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NHL Playoff Predictions
Apr. 14th, 2009 09:26 pmConference Quarterfinals
Western Conference:
San Jose Sharks v. Anaheim Ducks: Sharks in five. Even though Anaheim are a bunch of thugs, the Sharks are just too deep and too talented.
Detroit Red Wings v. Columbus Blue Jackets: Wings in five. Goaltending will be the key here- will the Detroit tandem of Chris Osgood and Ty Conklin flash the leather in playoff form after a less-than-stellar- especially for Osgood- regular season. Otherwise, on talent, this is as lopsided a matchup as the one above.
Vancouver Canucks v. St. Louis Blues: Blues in seven. This one will be a good series, with St. Louis making an incredible run to finish as the sixth seed after being last in the Western Conference as late as February. The Blues come in as the hot team, and have a decided advantage in special teams (PP- 7th in the NHL, PK 3rd; Vancouver PP 17th, PK 16th)
Chicago Blackhawks v. Calgary Flames: Hawks in seven. This series will be a contrast in styles. Chicago gets a slight edge simply because their blueline corps is less likely to gamble and their scoring is better distributed; but this is as close to a tossup as there is.
Eastern Conference:
Boston Bruins v. Montreal Canadiens: Bruins in four. Montreal ended the season in near free-fall, and will do without the services of top scoring defenceman Andrei Markov. Mathieu Schneider is also injured, but will play as best as possible; which will make the Habs vulnerable on defense and without a solid point on the powerplay.
Washington Capitals v. New York Rangers: Caps in five. The Caps had their top four scorers all average over a point a game; none of the Rangers eclipsed the sixty point mark or put up as many as thirty goals. Henrik Lundqvist is capable of keeping the series close, and the Blueshirts were best in the league killing penalties, but the Caps' ranked second on the man-advantage which should make the special teams a wash.
New Jersey Devils v. Carolina Hurricanes: Devils in six. New Jersey is simply a better team, although Hurricanes' netminder Cam Ward has a good enough cast in front of him to keep the series close.
Pittsburgh Penguins v. Philadelphia Flyers: Flyers in six. The Pens' Malkin and Crosby finished the regular season first and third in scoring; but the Flyers were no slouches in the offensive categories, leading the league with six scorers lighting the lamp twenty-five or more times. Distributed scoring should prove the difference in this series.
I'll go out on a limb and make picks all the way though, but will revisit after each round with more analysis.
Conference Semifinals
Western Conference
San Jose over St. Louis; Detroit over Chicago
Eastern Conference
Boston over Philadelphia; Washington over New Jersey
Conference Finals
Detroit over San Jose; Washington over Boston
Red Wings repeat as Stanley Cup winners in five games.
Western Conference:
San Jose Sharks v. Anaheim Ducks: Sharks in five. Even though Anaheim are a bunch of thugs, the Sharks are just too deep and too talented.
Detroit Red Wings v. Columbus Blue Jackets: Wings in five. Goaltending will be the key here- will the Detroit tandem of Chris Osgood and Ty Conklin flash the leather in playoff form after a less-than-stellar- especially for Osgood- regular season. Otherwise, on talent, this is as lopsided a matchup as the one above.
Vancouver Canucks v. St. Louis Blues: Blues in seven. This one will be a good series, with St. Louis making an incredible run to finish as the sixth seed after being last in the Western Conference as late as February. The Blues come in as the hot team, and have a decided advantage in special teams (PP- 7th in the NHL, PK 3rd; Vancouver PP 17th, PK 16th)
Chicago Blackhawks v. Calgary Flames: Hawks in seven. This series will be a contrast in styles. Chicago gets a slight edge simply because their blueline corps is less likely to gamble and their scoring is better distributed; but this is as close to a tossup as there is.
Eastern Conference:
Boston Bruins v. Montreal Canadiens: Bruins in four. Montreal ended the season in near free-fall, and will do without the services of top scoring defenceman Andrei Markov. Mathieu Schneider is also injured, but will play as best as possible; which will make the Habs vulnerable on defense and without a solid point on the powerplay.
Washington Capitals v. New York Rangers: Caps in five. The Caps had their top four scorers all average over a point a game; none of the Rangers eclipsed the sixty point mark or put up as many as thirty goals. Henrik Lundqvist is capable of keeping the series close, and the Blueshirts were best in the league killing penalties, but the Caps' ranked second on the man-advantage which should make the special teams a wash.
New Jersey Devils v. Carolina Hurricanes: Devils in six. New Jersey is simply a better team, although Hurricanes' netminder Cam Ward has a good enough cast in front of him to keep the series close.
Pittsburgh Penguins v. Philadelphia Flyers: Flyers in six. The Pens' Malkin and Crosby finished the regular season first and third in scoring; but the Flyers were no slouches in the offensive categories, leading the league with six scorers lighting the lamp twenty-five or more times. Distributed scoring should prove the difference in this series.
I'll go out on a limb and make picks all the way though, but will revisit after each round with more analysis.
Conference Semifinals
Western Conference
San Jose over St. Louis; Detroit over Chicago
Eastern Conference
Boston over Philadelphia; Washington over New Jersey
Conference Finals
Detroit over San Jose; Washington over Boston
Red Wings repeat as Stanley Cup winners in five games.
