* Playoff Preview *
Welcome to the playoff edition of my blog. I'll start by giving you each series and adding any comments as well as my pick. For the schedule of these games (which start Wednesday), go here: 2011 NHL Playoff Schedule With that out of the way, let's begin.
==== NHL Conference Quarterfinals ====
<== Eastern Conference ==>
=1. Washington Capitals versus 8. New York Rangers=
This could be a very good series. You would think it would be a walk in the park for the Capitals, but they'll be facing a team that shut them out 7-0 and 6-0 this season. I look through the depth of both teams and the only place where I feel the Rangers are better is in net. It's true that goaltending alone can win games, but I don't see it winning the series.
Prediction : Capitals in 6.
=2. Philadelphia Flyers versus 7. Buffalo Sabres=
This series depends on whether or not the Philadelphia Flyers have truly gotten their game back. They've been Stella without her groove for the last couple of months. Horrendous. Fortunately, they will get Chris Pronger back from injury to solidify their defense corps. Buffalo isn't the most skilled club but they make the best with what they have. Much like the New York Rangers, they're only more solid than Philly in net. So long as Philadelphia flips into playoff mode, I see no reason they would lose unless Ryan Miller (Buffalo's goaltender) is absolutely insane.
Prediction : Flyers in 6.
=3. Boston Bruins versus 6. Montreal Canadiens=
Divisional foes with plenty of bad history just within the last couple of months. The Canadiens actually have the better record in the regular season series between the two teams. I'm going to go ahead and say that this is probably the most interesting series in the Eastern Conference as I expect an all out battle between both teams. I wanted to go with the Canadiens but I just can't see them beating the duo of Tim Thomas and Zdeno Chara. I am fully prepared to eat my words though. Montreal was impressive last year in the playoffs beating both Washington and Pittsburgh who were far and away favorites over the Canadiens. I'm going with the Bruins here, but won't be surprised if Montreal can beat the higher seeded team.
Prediction : Bruins in 6.
=4. Pittsburgh Penguins versus 5. Tampa Bay Lightning=
I know I'm already going to get crap for this one since I'm a Philadelphia Flyers fan, but let me explain. If the Penguins had Crosby and/or Malkin playing, I would be picking the Penguins without a doubt. Unfortunately for the Penguins, Malkin is definitely out and Crosby is unlikely. I like Tampa Bay's depth at forward over the depleted Penguins. This is another series I wouldn't be surprised that I lost though. Pittsburgh has the better goaltender and defense corps. Their forwards aren't bad considering too. I just get the feeling Tampa Bay wins this one.
Prediction : Lightning in 7.
<== Western Conference ==>
=1. Vancouver Canucks versus 8. Chicago Blackhawks=
This should be a good series as the Blackhawks aren't your typical eighth seed team. Who would expect the defending Stanley Cup Champions to be in eighth? Unfortunately for Chicago, I can't see them beating a team that is built solid from head to toe. Canucks goaltender Roberto Loungo is better than Chicago's tandem goalies. The Blackhawks also lost a lot of their depth after last season's run. Vancouver has a lot of depth featuring some very good players even with injuries to Manny Maholtra and Dan Hamhius. Vancouver is my favorite to win the Stanley Cup and the first victim is Chicago where the former champs go home this year.
Prediction : Canucks in 6.
=2. San Jose Sharks versus 7. Los Angeles Kings=
We have another battle between divisional foes, but this one comes from the Pacific Divsion. The Sharks remind me of the aforementioned Canucks just without all the great chemistry. The goaltender who foiled their run last year in the Western Conference Finals is now backstopping them. That goalie, Antii Niemi, gained a lot of experience during the Chicago Blackhawks run to the Cup which has to be useful. Los Angeles has been making great strides and should be a force for awhile in the Western Conference. They do have some very talented forwards and defenseman. However, with no Anze Kopitar, I just can't see them beating a team that features the depth that the Sharks carry. If the Sharks play to their potential and Joe Thorton doesn't disappear as he tends to during the playoffs, the Sharks should win this series fairly easily.
Prediction : Sharks in 5.
=3. Detroit Red Wings versus 6. Phoenix Coyotes=
Detroit is a team that plays very well together and is still very dangerous as a third seed. They do have some great talent on the team, but it really doesn't matter because the chemistry of the team is even better. The only weakness I see with the Wings is their goaltending. It could be their Achilles heel, but I don't think the Coyotes will be the team to expose it. Phoenix was able to land a playoff spot and is generally a pretty good team. I attribute a lot of their success to goaltender Iyla Bryzgalov. That's the only part of this team that I think is better than the Red Wings. Bryzgalov steals a couple of games, but the Wings take this one.
Prediction : Red Wings in 6.
=4. Anaheim Ducks versus 5. Nashville Predators=
Anaheim enters the playoffs as one of the hottest teams in the NHL. They've been playing incredible so far. Nashville's only shot against Anaheim will be behind it's defensive minded brand of hockey. The Predators have many talented defenseman and a quality goaltender in Pekka Rinne. Where Anaheim absolutely dominates the Predators is in scoring. Nashville just doesn't have much of it. The Predators certainly could win this series, but I just don't see it. They lack a convincing forward to do a bulk of their scoring. I see the Predators winning a couple of games, but the Ducks move forward with ease.
Prediction : Ducks in 6.
So.....
Capitals vs Rangers ==> Capitals
Flyers vs Sabres ==> Flyers
Bruins vs Canadiens ==> Bruins
Penguins vs Lightning ==> Lightning
Canucks vs Blackhawks ==> Canucks
Sharks vs Kings ==> Sharks
Red Wings vs Coyotes ==> Red Wings
Ducks vs Predators ==> Ducks
Best of luck to whatever team you're going with this playoff season. Wednesday can't come soon enough!
* Mass Playoff Prediction *
This here is my best guess for the entire playoffs. From quarterfinals all the way through finals. As I mentioned in my previous post, this is just for fun. My official picks will be made as each round progresses. As an additional note, I will be handing out my usual nightly awards after each round. For example, rather than having a Dumbest Pick of the Night, I'll just do a Dumbest Pick of the Round. Pretty simple I hope. Anyway, here is my best guess at the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Round 1 : Conference Quarterfinals (highest seed listed first)
-Eastern Conference-
Capitals vs Rangers => Capitals
Flyers vs Sabres => Flyers
Bruins vs Canadiens => Canadiens
Penguins vs Lightning => Lightning
-Western Conference-
Canucks vs Blackhawks => Canucks
Sharks vs Kings => Sharks
Red Wings vs Coyotes => Red Wings
Ducks vs Predators => Ducks
Round 2 - Conference Semifinals
-Eastern Conference-
Capitals vs Lightning => Capitals
Flyers vs Bruins => Flyers
-Western Conference-
Canucks vs Ducks => Canucks
Sharks vs Red Wings => Sharks
Round 3 - Conference Finals
-Eastern Conference-
Capitals vs Flyers => Flyers
-Western Conference-
Canucks vs Sharks => Canucks
Round 4 - Stanley Cup Finals
Canucks vs Flyers => Canucks
So, there you have it. I'm going with the Vancouver Canucks over the Philadelphia Flyers for the Stanley Cup. That's an amazing club they have in Vancouver. They were pretty unstoppable all season and I don't see how anyone will come in their way. I don't have too much else for the moment. I'll be updating in a couple of days with results of games and hopefully to talk about a Flyers victory.
Night!
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