Running Stanley Cup Playoff Thread

[JR]

Get ready for two months of fabulous hockey


So, here's the first round:

Eastern Conference

Washington (1) vs Rangers (#8)

Don't see New York beating the Caps. Don't have a dog in this hunt.

Phlly (2) vs Buffalo (7). Go Buffalo. Flyers' goaltending will probably mean the end of them by no later than the second round

Boston (3) Vs Montreal (6). Enormous bad blood between these two in the regular season. Should be a barn-burner with two of the best goalies in the League, Tim Thomas & Carey Price. Gotta go with the Habs

Penguins (4) vs Tampa Bay (5) No Crosby or Malkin for the Pens but still think they might ride Fleury


Western Conference


Vancouver (1) vs Chicago (#8)

The Canucks are the favourite to win the Cup---hands down the best team in the league. However, the Hawks have eliminated Vancouver the last two years. Still, Canucks should take this in five. Go Canucks

San Jose (2) vs LA Kings (7)

Go Fishies! Maybe this is the year they don't spit the bit.

Red Wings (3) vs Coyotes (6).

Don't think Phoenix can beat Detroit.I'll be cheering for the Wings

Ducks (4) vs Nashville (5)

Don't see the Preds beating Anaheim. Ducks were on a huge roll ad the end of the season. Corey Perry led the league in goals with 50 and was second in the league in points. No big favourite here but I'd like Nashville to make it past the first round

 

[TigerVols]

Can't wait to see the Preds -- and the most unsung coach in professional sports -- advance passed the first round.

I'll be attending my first NHL playoff game this week @ the Honda Center, so I have little doubt Nashville will advance. Ha!

 

[Cosmo]

Caps in 5
Sabres in 6
Habs in 7
Bolts in 7

Canucks in 5
Sharks in 7
Red Wings in 6 (thanks to a win on home ice in Glendale in Game 6)
Preds in 7 (really good series that no one outside of SoCal or middle Tennessee will pay attention to)

 

[derwood]

Caps (won't be easy), Flyers (six week break is over), Pens (work ethic, Fleury will neutralize Tampa's power play).

Hawks, Sharks (Losing Kopitar killed my dark horse), Preds (much better goalie), Coyotes.

 

[Moderator1]

I'll believe the Caps when I see it.

 

[bumpy mcgee]

The Blackhawks absolutely own Luongo.

Terrible first-round matchup for the favorites.

Correction, Byfuglien owned Luongo.
Don't think the Blackhawks have that big body in front of the net that can rattle Luongo this year.

 

[JR]

Personally, I don't think the Hawks have much of a chance. Hell, they couldn't even win on the last day of the season to clinch a spot. Had to rely on Dallas choking later that day

 

[RickStain]

Blackhawks aren't as good as last year and Vancouver is a lot better, and it's not like those last two series were easy wins for Chicago.

They *could* win the series, but it'd take a lot of good bounces and sound defensive decisions, both of which have been in short supply this season.

 

[JR]

Blackhawks aren't as good as last year and Vancouver is a lot better, and it's not like those last two series were easy wins for Chicago.

They *could* win the series, but it'd take a lot of good bounces and sound defensive decisions, both of which have been in short supply this season.

Vancouver has the best goals for and best goals against in the league.

The Sedin twins were #1 and #3 in the scoring race. Corey Perry was second

They remind me of the Red Wings teams of the 90's. They're all business now. I wouldn't be surprised if the Canucks swept the Hawks.

 

[Cosmo]

I'll believe the Caps when I see it.

Oh, I'm with you. I was torn whether to say they'll win in 5 or 7, because I don't think they'll clinch on the road. So I went with five.

 

[JackReacher]

Here's another +1 for Moddy's comment. I trust the Caps not one bit. It wouldn't surprise me at all if they were swept by the Rangers. And I'm only a mild hockey fan. I can't imagine what the hardcore Caps fans think.

 

[derwood]

Blackhawks aren't as good as last year and Vancouver is a lot better, and it's not like those last two series were easy wins for Chicago.

They *could* win the series, but it'd take a lot of good bounces and sound defensive decisions, both of which have been in short supply this season.

Vancouver has the best goals for and best goals against in the league.

The Sedin twins were #1 and #3 in the scoring race. Corey Perry was second

They remind me of the Red Wings teams of the 90's. They're all business now. I wouldn't be surprised if the Canucks swept the Hawks.

They played in the weakest division. Red Wing comparison is a reach, Nik Lidstron is so much better than their d, forward depth isn't there either.

 

[RickStain]

The Blackhawks were 4th in goals and 14th in goals allowed. Way better than a typical eighth seed, and interesting considering that all the focus was on the offense they let get away. The real problem this year has been how pedestrian Keith and Seabrook have been.

 

[bumpy mcgee]

The Blackhawks were 4th in goals and 14th in goals allowed. Way better than a typical eighth seed, and interesting considering that all the focus was on the offense they let get away. The real problem this year has been how pedestrian Keith and Seabrook have been.

I think the problem is how much Keith and Seabrook have had to play because of all the youth, injuries and inneffectiveness of other defensemen.
Crawford has covered way more problems than I thought he would this year, but I just don't see how the Blackhawks can slow the Sedins over a seven game series.

 

[JC]

Blackhawks aren't as good as last year and Vancouver is a lot better, and it's not like those last two series were easy wins for Chicago.

They *could* win the series, but it'd take a lot of good bounces and sound defensive decisions, both of which have been in short supply this season.

Vancouver has the best goals for and best goals against in the league.

The Sedin twins were #1 and #3 in the scoring race. Corey Perry was second

They remind me of the Red Wings teams of the 90's. They're all business now. I wouldn't be surprised if the Canucks swept the Hawks.

They played in the weakest division. Red Wing comparison is a reach, Nik Lidstron is so much better than their d, forward depth isn't there either.

and dominated the strongest division in the league. Their record against the Pacific was a ridiculous 13-5-2. It is not as if the schedule is that unbalanced within the conference and the West is a far toughe conference than the East.

 

[Cosmo]

Here's another +1 for Moddy's comment. I trust the Caps not one bit. It wouldn't surprise me at all if they were swept by the Rangers. And I'm only a mild hockey fan. I can't imagine what the hardcore Caps fans think.

Yeah, well the hardcore group would think the Caps are going to lose even if they were playing the Abbotsford Heat in the first round. We're a little defeatist. That said, I have full confidence that this group is going to beat New York. The kind of defensive consistency the team has displayed over the last four months is not a fluke. It's a 50-plus game sample. And I think Neuvirth is going to surprise a lot of people in these playoffs. That kid is nails when protecting a late lead.

 

[JR]

Blackhawks aren't as good as last year and Vancouver is a lot better, and it's not like those last two series were easy wins for Chicago.

They *could* win the series, but it'd take a lot of good bounces and sound defensive decisions, both of which have been in short supply this season.

Vancouver has the best goals for and best goals against in the league.

The Sedin twins were #1 and #3 in the scoring race. Corey Perry was second

They remind me of the Red Wings teams of the 90's. They're all business now. I wouldn't be surprised if the Canucks swept the Hawks.

They played in the weakest division. Red Wing comparison is a reach, Nik Lidstron is so much better than their d, forward depth isn't there either.

Nik Lidstrom is better than anyone team's d so I'm not sure what that means.

The Canucks have two of the top scorers in the league plus Kesler, who wasn't exactly chopped liver with 41 goals

Luongo has the fourth best Save % and the second best GAA. I think I'd rather have him in net than Jimmy Howard even with Luongo's sketchy playoff record. .

When I say they remind me of the Wings I mean their businesslike attitude towards the game. It seems to me Vigneault is a lot like Babcock.

 

[RedCanuck]

I'm going to go out on a limb right now and predict that both No. 1 seeds will be upset this round. I'm also going to say that San Jose is finally going to the final and they'll do it against Boston.

 

[I Should Coco]

Blackhawks aren't as good as last year and Vancouver is a lot better, and it's not like those last two series were easy wins for Chicago.

They *could* win the series, but it'd take a lot of good bounces and sound defensive decisions, both of which have been in short supply this season.

Unfortunately, don't see another Stanley Cup run this year, Rick.

Watched their last two home games, and the Blackhawks struggled mightily to beat the Blues and couldn't beat the Red Wings, forcing them to back in to the playoffs.

On several power play chances, they struggled to even get a shot on goal. And yeah, several easy goals allowed.

"But hey, everyone's 0-0!" :)

 

[derwood]

JR,

Your posts reads 90's wings.