2013 NHL Stanley Cup PLAYOFFS thread

Games begin Tuesday, although some series won't start until Thursday.

Format is the same as in past years, with all series best-of-seven.

Predictions/debate welcome.

EASTERN CONFERENCE
(seedings in paranthesis)

(1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (8} New York Islanders

(2) Montreal Canadiens vs. (7) Ottawa Senators

(3) Washington Capitals vs. (6) New York Rangers

(4) Boston Bruins vs. (5) Toronto Maple Leafs

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (8} Minnesota Wild

(2) Anaheim Ducks vs. (7) Detroit Red Wings

(3) Vancouver Canucks vs. (6) San Jose Sharks

(4) St. Louis Blues vs. (5) Los Angeles Kings

 

EAST

Pittsburgh over NY Islanders in four games

Montreal over Ottawa in six games

N.Y. Rangers over Washington in seven games

Boston over Toronto in five games

WEST

Chicago over Minnesota in four games (but the Wild will score in two of them)

Detroit over Anaheim in five games

San Jose over Vancouver in six games

Los Angeles over St. Louis in five games

 

Detroit over Anaheim in five games? No way

 

EAST

Pittsburgh over NY Islanders in five games

Montreal over Ottawa in six games

Washington over Rangers in five games

Boston over Toronto in six games

WEST

Chicago over Minnesota in five games

Anaheim over Detroit in four games

San Jose over Vancouver in four games -- playoff underachiever meet playoff underachiever. One team is really going to suck, it's just a matter of which one. Heads says it's Vancouver. Tails San Jose. Heads.

Los Angeles over St. Louis in seven games

 

Pittsburgh in 6
Montreal in 5
Washington in 6
Boston in 6

Chicago in 5
Anaheim in 7
Vancouver in 7
Los Angeles in 6

 

I love when being three periods away from winning a Stanley Cup is considered playoff underachieving.

 

Mike Babcock will coach circles around Bruce Boudreau. And Jimmy Howard will keep the team in every game, even if they get badly outshot.

San Jose did sweep Vancouver during the regular season, for whatever that is worth. Toss-up series in my book.

 

Historically they do underachieve, that one year was absolutely an exception.

 

As I've said before, I'd love to see Gabby disprove his "I'm a regular season coach" tag, but I have to see it before I believe it.

EAST
Pittsburgh in 5 -- Islanders have talent, but lack of playoff experience against this machine leads to a short series.
Montreal in 7
Washington in 6 -- Caps have played lights out for two months now, and having plenty of playoff experience against the Rangers means there's no shock value with NY's gritty, shock-blocking style. I like that Holtby's been in the fire before, too.
Boston in 6

WEST (disclaimer: I've hardly watched any Western Conference hockey this year so these picks are extremely uneducated)
Chicago in 4 -- Someone's gotta sweep
Detroit in 7
San Jose in 5
Los Angeles in 6

 

Kings hoist it, again.

 

I'll take the field.

 

People forget they nearly blew a 3-0 series lead to Chicago in the first round that season. Jonathan Toews scores shorthanded in the last two minutes of regulation in Game 7 to force overtime. Vancouver wins it in OT. Rarely have I seen such a sense of relief by team and fans alike.