Hockey Playoff Time!!! With the Devils back, and good (seriously, they barely finished worse than the Penguins and Flyers and are so much better than a normal 6th seed) and the Rangers as the #1 seed, and young likable teams littering the West, I'm probably more excited for this playoff season than anyone since maybe the 2007 Playoffs, were I was convinced the #2 seed Devils were headed to a showdown with the top seed Sabres. This one has a lot of extra juice, more because I am old enough to take in and watch the night games. Anyway, let's get down to business. My 1st round picks will be short, but expect longer ones for each round here-after.
Eastern Conference
(1) Rangers over (8) Senators in 6
I like the Senators, and think they are a year away from being really, really good. Erik Karlsson is a future star. I can't believe Jason Spezza is only 28, since he's been a key player since his breakout in teh 2003 Conference Finals. I more so can't believe that Daniel Alfredsson is still playing pretty well. That said, the Rangers are so well put together. They really remind me of old Devils teams, in a good way. The Senators played them well all year, but just aren't close to good enough defensively to beat the Rangers.
(7) Capitals over (2) Bruins in 7
It's the NHL Playoffs. Upsets happen every year. This wouldn't even be that much of a shocker. The fact that Braden Holtby is going to be the starter for the Capitals is a little concerning, but in his limited time his stats were the best of any Caps goalie. A big reason why I like the Caps chances is that for the first time in years (maybe since their initial playoffs splash in the Ovie era in 2008) there is no pressure on them. No one really is buying their chances. Plus, they finally get a healthy Nicklas Backstrom, while the Bruins are still without Horton.
(6) Devils over (3) Panthers in 5
The Panthers just are not very good. Congratulations to them for making it into the playoffs for the first time since the 1999-2000 season (where they were promptly eliminated by the Devils). On the other hand, this might be the best Devils team since the 2007 squad. The Devils did have the #2 seed two seasons ago, but that team still had trouble scoring, was trying to fit in Kovalchuk and faced a Flyers team that would eventually make the Finals. This team has Ilya loaded, and more offensive depth than any Devils team since 2001.
(5) Flyers over (4) Penguins in 7
I think the Penguins, with Crosby healthy, are definitely better on paper. They have the league's two best players (as of right now) and a lot of depth, and the better, more playoff tested goalie. But I can't get over the fact that the Flyers have owned Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh ever since that new building opened up. I also can't get over the fact that everyone is picking Pittsburgh, despite the fact that the teams really were even throughout the season.
Western Conference
(1) Canucks over (8) Kings in 6
It will be really interesting to see if Luongo gets pulled at any time during this series. Corey Schnieder had a good year, and it probably isn't as drastic a drop-off as when Luongo was one of the best goalies (2007-2009). The Canucks offense has dropped off dramatically since last year, but that still makes them miles better offensively than the Kings, who scored fewer than 200 goals. The reason I think this still goes six games is I'm not sure how many games Daniel Sedin plays.
(2) Blues over (7) Sharks in 7
Call it the last stand of the Marleau-Thornton era sharks. To this day, I will never understand the move of getting rid of Heatley and Setoguchi and getting Martin Havlat and Brent Burns in return,. Even if Havlat stayed healthy, he wasn't replacing Heatley. (Interesting note about Heatley, he was traded to Ottawa for Marian Hossa, and was now traded for Martin Havlat, who were teammates on Ottawa, with the same initials). It's sad to see the Sharks fall like they have, but they could have easily pulled the plug on the Marleau-Thornton era two years ago after winning the President's Cup and losing to Anaheim. As for the Blues, I think they get through, but I just don't see where goals consistently come from. They'll ahve trouble going forward.
(3) Coyotes over (6) Blackhawks in 7
I like this series. Two teams with contrasting styles of play, in two totally different environments (desert vs. hockey-mad Chicago). I have no idea who I'm picking Pheonix other than a belief in Mike Smith, who just had a great season, and liking him more than Corey Crawford. Chicago has the guys who can turn it up, but I just don't see the level of play from Kane and Toews this season that tells me they will.
(4) Predators over (5) Red Wings in 6
I don't think the Red Wings have ever been the same since losing that 1st home game in 8,000 games back to Vancouver. The Wings are 7-10-4 since, and in non-shootout games, were 5-10-2. They were, right before that drop happened, leading contenders to win the Western Conference regular season, and they fell all the way to not having home ice in round one. The Predators were one of the most consistent teams all year, and unlike Preds teams of the past, this one can score. I say the Predators get revenge on the Wings, who knocked them out of the playoffs in 2004 and 2008.
Anyway, if this holds, it sets up 2nd Rounds of Vancouver vs. Nashville and St, Louis vs Phoenix out West (my guess is NBC is really hoping my predictions are wrong, and either Detroit or Chicago get through) and New York vs. Washington and Philadelphia vs. New Jersey in the East (two really nice series' on paper).
Enjoy the Puck.
Eastern Conference
(1) Rangers over (8) Senators in 6
I like the Senators, and think they are a year away from being really, really good. Erik Karlsson is a future star. I can't believe Jason Spezza is only 28, since he's been a key player since his breakout in teh 2003 Conference Finals. I more so can't believe that Daniel Alfredsson is still playing pretty well. That said, the Rangers are so well put together. They really remind me of old Devils teams, in a good way. The Senators played them well all year, but just aren't close to good enough defensively to beat the Rangers.
(7) Capitals over (2) Bruins in 7
It's the NHL Playoffs. Upsets happen every year. This wouldn't even be that much of a shocker. The fact that Braden Holtby is going to be the starter for the Capitals is a little concerning, but in his limited time his stats were the best of any Caps goalie. A big reason why I like the Caps chances is that for the first time in years (maybe since their initial playoffs splash in the Ovie era in 2008) there is no pressure on them. No one really is buying their chances. Plus, they finally get a healthy Nicklas Backstrom, while the Bruins are still without Horton.
(6) Devils over (3) Panthers in 5
The Panthers just are not very good. Congratulations to them for making it into the playoffs for the first time since the 1999-2000 season (where they were promptly eliminated by the Devils). On the other hand, this might be the best Devils team since the 2007 squad. The Devils did have the #2 seed two seasons ago, but that team still had trouble scoring, was trying to fit in Kovalchuk and faced a Flyers team that would eventually make the Finals. This team has Ilya loaded, and more offensive depth than any Devils team since 2001.
(5) Flyers over (4) Penguins in 7
I think the Penguins, with Crosby healthy, are definitely better on paper. They have the league's two best players (as of right now) and a lot of depth, and the better, more playoff tested goalie. But I can't get over the fact that the Flyers have owned Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh ever since that new building opened up. I also can't get over the fact that everyone is picking Pittsburgh, despite the fact that the teams really were even throughout the season.
Western Conference
(1) Canucks over (8) Kings in 6
It will be really interesting to see if Luongo gets pulled at any time during this series. Corey Schnieder had a good year, and it probably isn't as drastic a drop-off as when Luongo was one of the best goalies (2007-2009). The Canucks offense has dropped off dramatically since last year, but that still makes them miles better offensively than the Kings, who scored fewer than 200 goals. The reason I think this still goes six games is I'm not sure how many games Daniel Sedin plays.
(2) Blues over (7) Sharks in 7
Call it the last stand of the Marleau-Thornton era sharks. To this day, I will never understand the move of getting rid of Heatley and Setoguchi and getting Martin Havlat and Brent Burns in return,. Even if Havlat stayed healthy, he wasn't replacing Heatley. (Interesting note about Heatley, he was traded to Ottawa for Marian Hossa, and was now traded for Martin Havlat, who were teammates on Ottawa, with the same initials). It's sad to see the Sharks fall like they have, but they could have easily pulled the plug on the Marleau-Thornton era two years ago after winning the President's Cup and losing to Anaheim. As for the Blues, I think they get through, but I just don't see where goals consistently come from. They'll ahve trouble going forward.
(3) Coyotes over (6) Blackhawks in 7
I like this series. Two teams with contrasting styles of play, in two totally different environments (desert vs. hockey-mad Chicago). I have no idea who I'm picking Pheonix other than a belief in Mike Smith, who just had a great season, and liking him more than Corey Crawford. Chicago has the guys who can turn it up, but I just don't see the level of play from Kane and Toews this season that tells me they will.
(4) Predators over (5) Red Wings in 6
I don't think the Red Wings have ever been the same since losing that 1st home game in 8,000 games back to Vancouver. The Wings are 7-10-4 since, and in non-shootout games, were 5-10-2. They were, right before that drop happened, leading contenders to win the Western Conference regular season, and they fell all the way to not having home ice in round one. The Predators were one of the most consistent teams all year, and unlike Preds teams of the past, this one can score. I say the Predators get revenge on the Wings, who knocked them out of the playoffs in 2004 and 2008.
Anyway, if this holds, it sets up 2nd Rounds of Vancouver vs. Nashville and St, Louis vs Phoenix out West (my guess is NBC is really hoping my predictions are wrong, and either Detroit or Chicago get through) and New York vs. Washington and Philadelphia vs. New Jersey in the East (two really nice series' on paper).
Enjoy the Puck.
