Early Playoff Predictions

[tony d 2]

Part of being back means this is on the go again, subsequent months will have them done on the 1st of the month.  As always feedback is welcome and standings are based upon standings as of the morning on the date they're done.

East 1st round:

New Jersey (1) vs. N.Y. Rangers (

Comments: The Rangers are a tough team to figure out this year. 1 game they're playing like a great team and then the next 1 they play poorly.  The Devils have been playing great all year and look to be a tough out come playoff time.

Prediction: New Jersey in 5

Buffalo (2) vs. Montreal (7)

Comments: There is no better surprise in the league this year than the Buffalo Sabres.  I had them missing the playoffs but here they are leading the Northeast.  I expect Montreal to put up a good fight but to ultimately lose.

Prediction: Buffalo in 6

Washington (3) vs. Ottawa (6)

Comments: i expect Ottawa to win the Northeast so this series will not happen as I expect Washington to win the Southeast.  Still this series should be a good one.  The first playoff battle of the 2 nation capitals in 12 years.

Prediction: Washington in 7

Pittsburgh (4) vs. Boston (5)

Comments: The Penguins have played snake-bit as of late.  So much so that I think they can be vulnerable in the playoffs.  I don't expect them to get eliminated in the 1st round though.

Prediction: Pittsburgh in 6

East 2nd Round

New Jersey (1) vs. Pittsburgh (4)

Comments: Here's some trivia sports fans, the last time the defending Cup champ was eliminated in Round 2 of the next playoffs was Detroit in 1999, history repeats itself here.

Prediction: New Jersey in 6

Buffalo (2) vs. Washington (3)

Comments: I expect Miller and Ovechkin to be the top 2 contenders for the Hart trophy this year, should be a good series.

Prediction: Washington in 6

East Final

New Jersey (1) vs. Washington (3)

Comments: should be a good series but the Devils are to good a team to not go all the way to the finals this year.

Prediction: New Jersey in 6

West 1st Round

San Jose (1) vs. Los Angeles (

Comments: I think the Kings will put up a valiant effort but the Sharks will win this series.

Prediction: San Jose in 6

Chicago (2) vs. Vancouver (7)

Comments: Much like Ottawa I think Vancouver will win their division so this playoff match will not happen.  Still it occurs here and I expect a good series from these 2.

Prediction: Chicago in 6

Colorado (3) vs. Nashville (6)

Comments: The league's 2 surprise teams.  It is good to see both doing so well.

Prediction: Colorado in 6

Phoenix (4) vs. Calgary (5)

Comments: There is no better story or bigger surprise in the NHL this year than the Coyotes, still I think the Flames are to good for Phoenix.

Prediction: Calgary in 6

West 2nd Round

San Jose (1) vs. Calgary (5)

Comments: Calgary becomes the last hope for Canada in this year's playoffs, should be a good series.

Prediction: San Jose in 6

Chicago (2) vs. Colorado (3)

Comments: While the Colorado story has been good this year, Chicago's to good a team to lose to soon in the playoffs.

Prediction: Chicago in 6

West Final

San Jose (1) vs. Chicago (2)

Comments:  This should be a tremendous West final, both teams want to get into the finals; The Sharks put up a great effort but in the end it will all prove for naught.

Prediction: Chicago in 7

Stanley Cup Final

New Jersey vs. Chicago

Comments: This should be a great final, in the end I see Hossa finally getting his Cup.

Prediction: Chicago in 6

[dougie]

Congratulation. Did u copy that from Sporting News!? Could swear.........

[ap_cymru]

without going into a pile of predictions ... It is starting to look like Detroit  - now getting healthy - could squeak into one of the last two playoff spots. (if Colorado or Vancouver undergo collapse then they could make it as high as sixth but I doubt it).

So that means either San Jose or Chicago could face Detroit in a first round matchup.

yikes. I know they are getting a little long in the tooth ... but that is still a pretty damn good team.

[evilducks]

without going into a pile of predictions ... It is starting to look like Detroit  - now getting healthy - could squeak into one of the last two playoff spots. (if Colorado or Vancouver undergo collapse then they could make it as high as sixth but I doubt it).

So that means either San Jose or Chicago could face Detroit in a first round matchup.

yikes. I know they are getting a little long in the tooth ... but that is still a pretty damn good team.

I've been dreading this possibility for ages.

Also, I see no reason why they couldn't climb higher than 7th.

[ap_cymru]

without going into a pile of predictions ... It is starting to look like Detroit  - now getting healthy - could squeak into one of the last two playoff spots. (if Colorado or Vancouver undergo collapse then they could make it as high as sixth but I doubt it).

So that means either San Jose or Chicago could face Detroit in a first round matchup.

yikes. I know they are getting a little long in the tooth ... but that is still a pretty damn good team.

I've been dreading this possibility for ages.

Also, I see no reason why they couldn't climb higher than 7th.

in today's NHL it's hard to pick up 5 points in on teams that are playing reasonably well (Colorado and Vancouver) - harder still to gain on teams even further ahead (LA, Phoenix).

I am not saying its impossible but I consider it a lot less likely than a 7th 8th finish.

[ap_cymru]

Varlemov Theodre
Leighton Boucher
Huet Niemi

which of the strong teams above will most regret their goaltending tandems come playoff time?

[evilducks]

Varlemov Theodre
Leighton Boucher
Huet Niemi

which of the strong teams above will most regret their goaltending tandems come playoff time?

Philly.  But all 3 will to some degree.

[ap_cymru]

there was a column in Chicago the other day defending the lack of activity on acquiring a goaltender on the grounds that all the other top teams' goaltending was just as bad - citing the Olympic performances of Kiprusoff, Nabokov and Luongo. It then said the only real threat was Jimmy Howard in Detroit.

Struck me as rather an odd column. I think I would much ... much rather have one of those three than either Howard or Huet.

Let's face it ... Huet's name is onomatopoeic for some of the games he coughs up.

[SensFan07]

there was a column in Chicago the other day defending the lack of activity on acquiring a goaltender on the grounds that all the other top teams' goaltending was just as bad - citing the Olympic performances of Kiprusoff, Nabokov and Luongo. It then said the only real threat was Jimmy Howard in Detroit.

Struck me as rather an odd column. I think I would much ... much rather have one of those three than either Howard or Huet.

Let's face it ... Huet's name is onomatopoeic for some of the games he coughs up.

Haha, nice.

I think Philly and Washington will especially be in trouble come playoff time. At least Chicago has a really solid defence to make up for their average goaltending.

[Sharks2009]

I think Philly will regret it the most, as they are the worst of the three teams, overall, and therefore, their goaltending woes will be shown early.

Wings needs to either play really well and get to 6th...or die off, and end up out of the playoffs.

I dread having the Wings in the 1st round...playing in the Joe 3 games out of 7...

Not that playing Calgary is all that much better...

[NonMint]

I think Philly will regret it the most, as they are the worst of the three teams, overall, and therefore, their goaltending woes will be shown early.

Wings needs to either play really well and get to 6th...or die off, and end up out of the playoffs.

I dread having the Wings in the 1st round...playing in the Joe 3 games out of 7...

Not that playing Calgary is all that much better...

I'd rather play Calgary than Detroit. Calgary looks like they've exhausted Kipper again down the stretch, and I'm not sure they are as good as their additions seem, although they didn't subtract much.

-NonMint

[evilducks]

I think Philly will regret it the most, as they are the worst of the three teams, overall, and therefore, their goaltending woes will be shown early.

Wings needs to either play really well and get to 6th...or die off, and end up out of the playoffs.

I dread having the Wings in the 1st round...playing in the Joe 3 games out of 7...

Not that playing Calgary is all that much better...

A choice between Calgary and Detroit?  Calgary, every day of the week.  Sorry Calgary fans, Detroit is the far far FAR scarier team in the playoffs, and as far as teams that choke come playoff time, the only team with a worse rep than the Sharks is the Flames.  At least we usually don't choke until the second round.

[Sharks2009]

I think Philly will regret it the most, as they are the worst of the three teams, overall, and therefore, their goaltending woes will be shown early.

Wings needs to either play really well and get to 6th...or die off, and end up out of the playoffs.

I dread having the Wings in the 1st round...playing in the Joe 3 games out of 7...

Not that playing Calgary is all that much better...

A choice between Calgary and Detroit?  Calgary, every day of the week.  Sorry Calgary fans, Detroit is the far far FAR scarier team in the playoffs, and as far as teams that choke come playoff time, the only team with a worse rep than the Sharks is the Flames.  At least we usually don't choke until the second round.

My thinking is...the Wings will be a tough opponent in terms of skill, but won't cause much bodily harm.

The Flames will cause severe bodily harm, even if it is only a 5 game series.

I don't want to play either...Preds please!

[Stupid Fan]

The reward for being the no. 1 in your conference should be getting to pick your opponent.  Any team from your own conference.  Then no. 2 picks (assuming team no. 1 didn't pick them), etc.

They could do a big special on it at the start of the playoffs... big night of TV viewership and sports pundantry.

I'm full of crazy ideas.

[ap_cymru]

the Eliteserien does that. (Swedish Elite League) - so not such a crazy idea.

It's a pretty cool idea because it (a) let's the winner get the advantage of choosing an opponent (b) gets the team they choose all riled up ... talk about motivation ... 'they want to play us because they think we are easy'