Considering my predicitions in the previous posts, my playoffs look like this:
Eastern Conference:
Round 1:
Boston Bruins vs. Ottawa Senators - Winner: Boston 4-1
Washington Capitals vs. Carolina Hurricanes - Winner: Washington 4-3
New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers - Winner: New York 4-2
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers - Winner: Pittsburgh 4-3
Round 2:
Boston Bruins vs. New York Rangers – Winner: New York 4-2
Washington Capitals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL’s dream matchup) - Winner: Washington 4-3
Round 3:
Washington Capitals vs. New York Rangers - Winner: New York Rangers 4-2
Eastern Conference Finalist: New York Rangers
Western Conference:
Round 1:
San Jose Sharks vs. Columbus Blue Jackets - Winner: Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3
Detroit Red Wings vs. Minnesota Wild - Winner: Detroit Red Wings 4-0
Calgary Flames vs. Anaheim Ducks - Winner: Calgary Flames 4-2
Vancouver Canucks vs. Chicago Blackhawks - Winner: Vancouver Canucks 4-1
Round 2:
Detroit Red Wings vs. Columbus Blue Jackets - Winner: Columbus Blue Jackets 4-2
Calgary Flames vs. Vancouver Canucks - Winner: Calgary Flames 4-3
Round 3:
Calgary Flames vs. Columbus Blue Jackets - Winner: Calgary Flames
Western Conference FInalist: Calgary Flames
Stanley Cup Matchup:
Calgary Flames vs. New York Rangers: Calgary Flames win 4-2
I know there were a few shockers in there. Here are some reasoning behind my predictions:
1. I don’t think Florida or Montreal are worthy of the playoffs right now and I think Ottawa is finally playing the way they need to and can sneak in.
2. I am not sold on any of the top seeds: Wings (goaltending) Sharks (always choke) Bruins (no experience)
3. I am feeling a Steve Mason run similar to JS Giguere’s previous run a few years back.
4. The Rangers are my darkhorse. They have one of the leagues best in net. If Lundqvist steps up, the Rangers will seem unbeatable. If Tortorella can get their offense going consistently, the Rangers will be a scary team to play.
5. I think it is inevitable for the NHL to have the Capitals and Pens square off. I would not be surprised to see some questionable reffing to make this happen if possible.
Huh?
I think you have been watching the Florida Panther girl video too much. The Blue Jackets in the Western finals? Thats crazy talk. The Rangers in the finals-no way. Its going to be the Capitols vs. the Wings or the Flames.
LOL I know it sounds crazy. I’m not sold on the Wings or Sharks. I am feeling a JS Giguere playoff run for Steve Mason, but will run out of steam in the Conference Finals.
The East too. I am not sold on any team dominating their way through. I think the Rangers are a darkhorse with a solid D core and solid offensive system assuming Tortorella pushes them. Also they have Henrik in net, which will be the turning point for them.
from your lips to god’s ears….
GO RANGERS!!!!
Amen to your predictions…..but you lost me when you said my beloved Rangers have a solid D core….eek. Oops. Watch a game or two.
Your predictions would be nice, though.
let’s go RANGERS!!!!!
tdr
Hey Dark,
I challenge anyone to find a better Defensive core than the Rangers. I have not missed a Ranger game all season and I believe they have the best 6 defensmen in the league.
Granted they do not have a Mike Green or Nik Lindstrom who puts up 30+ goals or 70+ points, but as far as defense goes, every guy is solid. Kalinen was the only liability before and hes gone.
If and when they finally have a real defensive trophy for defensive defensemen, expect Staal to be up there year in and year out fighting for it.
It doesnt hurt either that you have Drury, Callahan, and Betts putting out more effort on the defensive side than they do on the offensive side.
Assuming Torts can get the offense going, I see great potential for the Rangers.
Haha, your assumption that Jose Theodore will allow the capitals to win a playoff series is amusing…
I hate to agree with a Rangers fan, but the Dark Ranger is absolutely correct. The Rangers’ D is not good, and anyone who watches them can attest to that. But even if you don’t watch them, take a quick glance at the stats: the Rangers allow 29.7 shots per game. That’s 15th in the league! How on earth can you call that good? It’s mediocre!
The Rangers score, on average, 2.42 goals per game. That’s DEAD LAST in the league! Even if Tortella pushes them, it won’t suddenly make them a good scoring team. No way in hell.
You obviously are in an Eastern Conference area. Are you insane with your Western Conference picks. You have never watched the Red Wings or Sharks in action when a game really counts. Go back and watch the Islanders!
I watch both the Eastern and Western Conference equally. There is no doubt that the Red Wings and Sharks are the two best teams in the league and the most dominating.
But, I believe and am predicting a Steve Mason run for the Blue Jackets. If I am correct, they will pass through the Sharks and Red Wings paving an easy path for the Flames to make it to the Conference Finals.
I then predicted the Flames to take out the Blue Jackets because Mason will only take them so far.
@ Smiggy – Go back and examine the past playoff runs for top teams similar to the Sharks and Red Wings. It is very possible for a random team to get hot and knock off some top seeds. See Edmonton in 05-06 and Giguere back in 02-03.
Either I will be right and the Jackets can pull a streak together or there will be dominance like last season where the Red Wings walk right through and easily win the whole thing.
The Rangers? Wow.
Thanks for slimming my blog choices now. Joke
you look like a meat head now. Ottawa eh? not even in the picture.
Ya I guess I was just hoping for Ottawa over Montreal.
Ottawa and Minnesota were my only wrong picks so far.
Hey guys I need some feedback on my site before we launch.. Anyone mind?
http://www.x5sports.net
Thanks CK
in the stanley cup its probably gonna be the capitals and the blackhawks or redwings
92 rematch pens hawks
92 rematch pens hawks pens win take it to the bank. (not a pitt fan)
Where are the FLYERS on your lists of predictions as they now enter the STANLEY CUP FINALS