NHL Playoffs – Second Round, Round Up (Pun Intended)

So I didn’t really get a chance to post my second round predictions, but truthfully, after a strong first round of predictions, I’m not fairing so well thus far.

I predicted the New York Rangers over my beloved Pittsburgh Penguins in 7 games, Sharks over the Stars in 6, Flyers of Montreal in 6 and the Red Wings over Colorado in 5.

So very likely I’ll go 50/50 on the teams, however after the Sharks battled back last night (with some help from the refs), perhaps they could overcome the near impossible 3 game come back with a little momentum.

Some would argue that the Red Wings have yet to play any seriously challenging team, however if the man-handling that was this last series with Colorado is an indication, the Wings are cup bound.  (Yes, the Wings were my favourites going into the playoffs this year… not much of a bold pick I suppose)

As much as I’d like to Montreal make a come back, how can you deny Philly’s potent offense and tight checking?  In the interest of full disclosure, I have Brier, Prospal, Carter and Umberger in my pool, so deep down, I hope they move on. (Here is a link to our NHL Playoff Pool. Yes, that’s me in first!)

Finally, my Penguins.  What to say, what to say?  As a rabid Pens fan growing up, you would think i’d be elated to see them push this far (and with such force!).  Of course I am… stupid.

But really, coming into the playoffs, I just wasn’t convinced this team was as good as everyone else made them out to be.  Call me stupid perhaps, but I just thought maybe they needed another year, maybe they needed to be strong, maybe they needed to gain some playoff experience.

I was obiouvly proven wrong, and for once, I’m very glad to be!  The Pens seem to be a team possesed.  Frankly, I think it’s on Flurey now to make this happen and get them to the finals.  Perhaps hindsight is 20/20 (it obviously is), but the way they’re playing, I can’t see Philly or Montreal even putting up a fight.

Regardless, this playoffs has been shaping up to be quite an eventful affair with the climax beginning to show it’s colours.

Here’s hoping those colours are black and gold.

2008 NHL Playoff Predictions: Round 1

Let’s get right to it!

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. Montreal Canadiens vs 8. Boston Bruins

I really think Montreal is a bit overrated, ya, I said it! That being said, the only thing to gloat about in Beantown is steller goaltending from Tim Thomas (Jr!) and perhaps the fact that Patrice Bergeron will be back in a Bruins jersey (I don’t think it’ll happen this season, sorry guys).

Canadiens in 6

2. Pittsburgh Penguins vs 7. Ottawa Senetors

This seems to be the favourite series to watch in Toronto since the Leafs are off golfing somewhere sipping Pina Coladas not caring about all the weeping fans left behind in the big city. I dispise Penguin bandwagon jumpers since I’m a life-long Pens fan, but I consdering the injuries I’m going to have to go with the critics.

Penguins in 7

3. Washington Capitals vs 6. Philadelphia Flyers

Phily is hot! Capitals are hotter! Ovechkin is a beast, but I think the playoff built Flyers are prime for an upset (can you call it an upset if the lower seeded team has more points?). Brier will step up, Ovechkin will be left all alone.

Flyers in 6

4. New York Rangers vs 5. New Jersey Devils

I like the Devils. The Devils play boring playoff hockey (not as much this year as previous years though) and have the best goalie int he league, and likely of all time. However, I look at prooven playoff performers like Jagr and Gomez and factor in a hot goaltender in Henrik Lundquist and tough-guys pests like Sean Avery and you’re looking a team of possible destiny!

Rangers in 5

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. Detroit Red Wings vs 8. Nashville Preditors

You have to want to like Nashville. Detroit has prooven to be a playoff flop year after year lately and there is bound to be a huge upset. I think Nashville will go the distance, but Detroit will barely pull it off. I also think they’ll learn from their mistakes and start dominating like they should next round!

Red Wings in 7

2. San Jose Sharks vs 7. Calgary Flames

I love Joe Thornton as much as an avid pooler could love his star player. However, when it comes to playoffs, we all know about “No-Show-Joe”. Calgary is bigger and stronger and will be able to pull off the upset!

Flames in 6

3. Minnisota Wild vs 6. Colorado Avalance

The record for the most overtime goals in the playoffs is held by one Joe Sakic. Combine that with Forbergs prooven playoff success and a team who still has many of their cup winning players in place. Minni is tough and gritty and plays shut-down hockey, but look for Colorado to play spoiler.

Avalance in 6

4. Anaheim Ducks vs 5. Dallas Stars

This has mis-match written all over it! The former champs look to take on the Stars who have been less than consistant in the second half of the season. Richards was a solid addition as he’s a playoff MVP, but the Ducks should be able to railroad the Stars in the first round.

Ducks in 4

Look for next round predictions in about two weeks!

NHL Playoffs 2008 – The Wild West

So I said this wasn’t just going to be strickly a developers blog, so I thought I’d put my money where my mouth is and kick it off with some early (yes, it’s still early!) playoff predictions.

Now I’ll start by saying that before the season started I had predicted a San Jose vs Ottawa final. Two months ago you would have said I was probably crazy. At the height of the Emery debacle, San Jose was also sturggling. (Note: “Struggling”, really mean “not first in their division” by San Jose’s standards). So it looked like my prediction was highly unlikely.

Now with less than 10 game to go, we’re seeing a surging Sharks team who looks destined to push for the cup. While Ottawa is still competing for the top spot in the ultra competative Eastern Conference, posting a modest 5-4-1 record in their last 10 games.

I’m going to break this up into two blogs, starting with the dominating Western Conference.

Here’s how the West stacks up in my opinion:

Detroit - Obviously a favourite. The Wings have struggled under pressure the past few seasons, yet continue to dominate the regular season year after year. Detroit has struggled with defensive injuries the second half of this season, but are still the team with the least goals against and if I had to guess, I would say have the least amount of shots against in the league by a long shot! I think this is the year that Detroit at least sees the Conference Finals.

San Jose – As I stated above, I think the Sharks are the team to beat. I was really hoping they would close the deal on a scoring winger at the deadline, but it just wasn’t in the cards. However guys like Cheechoo and Pavelski have stepped up big time. Combined with Nabokov’s game stealing play of late, the Sharks are still my personal favourite to come out of the West.

Anaheim - Gritty, strong, playoff team! The defending champs still have something to prove. Amidst controversy with their captain’s stomping antics they haven’t wavered much and look like a guarantee to finish in the 4th spot. It’s likely Anaheim will face Dallas in the first round, in which case they’re going to easily walk through. If you ask me, Neidermayer is till the captain of this squad and has the know-how to lead this team deep. I wouldn’t count out Anaheim as a possible representative from the West this season.

Minnesota - Seems as if the West is full of gritty, hard nosed teams. That’s best exemplified by the Wild! Can you really call them an “upsetter” type team if they finish first in their division to take that 3rd overall spot in the West? I think so. Most critics would say this team doesn’t stand a chance against the Ducks and Wings of this world, but solid coaching and hard nosed forwards can make this team a real pot-stirrer in the West.

Dallas - Sorry, OVERRATED! I think this team is playing far better than their worth. I love what they did at the deadline in picking up a proven playoff performer in Brad Richards, but I don’t think this team has what it takes to go the distance in the West.

Colorado - I really didn’t think much of this team coming into the season, but it lookes like despite a long string of injuries, they’ve persevered and continue to hold on to the last playoff spot. Colorado could play a spoiler if they can get healthy and Theodore can be the Jose (MVP!) of old. I would just love to see Foppa raise the cup again. The guy is a class act and in my mind, would have been one of the best players in the game had he not had so many injury problems.

Calgary - Love Iginla, love Phaneuf, but unless Kipper stands on his head, I don’t think the Flames have a chance to make it back to the finals. This is a playoff built team, and Keenen is a superb coach, so I’m not going to count them out just yet. However, given the stiff competition in the West, Calgary would have to upset a lot of teams if they were to make a push.

Vancouver - Are they guys still around? If not for Luongo, this team would be at the bottom of the barrel. “No Trade” Nonnis has really done a number on this squad, really under preparing them for the playoffs once again. If Luongo doesn’t walk at the end of this contract, I’d be suprised. The Canucks don’t have a shot in hell!

Nashville - Despite the complete fire sale this team went through in the off season, they are still managing to hang on to a hope. I can’t see this team userping a team like Colorado from a playoff spot, but they’ll continue to fight. I still like Radulov to be a break out player in the coming years. Nashville is still a few years away from another team that could make a legit run at the cup.

Phoenix - I love this team. I know what you’re thinking, “why?”. This team has some really solid up and coming talent in Turris, Mueller and Bryzgalov. They’re still a few years away from a cup run, but expect them to make some noise next season.

Edmonton - Is there anything to like here? Some good young talent, but nothing makes me happier than seeing Dustin Penner fail. It’s not that I don’t like Penner, I just really hate Kevin Low and everything he stands for! I was a big fan of this guy when he started putting this team together years ago, but after the classless move in the off season, I stand strongly behind Burke and I think this guy is just a clown. Edmonton = Fail!

Chicago - I know they’re a little far out, but I just really wanted to see this team do it this year. I like the direction the club is heading. I really like Dennis Savard behind the bench as well. This club is certainly in my top 5 “up and coming teams” to look out for in the next 3 seasons. Probably unlikely they’ll see the playoffs, but I’m still routing for them!

Columbus - Looked like they had some promise, then it just went down the drain with the rest of their season. Hitchcock has some work to do in the off season.

St Louis – I really had high expectations for this team. I thought maybe 5th or 6th this year. They started out strong and have just began to fall apart after the trade deadline. A young team, great GM in Davidson, but obviously there is still some work to do in the off season. Locking up Boyes was a great move, there is definitely a future in St Louis, just not this year.

Los Angeles – FAIL FAIL FAIL. Seriously, get a goalie!

So after all that, I still like San Jose to come out of the West. They still lack a scoring winger, but compensate in so many areas. It’s about time Joe Thornton raises a cup, he’s certainly paid his dues. Here’s hoping we see that this season.