NHL Playoffs
 

And I keep the promise.

The playoffs start later this week. And it's a surprising lineup this year.

Phoenix? Chicago? Boston? Vancouver? Montreal?

Yep, this was a rather bizarre NHL season. The 4-8 seeds in the West were separated by 4 points. Iginla led the NHL in scoring...with only 96 points. The Flyers fell apart towards the end of the season, yet still won the Atlantic Division.

So, the first question I will pose is this: Can anyone knock off Detroit?

I'll post my picks tomorrow.

"Can anyone knock off Detroit?" Quit teasing the the Tigers! Oh, sorry...

*snort* <tea>splurt</tea>

Dammit... that's another keyboard you owe me, Griff.

And the answer is.... no. Detroit will win easily and the only good thing is that it'll be the last time. Christ, what do you say about a team where Brett Hull is fourth on the squad in scoring? I realize he isn't the dominating guy he was in the olden days but...

It crushed me to no end to see him go to the Enemy. I was so hoping that he would get to finish his career back in St. Louis.

It's funny. Chicago used to be the undisputed arch-enemy of the Blues. Over the past few years, it seems to have swung towards the Red Wings. I still hate Chicago, but now I hate Detroit...almost as much as I hate the Kansas Jayhawks.

And speaking of the Chicago-St. Louis matchup, I'm going with the Blues in 7. The regular season ass-whippings we got from them aren't shit now.

Detroit over Vancouver: We already know the No. 8 seed can be a bitch (San Jose over St. Louis 2 years ago). But let's be real here.

Colorado over Los Angeles: I'll go with 6 games.

San Jose over Phoenix: NEVER trust the Sharks.


EASTERN CONFERENCE

Montreal over Boston: I think Saku Koivu provides that spark that will provide the upset of the playoffs.

Flyers over Ottawa: Ottawa's playoff history is spotty. I think this is the type of series the Flyers can take in 5 games. Perhaps the Flyers will show that they are the great team they were picked to be before the season started.

New Jersey over Carolina: I would imagine the fans in Raleigh don't know what to do with themselves. Playoff hockey?! What's that? In any case, the Devils should take this one.

Toronto over the Islanders: The Islanders will be the team to beat...next year.

Semi-finals

EAST: Flyers over Montreal
Toronto over New Jersey

WEST: Detroit over St. Louis (another rough and tumble 7-game series)
Colorado over San Jose

Conference finals

EAST: Toronto over Philadelphia
WEST: Detroit over Colorado (another rough and tumble 7-game series)

Stanley Cup:

Detroit over Toronto: 6 games

I'm going on a limb here. I'm not giving good teams in Boston and on Long Island their props. I dunno...this is Boston's first trip to the playoffs in how long? A while. Although, the same for the Habs. Montreal's got solid playoff history behind them though.

I've been wrong before though. :)

Colorado will knock out the Wingers.
I used to like Detroit-Stevie, Shanny, Lidstrom, Sergei and the Russians... But since they loaded for bear with Chelios,and *shiver of disgust* whiney Hull and Hasek, I find them very hard to cheer for.I hope spunky Vancouver goes 7 and at least wears Detroit down with their speed.

I think Colorado is going to come out of the West- Patrick wants to make good on missing the Olympic gold and they have Sakic's wrister.

From the East...
Montreal and Boston is a classic- I dont know who to root for. I will be a nice hockey patron and say "I just hope all the boys do their best." Its great to see Koivu back, bless him.
But I bet the Flyers will emerge out of the East and it could just be their year.

Lets watch! pass the popcorn and strap that helmet tight.

Can anyone knock off Detroit?
Yes. Anyone playing with heart.
And its nice to see Forsberg back.