The N.H.L Playoffs
 

Defence is the key to winning the Stanley cup.
The defence of Chris Pronger and Scott Neidemayer is perfect!

This sport has changed, teachings and leadership of the great hockey players give the team the advantage over any other.
The Anaheim Ducks will win the stanley cup because of it.
This Anaheim team will dominate and beat this growing Penguins team in stanley cups to come in 2009 and 2010, Remember that!


Anaheim's greatest threat on the road to this particular Stanley cup is the Detroit Red Wings. Nicklas Lidstrom and Mathieu Schneider make up the 2nd greatest defencive line in hockey, but add to that the 2nd line of Chris Chelios and Danny Markov, even the 3rd line has Niklas Kronwall.

From the Eastern conference i don't think that there is a team that could compete with Anaheim or Detroit for that matter, although it would be nice to see the Ottawa Senators amazing team competing for it

Defence Is the key to winning the stanley cup.
The Anaheim Ducks will win he stanley cup yet again!
Anaheim will repeat!
Now, what we have is Chris Pronger and Scott Neidemayer and Mathieu Schneider.
When the playoffs come, this team will clearly be the odds on favorite.

Anaheim's greatest threat on the road to this particular Stanley cup is the San Jose Sharks.

From the Eastern conference i know, that there isn't a team that could compete with Anaheim.

I do believe the Penguins will be playing against the Ducks next season and the season after that, however, this year, it looks like they're not there yet.

Ottawa and Montreal look like the best teams on the ice from the East at this time.
Ilya Kovalchuk and Marian Hossa, should both remain healthy, will take the Thrashers into the playoffs where anthing can happen.
Keep in mind that the heavy weight super power teams are all in the Western Conference

Since Scott Neidemayer re-joined the Anaheim Ducks 15 games ago,
The Ducks are 11-2-2.
They hold an NHL leading 1.80 goal against average.

IMO, if you don't get scored against, you can't lose.
This will end up being the easiest Stanley Cup ever won.

I'm very interested in seeing if Marian Hossa leaves the thrashers or not.
If he does, Atlanta's season would be over.
If he went to the Senators, Ottawa would be odds on favorite to play Anaheim in the Stanley cup final.
If he goes to Washington, well Imagine Ovechkin, Semin and Hossa playing together, The Capitols would obviously be contenders in this weak Eastern Conference.
Lets see where one of the absoltutely greatest players on the ice ends up.

Eastern Conference

I don't disagree at all with Montreal getting rid of Huet.
I think it was a good move.
The Canadiens showing that they look at things as a whole rather than rolling the dice for this year alone.

Looking more and more likely with the Penguins adding Marion Hossa to what was already a guarenteed elite team.

The Capitols seem to be getting ready to be the Penguins greatest threat in the next couple years for that Eastern Conference representation in the stanley cup.

I was happy to see Florida hold on to Jokinen.
Although not in a playoff position at the moment, I could see the Panthers making a run now at the end to steala top 8 spot.
They certainly are playing better hockey than most of the teams around the playoff border.

Western Conference
The San Jose Sharks pick up the top defender B.Campbell to try to match up with Anaheim's defencive dominance.
Minnesota makes the best move they could make under the circumstances given that their in the hard hitting west.
Chris Simon gives theWild 3 tough guys to try to even out the damage in their innevitable clash against the Sharks or Ducks in the playoffs

Phoinex is a playoff calibure team at this time as they have proven to have extreme dicipline, and are in form at this time.

I'm interested to see Forsberg and Sakic both on the ice for Colorado.... Salei was a good defencive addition for the Avalanche.
Dallas becomes stronger with Richards.
Detroit smartly fills in a weakness by aquiring defencman Brad Stuart.

Agreeing with what you've said, also wanted to add that Colorado picking up Foote on defence was another good move for them.

Got to agree with you on Lidstrom and Schneider although
The Detroit Red Wings are a little worried.
Apparently they are not as sure about there defense as the press is.

That post was from last year when Schneider was playing for the Wings.
He now has joined the Ducks leaving Detroit much weaker.

I don't think Detroit has a chance in hell of making it to the Stanley cup.

Its San Jose or Anaheim from the Western Conference.

I'll be at home for the Wild/Avs series. I hope we can put it together without Schultz. Burnsie will play big and take on Foppa and old avs

And hopefully the other Western Conference teams will beat the hell out of each other. I know Jerome will bring it.

Out East, my heart belongs to the Habs. : )

Thats a really good series.
If you had asked me a month ago, i would have told you Minnesota in 5.
Things have changed though, and although the Wild are a better team in whole, Colorado's top line is looking much greater than Minnesota right now.

That would be a must for the Wild to have any hope of coming out on top in this heavy weight west.

Montreal looks really good from the East, but do not underestimate the Bruins in this series, they should win at least 2.

Why we traded Brunette to Colorado I will never know. He makes me the most nervous. Sakic can be contained, Foote can be worn by our newer big boys, Foppa will do his drama, but Bruno can muck, grind and thread that needle.

Backstrom can out duel Theodore

Gabby needs to show up. Voros has jump, Bouchard is tiny but tough, and I think Koivu will be flying.

YAY! first round come on!

Brunette was a must, given the goals of Minnesota.

Now, i don't know about that.
For the future, yeah.
At this time though, I'd say its the other way around.

Thats the reason why you're here.

You're forgetting about the Mr. Assist (Forsberg).
He is the reason why the Wild will not win this in 5.
...and lets not forget Smyth.

Colorado invested for this season.
It will not be an easy task.

*Emotionally drained, temporarily*

Forsberg is a drama queen. (cue dramatic head snap and dive)

The Wild have some deep fight, Burnsie was flying. (ok I'm partial). Theodore was hot and they found some lucky bounces.
Its a series?

How about Iginla? Like a plow through the sharks.

It would be nice if Calgary could take out the Sharks.
It would leave Anaheim a smaller opponent in the Western Finals.
But its not gonna hapen.
San Jose is too good, while Calgary, is barely worthy of being here.

The Wild certainly have fight.
I expect this particular series to go 6 at least with many overtime games.

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(#1)Montreal Canadiens - Boston Bruins(#8)
.........................Candiens lead series 1-0
I have money on Montreal winning the East.
The Canadiens have speed and depth.
Two very important elements in advancing through the play-offs.
I would not be suprised if Boston won a couple, away and home.

Montreal in 6

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(#2)Pittsburgh Penguins - Ottawa Senators(#7)
..........................Penguins lead series 1-0
I have money on Pittsburgh winning the East and the stanley cup.
I did believe that their year would be next year and the year after that, but purchasing Hossa may have put them at that level sooner than anticipated. Of course, this is the east, and even without their best player, Ottawa may steal a few games in this series.

Pittsburgh in 6

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(#3)Washington Capitols - Philadelphia Flyers(#6)
...................Series tied 0-0

I have money on the Capitols winning the East and the Stanley cup at huge prices. Again, I believed this team would be competitive in the next 3 years. The invesments made at deadline advanced this team at least a year into the future.

Washington in 5

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(#4)New Jersey Devils - New York Rangers(#5)
.......................Rangers lead series 1-0
This one will be close.

New York in 7

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(#1)Detroit Red Wings - Nashville Predators(#8)
..............Red WIngs lead series 1-0

Nashville is not Prongers 2006 Oilers.
$$$ wise, the Predators at least get their 2 home games they need.
How great would a game 6 loss be for them?
Its not likely though.

Next round will be tough on the Red Wings.

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(#2)San Jose Shark - Calgary Flames(#7)
.....................Series tied 1-1
I have money on the Sharks winning the West and the Stanley Cup.
How long can Phaneuf and Iginla carry this weak team on their shoulders?
There are overwhelming differences here.

Sharks in 5

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(#3)Minnesota Wild - Colrado Avalanche(#6)
..............Avalanche lead series 1-0
I've already talked about this series.
If the Av's don't take it in 6, then the Wild will take it in game 7.

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(#4)Anaheim Ducks - Dallas Stars(#5)
...............Stars lead series 1-0
I kind of expected the Ducks to do what they did in game 1.
The punishment will continue, then they'll just play hockey against a depleted Dallas team.

Ducks in 5

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Holy crap, Hockey is still around as a professional sport? I had no idea!