Think the Dude will pick against the Flames? You'll have to read to find out.
Eastern Conference
Montreal (1) vs. Boston (8)
No one expects an underdog of this magnitude to win, and that's generally when it happens. That said, I'm not going to be the first clown to call for a Boston upset here. Should Patrice Bergeron return, he won't be much of a factor. He hasn't played a game in six months. Tim Thomas just gives up too many rebounds to steal this series, let alone win a game. The Habs power play seems almost fictional right now at 24 per cent, and has been that way for most of the season, so there is no reason to believe that it won't stay that way. The PP alone will be enough to beat a team they went 8-0 against during the regular season.
Habs in 4
Pittsburgh (2) vs. Ottawa (7)
Gonna go against the grain on this one. Based solely on the fact that the Penguins goaltending is terrible. Sure, Marc-Andre Fleury has been "better" of late, but he was 1-4 with a 3.76 GAA last year in the playoffs, and just ask an Oiler fan how they'd feel about relying on Ty Conklin to win a playoff series. Ottawa lit these guys up for 18 goals in four games in the regular season, so even without Alfie and Fisher, the Sens will score goals. The question is, whose goaltending will be worse? They will all be tested, we know that much. Perhaps the Senators will be forced into playing a more simple, defensive style with their first-line centre out of commission. Teams with far less talent have gone far by simplifying their game in the post-season. The Sens’ PK will be tested by Crosby and Co. without their three best penalty killers in Alfredsson, Fisher and Chris Kelly.
Sens in 7
Washington (3) vs. Philadelphia (6)
The Capitals are riding a wave of momentum like no other team right now. Similar to the one a young Anaheim Duck team road all the way to the Western Conference final in 2006. And Anaheim didn't have a 65-goal scorer on that team. Beyond Ovechkin is a tightly knit group of youngsters sprinkled with veterans like Tom Poti on the back end, and Olaf Kolzig and Cristobal Huet in the crease. And the feeling is that they could do some damage far beyond the first round. But you have to wonder how long until the bubble bursts. They've won 16 of 19 and if the clock strikes 12, the Flyers are ready to pounce with a PP that ranked second only to Montreal in the regular season at 22 per cent. Daniel Briere hasn't been worth $10M this year, but he seemed to be getting better as the season progressed, with points in 14 of his last 15 games. Martin Biron has never started a playoff game in his nine-year NHL career.
Flyers in 7
New Jersey (4) vs. N.Y. Rangers (5)
Did Marty Brodeur really lose to the Rangers seven times this year? Apparently he did. But four of those losses came in overtime and his 2.43 GAA versus New York wasn't exactly embarrassing. But are the Devils spooked? Hard to believe they aren't. The Devils come as advertised: a well balanced attack with four 20-goal scorers and an understated blue line led by the likes of Paul Martin and some dude named Johnny Oduya who finished the season with a plus-27 rating. There is NOTHING understated about the New York Rangers, except maybe the stats that belong to their highly paid, underachieving forwards. Jaromir Jagr finished the regular season with just 25 goals. Scott Gomez has two goals in his last 17 games. Despite the season-long power outage up front, the Rangers managed to generate offence from the back end. Henrik Lundqvist struggled early in the season, but has not allowed more than three goals in a game since mid-February.
Rangers in 7
Western Conference
Detroit (1) vs. Nashville (8)
One 40-goal man. Another with 30. And three more with 20 just for kicks. Add to that a blue line that includes one of the top 3 defencemen to ever play the game, and a goaltending duo with three Stanley cup rings between them, and it's hard to bet against these Detroit Red Wings. But I'm thinking about it. The Nashville Predators epitomize the word team right now with only two players averaging over 20 minutes of ice time, and none averaging more than 22. Yet despite the absence of a bona fide superstar up front, or a crafty minute muncher on the back end, the Predators managed to win five of their last seven to sneak into the dance. Nashville is well coached, disciplined, and they appear to be as confident as any team right now with an "us against the world" mentality. How does Detroit always seem to draw these teams in the first round?
Wings in 6
San Jose (2) vs. Calgary (7)
Evgeni Nabokov had a great regular season. No. A spectacular regular season. But if he wants to be considered among the NHL elite goaltenders, he needs to put a team on his back and carry them deep into the post-season. As in, the Stanley Cup final. And the reality is, that's the only way the Sharks are going to get there. Throw all the regular-season individual and team stats out there that you want, the fact is that, come playoff time, the San Jose Sharks always lose steam. Like clockwork, Patrick Marleau, Jonathan Cheechoo, Milan Michalek, and yes, even Big Joe all suffer simultaneous power outages at exactly the wrong time. Calgary hits as heavy as any team in the NHL and that will play a big factor. They took three of four regular-season meetings with San Jose, but the Flames were dogged by inconsistency much of the season, and finished that way, winning just two of their last five games. If it comes down to former teammates Nabokov vs. Kiprusoff, it could be fun.
Flames in 6
Minnesota (3) vs. Colorado (6)
If Peter Forsberg plays every game in this series I will eat my shorts. Hell, I'll eat Mike Toth's shorts too. The Avalanche seem to have all the right names, but whether they have the game is up for debate. Colorado's 28th-ranked PP will be put to the test in the playoffs, and it could be their undoing. Injuries were a concern all season on this team, so how exactly they will deal with the physicality of playoff hockey is anyone's guess, and their goaltending is average. It’s just hard to see the Avalanche carrying their minimal late-season momentum past the first round. Minnesota doesn’t appear ready to win a Stanley Cup either, but it won't take much to beat the Avs. Marian Gaborik finished with seven points in his last four games, Pavol Demitra had six. Niklas Backstrom won his last four starts, allowing just four goals in that span.
Wild in 4
Anaheim (4) vs. Dallas (5)
If the Anaheim Ducks repeat as Stanley Cup champions, the regression back to the "old" NHL is happening faster than we think. They've got the 3rd-worst offence in the NHL, boasting exactly one player with more than 55 points. They're also without their leading goal-getter in Corey Perry. But this is a team that put the "pro" in pro-rated, and Teemu's got 12 goals in 28 games since returning from his sabbatical. Dallas on the other hand is tough to figure out. They lost Sergei Zubov in mid-January, went 14-2 without him in February, then gave it all back, winning only twice in the entire month of March. Zubov isn't expected back for the first round, but it's time for Marty Turco to win a playoff series on his own. He's too good not to, and the Ducks are ripe for the picking.
Stars in 7
Wow, Who would have figured you'd pick Calgary to win?
Personally I'm wondering where your head is at but that's your opinion. There is no way Calgary is going to beat the Sharks. The Flames hit hard...but that's it. The Sharks are the most well rounded team in the league with maybe the exception of the Red Wings.
So, I just thought I'd point out that there is one prediction your GOING to be wrong about.
Try using your head instead of just blindly going with who you WANT to win.
Also want to ask...How do you think the Wild will sweep?
Hey McCormick,
Very reasonable picks, but i have to disagree on a few. habs, sens, i agree with both except habs will be a late round series, 5 or 6, while i think the sens will be done in 4-5. the penguins seem like a team destined to choke. Jersey and the caps will win both in 5-6 games. The caps are hot and jersey always seems to play good in the playoffs.
On to the important conference. Wings will win the series and win the cup. They have had a few injuries but they will be good to go in the playoffs. Hasek wont play very well, but i see another mvp in osgoods future, even though he's an old man. Sharks will be playing the wings in th west final edging out minnestoa. The wild are a good team. Very underrated. Dallas and aneheim series is up for grabs. Should be some great hockey.
ps - i met jen in pa this summer at a wedding. you too breifly. shes good people, really down to earth talkin sports and dutchy. tell her the guy wearing the garder around his head says whats up.
who needs joseph? go riders.
Oddly, the only series I really disagree with you strongly on is the Minny/Colorado series. I figure that will be a very close series as well, aside from that, the only other differences we've had are who wins 1 or 2 game 7s and in a game 7, anything can happen anyway.
P.S. Lidstrom top 3 dman of all-time? Ok at least you redeemed yourself by saying something completely RIDICULOUS *laughing* Thanks I needed that chuckle. (did you forget a digit? Like say, #30 all-time?)
Big dude, considering colorado's "average" goaltending was Jose Theodore having the 3rd best statistics in the league since January, and the PP clicking along just fine since Forsberg started playing, I will bet you $5000 that Minnesota doesn't win in 4 games. Five grand, answer this message and I promise I'll come through.
lol of all the sportsnet playoff blogs these picks have to be the most ridiculous of all. Granted anything can happen in the playoffs and maybe 2 weeks from now you'll be praised but that is highly unlikely. Besides for choosing the Rangers and Wings, I can't really agree with any of your choices. Also there are never this many series that go to 7 games so thats another thing i must disagree with.
Nahlsy...
What exactly are you smoking?
Lidstrom is about to win his 6th Norris trophy in 7 seasons.
Bobby Ore won 8 in a row until his knees gave out. Doug Harvey won 7 back in the 50's and 60's, and Bourque only managed 5. That puts Lidstrom 3rd all time, and if he plays another few years he could very likely pass them all.
Lidstrom's Career +/- is an ubelieveable +378 and he has never had a - season, and he logs as many or more minutes than anyone else in the league.
I'd love to know what criteria you use to put 27 guys ahead of him.
Bershire,way to go in the confidence department.You know the old saying,put your money where your mouth is.It is so easy to predict something when nothing is at stake.
Same thing as being a weather man.You can be wrong three times a week and still hold your job.What other jobs do you know of where you can make constant mistakes and still get paid besides a reporter,weather man and hockey player.
By the way, to make things fair,do you want to respond to this post and arrange to have me hold the five thousand until the results are in?LOL
Nahlsy - wow, either you dont know much about hockey or you just really hate lidstrom.
He's been so good for so many years that I don't even feel the need to defend him by stating his stellar point and +/- totals or name his numerous awards & stanley cups. Lidstrom is the QB for one of the most successful sports franchises ever, in any sport. He is definetly top 5, and the argument could be made for even #1 overall.
This is the only article I've read that predicts Ottawa will win vs the Pens. Not sure why everyone is expecting Pittsburgh to roll over the Sens. Ottawa has a lot more experience and grit, something that we all know is desperately needed in the postseason. Especially if it goes to 7 games, that would mean 2 of the 3 injured guys would be back in the lineup for sure.
I believe the Bs will steal one game, even though they were swept in the reg season, i do believe they will avoid the sweep in the playoffs
The Sens/Pens series is an interesting one, the longer the series is the advantage goes to Ottawa. But can Gerber really stop the Pens?
Caps are riding momentum just like the Rangers did last year. I do believe they will have the same fate as well, a 2nd round loss.
Rangers/Devils will be a low scoring 7 game series with the Rangers winning it.
Redwings will cruise past the Preds with the trio of Zetty/Pavel/Lidstrom
I wonder if sean remembers the last 2 playoff series for the flames. I think the word to describe it is...Choke! 7 game series vs. anaheim and in game 7 the played so poorly that their own fans boo'd them. Last year they were blown out on the road twice! Sure they are 3-1 against SJ this year but they never faced them with Campbell!
The Wild will be without both Foster AND Schultz, so the Avs will roll! Even if Forsberg gets injured they still have 6 capable scorers comapared to 1-2 in Minny. Its all up to Backstrom
Dallas will take Anaheim to 7 games but Pahlsson line will help the Ducks win game 7.
I don't see too much wrong with those picks...granted i could give a hoot about the east. i'm pretty sure colorado will take one or two from the wild, and as an oilers fan i'm hoping that stars can steal one from anaheim (i never thought i'd ever say that lol). As for Detroit, they did lose in the first round to a team with less talent than Nashville has now just a couple years ago, but they just look too good this year...and come on Nahlsy has Lidstrom burst your playoff team's bubble too much in the past? give your head a shake...As for the Flamers as long as Nabokov can stand his ground if Calgary (Iginla) generates and kind of offense, and the Sharks' top players don't s*** the bed, San Jose's got a rest between the first and second round. Maybe i'm biased (actually i probably am) but i'll definitely be laughing when Phaneuf has more to cry about than just the inadequacy of his manhood....
LOL,
I guess this, like your other blogs was meant to make us laugh
Flyers? Rangers? Wild? Flames..Stars??
Your hilarious man
East Quarter-Finals
1. MTL vs 8. BOS - MTL in 6
2. PIT vs 7. OTT - PIT in 4
3. WSH vs 6. PHI - WSH in 7
4. NJ vs 5. NYR - NJ in 5
West Quarter-Final
1. DET vs 8. NSH - DET in 7
2. SJ vs 7. CGY - SJ in 6
3. MIN vs 6. COL - COL in 6
4. ANA vs 5. DAL - ANA in 7
Looks like I was right McCormick! Double or nothing that Colorado wins a second game! Do you have 10 grand to put up?
All this jazz about Lidstrom being top three of all time....The stats presented..Lidstrom's Career +/- is an ubelieveable +378 and he has never had a - season, and he logs as many or more minutes than anyone else in the league.
The main thing to note here is that all of Lidstrom's minutes have come while playing for a top flight team. Pretty much his entire career his team has been a perennial Cup contender. Certainly his contributions have aided in that, but good +/- stats have been easier to come by playing with Detroit than almost any other team in the last decade +.
I'm thinking Orr, Coffey, Potvin, and I won't even get into the deep past of the NHL.
Give em a break. Do you really think that the flamers have what it takes to make it out of the first round. They are a two trick pony and if Kippersoff gets hurt or Iginla then the flames are hooped. Actually the flames are hooped. They limped into the playoffs ahead of many teams because they had more overtime losses then the rest of the league. All your other picks I can live with but for the flames who won like 2 of their last 6 games and the Sharks won like what 25 games with only a few loses sprinkled in in the last part of the season. Inconsistent my butt.
Bonkrr,
Is Lidstrom #3 all time? Probably not. But it's not completely out of line. Is he #30 all-time? Definitely not. I could not be convinced that he is outside the top 10. When you hear experts talking about the best players ever, the D-man names that usually surface are guys like Orr, Harvey, Shore, Robinson, Coffey, Bourque, Potvin, and Park. Given his 6 Norris Trophies (I'm assuming he's a lock this year), it's hard to think who else might arguably slide ahead of him. I'd certainly be hard pressed to think of 20 guys that are considered better. In my mind he is neck and neck with Bourque for the best in the last 20 years and he still has several good years ahead of him.