12/21/24
April 28, 2009
2009 Stanley Cup Pick'em Round 1 Standings: And matchups for round 2...
My picks:
Boston in 6
Pittsburgh in 7
Wings in 7
Chicago in 6
posted by MeatSaber at 10:58 PM on April 28, 2009
Boston in 5
Washington in 6
Anaheim in 6
Vancouver in 5
posted by tommybiden at 11:38 PM on April 28, 2009
MeatSaber, thanks for running with this.
Beans vs. BBQ - According to Paul Maurice, the Canes' strength is offensive puck possession below the dots. Unfortunately for him, the Bruins can carpet bomb that area of the ice. Canes will score their way to a couple of wins. Bruins in 6.
OV vs Bing - Best player in the game vs. the player Bettman wanted to be the best player in the game. The edge has to go to Pittsburgh because they were able to do it last year. The mediocre regular season seems like ancient history. Staal is centering an effective L3, which is the key line in many Cup runs. The deadly Gonch catfish stalks the blueline once again. Guerin's legs have been located after have gone missing for several months. But, the gut is favoring Washington. An unconscious rookie tender. A Fedorov in top form. OV that looks like every shot could score. Brashear trumps any toughness the Pens can insert into the line-up. It's going to be a 7 game dandy. This year it's Ovechkin's turn to take a deep run.
Wings vs. Ducks - Body part vs. whole. Why do we believe in the Sharks? They are like the Ottawa Senators - regular season darlings, post season chumps. But so to were the Wings regular season specialists. But enough history. Ducks looks good. Bobby Ryan is the missing link for L1. Pronger and Neidermayer are still back there. Beauchemin is back. They didn't need Selanne to win round 1. Hiller is on his game. What's not to like? The Wings are rested. The call up rookies are providing ridiculous depth. Hossa likes the playoffs...alot. Osgood still lets in too many. So, I think that could be the difference. But if Anaheim takes too many dumb penalties, it won't even be close. I say Wings in 7.
Nucks' vs. Hawks - First impression is the Canucks will prevail with superior defense. But looking at the numbers on both sides of the puck, the edge should be with Chicago, especially with home-ice. Can Luongo steal a series? I wouldn't put it past him. Can the Sedins continue their strong play? Not with Keith and Seabrook on them. Can the Sundin Kesler Demitra line carry Vancouver? I'm not so sure given Mats' wonky hip. On the flip side, who does Kesler line key on? The Havlat line? I would. Kane is up to speed. Toews is game. Pahlsson has fit in great. Against my initial impression, Hawks in 6.
posted by garfield at 09:15 AM on April 29, 2009
Boston in 6
Pittsburgh in 7
Red Wings in 5
Vancouver in 5
posted by BoKnows at 10:36 AM on April 29, 2009
Canes in 7 - homer pick all the way. I really don't know how the Canes will avoid getting ran over by the Bs.
Warshington in 5 - they're rolling now and I don't know who will stop them.
Ducks in 6 - just a gut feeling.
Nucks in 6 - Roberto Luongo is looking great. Sometimes all you need in the playoffs is a hot goalie.
posted by NoMich at 10:56 AM on April 29, 2009
Boston in 6
Caps in 7
Wings in 6
Chicago in 7
posted by holden at 01:31 PM on April 29, 2009
Bruins in 6 (might as well join the crowd): Carolina might steal an early one as Boston shakes off the rust. Otherwise, Boston's defense keeps the 'Canes controlled. Can they play "Brass Bonanza" in Carolina just to make it seem like old times?
Penguins in 7: This one could be a war, but the Caps are missing Brashear for 5 more games. Anyone care to give an over/under for the number of goals scored?
Detroit in 5: Red Wings have just been cruising so far. The first time they are tested, they will jump all over their opponent. I think it's the Ducks turn to feel the wrath of the winged wheels.
Vancouver in 7: I have no real reason for this pick; it's really a coin flip here. The only reason I pick Canucks is that I want them to go all the way to the finals, thus giving Milan Lucic of the Bruins a chance to put on a show for his hometown fans.
posted by Howard_T at 04:44 PM on April 29, 2009
They play "Brass Bonanza" every now and again at the RBC Center, so I wouldn't doubt that they'll bust it out again for game 1 against the Booins.
posted by NoMich at 05:32 PM on April 29, 2009
Hurricanes in 7
Penguins in 5
Ducks in 7
Canucks in 6
posted by MrFrisby at 09:12 PM on April 29, 2009
Boston in 5
Pittsburgh in 6
Detroit in 6
Vancouver in 7
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 03:53 PM on April 30, 2009
way late to the 2nd round party, so if this is a no-no, that's fine. But, in the interest of "semi-fairness", I'll go against the first-game winner, if that makes it "better".
Boston in 4 Pitt in 5 Detroit in 7 Chicago in 7
posted by littleLebowski at 12:42 PM on May 01, 2009
just caught the "no excpetions" in the lead post ... oh well, good luck, all
posted by littleLebowski at 12:44 PM on May 01, 2009
OK, so noone picked the Anaheim upset, so I guess that's a wash all around. Here's the standings after round 1:
T1) littleLebowski - 14
T1) NoMich - 14
T1) garfield - 14
4) Howard_T - 13
T5) MeatSaber - 12
T5) 86 - 12
T5) holden - 12
8) Ying Yang Mafia - 11
9) MrFrisby - 10
T10) BoKnows - 8
T10) tommytrump - 8
littleLebowski correctly called 3 separate series and number of games (Boston, Washington and Chicago) to tie for the lead. Garfield called 7 of the 8 winners (Anaheim, of course, the lone miss)
Here's the matchups for round 2:
Boston/Carolina
Washington/Pittsburgh
Detroit/Anaheim
Vancouver/Chicago
Any picks made after the start of the first game of round 2 will be forfeit, no exceptions. good luck...