NHL playoffs - Predictions?

Finally here! Who was it said "wake me up when the playoffs start?"....

Once again, "my" Sharkies are the #1 seed in the West, and we don't have to beat friggin' Detroit in the first round! - Hopefully they'll get knocked out before we have to face 'em.....

I have a "feeling" they're gonna do it this year......

Cheers,
Ian

 

These 2 are single-handedly (err double-handedly?) going to win the Stanley Cup for Vancouver...
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As a Die-Hard Kings fan.....I beg to differ......haha

My heart says Kings all the way.....

but my head says Detroit and Washington in the finals, with a 7 game series.....

I have no prediction for the winner of that one....

 

Fixed that typo for you

Nobody fancies the Sharks chances?

You'll see!

Cheers,
Ian

 

Go Hawks!

 

My Devils are looking VERY good as of late. Marty is in playoff form with the last few games either being shutouts or 1 goals allowed. Kovalchuk is finally looking comfortable and the offense is jelling, look at the 7 goal game against the Islanders a few days back and a good performance against the Sabres yesterday.

I like the Wings in the West, they are playing real well since the break and have the playoff experience.

 

The truth has been spoken. This is Vancouver's time because Luongo will step up his game, like he did in the Gold Medal game, and lead them to the promise land.

The Western Playoff Picture

The sharks will make it pass the first round, but will struggle against their second opponent (either the Coyote or Wings). The Blackhawks look good, but without Campbell back their, Keith and Seabrook will get overwork (+ goal-tending is very questionable). The second and third round will be absolute wars with likely match-ups between Canucks vs. Blackhawks and Sharks vs. Red Wings.

The Eastern Playoff Picture

Montreal is gone in 5, just too much fire power on that Washington lineup. In Buffalo, it will be Miller-time again. Buffalo wins it in 6. The Flyers will provide the upset in the first round by simply flexing their muscle and will on the Devils. Philly in 6. Crosby is entering the playoffs on an absolute tear. He's really changed his game and the goal count is all you need to know. Ottawa will put up a good fight due to their heart and grit, but they simply can't match the skill and depth of Pittsburgh's lineup.

P.S. An injury or two can throw everything out of whack and make these predictions useless.

Mission 16W begins on Wednesday, enjoy the best time of the year to be a hockey fan (only if your team is playing) and let the good times roll.

GO CANUCKS GO!

 

According to the technology in EA Sports NHL 2010 (purely statistical), the Hawks will be taking the cup in 7 games vs the Penguins.

The Canucks will be going all the way to game 7 in the conference finals

Full article here: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=525280&navid=DL|NHL|home

Conference Quarterfinals
Capitals def. Canadiens, 4-0
Penguins def. Senators, 4-0
Sabres def. Bruins, 4-2
Flyers def. Devils, 4-3
Avalanche def. Sharks, 4-2
Red Wings def. Coyotes, 4-2
Canucks def. Kings, 4-1
Blackhawks def. Predators, 4-2

Conference Semifinals
Capitals def. Flyers, 4-2
Penguins def. Sabres, 4-2
Canucks def. Red Wings, 4-2
Blackhawks def. Avalanche, 4-0

Conference Finals
Penguins def. Capitals, 4-3
Blackhawks def. Canucks, 4-3

Stanley Cup Final
Game 1 -- Chicago 3, Pittsburgh 2 (OT)
Game 2 -- Pittsburgh 2, Chicago 1
Game 3 -- Chicago 4, Pittsburgh 1
Game 4 -- Pittsburgh 5, Chicago 2
Game 5 -- Chicago 5, Pittsburgh 1
Game 6 -- Pittsburgh 4, Chicago 3 (OT)
Game 7 -- Chicago 2, Pittsburgh 1 (OT)

 

I'd love to see that, but the Hawks need to get their stride back. Not playing their best hockey heading into the playoffs.

 

Gotta throw the BS flag on that one!

BTW, as season ticket holders we had to pay for *all* the tickets up-front - Assume all series go to 7 games, all the way thru' the finals!

It used to be that way before the lockout, but they cut us some slack for the past few years - Now they've gone back to gouging again. Any unused "credits" get applied to the price of next seasons tix - Nice for them, sucks for us!

Do other teams do the same thing?

Cheers,
Ian

 

The winged wheelers have had great timing to start peaking. Being healthy is a huge bonus as well.

I predict the wings will make it to the conference finals with ease; but beyond that, it's anybody's game.

 

The Kings have a similar setup for their season ticket holders, but offer a "pay as they play" option too. Bascially, if by a few weeks before the end of the season you renew your season seats for next year (by giving them a 5% deposit on the total cost of those seats), you can pay for each game as they play it. If you don't do the deposit, then I believe you pay for the first two rounds in full, and the unused portion would go as a credit to the next season.

 

Are the Kings playoff tickets sold out, how are the prices?

I'll be in LA and would like to see the Canucks play, as canucks tix are usually more expensive than other US hockey cities.

 

I think there are still tix available on ticketmaster, but pretty limited. Might wanna look at Ticketmaster TicketExchange. I would assume it would def be lower priced than tickets in any Canadian city. I went to watch the Kings play in Toronto this season and paid twice as much to sit in the same seats as I do in LA.....

Geting really amped for tomorrow....and even more amped for Thursday!

 

I'm with you Ian. But then again I live 5 miles from you. So that's no surprise

Have fun at the games...and if you cant make any......

 

The Wings have got their hands full, the Coyote showed tremendous heart and grit in today's win over the wings. The Sharks game was a surprise and the other two could of gone either way at the end of regulation. Man do I love playoff hockey.

Go Canucks Go!

 

Habs! Canucks!!

Great night

 

I recall Carolina having questionable keepers and doing well enough to win it all. Plus Hossa is lost in the shuffle with the kids. They'll do fine... as long as someone knocks off the Wings first.

 

After the first couple days, here are my thoughts:

Craig Anderson is doing amazing and will need to continue to do so for the Av's to stand any chance in the series

Ovi needs to step up (didn't he have 0 shots on goal in the last game?), and when he does, the Caps will be unstoppable (sorry habs fans)

Ryan Miller is doing a great job and I don't think the series will be as close as everyone predicted

The Kings/Canucks series will be a long and entertaining one (even though i'd much rather the kings just take the next four)

As far as Flyers/Devils go......it's all up to Brodeur....

Of course, most of the above isn't worth much as it's playoff hockey and anything can and does happen......

Needless to say, so far it's very entertaining......

 

Canucks got out played and were chasing the puck most of the time.

Luongo seemed to be sleeping.

 

Whelp - glad to know the NHL isn't hiding the fact that they want US teams to advance past their Canadian opponents. It's been happening in the Canucks/Kings series and it's also been happening in the Sens/Pens series. Not to say that the Canucks played a bad game tonight, but there's absolutely no way that Sedin's disallowed goal tonight was intentionally kicked in. Mike Murphy, Senior VP of Hockey Operations aka the guy who made the call on the goal tonight is an ex-player/coach for the Kings. Here's an excerpt from a recent interview of his:

 

Really?

You're right about that goal though. They should have counted it. That way the Canucks would have lost 5-4, instead of 5-3.......haha

But seriously, last night came down to a ruthless power play by the Kings and a subpar performance by Luongo.

I think it will still be a long series.......

 

And the fact that the referees in the Kings' back pockets. Half those penalties were bogus, and there were a *TON* of missed calls on the Canucks.

Oh, how about this... here's a goal that was kicked in by Bertuzzi a few weeks back. Disallowed on the ice and after review by Toronto was ruled a goal:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0796IPywEPg

 

Boo-hoo..... Bwahaa..... "It's all a conspiracy against the Canadians"......

I'm not buying it - It's just that you guys believe Lord Stanley is your birth-right!

Incidentally, and slightly OT, when did the guy in the box behind the goal with the lights on his head (!) get canned? - I've only recently noticed he's not there anymore - I guess the overhead cameras made them redundant?

Go Sharks!

Cheers,
Ian

 

Firstly, I *hate* the Wings - So, I'd love to agree with you.....

But, having watched it (in HD, very cool!) a few times I think they got it right - It certainly was re-directed by his skate, but that's legal. However, I don't think he consciously kicked it in..... He's got to keep moving his feet, and it seems to me that's all he was doing. Lucky? For sure. "Cheating" or "a conspiracy", IMHO, not at all.

Incidentally, has a kicked in puck always been illegal in the NHL? [I'm a relative newbie to the sport having only got into it in the early '90's after I moved here and my Sharks beat the Wings in 7 in the semis (?) - 94/5 or 95/6 IIRC.

Cheers,
Ian