April 14, 2015

NHL Playoff Pick 'Em Starts Now: The playoffs begin tonight at 7 p.m. Eastern. Pick the eight teams that will advance out of the first round and the number of games each series will require: Ottawa vs. Montreal, New York Islanders vs. Washington, Chicago vs. Nashville, Calgary vs. Vancouver, Pittsburgh vs. New York Rangers, Detroit vs. Tampa Bay, Minnesota vs. St. Louis, Winnipeg vs. Anaheim. One extra point on winning picks for getting the number of games right. Another extra point for picking one of the three top goal scorers in this playoff round.

posted by rcade to hockey at 09:13 PM - 19 comments

OK I'm in, GO RED WINGS

posted by ic23b at 02:15 AM on April 15, 2015

Whoo-hoo! Go Hurrica...oh yeah. Fuck. Go somebody, I guess.

posted by NoMich at 07:41 AM on April 15, 2015

Do you want me to just run the NBA one, rcade? The pairings aren't final yet, but I should be able to have something up by tomorrow evening. First game is Saturday afternoon.

posted by Ufez Jones at 09:19 AM on April 15, 2015

That would be good, Ufez.

posted by rcade at 09:55 AM on April 15, 2015

If Spofi had a pickem lottery similar to the NHL draft lottery I'd be first up, so here goes ...

Ottawa in 6

Washington in 6 +1

Chicago in 6 +2

Calgary in 7 +1

Rangers in 5 +2

Tampa Bay in 6 +1

St.Louis in 7

Winnipeg in 7

Goal scorer: Monahan (Calgary)

posted by cixelsyd at 12:25 PM on April 15, 2015

Canadiens in 5 +1
Islanders in 7
Blackhawks in 6 +2
Vancouver in 6
Rangers in 5 +2
Red Wings in 7
Blues in 5
Ducks in 6 +1

Goal scorer: Tavares (Islanders)

posted by grum@work at 12:43 PM on April 15, 2015

Habs in 6 +2

Caps in 7 +2

Preds in 7

Canucks in 6

Rangers in 4 +1

Lightning in 6 +1

Blues in 6

Jets in 6

Goal scorer: Stamkos (TB)

posted by Ufez Jones at 02:18 PM on April 15, 2015

Montreal 7 +1

Islanders 6 +1

Chicago 5 +1

Vancouver 7

Rangers 5 +2

Detroit 6

St. Louis 6

Anaheim 5 +1

Goal scorer: Ovechkin (Washington)

posted by jagsnumberone at 03:30 PM on April 15, 2015

With the Bruins alternating between highly entertaining and brutally incompetent this season, I haven't paid a lot of attention to the NHL this season. I will attempt to pull a few out of my hat.

Montreal vs Ottawa: Senators might just pull Montreal's old trick of introducing a relative newcomer in goal, having him go on an insane hot streak, and steal the series. Ottawa in 6.

Islanders vs Washington: Two words: Ovechkin, Trotz. With Ovechkin playing really good hockey and Trotz having sold his defensive responsibility schemes, the Caps are looking strong. Washington in 5. +1

Chicago vs Nashville: Blackhawks talent is not music to the Music City team. Chicago in 5. +1

Calgary vs Vancouver: It took a bit of time, but Vancouver seems to have jelled. Calgary can be tough, but not tough enough. Vancouver in 7.

Pittsburgh vs Rangers: Penguins have to be the playoff team that has done the least with the most talent. There are others in this category, but none made the playoffs. Rangers are solid from top to bottom. Rangers in 4. +1

Detroit vs Tampa Bay: Red Wings made the playoffs through the grace and ineptitude of a few other teams. Tampa Bay has a lot of young talent. Tampa Bay in 5 +1.

Minnesota vs St. Louis: This is another pairing of a solid team with some depth against a good team that plays hard. Go with the Blues here. St. Louis in 6.

Winnipeg vs Anaheim: Duck! It's the Jets. Jets (at least those of the US Navy and Marine Corps variety) can't fly without JP-5 fuel, while ducks do nicely on whatever they can find. Jets will be grounded and ducks will swim placidly on the frozen pond. Anaheim in 5 +1.

Goal scorers to watch: Ovechkin is an easy pick. I have to look at Stamkos, Tavares, and Monahan, but figure Washington to get put on the power play often enough to give the nod to the Russian. Top Scorer is Ovechkin.

Note for Ufez, if you put up an NBA pickem, I'm in. I have my seats for the first 2 Celtics home games, section 316, Row 5, Seats 9 and 10. Go Celtics. Nice thing this year is that the team does not charge the season ticket accounts until the games are scheduled and necessary. Two years ago they made buying a full playoff package a part of the season ticket renewal, then had to credit the accounts for games not played. It wasn't exactly fair, but there are worse things done.

posted by Howard_T at 05:11 PM on April 15, 2015

Montreal in 5 +1
Washington in 6 +1
Nashville in 7
Calgary in 6 +2
NY Rangers in 4 +1
Detroit in 6
St. Louis in 5
Winnipeg in 7
Ovechkin

posted by bender at 05:25 PM on April 15, 2015

Montreal in 6 +2

Islanders in 7

Chicago in 7 +1

Vancouver in 6

Rangers in 4 +1

Detroit in 7

St. Louis in 4

Anaheim in 5 +1

Goal Scorer- Ovechkin

posted by ic23b at 05:57 PM on April 15, 2015

Habs in 6 +2

Caps in 5 +1

Hawks in 5 +1

Flames in 6 +2

Wings in 7

Wild in 7 +1

Ducks in 5 +1

Goals-Tavares

posted by tahoemoj at 06:20 PM on April 15, 2015

Ottawa in 7

New York Islanders in 6

Chicago in 6 +2

Vancouver in 5

New York Rangers in 5 +2

Tampa Bay in 5 +1

St. Louis in 7

Anaheim in 4 +2

Top scorer: Backstrom (Washington)

posted by rcade at 06:54 PM on April 15, 2015

Ottawa in 7

Islanders in 6

Blackhawks in 5 +1

Flames in 7 +1

Rangers in 5 +2

Tampa in 6 +1

Blues in 6

Anaheim in 5 +1

Top scorer: Rick Nash

posted by dfleming at 07:42 PM on April 15, 2015

Habs in 6 +2
Wings in 7
Rangers in 6 +1
Caps in 7 +2
Blues in 6
Canucks in 6
Predators in 7
Ducks in 5 +1

Ovechkin

posted by holden at 07:49 PM on April 15, 2015

Montreal in 5 +1
Tampa in 6 +1
NYR in 5 +2
NYI in 7

StL in 6
Smashville in 6
CalGARY in 7 +1

Leading Scorer: Stamkos

posted by NoMich at 08:34 PM on April 15, 2015

Ottawa in 6 +2

Washington in 7 +2

New York Rangers in 5 +2

Tampa Bay in 5 +1

St. Louis in 6

Calgary in 7 +1

Nashville in 7

Anaheim in 7 +1

Stamkos

posted by tommybiden at 09:20 PM on April 15, 2015

NoMich, you missed the Anaheim/Winnipeg series I think.

posted by tommybiden at 09:23 PM on April 15, 2015

Eff! You're right.

Ducks over Jets in 6 +1

Thanks tommy

posted by NoMich at 10:05 PM on April 15, 2015

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