April 06, 2004

TB vs. NYI – The Isle have been on a tear, but don’t have home ice advantage. The Ning know how to win a series, and Vinnie looks like a world-beater lately. Ning in 7. BOS vs. MTL – I like the way the B’s are playing, but the Habs generally play a smarter team game. The potential loss of Joe.T for the entire series is another factor. Habs in 7. PHI vs. NJ – Both teams somewhat limped into the post season, but the Flyers still haven’t solved the problem that plagues them every fecking year: goal tending. NJ in 6. TOR vs. OTT – If Belfour’s back holds up, the blue buds should hoist the Cup. The Sens are scary, but don’t scare this Leaf’s fan with the team we’ve got this year. TOR in 5. DET vs. NAS – Since the Wings are the favorites to win the Cup, like last year, and the Preds have played really well against them this year, I say picking this upset is predictable. But the Wings aren’t in a good rhythm, and since Steve Sullivan came to town the Preds can put some points. Preds in 7. SJ vs. STL – St.Louis kept their streak alive, but will keep another streak alive this year too: losing in the first round. SJ is the team this year they were supposed to be last year: built for the playoffs. Not to mention the best tending tandem in the league with Nabby and Toskala. But the Blues are deadly in OT. SJ in 5. VAN vs. CAL – This is a tough one for me, having grown up in Calgary but having watched the Canucks a lot over the past 3 years. Offense – edge to Nucks. Defense – edge to Flames. Gotta go Flames because of the long wait to get here. CAL in 7. COL vs. DAL – In October, who’d thunk the Avs would snap the streak of 9 consecutive NW division titles and it would take until the second half of the season for the Stars to look like a respectable NHL team. God, I love hockey. Forsberg and Sakic will make it interesting, but it just isn’t the Avs year. Stars in 7.

posted by garfield at 03:10 PM on April 06, 2004

Alrighty then... Western Conference: Detroit vs Nashville: Nashville has a balanced attack..just like Anaheim did. Nashville has a streaky-good goaltender..just like Anaheim did. Nashville plays strong defence..just like Anaheim did. DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES?! I don't. Detroit in 5. San Jose vs St. Louis: Ugh. This is a really tough one to pick. San Jose has been the better team over the whole season, but St. Louis (and Osgood in particular) has picked up the pace recently. In the end, I like the offence of the Blues (Demitra, Weight, Tkachuk) more than the Sharks (Marleau, Eckman, Cheechoo). St. Louis in 7. Vancouver vs Calgary: If Bertuzzi was still playing, I'd call this a walk for Vancouver. But he isn't and Kiprusoff looks like he's got his form again. But Jovocop is healthy so he could be a huge factor. In the end, I'm going to say that home ice advantage wins this one. But if Calgary wins that first game, watch for the fans to turn on Vancouver REAL quick. Vancouver in 7. Colorado vs Dallas: Both of these teams are struggling regain their previous form of yesteryear. This is the first time I've ever seen a Colorado team and not thought "Cup Contender". Then again, Dallas hasn't shown me ANYTHING that indicates it's a contender either. If Tanguay is healthy, expect a romp. Otherwise, it'll take a couple more games. Colorado in 6. Eastern Conference: Tampa Bay vs NY Islanders: I really want to say "sweep", but I just think that the east is far too competitive to allow such a thing to happen. So I'm taking the young and hungry Lighting, but giving the Islanders a bit of respect. Tampa Bay in 5. Boston vs Montreal: If Boston had lost that last game of the season, I would have picked them to get swept by WHOEVER they played. As it is, losing Thorton to an injury (even if he comes back semi-healthy) is devestating. Throw in the fact that Theodore looks like the 2002 model again, and I think we have our first BIG upset. Montreal in 5. Philadelphia vs New Jersey: No Scott Stevens means no real intimidation from the defence. Which means the big boys of Philly can crash the net and make life difficult for Brodeur (who has looked "human" for the first time in years). Then again, the Gomez/Elias combo has been lights-out amazing for the past 4 weeks. I think it is going to come down to how quick Hitchcock is willing to put Burke into action if Esche falters. Wait too long, and it'll be over before you know it. New Jersey in 6. Toronto vs Ottawa: Sure I'm a Leaf fan, but EVERYONE knows that this is the marquee match-up of the first round. Two teams with playoff history. Old-timers vs young guns. The battle of Ontario. Civic pride (and bylaws!). If you wanted to save an historic record of what "playoff hockey" is supposed to be like, tape this series. That said, who the hell do you think I'm going to pick?! Get the crying towels ready in Ottawa! Toronto in 6. What makes this very scary is that I could EASILY imagine scenarios where I could get EVERY SINGLE SERIES WRONG, and not be terribly surprised. These are the best playoff series match-ups of the past 20 years.

posted by grum@work at 03:25 PM on April 06, 2004

A re-post of my predictions from the news page (with some formatting changes) TB vs. NYI - TB in 5. Isles win 1 at home BOS vs MTL - MTL in 6. Theodore is the difference PHI vs NJ - NJ in 7. Close, but Brodeur saves them in game 7 TOR vs OTT - TOR in 6. It pains me, but Ottawa is slumping at a bad time DET vs. NAS - DET in 6. Nashville gets extra points for effort SJ vs STL - STL in 6. The upset, but they will run out of gas in 2nd round VAN vs CAL - CAL in 7. Yes, I am biased. Will be the best 1st round series. DAL vs COL - DAL in 5. The Stars will run circles arounds the Avs. Could be over in 4. I agree with grum, this is the best group of 1st round series in a long, long time. Can't wait for it all to start.

posted by camcanuck at 04:39 PM on April 06, 2004

I only care about two series, have not been following the league near enough to make predictions, but I am glad to see that almost everyone is picking the two teams I care about, the Devils and (less so, but still a majority) the Sharks. I also think those picking St. Louis are in for disappointment because the emotion of those three late goals Sunday against LA are going to drive the Sharks to wins in both the home games opening the series.

posted by billsaysthis at 09:56 PM on April 06, 2004

Throwing my hat into the ring... NAS vs DET - As Succa said, the Wings have NOT forgotten last year...Wings in 5 STL vs SJS - As much as I wanna pick Ozzie to finally get some respect, the Sharks looked too strong down the stretch to pick against them...Sharks in 6 CGY vs VAN - When Bertuzzi was suspended, you could see the life drain out of the Canucks. The league should've sent them home, and given Edmonton their spot...Flames in 6 DAL vs COL - Dallas is hot, hot, HOT...Stars in 7 NYI vs TBL - I wanna pick the Isles, but they don't have enough scoring to beat Khabibulin...Lightning in 6 MTL vs BOS - Can Raycroft be this year's Giguere, when he's playing on a 2 seed? Bruins in 6 NJD vs PHI - This is my series to watch, maybe even over my Wings...Devils in 7 OTT vs TOR - Some say the Leafs awoke the sleeping giant Saturday...time to put them back to bed...Leafs in 6

posted by MeatSaber at 06:38 AM on April 07, 2004

TB vs NYI - Islanders in 6. BOS vs MTL - Bruins in 5. PHI vs NJ - Devils in 5. TOR vs OTT - Leafs in 6. DET vs NAS - Wings in 4. STL vs SJ - Sharks in 7. VAN vs CAL - Canucks in 5. COL vs DAL - 'Lanche 6.

posted by 86 at 07:13 AM on April 07, 2004

TB vs NYI - TB in 6. BOS vs MTL - Bruins in 5. PHI vs NJ - Devils in 5. TOR vs OTT - Leafs in 5. DET vs NAS - Wings in 4. STL vs SJ - Blues in 7. VAN vs CAL - Canucks in 4. COL vs DAL - Col in 6. Just because.

posted by jasonspaceman at 08:19 AM on April 07, 2004

Re: DAL -- I haven't heard anyone call them a contender, even in the local press. The furthest anyone on the DMN sports staff picked them to go was the Conf. Finals. But they have had one hell of a 2nd half of the season, coming from dead-ass last in the Division to contending for the title. Yeah, they slipped a bit at the end, due mainly to Turco's suspension, but Valeri Bure has been a pretty good pick-up and I don't see any reason to fear the Av's this year.

posted by Ufez Jones at 09:15 AM on April 07, 2004

TB BOS PHI TOR NAS SJ VAN DAL I have no idea what I'm talking about.

posted by corpse at 09:25 AM on April 07, 2004

succa: gusty. i was asking about this gustiness you attribute to them. I didn't have the Flames making the playoffs and preseason (no indication or memory of what place I would have put them in) but for what it is worth you said: As much as I like longshots, there is no way Calgary, Phoenix, Nashville, Carolina, Pittsburgh, Florida, or Buffalo are getting anywhere near the top eight this year. (hey, not bad. except for the Flames and Nashville.) Nobody in the preseason guesses thread had the Flames in for a playoff spot. And I bet nobody would have before they picked up Kiprusoff. So, let's hope they make the most of their chance unlike getting swept by the Hawks the last time they made the playoffs.

posted by gspm at 09:48 AM on April 07, 2004

What is the big deal exactly gspm? Not sure why you care about the word "gutsy" so much. Don't you think a team of also-rans that was basically written off from the start, had a rash of injuries to their best players (Iginla and Conroy, not to mention Kiprusoff), zero goaltending for over half the season, and almost no operating budget to work with, has overcome a fair amount of adversity this year? I never claimed to have called the Flames' playoff berth, BTW. And that Go Leetch Go site is just wrong. Frigging Ranger fans. Why can't you cheer for Greg de Vries instead??

posted by Succa at 12:31 PM on April 07, 2004

Alright, I'll go. TB vs NYI - Islanders in 6. If there's a season next year, the Lightning are preseason favorites, but St. Louis & Lecavalier are going to get the tar beaten out of them, and Andreychuk is getting a bit old. BOS vs MTL - Boston in 5, but all the games will end in shutouts for one team or the other. PHI vs NJ - Jersey in 6. I'm with Samsonov. I hope and expect these two to beat the living bejesus out of each other, and whoever wins this series will get swept quickly in round two. Also, Esche sucks canal water. TOR vs OTT - Leafs in 6. Not just because I'm a homer, but because after Alfredsson, the Sens are going to have to answer questions about the mythology and the blue & white monkey on their backs the whole series, and that'll be the difference. (If Lalime doesn't come back, it'll be 5 games or less. Prusek is scary.) DET vs NAS - Wings in 4. The Preds shuld be happy to still be playing, and Detroit has shit to prove from last year. STL vs SJ - Sharks in 7. I feel for Blues fans, but Nabokov is this much better than Osgood, and that'll be the difference, so -- tough. VAN vs CAL - Flames in 5. Kiprusoff is the real deal. And with Bert gone, Iginla's gonna have a bit more room in the middle to do his thing. COL vs DAL - Dallas in 6. The preseason favorite is nowhere to be seen, so I'm picking the Stars as a gesture of goodwill to Ufez for the trash I'll be throwing at him the next month or so.

posted by chicobangs at 01:07 PM on April 07, 2004

Don't be silly, 86. There's always room for another Cooler on the Leaf bus. Anyone else? Come on, people, own up.

posted by chicobangs at 01:26 PM on April 07, 2004

(is there a draft in here?)

posted by smithers at 01:36 PM on April 07, 2004

so I'm picking the Stars as a gesture of goodwill to Ufez Goodwill? Man, to think, I used to have respect for you...

posted by Ufez Jones at 02:35 PM on April 07, 2004

Now come on over here and buy your old friend a drink. Okay, but at least wait until I've got three or four in me before you start trying to rub my thigh, you grab-happy old coot.

posted by Ufez Jones at 03:19 PM on April 07, 2004

/backs slowly out of room

posted by grum@work at 04:02 PM on April 07, 2004

Any of the Dallas pickers reconsidering after today's games?

posted by mkn at 10:56 PM on April 07, 2004

Frigging Aebischer lets in a softie with 5 minutes left, spoiling the shutout and 5 points in my office pool. DAMMIT. Otherwise, last night's games went as expected. That VAN-CGY series should be a classic.

posted by Succa at 08:22 AM on April 08, 2004

Even after today? Man, this Vancouver/Calgary series is something else, though. Great hockey.

posted by mkn at 11:03 PM on April 09, 2004

That was a beauty shoulder fake by the kid on Friday. But what is going on with the B's? They seem to be dropping like flies. I would've expected the opposite to happen. Another surprise is the mediocre play of Brodeur. He hasn't shown me much so far. No 'timely' saves of the variety which won him the Vezina. And quit with the Scott Stevens BS already, the only people you're fooling are fairweather Devils fans. And it feels great to have the best goal tender still in the playoffs on your team. What is that? 3 SOs in 6 games. Go Ed Go!

posted by garfield at 08:45 AM on April 12, 2004

TB has been VERY lucky with injuries this year. They are the anti-LA-Kings. They've had some ridiculously low number of games missed (like 24?!) this season. Either they are WAY overdue for a crippling set of injuries, or they have one HELL of a training/nutrition/massage team.

posted by grum@work at 10:58 AM on April 12, 2004

Discipline was the deciding factor in the Sens-Leafs game. The first period was great titans-clash action, and then Ottawa just blinked early in the second and never got their composure back. In other news, I bet Brodeur's hurt. He's better than he's playing, and I wouldn't be surprised if something's wrong.

posted by chicobangs at 01:24 PM on April 12, 2004

I can't believe no one has called me out for being such an optimistic Leaf fan....to the point of not even sounding like a Leaf fan. Anyhoo, for some reason the regular 'hold my breath until its 5-0 with 3 minutes to go in the 3rd' seems to have been replaced by, dare I say it, confidence. I sure hope this reverse-psychology thing pans out.

posted by garfield at 02:38 PM on April 12, 2004

Eddie! Eddie! Eddie!

posted by grum@work at 08:35 PM on April 12, 2004

What grum said. (*takes some deep breaths, thinks of other things so he doesn't get too hepped up halfway through this, the first round*)

posted by chicobangs at 12:36 PM on April 13, 2004

San Jose wins in five. So far I'm shooting 1.000.

posted by mkn at 11:35 PM on April 15, 2004

since alot of my picks are shite, I might as well say it while I still can....."me too, mkn, me too."

posted by garfield at 07:07 AM on April 16, 2004

I said Sharks in 6, and Wings in 5...think I mighta had those 2 backward...

posted by MeatSaber at 10:12 AM on April 16, 2004