NHL Playoff Thread-Mania...

[Ben Kenobi]

Tingkai:

I think you are right, that a flowing style will play into Vancouver's strength.

And I think Vancouver threw the game. Kitty bar the door for three periods?

It still would have been nice to have a division championship. Did Naslund earn the Art Ross?

Edit:

NO ROSS.

[reismark]

Man, I'm really excited for the NHL playoffs for the first time in a long time. There's a huge infusion of new blood and fresh matchups this year that's been a long time in coming. I nailed the Montreal first-round upset last year... let's see if I can at least get one series right this year

EASTERN CONFERENCE

#1 Ottawa Senators v. #8 New York Islanders
What a juicy matchup this would have been had it taken place last year... This is a bit harder than it appears at first glance because Ottawa used to be a playoff choke-artist before wiping the floor with Philly and taking Toronto to seven last year, and Yashin got hot for Peter Laviolette at the right time. However, Peca is still not himself, and Snow is *not* Chris Osgood. That will be the difference. Senators in six.

#2 New Jersey Devils v. #7 Boston Bruins
Wrong time to have to make a trip into New Jersey, Boston fans. Your team not only doesn't match up well with the Devils, but you're also running into a highly pissed-off squad that's looking for a little redemption after getting bounced in the first round by Carolina last year. And Brodeur is Brodeur. Devils in five.

#3 Tampa Bay Lightning v. #6 Washington Capitals
Ah, smell it everybody... it's the smell of new blood in the playoffs. This is the first time the Lightning have made it here (correct me if I'm wrong, Imran) and as such, will not be completely prepared for what's to come. Washington was pressing them towards the end and has Jagr and Kolzig, who are both battle-tested. Don't worry, the new blood will get its licks... just not here. Capitals in six.

#4 Philadelphia Flyers v. #5 Toronto Maple Leafs
To borrow from Thrawn: I'm no Flyers fan, but I hate, detest, loathe, abhor, dislike, despise, deride, spurn, and scorn the Maple Leafs within the deepest darkest recessess of my little black heart. I wish them hardship and misery as they kiss the ice. Flyers in five.

As for the rest of the East:
SENATORS/CAPITALS: Senators in six
DEVILS/FLYERS: Devils in six
SENATORS/DEVILS: Devils in six

WESTERN CONFERENCE

#1 Dallas Stars v. #8 Edmonton Oilers
Here's my big problem with Dallas: Yes, Turco has been awesome throughout the season, but he has absolutely no playoff experience whatsoever to draw on and he's running into an incredibly hot team that matches up well with the Stars. Considering the fact that anyone is likely to lose to a more experienced team later on in the loaded Western side anyway, I'll try the upset. Oilers in seven.

#2 Detroit Red Wings v. #7 Anaheim Mighty Ducks
Note to Disney: If you think you have an opportunity for another Cinderella story in these playoffs like the one you had with the Angels in October, you're deluding yourselves. Kariya is all you have, and you're up against the defending champs. Even having met the criteria of the team being up for sale ain't gonna help you here. Red Wings in five.

#3 Colorado Avalanche v. #6 Minnesota Wild
I look at this situation and I see almost a carbon-copy of the Dallas/Edmonton situation, with two major caveats: Roy (who will be looking for a little redemption after getting killed in Game 7 against the Red Wings last year) and the fact that while Minnesota is hot right now, they're a playoff baby and don't match up with the Avalanche all that well. Nevertheless, I think they can make this interesting. Avalanche in seven.

#4 Vancouver Canucks v. #5 St. Louis Blues
Losing the division title and #3 seed played right into Vancouver's hands. It got them a much better first-round matchup (Minnesota would have given them all kinds of problems) with a team that's never been able to just bring it to the big time. Winning the first two against the defending champs last years did wonders for their mentality as a team. Canucks in six.

The rest of the West:
RED WINGS/OILERS: Red Wings in six
AVALANCHE/CANUCKS: Canucks in six
RED WINGS/CANUCKS: Canucks in seven

So I'm predicting that New Jersey and Vancouver will be getting it on about a month from now for Lord Stanley's cup. Who will get to drink from it? Let's just say I have no freaking idea, but I think the words "six" and "new blood" have been a defining theme of this post, so I'll let you figure out that one for yourself.

[Kontiki]

Tampa has made the playoffs once before in 95-96. Anaheim's made it before too, more than once, IIRC (I know 98-99, I think there are others). The only really new team is Minnesota.

Still, it is good to see TB, Anaheim and Minnesota in the playoffs, and so sweet that the Rangers missed it again.

[The Emperor Fabulous]

WEST

Dallas vs. Edmonton
Detroit vs. Anaheim
Colorado vs. Minnesota
Vancouver vs. St. Louis

EAST

Ottawa vs. New York Islanders
New Jersey vs. Boston
Tampa Bay vs. Washington
Toronto vs. Philadelphia

Final: Boston over Colorado in 6 (hey, a kid can dream, can't he?)

[optimus2861]

Originally posted by reismark
EASTERN CONFERENCE

#1 Ottawa Senators v. #8 New York Islanders
Senators in six.

Agreed on NY Islanders goaltending. Those 10-foot pads that Garth Snow has strapped himself to don't change the fact that he's never been a very good goaltender. Yashin's always been a playoff choker, and the Senators will be hungry to show they're ready to take the next step toward becoming a serious contendor. Senators in five.

#2 New Jersey Devils v. #7 Boston BruinsDevils in five.

Bruins have been misfiring on all cylinders ever since their red-hot start, their goaltending is a mess, and even though the Devils have a punchless offense, this should still be a cakewalk for a Pat Burns-coached team. Devils in five.

#3 Tampa Bay Lightning v. #6 Washington Capitals
Capitals in six.

Eastern Conference is always something of a crapshoot come playoff time, and Tampa is this year's Carolina I think. They're a young team, have a stellar goaltender, and no pressure on them at all. Washington's been an incosistent mess most of the season, Jagr has seemed uninterested, and the Capitals are one of those "good but not good enough" teams. Lightning in six.

#4 Philadelphia Flyers v. #5 Toronto Maple Leafs
Flyers in five.

Ugh. Conflicting emotions here; I hate them both, but especially feel that the Flyers will go nowhere with that sieve Cechmanek between the pipes. Even with a Hitchcock-coached defense and the reunion of Amonte & Roenick up front. Leafs are geared for playoffs with late-season acquisitions, and Belfour's proved this season he's still got what it takes. Pains me to say it, but Leafs in six.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

#1 Dallas Stars v. #8 Edmonton Oilers
Oilers in seven.

Oilers are simply outgunned. Stars will be hungry to show last season was a fluke. Turco is unproven, but having an 8th seed to chew on for the first round will be a good way for him to get experience. Stars in four.

#2 Detroit Red Wings v. #7 Anaheim Mighty Ducks
Red Wings in five.

Ducks are also outgunned. Giguere has no playoff experience, Kariya has no supporting cast, and Wings are far too playoff-hardened to let these upstarts surprise them. Wings in four.

#3 Colorado Avalanche v. #6 Minnesota Wild
Avalanche in seven.

Damn, it sucks to be Minnesota; up until last night, they were looking Vancouver in the eye, whom they would've matched up better against, as Vancouver relies on their top line for most of their offense, and Minnesota's trapping would've been more effective against them. But not the deep Avalanche. Colorado in five.

#4 Vancouver Canucks v. #5 St. Louis Blues
Canucks in six.

Neither team has played well the last quarter of the season, and while Blues have better depth up front, they're another of the "good but not good enough" teams. Tkachuk has never led a team to post-season success. Canucks will be hungry after loss to Wings last year, and Cloutier also has something to prove. Expect this one to go to the limit. Canucks in seven.

That would make Sens/Leafs, Devils/Lightning, Stars/Canucks, and Wings/Avalanche for round two. But I prefer waiting to see how round one actually shakes out before predicting any farther ahead .

(Edit: fix Eastern second-round matchup, thanks obiwan)

[Ben Kenobi]

optimus:

Your matchups for the East's second round aren't quite right.

You should have Ottawa/Toronto
And New Jersey/Tampa Bay

Any others for the Tampa Bay Washington series? That to me seems the strange one to predict.

[Kontiki]

I'd say there are a three that are hard to predict: Toronto-Philly, Vancouver-St. Louis and Washington-TB. In the last one, I'd personally go with Tampa Bay. They're going in with no expectations on them, while Washington has underachieved all year and is going to have pressure on them to do something. Plus, if Khabibulan (sp?) stays hot, he'll be tough to beat.

[Ben Kenobi]

I'll root for the Canadian team in both matchups, but I do think Vancouver will outmatch St. Louis, and Toronto over Philly. The real bind is the number of games.

[Tingkai]

#1 Ottawa Senators v. #8 New York Islanders
Ottawa outshines the Isles in everything: goaltending, scoring, defence, even toughness now that they picked up the Sabre castoffs. Even if Peca was himself, even if Yashin makes an appearance it will still be:

Ottawa in four.

#2 New Jersey Devils v. #7 Boston Bruins
The problem for the Bruins is, of course, goaltending, but then again, how often do the Devils light of the lights. The Devils haven't got anyone with more than 60 points this year. Meanwhile Thornton had an amazing year and with Samsonov back, the Bruins could be even more dangerous with a stronger second line. The Bruins have been struggling, but they won't roll over and play dead.

There's always an upset every playoffs, the Devils are boring and Burns is overrated so I'll go out on a limb and say:

Bruins in six.
#3 Tampa Bay Lightning v. #6 Washington Capitals
Optimus and Guynemer are right. The Bulin Wall is looking great. Tampa has depth on the offence. But Tampe had a slow finish. Still, I think Tampa will have the energy and drive to push past Jagr and company.

Lighting in six

#4 Philadelphia Flyers v. #5 Toronto Maple Leafs
This is shaping up to be a classic series. The Flyers have picked up their offence, if they remain healthy while the Leafs could be strong if the injured guys become healthy.

The difference is that the Leafs always outperform in the playoffs while the Flyers can't jack up their performances. Belfour has the expereince edge and comes through in the clutch games. Cechmaneck has gained some expereince, but not enough.

Toronto is a far better team then they were last year. This is the year they go to the finals.

Toronto in six

SECOND ROUND
Top-ranked team plays the bottom rank team right?
Sens vs Bruins
The Bruins were able to overcome the Devils because of the pathetic Devils offence. The same can't be said about the Sens. The Sens will simply over-power the Bruins in all aspects.

Sens in five.

Lightning vs Leafs
This is where expereince makes the difference. The Leafs have the vets who know what it takes to survive. Overall the Leafs are also better in all areas.

Leafs in seven.

Conference Final

Sens vs Leafs
This could be the year that the Sens finally break their curse. They've got the President's Cup on their side. Teams that finish first in the league tend to win the Cup.

But, the Leafs have a psychological edge. They'll be coming off of a high from beating the Flyers while the Sens coast through the Isles.

More importantly, the Leafs top players have more edge. Nolan, Roberts and Sundin will step up their performances for the playoffs. The same can't be said of the Sens.

Ottawa's only hope is that Lalime is absolutely incredible, but I don't think that will happen.

Leafs in six.

WESTERN CONFERENCE
#1 Dallas Stars v. #8 Edmonton Oilers
Turco is amazing. The Stars are strong on every other aspects. The Oilers are living on borrowed time. It might have been different if the Oilers hadn't traded off Carter and Ninemmnaa (sp?)

Dallas in four.

#2 Detroit Red Wings v. #7 Anaheim Mighty Ducks
This is another upset in the making. Giguere is probably the most under-rated goalie in the league. The Ducks have a strong defence corp. The addition of Thomas, Sykora and Oates have given Kariya players that can match his level.

Sure, the Wings won the cup last year, but Cujo isn't a Hasek. Bowman is gone. Yzerman ain’t what he used to be.

Anaheim in six!

#3 Colorado Avalanche v. #6 Minnesota Wild
The Wild have no offence and they’re up against one of the best goaltenders in history. Forsberg is back on track. Tanguay has demonstrated the difference a coach can make. Sakic always steps up his performance in the playoffs.

Avs in five. EDIT: Make that Avs in seven.

#4 Vancouver Canucks v. #5 St. Louis Blues
Now this is going to be a fun series to watch. Both teams have great offensive stars, both teams have questionable goaltending. In the end, the Coultier will edge out Osgoode/Johnston/whomever.

Canucks in six.

SECOND ROUND
Stars vs Ducks
Guerin and Turgeon will be back. The Stars will push past Gigure while the Ducks haven’t got the offence to overcome Turco.

Stars in five.

Avs vs Canucks
Goaltending will make the difference, but the Canucks will put up a fight.

Avs in six.

Conference final
Avs vs Stars
Youth against age. I’ll take age with Roy’s experience making the difference.

Avs in six.

Stanley Cup Final
Avs vs the Leafs
This will be one of the best finals in years. Two great goaltenders. Great snipers. Lots of gritty and driven players. In the end, the Leafs will prevail. Why? Because they want it more. They’re got players who know this could be their last chance. They’ve got players itching for a chance to win with a real team. Plus, the Leafs simply win on the grit factor.

Leafs in seven. Nolan gets the overtime game winning goal.

[KrazyHorse]

Leafs in seven

A bold prediction...

The only prediction I have is that if it happens the rioting will rival the final for entertainment value.

GO LEAFS!

[Agathon]

Leafs up 2-1 at the end of the first and Ottawa 2-0 down.

Hopefully, the shape of things to come...

[Imran Siddiqui]

And NJ up 1-0 .

[Ben Kenobi]

Ottawa down 2-0?


Go Sens
If you lose to the Isles, you will never hear the end of the choke labels.

[Agathon]

Leafs up 3-1 are then tied 3-3 and then come behind to win 5-3 (Mogilny hat-trick). Leafs 1-0.

Ottawa crashes 3-0 to the Islanders. Heh heh.... Isles 1-0

Devils 2 Bruins 1. Devils 1-0

And Edmonton is beating Dallas 2-1 middle of the third.

[Agathon]

Oh, I forgot Alexei Yashin scored for the Isles. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!