about that's for sure. Pens in 6.
Washington Capitals vs. Philadelphia Flyers. This is going to be one series I think everyone should tune into. First, I am excited to see Alex Ovechkin in a game that means something. Ovechkin has been unbelievable this season helping the Caps get into the playoffs for the first time in five years. Second, I want to see how the Flyers Coach John Stevens handles the playoff pressure in his first playoff debut with the Flyers. The season series was split 2-2 which leads me to believe that it will be a close series, but with Christobal Huet's play as of late has been outstanding, so I say Caps in 6.
NY Rangers vs. NJ Devils. This will be an eventful, defensive, low scoring series which has to be expected with the likes of goaltenders Henrik Lundqvist and Marty Brodeur between the pipes. The Rangers took the season series 7-0-1 which should make this series appear to be all but over, but I don't ever count out Martin Brodeur. He has the ability to steal games let alone a playoff series. This will be a tight one, but I have to go with the Rangers in 7.
Western Conference:
Detroit Redwings vs. Nashville Predators. The Redwings won the series 5-3 which is why I am so confused on why the so called "experts" are picking the Redwings to run over the Preds. The Predators have gone 6-3-1 in their last ten games due to great goal tending from both Dan Ellis and Chris Mason. Goal tending could be the deciding factor and that would favour Nashville, but the Wings are so deep and so well coached it's hard to say they will lose. Wings in 6.
SJ Sharks vs. Calgary Flames. Again many people are picking the Sharks to run over the Flames, but I don't think it will be as easily done as it may seem. The Flames seemed to be a relaxed team heading into the post season which I think should help them tremendously. The Sharks on the other hand have only lost one game in regulation in their last 21 games! They are so hot right now it is scary, but this is nothing new to the Sharks. They seem to finish up strong every year looking like "world beaters" but end up being bounced early into the playoffs. This is going to be a close series, closer than what most people are expecting. Sharks in 7.
Minnesota Wild vs. Colorado Avalanche. The Wild hold the upper hand in the season series by going 5-2-1 against the Aves, but Colorado has acquired some familiar faces at the trade deadline which seems to be helping them a lot. Peter Forsberg has been on fire the last four games netting 1 goal and 10 assists and he should be a huge factor in the first round. The Wild seemed to send a message this season by acquiring some tough guys via trade and waivers which should help them push around their opponents instead of last season's opening round embarrassment. I think these teams are evenly matched, but a goaltender is going to have to steal a game, so I am going to pick Niklas Backstrom and the Wild in 7.
Anaheim Ducks vs. Dallas Stars. This season series was split 4-4 which makes for an awsome playoff series. I think that the Ducks will prevail only if goaltender J.S.Giguere's back holds up. I personally believe he was their best and most consistent player last season in the playoffs, and I don't expect anything less from him this year. The Stars as well are equipped with a goaltender that could help bring the cup back to Dallas. Turco hasn't been bad this season even though he had a minor injury, but he leaves people to believe that he could hold the fort for the Stars. The Ducks bring a physical game to the ice that I don't think the Stars can match so I am going with the Ducks in 6.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins. This series may be a landslide, but since it's the NHL playoffs anything can happen even though Montreal won the series 8-0. The Canadiens will be going into the playoffs with a rookie phenom, Carey Price tending goal. I think the the playoff pressure might get to Price, but he has a very solid defensive core to fall back on. My only worry for Price is if he has a shaky start to the series and the Canadiens lose, the Montreal media might crucify him and GM Bob Gainey destroying Price's confidence. Good news for Boston though, Patrice Bergeron should be back for the series after missing practically the whole season due to a concussion. My pick: Montreal in 5.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Ottawa Senators. This is a rematch of last season's first round match up which didn't end the way the Pittsburgh Penguins had hoped. Ottawa took the series last season 4-1 and went on to the cup finals where they were defeated by the Anaheim Ducks. That was last season and the teams this year look totally different. Ottawa won the season series between the Pens 3-0-1, but the Sens never saw the Pens' complete roster. I have to go with the Pens in this series due to the fact that they have a healthy lineup non like their foes the Ottawa Senators. The Sens will be missing captain Daniel Alfredsson or Penguins killer Mike Fisher. Chris Kelly is questionable for the series due to a hairline fracture in his leg. Another reason I have to go with the Pens is because of Martin Gerber's playoff past...nothing to get excited about that's for sure. Pens in 6.
Washington Capitals vs. Philadelphia Flyers. This is going to be one series I think everyone should tune into. First, I am excited to see Alex Ovechkin in a game that means something. Ovechkin has been unbelievable this season helping the Caps get into the playoffs for the first time in five years. Second, I want to see how the Flyers Coach John Stevens handles the playoff pressure in his first playoff debut with the Flyers. The season series was split 2-2 which leads me to believe that it will be a close series, but with Christobal Huet's play as of late has been outstanding, so I say Caps in 6.
NY Rangers vs. NJ Devils. This will be an eventful, defensive, low scoring series which has to be expected with the likes of goaltenders Henrik Lundqvist and Marty Brodeur between the pipes. The Rangers took the season series 7-0-1 which should make this series appear to be all but over, but I don't ever count out Martin Brodeur. He has the ability to steal games let alone a playoff series. This will be a tight one, but I have to go with the Rangers in 7.
Western Conference:
Detroit Redwings vs. Nashville Predators. The Redwings won the series 5-3 which is why I am so confused on why the so called "experts" are picking the Redwings to run over the Preds. The Predators have gone 6-3-1 in their last ten games due to great goal tending from both Dan Ellis and Chris Mason. Goal tending could be the deciding factor and that would favour Nashville, but the Wings are so deep and so well coached it's hard to say they will lose. Wings in 6.
SJ Sharks vs. Calgary Flames. Again many people are picking the Sharks to run over the Flames, but I don't think it will be as easily done as it may seem. The Flames seemed to be a relaxed team heading into the post season which I think should help them tremendously. The Sharks on the other hand have only lost one game in regulation in their last 21 games! They are so hot right now it is scary, but this is nothing new to the Sharks. They seem to finish up strong every year looking like "world beaters" but end up being bounced early into the playoffs. This is going to be a close series, closer than what most people are expecting. Sharks in 7.
Minnesota Wild vs. Colorado Avalanche. The Wild hold the upper hand in the season series by going 5-2-1 against the Aves, but Colorado has acquired some familiar faces at the trade deadline which seems to be helping them a lot. Peter Forsberg has been on fire the last four games netting 1 goal and 10 assists and he should be a huge factor in the first round. The Wild seemed to send a message this season by acquiring some tough guys via trade and waivers which should help them push around their opponents instead of last season's opening round embarrassment. I think these teams are evenly matched, but a goaltender is going to have to steal a game, so I am going to pick Niklas Backstrom and the Wild in 7.
Anaheim Ducks vs. Dallas Stars. This season series was split 4-4 which makes for an awsome playoff series. I think that the Ducks will prevail only if goaltender J.S.Giguere's back holds up. I personally believe he was their best and most consistent player last season in the playoffs, and I don't expect anything less from him this year. The Stars as well are equipped with a goaltender that could help bring the cup back to Dallas. Turco hasn't been bad this season even though he had a minor injury, but he leaves people to believe that he could hold the fort for the Stars. The Ducks bring a physical game to the ice that I don't think the Stars can match so I am going with the Ducks in 6.
1 comment:
Montreal-Boston:
I don't really see how Boston hangs close in this one. Montreal has had a heck of a season, particularly in the second half, and despite the return of Bergeron and the youth of Carey Price, this is the only sweep on the first round. Canadiens in 4.
Pittsburgh-Ottawa
Totally different from last year, I totally agree. The Pens are hot and healthy, the Sens are cold and injured. No fear here, particularly with Marc-Andre Fleury playing well.
Pens in 5.
N'York-New Jersey
Great series here. It will be a real battle with the caliber of goaltending and defense that is present in both teams. As impossible as it is to pick against the experience and playoff savvy of Martin Brodeur, the Rangers offense is much stonger with my man Jaromir Jagr, Marty Straka, and on down the line. This one could swing on one save or one penalty, but I'll take N'York. Rangers in 7.
Washington-Philly
Playoff inexperience versus playoff inexperience at fist glance, but in truth, Philly has some people that know how to win. They'll play dirty, somebody on the Caps will get hurt, Ovechkin will not be able to carry them any farther. The southeast has been bad all year, and the atlantic was a war. So, Flyers in 6.
Way out west...
Detroit-Nashville
Detroit has succumbed to playoff collapses in recent seasons, but not in this series. This is a truly great team, and the goaltending of Chris Osgood and Domimik Hasek will be a huge boost. Nashville steals one, but the Wings in 5.
San Jose-Calgary
Here there is a problem. The Sharks don't know how to win the postseason, and Dan has a point, the Flames are relaxed. Alex Tanguay leads the way against a less than physical Sharks team. Calgary stuns the Californians, Flames in 6.
Minnesota-Colorado
You might be inclined to pick playoff experience and a hot Peter Forsberg, but it can't be forgotten that these two came from the same division and Minnesota won. I like this team a lot, and I'll take the Wild in 6.
Dallas-Anaheim
My team from the west is Dallas. I think this is finally Turco's year to prove the skeptics wrong, and they will be hot at the right time. The Ducks are good, but their penchant for over the top physicality will get them into trouble. I like Dallas in an upset. Stars in 7.
-Adam S.
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