Thursday, April 20, 2006
Playoffs - how I've waited for thee!!
Seeing as most of my colleagues are doing the same, I think it's high time I mentioned my picks for the Stanley Cup.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
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QUARTER FINALS
(1) Ottawa vs. (8) Tampa Bay - I think this series will be a lot closer than the season series would indicate. If Tampa's goalies can contain the Sens, look for it to go to 7.
Pick: Senators in 5
(2) Carolina vs. (7) Montreal - Carolina's got Montreal's number, and I don't know if I can see that changing here. Granted, the loss of Eric Cole is a huge one for Carolina. Still, Montreal needs to figure out just who their number one goalie is before they can make too much progress.
Pick: Carolina in 6
(3) New Jersey vs. (6) New York - Jersey's got to be considered the hottest team coming into these playoffs from either conference. When Brodeur is on, he is unbeatable. Also, the EGG line looks really really REALLY damned good. Watch for Jagr to be strong, but not enough for the whole team to ride.
Pick: Jersey in 5
(4) Buffalo vs. (5) Philadelphia - Buffalo was marginally more of a surprise than New York in terms of their positioning this year. Nobody picked them to be as high as they are in the standings. Philadelphia, meanwhile, has a TON of pressure to win. This team was stacked with the likes of Forsberg, Rathje and Hatcher. Having seen what Philly does under pressure, and with a minor goaltending controversy brewing, I'm not optimistic for their chances.
Pick: Buffalo in 6
EAST SEMIS
(1) Ottawa vs. (4) Buffalo - This will be much closer for the Sens than the Tampa Series, but they're different this year. Hasek could be back by the Semis, and if so, that's a huge advantage for the Sens.
Pick: Senators in 7
(2) Carolina vs. (3) New Jersey - This is as much of a crapshoot as I can think of. Depending on how the series with New York goes, I think Jersey has the marginal edge.
Pick: New Jersey in 7
EAST FINAL
(1) Ottawa vs. (3) New Jersey - gotta go with the boys!!
Pick: Senators in 6
WESTERN CONFERENCE
==================
QUARTER FINALS
(1) Detroit vs. (8) Edmonton - Edmonton's got lots of confidence, and that's a really important x-factor in the playoffs. However, Detroit is one of the scariest teams I've ever seen, and they won't falter.
Pick: Detroit in 6
(2) Dallas vs. (7) Colorado - Dallas has been overlooked this year by the fact that Detroit's been beating the snot out of everyone in the West. The Stars have got a very strong team, and I don't think Theodore's got his confidence back yet.
Pick: Dallas in 6
(3) Calgary vs. (6) Anaheim - Does Giguere have the magic he did a few years back? Will it matter when Kiprusoff is in the other net? To both questions, the answer is "I don't think so."
Pick: Calgary in 5
(4) Nashville vs. (5) San Jose - This is the only upset I'm predicting, which means it'll be the only one not to happen. Thornton and Cheechoo are playing like they're possessed, and the loss of Vokoun does not spell happy times for Nashville ahead.
Pick: San Jose in 5
WEST SEMIS
(1) Detroit vs. (5) San Jose - Detroit will solve San Jose's top scoring duo, and will make Vesa Toskala look really bad in the process.
Pick: Detroit in 4
(2) Dallas vs. (3) Calgary - The fact that the playoffs don't have a shootout hurts the Stars as Jussi Jokinen is the master in that regards. Calgary is still going ot be hungry after last season's letdown.
Pick: Calgary in 6
WEST FINAL
(1) Detroit vs. (3) Calgary - Red vs. Red. All bets are off for this one, but I like the idea of a Canadian team bringing the cup north of the border.
Pick: Calgary in 7
STANLEY CUP FINAL
(1E) Ottawa vs. (3W) Calgary - Get ready for the shit to hit the fan. This would be one of the most exciting matchups I can imagine, and I really hope it comes to fruition. It would be fast, hard hitting, hard shooting, and both teams have stellar goaltending (if Hasek can play). I'm a believer, and I still think this is the Sens year.
Pick: Senators win the Stanley Cup in 6 games
There you have it. Lampoon it all you wish.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
==================
QUARTER FINALS
(1) Ottawa vs. (8) Tampa Bay - I think this series will be a lot closer than the season series would indicate. If Tampa's goalies can contain the Sens, look for it to go to 7.
Pick: Senators in 5
(2) Carolina vs. (7) Montreal - Carolina's got Montreal's number, and I don't know if I can see that changing here. Granted, the loss of Eric Cole is a huge one for Carolina. Still, Montreal needs to figure out just who their number one goalie is before they can make too much progress.
Pick: Carolina in 6
(3) New Jersey vs. (6) New York - Jersey's got to be considered the hottest team coming into these playoffs from either conference. When Brodeur is on, he is unbeatable. Also, the EGG line looks really really REALLY damned good. Watch for Jagr to be strong, but not enough for the whole team to ride.
Pick: Jersey in 5
(4) Buffalo vs. (5) Philadelphia - Buffalo was marginally more of a surprise than New York in terms of their positioning this year. Nobody picked them to be as high as they are in the standings. Philadelphia, meanwhile, has a TON of pressure to win. This team was stacked with the likes of Forsberg, Rathje and Hatcher. Having seen what Philly does under pressure, and with a minor goaltending controversy brewing, I'm not optimistic for their chances.
Pick: Buffalo in 6
EAST SEMIS
(1) Ottawa vs. (4) Buffalo - This will be much closer for the Sens than the Tampa Series, but they're different this year. Hasek could be back by the Semis, and if so, that's a huge advantage for the Sens.
Pick: Senators in 7
(2) Carolina vs. (3) New Jersey - This is as much of a crapshoot as I can think of. Depending on how the series with New York goes, I think Jersey has the marginal edge.
Pick: New Jersey in 7
EAST FINAL
(1) Ottawa vs. (3) New Jersey - gotta go with the boys!!
Pick: Senators in 6
WESTERN CONFERENCE
==================
QUARTER FINALS
(1) Detroit vs. (8) Edmonton - Edmonton's got lots of confidence, and that's a really important x-factor in the playoffs. However, Detroit is one of the scariest teams I've ever seen, and they won't falter.
Pick: Detroit in 6
(2) Dallas vs. (7) Colorado - Dallas has been overlooked this year by the fact that Detroit's been beating the snot out of everyone in the West. The Stars have got a very strong team, and I don't think Theodore's got his confidence back yet.
Pick: Dallas in 6
(3) Calgary vs. (6) Anaheim - Does Giguere have the magic he did a few years back? Will it matter when Kiprusoff is in the other net? To both questions, the answer is "I don't think so."
Pick: Calgary in 5
(4) Nashville vs. (5) San Jose - This is the only upset I'm predicting, which means it'll be the only one not to happen. Thornton and Cheechoo are playing like they're possessed, and the loss of Vokoun does not spell happy times for Nashville ahead.
Pick: San Jose in 5
WEST SEMIS
(1) Detroit vs. (5) San Jose - Detroit will solve San Jose's top scoring duo, and will make Vesa Toskala look really bad in the process.
Pick: Detroit in 4
(2) Dallas vs. (3) Calgary - The fact that the playoffs don't have a shootout hurts the Stars as Jussi Jokinen is the master in that regards. Calgary is still going ot be hungry after last season's letdown.
Pick: Calgary in 6
WEST FINAL
(1) Detroit vs. (3) Calgary - Red vs. Red. All bets are off for this one, but I like the idea of a Canadian team bringing the cup north of the border.
Pick: Calgary in 7
STANLEY CUP FINAL
(1E) Ottawa vs. (3W) Calgary - Get ready for the shit to hit the fan. This would be one of the most exciting matchups I can imagine, and I really hope it comes to fruition. It would be fast, hard hitting, hard shooting, and both teams have stellar goaltending (if Hasek can play). I'm a believer, and I still think this is the Sens year.
Pick: Senators win the Stanley Cup in 6 games
There you have it. Lampoon it all you wish.
Comments:
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HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
No, seriously: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Buffalo over Philadelphia? YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING!
As for Ottawa winning the Cup, it could happen. Then again, Tampa could win the East and I wouldn't blink twice.
No, seriously: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Buffalo over Philadelphia? YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING!
As for Ottawa winning the Cup, it could happen. Then again, Tampa could win the East and I wouldn't blink twice.
I'm gonna call a Dallas sweep, and say that if the Sens don't get Hasek back by the end of round 2, they are going to see the old confidence problem sink them. But I'm a Leafs fan.
I agree with the Buffalo call, btw, but I think it'd be more likely if they met in like the 3rd round or something (intangables- just try and debate those!)
I agree with the Buffalo call, btw, but I think it'd be more likely if they met in like the 3rd round or something (intangables- just try and debate those!)
Wow, "Senators in 7" is a funny way to spell "asses kicked swiftly by Buffalo in the second round". At least the Flyers managed to win a couple games and go out in a dignified six gamer, where they managed to win a time or two at home. But hey, at least the Sens were beaten by the best. You show me a team that could slow down the awesome power of...Henrik Tallinder and Jason Pominville? Yikes.
# posted by 
: 2:19 p.m.
: 2:19 p.m.
Meh, better to get ones asses kicked in the second round than to submit to the furious attack of Tallinder and Pominville in the first round.
You want chokers, look at the Flyers from the Top Office down.
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You want chokers, look at the Flyers from the Top Office down.
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