So this is how it stacks up folks:
Eastern Conference
Montreal vs Boston
Pittsburgh vs Ottawa
Washington vs Philadelphia
New Jersey vs New York Rangers
Western Conference
Detroit vs Nashville
San Jose vs Calgary
Minnesota vs Colorado
Anaheim vs Dallas
I look forward to the Bos-Mon series even though the Habs owned Bos in regular season, NJ and NYR should be a tight too. In the West two intriguing matches to watch for: SJ and CAL and I'd like DAL to surprise ANA, if Turco plays the same way he did during the last playoffs, anything is possible.
I'll have my predictions the next couple of days.
NHL 08 Playoffs
Moderators: Bill_Abner, ScoopBrady
Looking forward to watching how things pan out. Biron has been very tough of late...great time to get hot!
Best possible matchup for the flyers. I don't think the Flyers were capable of beating the Habs, Pens or Devils, but have a great chance against the Caps. Depends on which Flyers team shows up for the series as they have been so up and down this year.
The best part however is that I can work on getting some tickets for the games in DC!
The best part however is that I can work on getting some tickets for the games in DC!
-
ScoopBrady
- DSP-Funk All-Star
- Posts: 7781
- Joined: Sun Aug 17, 2003 3:00 am
- Location: Chicago, Illinois
Lots of good series in the opening round.
Eastern Conference
Montreal vs Boston
Isn't it nice to see a good team out of Montreal this season?
Pittsburgh vs Ottawa
Ottawa is slumping at the wrong time and the kids are ready to take that next step.
Washington vs Philadelphia
It's time for Alexander the Great to shine in the playoffs.
New Jersey vs New York Rangers
This pick is purely from the heart. Go Devils. Atone for 94!
Western Conference
Detroit vs Nashville
Detroit wins this series easily.
San Jose vs Calgary
This could be the Sharks' year.
Minnesota vs Colorado
This is a pick-em in my opinion. Should be a close and entertaining series. I went with the team with home ice advantage.
Anaheim vs Dallas
Another pick-em in my opinion. I think Dallas is very capable of winning this series but the Ducks are champs until they get knocked off.
Eastern Conference
Montreal vs Boston
Isn't it nice to see a good team out of Montreal this season?
Pittsburgh vs Ottawa
Ottawa is slumping at the wrong time and the kids are ready to take that next step.
Washington vs Philadelphia
It's time for Alexander the Great to shine in the playoffs.
New Jersey vs New York Rangers
This pick is purely from the heart. Go Devils. Atone for 94!
Western Conference
Detroit vs Nashville
Detroit wins this series easily.
San Jose vs Calgary
This could be the Sharks' year.
Minnesota vs Colorado
This is a pick-em in my opinion. Should be a close and entertaining series. I went with the team with home ice advantage.
Anaheim vs Dallas
Another pick-em in my opinion. I think Dallas is very capable of winning this series but the Ducks are champs until they get knocked off.
I am a patient boy.
I wait, I wait, I wait, I wait.
My time is water down a drain.
I wait, I wait, I wait, I wait.
My time is water down a drain.
Here are my predictions for the first round. I have San Jose winning the whole thing this year, the addition of B. Campbell is that important to this team and if Joe Thornton and P. Marleau play the way they've been playing since the trade-deadline, no team from the East can stop them.
MON-BOS: The Habs owned Bos during the regular season 8-0, even without Saku Koivu they shoud take this series with ease. Montreal in 5.
PIT-OTT: I just didn't like how the Pens played their last game. Many have said they playes as to avoid those dangerous, umpredictable Flyers. Well, maybe there's some truth to it, but to be the best you got to beat everyone to be the best. Gary Roberts comes back at a perfect time and adds grit to a team that almost has it all. OTT is written off by many and without two key players, maybe so. But I have this feeling that this team will show up during this series and it'll be the battle of the keepers that will decide the series. Pittsburgh in 7.
WAS-PHI: Everyone's favourite Cinderella team surprised many when they made it to the playoffs. They're a fun team to watch, lots of skill, but the more experienced Flyers team will advance. My heart says Caps but in the end it will be Philadelphia in 6.
NJ-NYR: Perhaps the toughest series to pick in the East. Rangers owned the Devils during regular season but we all know how Marty Brodeur changes things during this time of the year. I think in the end S. Gomez will make a difference for his former team. New York in 7.
DET-NAS: No one respects the Wings anymore as much as in the past, maybe because of the division they play in, but I think that's fine for this team. They had a great run last year when everyone was ready to write them off. They are just too much for the Preds. Detroit in 5.
SJ-CAL: The Flames will be very physical in your face type of Hockey and that's what they have to do with SJ. But Sharks have the personnel to match that toughness and are great in special teams, The lack of discipline will cost Cal the series. San Jose in 6.
MIN-COL: Flip a coin. But with the way Theodore has been playing, I think the Avs are ready for an upset here. Key additions in D and with Foppa healthy, they'll surprise the Wild. Colorado in 7.
ANA-DAL: The SC Champs have pretty much the same team that won it all last year. What's not to like? Their top D will be too much for the Stars, even with the addition of B. Richards. They may advance to the next round if they played another team but ANA is tough and Turco will have to duplicate his performance of last years. (He's been shaky lately).
They also miss dearly S. Zhubov.
ANA in 6.
MON-BOS: The Habs owned Bos during the regular season 8-0, even without Saku Koivu they shoud take this series with ease. Montreal in 5.
PIT-OTT: I just didn't like how the Pens played their last game. Many have said they playes as to avoid those dangerous, umpredictable Flyers. Well, maybe there's some truth to it, but to be the best you got to beat everyone to be the best. Gary Roberts comes back at a perfect time and adds grit to a team that almost has it all. OTT is written off by many and without two key players, maybe so. But I have this feeling that this team will show up during this series and it'll be the battle of the keepers that will decide the series. Pittsburgh in 7.
WAS-PHI: Everyone's favourite Cinderella team surprised many when they made it to the playoffs. They're a fun team to watch, lots of skill, but the more experienced Flyers team will advance. My heart says Caps but in the end it will be Philadelphia in 6.
NJ-NYR: Perhaps the toughest series to pick in the East. Rangers owned the Devils during regular season but we all know how Marty Brodeur changes things during this time of the year. I think in the end S. Gomez will make a difference for his former team. New York in 7.
DET-NAS: No one respects the Wings anymore as much as in the past, maybe because of the division they play in, but I think that's fine for this team. They had a great run last year when everyone was ready to write them off. They are just too much for the Preds. Detroit in 5.
SJ-CAL: The Flames will be very physical in your face type of Hockey and that's what they have to do with SJ. But Sharks have the personnel to match that toughness and are great in special teams, The lack of discipline will cost Cal the series. San Jose in 6.
MIN-COL: Flip a coin. But with the way Theodore has been playing, I think the Avs are ready for an upset here. Key additions in D and with Foppa healthy, they'll surprise the Wild. Colorado in 7.
ANA-DAL: The SC Champs have pretty much the same team that won it all last year. What's not to like? Their top D will be too much for the Stars, even with the addition of B. Richards. They may advance to the next round if they played another team but ANA is tough and Turco will have to duplicate his performance of last years. (He's been shaky lately).
They also miss dearly S. Zhubov.
ANA in 6.
-
pk500
- DSP-Funk All-Star
- Posts: 33872
- Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2002 3:00 am
- Location: Syracuse, N.Y.
- Contact:
First-round picks:
Montreal vs. Boston: This one will be much closer than people think. Habs will miss Koivu, and Thomas is a "Las Vegas goalie" right now, as Gary Green on the NHL Network said. He's very hot and could carry the B's, and I think he will. The pressure is enormous on Montreal from the media and the public, and this is my first-round upset special. Plus Claude Julien is vastly underrated as a coach, and you don't think he wants get a bit of revenge against his former employer? Boston in 7.
Pittsburgh vs Ottawa: A hot, healthy Penguins team against Team Turmoil that's missing about the only two guys on its roster with any stones, Alfie and Fisher? Pittsburgh in 5.
Washington vs Philadelphia: Washington has been fighting to earn a playoff spot since Boudreau took over early in the season, and the combination of Ovechkin and Huet will be too tough to stop. This will be a hard-fought series, but the Caps are Cinderella this year. Washington in 6.
New Jersey vs New York Rangers: No love lost between these two teams, but New Jersey has slumped a bit down the stretch, and Brodeur has looked mortal. Funny, the NYR's went for offense up front last summer by adding Drury and Gomez, but its unsung defense has allowed the second-fewest amount of goals either in the conference or league -- can't remember. I also like Renney in a coaching matchup against Sutter. Rangers in 7.
Detroit vs Nashville: Detroit's annual postseason collapse won't take place in this round. Detroit in 5.
San Jose vs Calgary: Yes, San Jose has been the hottest team in the league since the trade deadline, and Campbell has been a huge addition to the Sharks' blueline. But like Detroit, San Jose is bound for a collapse during the postseason. But it won't be in this round, yet Calgary's defensive system will give the Sharks more fits than most expect. Still, Calgary's pop-gun offense can't get it done. San Jose in 5.
Minnesota vs Colorado: The most interesting series of the first round because there are so many question marks. Can Colorado's geriatric unit stay healthy? Can Theodore stay hot? Can Minnesota continue to score? Can Backstrom lead the Wild from the net? This is a true coin-flip series, but I'll go with the Wild because they have home-ice advantage. Minnesota in 7.
Anaheim vs Dallas: It's funny: The Stars get Brad Richards at the deadline and go in the tank. This was a team that was threatening for the second-best record in the West six weeks ago and ended up fifth. Anaheim has size and experience, and the Ducks will get cranked up for the playoffs quickly. This one won't be as close as most think, especially as the Stars will miss Zubov. Anaheim in 5.
Drop the puck, baby! The best postseason tournament in any sport on planet Earth is about to begin!
Take care,
PK
Montreal vs. Boston: This one will be much closer than people think. Habs will miss Koivu, and Thomas is a "Las Vegas goalie" right now, as Gary Green on the NHL Network said. He's very hot and could carry the B's, and I think he will. The pressure is enormous on Montreal from the media and the public, and this is my first-round upset special. Plus Claude Julien is vastly underrated as a coach, and you don't think he wants get a bit of revenge against his former employer? Boston in 7.
Pittsburgh vs Ottawa: A hot, healthy Penguins team against Team Turmoil that's missing about the only two guys on its roster with any stones, Alfie and Fisher? Pittsburgh in 5.
Washington vs Philadelphia: Washington has been fighting to earn a playoff spot since Boudreau took over early in the season, and the combination of Ovechkin and Huet will be too tough to stop. This will be a hard-fought series, but the Caps are Cinderella this year. Washington in 6.
New Jersey vs New York Rangers: No love lost between these two teams, but New Jersey has slumped a bit down the stretch, and Brodeur has looked mortal. Funny, the NYR's went for offense up front last summer by adding Drury and Gomez, but its unsung defense has allowed the second-fewest amount of goals either in the conference or league -- can't remember. I also like Renney in a coaching matchup against Sutter. Rangers in 7.
Detroit vs Nashville: Detroit's annual postseason collapse won't take place in this round. Detroit in 5.
San Jose vs Calgary: Yes, San Jose has been the hottest team in the league since the trade deadline, and Campbell has been a huge addition to the Sharks' blueline. But like Detroit, San Jose is bound for a collapse during the postseason. But it won't be in this round, yet Calgary's defensive system will give the Sharks more fits than most expect. Still, Calgary's pop-gun offense can't get it done. San Jose in 5.
Minnesota vs Colorado: The most interesting series of the first round because there are so many question marks. Can Colorado's geriatric unit stay healthy? Can Theodore stay hot? Can Minnesota continue to score? Can Backstrom lead the Wild from the net? This is a true coin-flip series, but I'll go with the Wild because they have home-ice advantage. Minnesota in 7.
Anaheim vs Dallas: It's funny: The Stars get Brad Richards at the deadline and go in the tank. This was a team that was threatening for the second-best record in the West six weeks ago and ended up fifth. Anaheim has size and experience, and the Ducks will get cranked up for the playoffs quickly. This one won't be as close as most think, especially as the Stars will miss Zubov. Anaheim in 5.
Drop the puck, baby! The best postseason tournament in any sport on planet Earth is about to begin!
Take care,
PK
Last edited by pk500 on Tue Apr 08, 2008 9:39 am, edited 1 time in total.
"You know why I love boxers? I love them because they face fear. And they face it alone." - Nick Charles
"First on the throttle, last on the brakes." - @MotoGP Twitter signature
XBL Gamertag: pk4425
"First on the throttle, last on the brakes." - @MotoGP Twitter signature
XBL Gamertag: pk4425
I admittedly don't know much about the West this season, but here goes with my picks.
MTL v BOS - BOS in 7
I also see upset here. Boston isn't an overly impressive team, but they are the exactly kind of defense and goaltending first team that pulls of upsets in the first round. Montreal has owned Boston this year, which will make Montreal all the more shell-shocked if Thomas steals a game or two early in the season. Add to that the Bergeron return factor and Boston smells upset.
PIT v OTT - PIT in 5
Ottawa has been in freefall the last few months, and now they are without their heart and soul after Fisher and Alfie picked up injuries. Pens are the best team in the east IMO, and they cruise here.
WSH v PHL - PHL in 6
Everyone is (understandably) in love with Ovechkin and the Caps high-tempo forecheck, but the fact remains that this barely even qualified for the players thanks to 7 game winning streak against the NHL's worst division and 4 non-playoff teams. The Flyers 7-2-1 finish against the best division in hockey which includes 4 of the top 5 records in the east is more impressive. Flyers have been wildly up and down all season, but they are playing good hockey now, and are as healthy as they've been in a long time. The Flyers' large advantage in forward depth and physical game will throw of the green Caps.
NJ v NY - NJ in 7
Definitely the toughest series to call in the east, but I have to go with NJ. The Devils are a team built for the playoffs, and though NY has superior talent, this just isn't the Rangers year.
DET v NSH - DET in 5
Detroit certainly looks like the best team in the league, in the regular season anyway.
SJ v CGY - SJ in 6
Seems to me things have been clicking for the Sharks all year, and this could be their year.
MIN v COL - MIN in 7
Very tough series to call, but I'll go with the Wild
ANA v DAL - DAL in 6
The Ducks have been one of the best teams in the league since Selanne and Neidermayer came back, but these team struggles too much to score goals.
MTL v BOS - BOS in 7
I also see upset here. Boston isn't an overly impressive team, but they are the exactly kind of defense and goaltending first team that pulls of upsets in the first round. Montreal has owned Boston this year, which will make Montreal all the more shell-shocked if Thomas steals a game or two early in the season. Add to that the Bergeron return factor and Boston smells upset.
PIT v OTT - PIT in 5
Ottawa has been in freefall the last few months, and now they are without their heart and soul after Fisher and Alfie picked up injuries. Pens are the best team in the east IMO, and they cruise here.
WSH v PHL - PHL in 6
Everyone is (understandably) in love with Ovechkin and the Caps high-tempo forecheck, but the fact remains that this barely even qualified for the players thanks to 7 game winning streak against the NHL's worst division and 4 non-playoff teams. The Flyers 7-2-1 finish against the best division in hockey which includes 4 of the top 5 records in the east is more impressive. Flyers have been wildly up and down all season, but they are playing good hockey now, and are as healthy as they've been in a long time. The Flyers' large advantage in forward depth and physical game will throw of the green Caps.
NJ v NY - NJ in 7
Definitely the toughest series to call in the east, but I have to go with NJ. The Devils are a team built for the playoffs, and though NY has superior talent, this just isn't the Rangers year.
DET v NSH - DET in 5
Detroit certainly looks like the best team in the league, in the regular season anyway.
SJ v CGY - SJ in 6
Seems to me things have been clicking for the Sharks all year, and this could be their year.
MIN v COL - MIN in 7
Very tough series to call, but I'll go with the Wild
ANA v DAL - DAL in 6
The Ducks have been one of the best teams in the league since Selanne and Neidermayer came back, but these team struggles too much to score goals.
Flames brought their physical presence tonight and took game one. That's the way they have to play the Sharks to upset them in the series, Iginla and Kipper stole the show.
Some guys just bring their A game at this time of the year and Gary Roberts is just that type of guy.
Sean Avery was at his best pestful performance, this guy is the type of player that everyone loves to hate but every team would love to have on their roster. He's an UFA, I don't mind him in a Canuck uniform. I can only dream of the best pest line in the league: Avery-Kesler-Burrows, what a line that would be.
Minny-Col just gave us a glimpse of what a long series this will be. Another guy that shows up often in the playoffs: Joe Sakic.
Some guys just bring their A game at this time of the year and Gary Roberts is just that type of guy.
Sean Avery was at his best pestful performance, this guy is the type of player that everyone loves to hate but every team would love to have on their roster. He's an UFA, I don't mind him in a Canuck uniform. I can only dream of the best pest line in the league: Avery-Kesler-Burrows, what a line that would be.
Minny-Col just gave us a glimpse of what a long series this will be. Another guy that shows up often in the playoffs: Joe Sakic.
Well, to be fair, he had been playing a fine game until the miscue on the short-handed goal. Still that one was inexcusable and began the downward spiral that ended the game. The bottom line is the Devils haven't displayed the finishing ability to buy Brodeur room for anything less than a stellar performance. The good news is they had a lot more quality chances and spent more time on the attck than in recent games. But if they don't discover some semblance of a scoring touch, this series could get ugly in a hurry.Naples39 wrote:All I can say is Brodeur, what the hell are you doing?
SJ evens the series and the score would have been higher if it wasn't for Kiprusoff. Nabokov wasn't as busy but he stole a couple of good chances from CAL. Flames will have to bring their physical intensity up, they were outplayed in both games yet the series is 1-1.
ANA will have to be more disciplined in game two, based on tonight's game, this is going to be one physical series.
ANA will have to be more disciplined in game two, based on tonight's game, this is going to be one physical series.
The Flyers weak defense killed them tonight. Modry was -4 and Kukkonen made a terrible mistake that led to the winning goal.
It didn't help that Thoresen got badly injured blocking a shot during a Caps powerplay. The refs let the play continue as he lay on the ice and Washington scored on what had become a 5 on 3.
It didn't help that Thoresen got badly injured blocking a shot during a Caps powerplay. The refs let the play continue as he lay on the ice and Washington scored on what had become a 5 on 3.
I was at the game tonight. Those last two goals were pretty tough to swallow. The Thoresen play should've been blown dead, as players on both teams stopped skating when they saw him writhing in pain. The fact that the Caps scored a game-changing goal seconds later when everyone the ice was looking around is a farce.Feanor wrote:The Flyers weak defense killed them tonight. Modry was -4 and Kukkonen made a terrible mistake that led to the winning goal.
It didn't help that Thoresen got badly injured blocking a shot during a Caps powerplay. The refs let the play continue as he lay on the ice and Washington scored on what had become a 5 on 3.
Also, what the hell was Kukkonen thinking? He essentially passed the puck right to Ovechkin in the defensive zone when under no pressure. I think that was probably the last pass Kukkonen will ever make in a Flyers uniform.
Modry has been downright terrible since we traded for him too. The guy is now -15 in 20 games since joining the Flyers. I can't believe I'm saying this, but put Randy Jones in the lineup!
I know that's the rule in general, but don't they often blow it dead for particularly bad injuries? I'm hearing that Thoresen might require surgery to have a testicle removed.10spro wrote:The Thoresen injury was a tough break, but according to the rules the only way the refs would have blown the whistle was if a Flyer touched the puck, which of course nobody did.
Both teams better tighten up their D's for game two.
Injuries happen and you have to deal, but it just bothers me because the players for both teams stopped skating for a second assuming the play was going to be stopped. Then the Caps realized nothing was going to be called and shot and scored the game-tying goal. Pretty maddening.
If it was just the Flyers stopping that's one thing, but it looked to me that even the Caps stopped momentarily.
http://www.nhl.com/hockeyu/rulebook/rule18.html
Thoresen's lucky that the Caps scored pretty quickly after his injury. They could have been passing the puck around for another minute or more while he was down hurt. Actually, the NHL is pretty lucky, too.
It was obvious that Thoresen had sustained a serious injury but since the NHL used the word "may" instead of "shall", the refs can do whatever they want. If that was Ovechkin down on the ice in agony, I think the whistle blows immediately.When a player is injured so that he cannot continue play or go to his bench, the play shall not be stopped until the injured player's Team has secured possession of the puck; if the player's Team is in possession of the puck at the time of injury, play shall be stopped immediately unless his Team is in a scoring position.
(NOTE) In the case where it is obvious that a player has sustained a serious injury, the Referee and/or Linesman may stop the play immediately.
Thoresen's lucky that the Caps scored pretty quickly after his injury. They could have been passing the puck around for another minute or more while he was down hurt. Actually, the NHL is pretty lucky, too.
-
pk500
- DSP-Funk All-Star
- Posts: 33872
- Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2002 3:00 am
- Location: Syracuse, N.Y.
- Contact:
Poor Thor. If that guy had as much talent as heart when he was with the Oil, he would have been the second coming of Jari Kurri. A really hard worker.
What a coming-out party for No. 8.
I think golf courses in northern New Jersey received an influx of calls from young men about to have the rest of the spring off. Either that, or some expensive cottages in the Muskoka area of Georgian Bay or the Whistler area of British Columbia will open early this spring ...
And so long, Ottawa. As if the Sens' continued collapse is a surprise to anyone.
I predict a nasty, mean-spirited game tonight between Dallas and Anaheim. Can't wait.
Take care,
PK
What a coming-out party for No. 8.
I think golf courses in northern New Jersey received an influx of calls from young men about to have the rest of the spring off. Either that, or some expensive cottages in the Muskoka area of Georgian Bay or the Whistler area of British Columbia will open early this spring ...
And so long, Ottawa. As if the Sens' continued collapse is a surprise to anyone.
I predict a nasty, mean-spirited game tonight between Dallas and Anaheim. Can't wait.
Take care,
PK
"You know why I love boxers? I love them because they face fear. And they face it alone." - Nick Charles
"First on the throttle, last on the brakes." - @MotoGP Twitter signature
XBL Gamertag: pk4425
"First on the throttle, last on the brakes." - @MotoGP Twitter signature
XBL Gamertag: pk4425