In the East:
Montreal (1) v. Boston (8): Montreal in 6.
Montreal has an excellent 2nd half of the season to overtake other contenders in the East as top dog. Best power play percentage and good PK percentage (along with a low number of Penalty Kills) will take them far into the playoff season whereas Boston has one of the worst PK percentages (but thankfully a low # of penalties) and not a good PP percentage either. Boston gets Bergeron back, but he hasn’t seen any action since early this season…I don’t see him being a difference maker. Montreal should be able to dispatch Boston with little difficulty.
Pittsburgh (2) v. Ottawa (7): Pittsburgh in 6. Pittsburgh is definitely on a tear with regardless of Crosby being injured or not. He’s just icing on the cake. Both teams are powerhouses on offense. The difference? Goaltending, no doubt. Ottawa has been on one of the longest downturns this season after a red-hot start, but now it seems whether or not Ottawa’s offense can outplay Pittsburgh’s so Gerber and Emery won’t be a factor. Well, Rysto…that would be wishful thinking. Pittsburgh will outscore Ottawa. Pittsburgh’s defense is much more sound than Ottawa’s as well. Advantage: Pittsburgh.
Washington (3) v. Philadelphia (6): Washington in 7.
This is a coinflipper. Well, maybe not. Washington got a big boost in goaltending with the addition of Huet. Everything else is on the back of Ovechkin. He will deliver. IF Philadelphia can control him, they have a shot. Backstrom can also be a difference maker, but if Ovechkin goes south, don’t expect him to step up to take his place. Philadelphia has good scoring punch, but I believe their goaltending is suspect at best. I could see the home team winning every game, except the Caps stealing one late in the series.
New Jersey (4) v. New York (5): New York in 7.
I really don’t know what to make of these two teams. I only picked NY because some cabbie put a gun to my head.
In the West:
Detroit (1) v. Nashville (8): Detroit in 7. Detroit is strong in net, in scoring, in PP, in PK, in coaching, and in your mom’s fantasies as well. So, why 7 games? Nashville seems to have Detroit’s number. I know, I know…the playoffs are a whole different game, and Nashville has no right to be in the same country as Detroit. But somehow…Nashville finds any way to get into Detroit’s head, zone and net. Detroit as had some injuries as well and may not be 100%. A 90%…even an 80% Detroit team should be able to handle most contenders. But Nashville has scoring punch too and spread out over 2 solid lines. But if Hasek is Hasek, then this series may be over much sooner if Ellis and Mason are…ummm…Ellis and Mason. These two guys better show up or it’s minors for them next season…well at least for Mason.
San Jose (2) v. Calgary (7): San Jose in 7.
San Jose is much more powerful and focused this year than in any other year of their existence. When they added Campbell at the trade deadline, they actually became a true playoff contender. Nabokov fits perfectly on that team and has been the bread and butter while Thorton is jam that makes it sweet. Calgary are a tough opponent though who have also improved since last year. Iginla is on a mission as well, and is a true leader in every sense. He has the ability to will his team to victory. Good scoring punch as well from Langkow, Huselius, Phaneuf and Tangauay. Whoever can fire on all cylinders will have the advantage…and whoever blinks first between Nabokov and Kiprusoff will be doing it on the golf course as well in a couple of weeks. I think San Jose will not blink this time.
Minnesota (3) v. Colorado (6): Colorado in 7. Northwest divison was a one big merry-go-round to determine who should continue this horseplay on home ice. Whoever moves on to the next round will be dogfood for the next round’s opponent…but in this round, I think Colorado will have an edge in scoring since it’s more spread around than Minnesota’s. Goaltending is slightly better than average, but not a real difference maker in this series. Probably not the most exciting matchup this round…ok, it’s a yawner.
Anaheim (4) v. Dallas (5): Anaheim in 6. Dallas was knocking the snot out of Anaheim earlier this season, but Anaheim is gonna return the favor in this series. Minus Perry (injury), Penner (traded to Edmonton), and McDonald (traded to St. Louis), the gang is back to lay some wood on this divisional opponent. Giguerre is back to last year’s form, and Hiller is a good backup (although not as good as Bryzgolov who went to Phoenix), the Ducks should keep the other teams Offense out of the slot and into the corners, fighting for their very right to exist, let alone play hockey. The defense will be looking for opportunities to jump in on the offensive play but still be able to take on whatever Dallas can dish out. Turco will have to play the series of his life if he’s gonna get a sniff of the second round. Had Neidermayer and Selanne called it a career, then I’d say the teams are even strength, but a rested, but midseason form Selanne is gonna eat up any goalie and Neidermayer is gonna shut down any top line player.
Ok, let’s hear it Hockey Dopers!
