Eastern Conference:
1. New York Rangers
8. Ottawa Senators
Rangers in 6.
Many people believe that the Rangers will win in 5 or even sweep the Sens. If it weren't for the fact that the Senators have been proving me wrong all year, that would be my position too. However, the Rangers are just too good in comparison to the Sens not to win the series.Also, the Rangers have tons more playoff experience. People like Colin Greening, Jim O'Brien, Kyle Turris and Erik Condra have been main contributors this year. Turris is the only one of those 4 players with playoff experience and he has only played 4 games. Perhaps the main reason that I think the Rangers are going to win is goaltending. Anderson is a good goalie, but Lundqvist for the Rangers is Vezina calibre. The defensive prowess of players like Dan Girardi and Marc Staal will shut down Ottawa's stars. All in all the Rangers are a better team and will win this series.
2. Boston Bruins
7. Washington Capitals
Washington in 7.
This may be a bit of a shock but although the Bruins are the defending Stanley Cup champs I don't think that Tim Thomas is at the same level as last year, and they don't have a back-up as Tuukka Rask is injured. Although Washington has been a disappointment all year, they are still a solid team. Furthermore they have been showing greatness as of late. Their playoff track record isn't good but they signed some good veterans like Tomas Vokoun and Roman Hamrlik this last off-season. People have always said that Ovechkin doesn't play well in the playoffs. For a while I believed them. However, Ovechkin's career regular season points per game is 1.23. His playoff points per game is 1.35. 0.12 points per game difference. I think that this team is finished with under-achieving and that is why I predict them to win this series.
3. Florida Panthers
6. New Jersey Devils
New Jersey in 5.
I would like to say that I am picking the under dog but I'm not really. New Jersey finished with 8 points more than Florida but the Panthers won their division so they placed 3 positions ahead. New Jersey has been quietly consistent all year and I don't believe that is going to change. They have a good mix of veterans, while Florida lacks playoff experience. A month ago I would have told you that Martin Brodeur was a washed up veteran that should be retired. He has proved me wrong in the last couple of weeks. He looks like he's back to the Brodeur of 2003. It's too bad. Florida just making the playoffs for the first time in a long time, just to be eliminated in short fashion.
4. Pittsburgh Penguins
5. Philadelphia Flyers
Pittsburgh in 7.
This series sure looks like it is going to be an intense battle from start to finish. The Flyers won the season series against the Pens and you could make the argument that that would make them better than the Penguins. However, most of those games were before Sidney Crosby came back. His return has sparked hot play by the Penguins, and Crosby has been racking up the points. I think that with Crosby back, the Penguins are the favourites to come out of the east, which is unfortunate for Philly.
Western Conference:
1. Vancouver Canucks
8. Los Angeles Kings
Vancouver in 6.
Vancouver is by far the better team. Better offence, better defense, and similar goaltending ability. Jonathan Quick has had an unreal year this year, posting 10 shutouts. I think that it is reasonable to say, that if the Kings didn't have Quick, and just had Bernier, they wouldn't be in the playoffs right now. The Cancucks haven't been the offensive dynamo they were last year, but picked up their game in the last 10 games posting an 8-1-1 record, and have been elevating their game at the right time. On the the other hand the Kings have been struggling in their last 10 with a 5-2-3 record. To make matters worse for L.A. they have lost Jeff Carter to injury for the next 2 weeks or so. The Canucks are a better team, and have been hot lately, those 2 things will lead to a first round playoff win.
2. St. Louis Blues
7. San Jose Sharks
Sharks in 7.
I think that this match up, shouldn't even be a match up. These teams are pretty equal and it should be a 4th seed VS 5th seed match up, but the Blues got hot, and the Sharks hat a terrible year. The reason I think that the Sharks will pull it out is this. They are on a hot streak while the Blues are cold. San Jose is 7-3-0 in their last 10 while the Blues are 4-3-3. Another reason is the experience of the Sharks and the inexperience of the Blues. It has been a great surprise year for the Blues, but I think that magic is wearing off.
3. Phoenix Coyotes
6. Chicago Blackhawks
Phoenix in 7.
Yes, I believe it will be true. The Coyotes will finally win a playoff series. But only on one condition. If Mike Smith can play the exact same way he played all year. On the other end of the spectrum the Blackhawks goaltending has shown flashes of brilliance throughout the year, but has been mediocre at best. If the Hawks had Jonathan Toews in the lineup this series would go a different way. Without Toews the Hawks will have some major trouble beating the stingy defense of the Yotes. I think that this series will be extremely low scoring, but those are the types of games that Phoenix thrives in.
4. Nashville Predators
5. Detroit Red Wings
Nashville in 7.
I think that each team will win all of their home games in this series, and Nashville has one more, so that would lead to a series win for them. Nashville has turned into a scary good team, and if they were playing almost any other team then Detroit I would think maybe sweep. They have everything. Goaltending: Pekka Rinne backed up by stellar goalie Anders Lindback who has had some great games this year. Defense: Shea Weber and Ryan Suter pairing is perhaps the best in the league. Offense: They have already got David Legwand, Sergei Kostitsyn, Andrei Kostitsyn, Martin Erat, Craig Smith, but now they have added Alexander Radulov who is a star and will push them over the top offensively.
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