Eastern Conference
1 Washington Capitals over 8 New York Rangers, 4-2
Henrik Lundqvist was good enough to carry the offensively-challenged Rangers into the post-season into the first place. He's good enough to steal a game or two from the top-seeded Caps. But I just don't see how Washington gets their torch snuffed in Round 1 for a second year in a row, as the 1-seed no less. Earlier this season it seemed as though the Crosby-Ovechkin debate was over, with the nod going to the Halifax, Nova Scotia native. With Sid likely out for the post-season, can Alex re-ignite the talk?
4 Pittsburgh Penguins over 5 Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-3
Though the Penguins are still without Malkin and likely Crosby, I'll take Marc-Andre Fleury over Dwayne Roloson/Mike Smith without batting an eyelash. Even if I have called Fleury the "Eli Manning of Hockey". I mean he's the number 1 overall pick, struggles mightily early on, still puts up mediocre numbers at times, but won a ring fairly early on in his career thanks to his teammates. Total Eli. But since Tampa carried a negative goal-differential for much of the season, I take them about as seriously as Philip on Survivor. Which means I don't take them seriously at all. Penguins march on.
3 Boston Bruins over 6 Montreal Canadiens, 4-1
I know the Habs won the season series 4-2. But I also know that the Bruins put up 15 goals against Montreal in their two victories, most recently the 7-0 laugher in Boston in March. This team was built for the playoffs, and anything less than a trip to the Cup Finals will be a huge disappointment. Provided Chara doesn't get arrested upon entering the Bell Centre, the B's should advance without too much trouble.
7 Buffalo Sabres over 2 Philadelphia Flyers, 4-3
Ryan Miller since March 1: 8-4-2, .924 SV%, 2.13 GAA
Flyers goalies since March 1: 7-7-6, .905 SV%, 2.52 GAA
The Flyers dodged shoddy goaltending all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals last spring. Not this time around. Especially if Chris Pronger misses any of this series.
Western Conference
1 Vancouver Canucks over 8 Chicago Blackhawks, 4-1
Talk about backing into the post-season. That's exactly what the defending champs did. They wouldn't even be in the tournament had the former Minnesota North Stars not choked on Sunday. The 'Hawks are just 7-5-3 since March 8. Vancouver's post-season exploits have been well-documented, but with both Sedin's firing on all levels and Ryan Kesler even getting his name in the Hart Trophy discussion, look for Bobby Luongo to will the 'Nucks to a quick victory.
5 Nashville Predators over 4 Anaheim Ducks, 4-0
If not for Tim Thomas, Pekka Rinne would be your Vezina winner. And without Jonas Hiller, the Ducks have a pair of anti-Vezina winners to throw out there, be it Dan The Man Ellis or Ray Emery. Ask Ben Riley about Dan Ellis, he'll tell you all you need to know. Corey Perry made a late great surge to get into the MVP discussion but no one out West is playing as well as Rinne.
3 Detroit Red Wings over 6 Phoenix Coyotes, 4-2
In a rematch of last seasons first round series, expect a much easier go-round of it for Detroit as they send the Yotes back to Winnipeg, where they belong. In the off-season, the Jets can sign Teemu Selanne and bring him back to where his career began, and things will get all emotional, and people will actually care about a hockey team that's been damn good these past two years. It's not their fault nobody's noticed.
2 San Jose Sharks over 7 Los Angeles Kings, 4-1
You could call Antti Niemi the antti-Nabokov. Guy just wins in the post-season, unlike his Bay Area predecessor. No doubt the Kings got a tough break with Anze Kopitar going down, but there's still too much firepower up front for San Jose to not have a shot at making a run. San Jose in a breezer.
Caps over Rangers 4-3
ReplyDeleteFlyers over Sabres 4-2
Bruins over Scabs 4-2
Penguins over Bolts 4-3
Nucks over Hawks 4-3
Sharks over Kings 4-0
Coyotes over Wings 4-2
Ducks over Preds 4-2