NHL PLAYOFFS - 2008

Minnesota Mike · #1 04-07-2008, 08:50 AM

Well it's that time of year again. The long grind of the NHL season is finally over and anyone paying attention gets treated to the best hockey anywhere - the NHL Playoffs.

Here is my breakdown and my predictions.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

#1 Montreal vs. #8 Boston

I don't think Boston can keep up with either the speed or the strength of Montreal.
Habs in 5.

#2 Pittsburgh vs. #7 Ottawa
The Sens incredible free-fall finally comes to a merciful end when they get swept by Malkin and the Pens.
Pens in 4.

#3 Washington vs. #6 Philly
This should be a pretty tight match up. Maybe the best of the first round. I'll take the hot Caps over the almost as hot F-ers.
Caps in 7.

#4 New Jersey vs. #5 New York Rangers
If I look at this purely based on play over the last couple of weeks, and head to head play over the season, I would have to give the Rags the nod here. The Devils haven't been able to score lately and lost 7 of the 8 games they played against the Rags this season.
Devils in 7.

I think when it is all said and done, the Habs will take the Conference and go to the Cup finals.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

#1 Detroit vs #8 Nashville
Detroit in 5.

#2 San Jose vs. #7 Calgary
I am still not a believer in the Sharks. I have watched a number of their games this season, and other than Nabakov and Thornton, I'm not impressed. I'll go with the upset here -
Flames in 6.

#3 Minnesota vs. #6 Colorado
The Wild lucked out with this match-up. I probably would have gone against them if they were playing any other playoff team except the Avs. I think the Wild will survive this one.
Wild in 6.

#4 Anahiem vs. #5 Dallas
This comes down to Turco. Last year against Van, he finally showed that he could play some good playoff hockey. If he does that again, this could be a tight series. Otherwise the Ducks should dominate.
Ducks in 5.

Western Conference Champs should again be the Ducks.

CUP FINAL
Habs vs Ducks
The Ducks once again travel north to Canada and disappoint an entire nation by bringing the Cup back to southern California. (Of course the irony of this is that the team Anahiem puts on the ice is more Canadian than the Canadiens - just like with the Sens last year.)

DROP THE PUCK ALREADY. I hate the two days off between the end of the Reg Season and the Playoffs.

skinfan43 · #2 04-08-2008, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minnesota Mike

Well it's that time of year again. The long grind of the NHL season is finally over and anyone paying attention gets treated to the best hockey anywhere - the NHL Playoffs.

Here is my breakdown and my predictions.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

#1 Montreal vs. #8 Boston

I don't think Boston can keep up with either the speed or the strength of Montreal.
Habs in 5.

#2 Pittsburgh vs. #7 Ottawa
The Sens incredible free-fall finally comes to a merciful end when they get swept by Malkin and the Pens.
Pens in 4.

#3 Washington vs. #6 Philly
This should be a pretty tight match up. Maybe the best of the first round. I'll take the hot Caps over the almost as hot F-ers.
Caps in 7.

#4 New Jersey vs. #5 New York Rangers
If I look at this purely based on play over the last couple of weeks, and head to head play over the season, I would have to give the Rags the nod here. The Devils haven't been able to score lately and lost 7 of the 8 games they played against the Rags this season.
Devils in 7.

I think when it is all said and done, the Habs will take the Conference and go to the Cup finals.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

#1 Detroit vs #8 Nashville
Detroit in 5.

#2 San Jose vs. #7 Calgary
I am still not a believer in the Sharks. I have watched a number of their games this season, and other than Nabakov and Thornton, I'm not impressed. I'll go with the upset here -
Flames in 6.

#3 Minnesota vs. #6 Colorado
The Wild lucked out with this match-up. I probably would have gone against them if they were playing any other playoff team except the Avs. I think the Wild will survive this one.
Wild in 6.

#4 Anahiem vs. #5 Dallas
This comes down to Turco. Last year against Van, he finally showed that he could play some good playoff hockey. If he does that again, this could be a tight series. Otherwise the Ducks should dominate.
Ducks in 5.

Western Conference Champs should again be the Ducks.

CUP FINAL
Habs vs Ducks
The Ducks once again travel north to Canada and disappoint an entire nation by bringing the Cup back to southern California. (Of course the irony of this is that the team Anahiem puts on the ice is more Canadian than the Canadiens - just like with the Sens last year.)

DROP THE PUCK ALREADY. I hate the two days off between the end of the Reg Season and the Playoffs.

Saw those predictions comin, Mike...lol...
Did the Devildogs win a single game against the Rags this season? Hmmm...Rangers win the series, 4-2 IMO.
Flyers won both games in DC this season, Biron is on fire at the perfect time, the team is almost completely healthy and about to get Hatcher back as well, and has far more depth than the Craps, IMO. Ovech is amazing, but I'll take the Flyers to win the series 4-2.

Fathead · #3 04-08-2008, 02:32 PM

Go Pens!

Minnesota Mike · #4 04-08-2008, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skinfan43

Saw those predictions comin, Mike...lol...
Did the Devildogs win a single game against the Rags this season? Hmmm...Rangers win the series, 4-2 IMO.
Flyers won both games in DC this season, Biron is on fire at the perfect time, the team is almost completely healthy and about to get Hatcher back as well, and has far more depth than the Craps, IMO. Ovech is amazing, but I'll take the Flyers to win the series 4-2.

The Devils one won game against the Rags, but it was the most recent one. The one that determined home ice for the series. Obviously, I don't have a whole lot of confidence in that prediction. In fact it is really more of a hope than an expectation.

Biron has been hot, but so has "Hip-Hop Huet". And seriously, you know I could never actually pick the Orange and Black!

skinfan43 · #5 04-08-2008, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minnesota Mike

The Devils one won game against the Rags, but it was the most recent one. The one that determined home ice for the series. Obviously, I don't have a whole lot of confidence in that prediction. In fact it is really more of a hope than an expectation.

Biron has been hot, but so has "Hip-Hop Huet". And seriously, you know I could never actually pick the Orange and Black!

Absolutely...ditto on your Satans;-)
Your series should be a helluva brawl, however...look forward to both teams beating the snot out of each other. Plus someone will be going home as well, so it's a win/win for myself, lol.
Good luck unless we square off

Minnesota Mike · #6 04-09-2008, 11:49 AM

I think I want to alter my Wlid/Avs pick. Up above I said Wild in 6. I want to change that to Avs in 7. Since that prediction, the Wild have announced that one of their top D-men Nick Schultz had an emergency appendectomy and would at least this series. That coupled with the fact that one of their other top 4 D-men Kurtis Foster is already out with a broken leg, leaves them a bit thin on the blue line. That spells trouble for them against the Avs.

At least the games finally start tonight! I actually had to resort to watching college basketball (both Men and Women)the past two nights, just to get through the lack of hockey. It was horrible.

DROP THE PUCK!!!

HOF 08 · #7 04-09-2008, 10:13 PM

I like the Caps in 5 and also advancing to conference finals.

Minnesota Mike · #8 04-09-2008, 11:44 PM

I know we are only 4 games in, but I'm pretty happy with my predictions so far.

The Pens dominated the Sens.

The Devils don't score and the Devils don't win.

The Wild and Avs play a tight one.

Calgary goes up on SJ.

Minnesota Mike · #9 04-13-2008, 04:10 PM

Each series is two games in now and some of my predictions are looking good, and some not so good.

EAST
Mtl is up 2-0 on Boston. Picking Mtl in 5 might have been a bit optimistic for Boston. Maybe they will show some heart and hold one at home.

Pens are up 2-0 over the Sens. My sweep prediction is right on course.

Was and Phi tied 1-1. I thought this would go the distance, and it looks like it very easily could.

NYR up 2-0 over the Devils. If the Devs are going to get back in this, they better start getting pucks past King Henrik.

WEST
Det up 2-0 over Nashville. This should be over soon.

Calgary and SJ tied 1-1. The Flames got one on the road and look good. I feel good about this one.

Wild and Avs tied 1-1. Two tough overtime games.

Stars up 2-0 over Ducks. This one makes me look bad. I had faith in the Ducks and none in Turco. It looks like I'm wrong on both counts - so far.

skinfan43 · #10 04-14-2008, 12:51 AM

Huge shutout for "Beer On!"

If he continues that type of netminding, and the Flyers neutralize the MVP like they have been, we can take 'em.

Actually think the DevilDogs will win #3...game 4 will be a seriously nasty battle, however.

And the Stars haven't won the series yet though... somehow I smell a Ducks comeback...but if I could care less if I'm wrong, they aint MY team, lol

Minnesota Mike · #11 04-17-2008, 11:51 AM

Pens swept the Sens in 4 straight.

- I believe had that one correct.

Some of the others aren't looking so good at the moment, however.

BostonSkins · #12 04-19-2008, 09:14 PM

I hope someone, anyone of you saw the B's - Habs game tonight. It was one of the best sporting events I've ever seen. There were 6 goals scored in the 3rd period!!!!

skinfan43 · #13 04-20-2008, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BostonSkins

I hope someone, anyone of you saw the B's - Habs game tonight. It was one of the best sporting events I've ever seen. There were 6 goals scored in the 3rd period!!!!

I'm assuming you're a Eww-ins fan BS, so big congrats on evening it up, big stones for your team, big stones. Didn't see the game but saw the highlights, CRAZY 3rd!! I'm a Flyers fan and gearing up for our Monday night Game 6 w/the Craps...

Minnesota Mike · #14 04-20-2008, 01:24 PM

So far 3 series are over and the two I picked with my head, I got right. The one I picked with my heart, I got wrong - but if I picked it with my head, I would have been right.

The Devils continued their poor play and just couldn't solve the Rangers. Lundquist played better than Broduer. And almost every mistake the Devils made ended up in the net. (And for what it's worth, I have no problem with Marty NOT shaking Avery's hand in the post game handshake line.)

The Wild came up short against the Avs. They were too thin on the blue line and had no answer for Jose Theodore. The Slovakian Sisters (Demitra and Gaborik) pulled a disappearing act that Houdini himself would have been proud of. Over the course of the six games the Wild had the lead for a total of 4 and half minutes. The Avs led for 199 minutes.

skinfan43 · #15 04-23-2008, 10:40 AM

How 'bout them Flyers, Mike!!
I know you're thrilled, lol;-)
Seriously, I'm proud as hell...going from an NHL-worst 56 points last season to 95 and a spot in the Eastern Semi-Finals this season? Great stuff...Flyers GM Paul Holmgren was brilliant in acquiring Briere, Timmonen, Lupul, and Hartnell, trading Zhitnik for Braydon Coburn, re-signing Biron, and picking up Prospal at the trade deadline (a key move that's catapulted Briere's game, IMO).
Definitely concerned with the Habs tomorrow night, but it's the Playoffs, and anything can happen...just happy the season's still on!
LET'S GO FLYERS!!