[xtrudood]

Eastern Conference

(1) Rangers
vs.
(8) Senators
Sens have a chance, but Lundquist looks like a trooper this year...
(2) Bruins
vs.
(7) Capitals
....duh, did you really expect me to pick the Crapitals?
(3) Panthers
vs.
(6) Devils
Will Broduer pull off a playoff miracle? or hang them up at the end of this year....we'll see...
(4) Penguins
vs.
(5) Flyers
the battle of Pennsylvania! both teams hate each other enough that the winner of this one may need a week off to recover! sticking with the Pens, because...ummm....yeah...well...
Western Conference

(1) Canucks
vs.
(8) Kings
rematch of last years champs would be nice....
(2) Blues
vs.
(7) Sharks
anyone but Joe Thornton...since he left Boston he is the enemy....

(3) Coyotes
vs.
(6) Blackhawks
I know someone here likes them and plus the Blackhawks are a little cocky....

(4) Predators
vs.
(5) Red Wings[/QUOTE]
Red Wings were a hot team at one point this year and they are starting to show their age, Lindstrom, you should have hung up your skates....

[Frodogzzz]

The only teams I REALLY want to see out are the Capitals and the Canucks. I can live with any of the other teams winning, to different degrees. Bruins, Penguins, Blues and Blackhawks are the teams I like most.

[hablyShappY]

Eastern Conference

(1) Rangers
vs.
(8) Senators
No brainer

(2) Bruins
vs.
(7) Capitals
I just don't think the Caps have it, idk

(3) Panthers
vs.
(6) Devils
Snoozefest

(4) Penguins
vs.
(5) Flyers
Fuck da Flyers

Western Conference

(1) Canucks
vs.
(8) Kings
Just a guess

(2) Blues
vs.
(7) Sharks
I'd actually be happy to see the Blues win this one

(3) Coyotesvs.
(6) Blackhawks
Should be close, but I'm going to take Kane on this one

(4) Predators
vs.
(5) Red Wings
PJ don't you dare!!!

[AgJ5mNXM]

Eastern Conference
(1) Rangers
vs.
(8) Senators
Sens have played very inconsistent this year..

(2) Bruins
vs.
(7) Capitals
Capitals only if Who's that guy's name.. Overkill I mean Ovechkin can spark his team.. But I doubt it so dont' sweat it PJ, Ovechkin will be golfing soon..

(3) Devils
vs.
(6) Panthers
Yes Brodeur pull off a playoff miracle. That basturd always wakes up for the playoffs

(4) Flyres
vs.
(5) Penguins
The Flyers can smell blood and will go after Crosby right away. This will be good old Philly style of hockey where playing fair is playing with blind refs.. Expect to see a lot of sparks in this series..

Western Conference
(1) Canucks
vs.
(8) Kings
One would tend to say this is an easy series but there is no such thing.. Expect the Kings to make a run at the Canucks as they have never made it far in the Playoffs..

(2) Blues
vs.
(7) Sharks
This could be interesting if San Jose steps up their play. But I expect the Blues to take this in 4..

(3) Blackhawks
vs.
(6) Coyotes
Sorry Yote fans but the Blackhawks are just a killing machine this year.. They say its a new season and I wish the Yotes well but the Hawks should have this series..

(4) Red Wings
vs.
(5) Predators
The Red Wings always seem to pull this off in the first and even second round..

[hablyShappY]

(4) Red Wings
vs.
(5) Predators
The Red Wings always seem to pull this off in the first and even second round..

You're too sweet

[AgJ5mNXM]

You're too sweet

I remember the Canucks going into the series with Detroit and them being out 3 guys and us full strength.. They won it in 5 fucken games..

The magic of the playoffs is that players that never scored or stayed on the bench often come alive.. 4th lines become you best ones and you top line sucks..

[infollafago]

Lidstrum is still one of the best in the league. Why should he have quit?

[hablyShappY]

Lidstrum is still one of the best in the league. Why should he have quit?

No kidding, I'd be the first to admit if I thought he lost it, he still looks great out there.

[AgJ5mNXM]

Lidstrum is still one of the best in the league. Why should he have quit?

No need to worry Bill.. If Lidstrum was with the Bruins, Patrick would want him tom play another 15 years..

[lollypop]

To all you haters writing off the Coyotes, that's fine!

I would just like to see how surprised y'all are when the Mike Smith show comes to town. That man is on FIRE. And the better he plays, the better the rest of the team plays.

Everyone seems to forget we don't have Bryz the boy wonder in net this year. I don't foresee a total collapse from Smitty in the playoffs like we saw from Bryz last year.

I think it'll be an interesting series. I'm thinking it'll go to 6 or 7 games.

Then again, I've always been a fan of rooting for the underdog, hence why my picks are not in line with everyone else's.

[AgJ5mNXM]

To all you haters writing off the Coyotes, that's fine!

I love it..

You guys are so lonely for affection you are trying to create a rivalry.. First you need to fill the arena..

[hablyShappY]

I think it could go either way with that series, it's the closest one in my eyes.
They've always given us a run for our money, no hating!

[foltdan]

Eastern Conference


(1) Rangers
vs.
(8) Senators

This is the biggest gimmie in the playoffs to me... the Rangers are too talented in every area for the Senators to be able to put up a very convincing fight. Lundqvist has been an absolute beast in net, and will probably end up winning the Vezina Trophy for his efforts this season. But, important to note is the fact that the Senators were actually able to take the Rangers down 3-1 in their games this season. Both teams suffer from a lack of depth past their top two lines, but I think it's going to come down to the Rangers experience vs. the Senators youth. The Senators young players, while talented, are going to buckle under the pressure of their first taste of the playoffs and go down without much of a fight.

​Rangers in 4


(2) Bruins
vs.
(7) Capitals

The Caps are suffering from a number of injuries in net, and that's really going to hurt them as they try to knock off the defending Stanley Cup champs. The Bruins don't have the same issues in that area, with Tim Thomas providing a steady presence for them between the pipes. I think the key to this series is going to be the return of Backstrom for the Caps... he was out for a long time this year, but was able to play the last four games of the year, getting progressively better in each game. I think that he and Ovechkin are finally going to be able to put their playoff demons behind them, and win this David vs. Goliath matchup.

Capitals in 7


(3) Panthers
vs.
(6) Devils

Much like the Coyotes, most of the so-called "experts" have written the Panthers off in this series... but I think that's way too premature. While the Panthers didn't impress a lot of people down the stretch, they did pick up points in 7 of their last 10 games on their way to their first ever Division Championship. They're a scrappy team that has trouble scoring goals without the man advantage, but punishes teams that have problems staying out of the box. Brodour is one of the best of all-time in net, but he's suffered from inconsistency problems over the course of his career, especially in the playoffs. I think the Cats end up scratching and clawing their way (pun intended) to a very hard fought round one victory.

Panthers in 7


(4) Penguins
vs.
(5) Flyers

Crosby is back and playing well for the Pens, and they're a scoring machine with Malkin putting up huge numbers this year en route to a likely Hart Trophy. Meanwhile the Flyers have a very inconsistent goalie in Bryzgalov, and a number of key injuries to deal with. In the end, the net is going to prove to be too humongous big (look it up if you don't know what I'm talking about) for Bryz to defend, while the Penguins march on to an easy round one victory.

Penguins in 5


Western Conference



(1) Canucks
vs.
(8) Kings

Which Roberto Luongo are we going to see show up in this series? The one that can be dominant, or the one that looks like he has no clue how to guard the net? Vancouver is dangerous as hell, in the top 6 in Goals, Goals Against, Power Play, and Penalty Kill. The Kings have a lot of problems scoring goals, but Quick is just spectacular in goal. The Kings come into the playoffs on a bit of a skid, losing their last two games to San Jose... though the Clowe play very well may have changed the outcome of that first game against them. I think the bad Luongo is going to show up, while Quick makes the Canucks offense suffer with amazing play in net.

Kings in 6


(2) Blues
vs.
(7) Sharks

The Blues have a two-headed monster in goal, and it's going to be tough for the Sharks to score goals against them... but maybe Clowe will be able to put one in from the bench. The Sharks are really talented up front, and I think will be able to score just enough goals to win the series, with their 2nd best power play showing up when they need it. The Blues don't score a lot of goals, and that's really going to hurt them. Ultimately, I think the series is a toss-up, with the Sharks pulling it off in the end.

Sharks in 7


(3) Coyotes
vs.
(6) Blackhawks

Well I'm obviously going to pick the Coyotes here, but not just because I'm a fan. The Coyotes are an excellent defensive team, boasting the fifth best GAA in the league this year, and the hottest goalie in the league right now in Mike Smith. The lack of a power play is really going to hurt them, but their 8th best penalty kill will be more than sufficient to face a power play that's nearly as bad as their own. We still don't know if Toews is even going to be playing in this series (still no decision about Thursday's game). Chicago's 3rd and 4th lines haven't been all that great this year, while Phoenix has gotten pretty good production from theirs.

Coyotes in 5


(4) Predators
vs.
(5) Red Wings

The Predators are flat out dominant on special teams, with the best Power Play in the league this year. Neither one of these teams spends much time in the penalty box (Detroit is 29th in PIMs and Nashville is 30th), but I fully expect the Predators to be able to capitalize when they get the man advantage, and that's what the difference in the series is going to be. Detroit had a horrible final stretch of the season, only winning 5 of their last 17, and losing their final two games. Sorry Red Wings fans, but you're going home in the first roun this year.

Predators in 6

[AgJ5mNXM]

Hey I would love to see all the underdogs win.. But its not a coincidence the teams ended up in the ranking in each of their division for the season..

Would I love to see the Blackhawks knocked out.. Damn right I would..

Hell they just took out our best scorer..

So yah Go Coyotes Go.. But realistically on ice and Paper it leads you to pick the odds on favorite.. But hey I have said this many times.. This is the playoffs and a new season.. Who knows..

[lollypop]

I love it..

You guys are so lonely for affection you are trying to create a rivalry.. First you need to fill the arena..

Not trying to make a rivalry, just having a lighthearted poke at everyone saying the Coyotes will get crushed by the Blackhawks. That's all. You'd do the same if it were your team.

Besides. We don't need a rivalry with you. We've already got Detroit. But, I still love Pan.

[foltdan]

I love it..

You guys are so lonely for affection you are trying to create a rivalry.. First you need to fill the arena..

We've been over 70% attendance for most of our playoff push... which is actually pretty significant. Remember something very important... crowds during the regular season don't always matter, look at what underdog teams like the Marlins have done with their two runs to being World Series Champions while getting far less fan support than the Coyotes get in Phoenix. What matters is the support in the playoffs, and we fill the house up for playoff games.

[foltdan]

(4) Flyres
vs.
(5) Penguins
The Flyers can smell blood and will go after Crosby right away. This will be good old Philly style of hockey where playing fair is playing with blind refs.. Expect to see a lot of sparks in this series..
...

(4) Red Wings
vs.
(5) Predators
The Red Wings always seem to pull this off in the first and even second round..

You have both of those mixed up. The Penguins and Predators are both the 4th seed in their respective conferences.

[foltdan]

(3) Devils
vs.
(6) Panthers
Yes Brodeur pull off a playoff miracle. That basturd always wakes up for the playoffs

...

(3) Blackhawks
vs.
(6) Coyotes
Sorry Yote fans but the Blackhawks are just a killing machine this year.. They say its a new season and I wish the Yotes well but the Hawks should have this series..

You mixed these up too... way to put the Division Champs down.

[hablyShappY]

I did wonder if Flyres was the olde english spelling

[foltdan]

I did wonder if Flyres was the olde english spelling

Haha... I didn't even notice that one.