The NHL regular season is now over and despite the abysmal 2nd half of the season for my Avalanche, and the fact that they not only didn't make the playoffs but ended up with the 2nd worst record in hockey, I can not wait for the playoffs to begin. I've said it before and I'll say it again. There is nothing better in sports than playoff hockey. Take hockey, the greatest sport there is, then intensify it tenfold. It just can not be beat.
This year's playoffs feature matchups in the first round that only add to the excitement. Every round is going to have the potential for big series upsets and it is truly anyone's game to win as we begin things. Unlike the NBA where no 5-8 seed has ever made the conference finals, the NHL is a league where if you get in you have a chance. Last year the Flyers made it as an 8th seed on the final day of the regular season and made it to the cup finals. Who could be this year's Flyers? Only time will tell but here are my impressions on the first round as well as a prediction on how the playoffs this year will pan out.
We'll start of in the East and the Conference champion Washington Capitals. The Caps find themselves in a familiar position having home ice through the playoffs (in the East at least), however that didn't work out too well for them last year. After getting up on the Canadians they fell apart and eventually lost in 7. Don't expect a repeat of that this year as they face off against the New York Rangers who like last year didn't have their fate decided until the end, though last year they were knocked out of the playoffs on the final day instead of making it in. Despite the Rangers having won 3 of the 4 against the Caps this year the Capitals are the better team and have been playing better hockey of late. Injuries to Callahan for NY won't help, and Washington will move on from the first round this year. Prediction : Washington in 6
The Flyers having edged out Pittsburgh for the Atlantic Division title will get the surging Buffalo Sabres and all-world goalie Ryan Miller in the first round. Last year the Flyers surprised everyone in making it to the finals as an 8th seed while the Sabres were beat in the first round. This year this matchup might be one of the best in the first round and could go either way and in fact both teams won 2 games in their matchups this year. A hot Ryan Miller will not overcome the Flyers however and the Sabres won't be able to score enough along the way. Prediction : Philadelphia in 7
In what could be the most anticipated series of the first round given the teams' history with each other the Boston Bruins will take on the Montreal Canadians. With bad blood between them for recent events the rivalry is in full swing. During the year Montreal topped the Bruins in 4 of the 6 games, but Boston in my opinion is the better team. It will be a series that most people will have eyes on and should be competitive, however Boston comes away with this one rather quickly. Prediction : Boston in 5
In the final first round matchup in the East the injury depleted Pittsburgh Penguins will get to face off against the surprise Tampa Bay Lightning. This will be the first time the two have faced off in the playoffs, and in the regular season both teams won 2 games in their series. The Penguins are missing key pieces with Crosby and Malkin still out, but the Lightning are a streaky team and we won't know until things start which team shows up. If the Lightning are playing well they win, if they aren't Pittsburgh will continue to find ways to earn wins as they have the past several months. Prediction : Pittsburgh in 6
Over in the Western conference we'll start things with the President's Trophy winning Vancouver Canucks. They have been knocked out of the playoffs the last two years by the Chicago Blackhawks and this year, with a better team, they will get to have their shot at revenge against those same Blackhawks. The Hawks haven't been playing as well of late and don't boast the same roster as last year and Vancouver should have few problems overcoming the team that has stopped them the past two years. Prediction : Vancouver in 6
Next up are another pair of teams which split their season series, the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings. While the Sharks have been playing better of late the Kings haven't, and when you add in that the Kings have lost their two leading scorers of late things don't get any prettier. They will still battle hard but this is a Shark's team that could go deep into the playoffs this year. Prediction : Sharks in 5
Also splitting their match ups this year are the Phoenix Coyotes and the Detroit Red Wings. A key injury to Zetterburg of late won't help the Wings but the Coyotes are still just a step behind. This series went 7 games last season and while it is certainly possible to do so again, or to have the Coyotes whose losses to the Red Wings this year were in extra time, I just don't see it happening. I would be happy if it did, but Detroit will move on instead. Prediction : Detroit in 5
The last matchup of the first round pits the surprising Anaheim Ducks against the "always there but never going on" Nashville Predators. Question marks in goal for the Ducks could be the biggest deciding factor even though scoring isn't frequent from Nashville. In the end if Anaheim gets good goaltending they could pull this one off, however I think Nashville ends up winning this one. Prediction : Anaheim in 6
My predictions for the entire playoffs are as follows (along with who I'm rooting for if different than the predicted team)...
1st round
East
Washington vs. New York : Washington
Philadelphia vs. Buffalo : Philadelphia (rooting for Buffalo)
Boston vs. Montreal : Boston
Pittsburgh vs. Tampa Bay : Pittsburgh (rooting for Tampa Bay)
West
Vancouver vs. Chicago : Vancouver (rooting for Chicago)
San Jose vs. Los Angeles : San Jose (rooting for both but more so San Jose)
Detroit vs. Phoenix : Detroit (rooting for Phoenix)
Anaheim vs. Nashville : Nashville
2nd round (keep in mind that teams are re-seeded in the bracket after each round)
East
Washington vs. Pittsburgh : Washington
Philadelphia vs. Boston : Boston (rooting for both but more so Philly)
West
Vancouver vs. Nashville : Vancouver (rooting for Nashville)
San Jose vs. Detroit : San Jose
Conference Finals
East
Washington vs. Boston : Boston (rooting for Washington)
West
Vancouver vs. San Jose : Vancouver (rooting for San Jose)
Stanley Cup Finals
Vancouver vs. Boston : Vancouver (rooting for Boston)
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