NHL Playoffs, Round One!

[MulhorandSage]

Well it's that time of year again. Time for predictions.

Western Conference
Calgary Flames vs Vancouver Canucks
Canucks in 7. Both teams are hot, and Calgary may have the hottest goalie in the league, and the Canucks aren't the same without Bert. But they're just starting to surge now.

Nashville Predators vs Detroit Red Wings
Possibly the best series of the first round. The Preds are young and have tons of heart, but the Wings have beaten such teams before. Detroit in 6.

St.Louis Blues vs San Jose Sharks
Blues in 6.

Dallas Stars vs Colorado Avalanche
The Avs are slumping, but they're still the Avs. 7 great games.

Eastern Conference
NY Isles vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay in 4.

Montreal Canadiens vs Boston Bruins
Montreal in 6.

Ottawa Senators vs Toronto Maple Leafs
Leafs in 6 *very* ugly games.

New Jersey Devils vs Philly Flyers
New Jersey in 6.

 

[Nightfall]

Western Conference:

Avs in 7 (if they can get scoring) Dallas in 5 (if the Avs can't.)

Canucks in 6

San Jose in 7

Detriot in 6

East:

Bolts in 5

Bruins in 6

Leafs in 7

Flyers in 7 (god help em.)

 

[DMScott]

East:
Leafs in 7
Islanders in 6
Devils in 7
Bruins in 7

West:

Flames in 6
Avalanche in 7
Red Wings in 5
Blues in 6

The east will be brutal this year, whoever makes it out (by 'whoever' I mean the Leafs, of course) will likely have played three tough series, the western champ will likely be in much better shape.

 

[Nightfall]

Only a little better shape in the West. If two of top seeds make it out, It's still a Battle for Detriot, unlike say if San Jose plays Vancouver. (Though I'm sure that will be tough.)

 

[Nightfall]

Well so far I'm being proven right.

 

[Welverin]

Geez, I disappear for a little while and everyone stops talking hockey, what's wrong with you people?

Anyway, so the Isles are gone now, no big surprise there, as well as the Blues, shouldn't be a surprise, but based on the picks here and how the announcers talk it would seem that it is to a fair number of people.

The Stars and Devils are in real trouble and could be joining the Blues and Isles later today.

That's it from me now, discuss!

 

[Uller]

Anyway, so the Isles are gone now, no big surprise there...

No, but since all the "important" series were on today and the Isles played last night I actually got to watch them play for once (a rarity for any Isles fan outside NYC). It seems like ESPN is the Detroit/Philly/Colorado/NJ channel (well...now sans NJ after today )

I got my old Islanders jersey out and everything...complete with blood stains from pond games of my misspent youth.

If you didn't see the game last night, there was some wierdness. The Isles first goal was missed by the goal judge and Koharski waved it off for some reason even though it was very clearly a goal. Play went on for another two minutes. When they finally got a whistle, the goal was reviewed and awarded to them. A few minutes later, the Islander's goalie sat on the puck but Koharski called it a goal. But it was also reviewed and then taken away. It was a good game. Even though TB had the best record in the East, I just don't see them as real contenders...too young, too inexperienced. I don't think they stand a chance against a team like Philly or Toronto.

 

[Teflon Billy]

I'm a Canucks fan, but I want to take a moment to thank the Philidelphia Flyers for eliminating the graceless, unexciting, do-it-cheaply-as-possible New Jersey Devils from the playoffs and ensuring that I won't have to watch them at any point from here on out.

THANKS PHILLY

 

[MulhorandSage]

I'm a Canucks fan, but I want to take a moment to thank the Philidelphia Flyers for eliminating the graceless, unexciting, do-it-cheaply-as-possible New Jersey Devils from the playoffs and ensuring that I won't have to watch them at any point from here on out.

THANKS PHILLY
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Agreed, TB

And wasn't that just an unbelievable Calgary-Vancouver game tonight? Whoo!

Scott Bennie

 

[Teflon Billy]

Agreed, TB

And wasn't that just an unbelievable Calgary-Vancouver game tonight? Whoo!

Scott Bennie

Well, It's not like we've never seen them snatch "near defeat" from the jaws of "certain victory" before

How the do you blow a four-goal lead in the playoffs?

You couldn't even blame rookie Goaltender Alex Auld...he was great!