The Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

The Game Room
1

Playoff hockey! Here are your matchups, folks!

Key: Rank. Team name (Points, Goal Differential)

EASTERN CONFERENCE

  1. Washington (107, +27) vs. 8. New York Rangers (93, +35)

Despite the seedings these teams are pretty evenly matched; the Capitals aren’t really a sensational team and the Rangers were unlucky to finish as low as they did. Still, I’m inclined to think the Rangers, despite finishing eighth, overachieved and the Capitals, despite finishing first, underacheived… I know that sounds weird but it makes sense to me. I like the Capitals and will take them in six, but I’m not going to be shocked if New York upsets.

  1. Philadelphia (106, +36) vs. 7. Buffalo (96, +16)

You never know when Ryan Miller will steal a game, but to be honest I’m surprised the Sabres made the playoffs. Philadelphia has substantially better offense and I think they’ll shell Miller enough.

  1. Boston (103, +51) vs. 6. Montreal (96. +7)

Montreal has a long tradition of beating Boston and I’m sure Bruins fans are snakebitten after last year, but the Bruins are the best team in the East, IMHO. This is a potentially wonderful series but I think there’s a good chance Boston will roll in four or five.

  1. Pittsburgh (106, +39) vs. Tampa Bay (103, +7)

Tamps Bay can score but they can’t keep the other team off the scoreboard. Even without Crosby, the Pens are a bit better. If by some miracle he comes back healthy they’re the best team in the East. Pens.
WESTERN CONFERENCE

  1. Vancouver (117, +77) vs. Chicago (97, +33)

A lot will be made about the fact tha tthe Canucks have died agaisnt the Hawks the last two years. It just doesn’t really matter as much as people think it does; these are pro athletes and they’re used to playing teams that have beaten them before. Don’t put a lot of stock in that crap. Chicago is a very good team still, and could upset, but the Canucks are the best team in the NHL and I’ll pick them aainst anyone.

  1. San Jose (105, +35) vs. Los Angeles (98, +21)

Despite the seeding disparily LA actually won just two fewer games. I much prefer LA’s ability to shut down on defense, and so I’m picking them in a first round upset. Not that San Jose choking is necessarily going to shock anyone.

  1. Detroit (104, +20) vs. Phoenix (99, +5)

In what might be their last series before becoming the Winnipeg Shitheads or whatever, Phoenix draws a team that makes the playoffs every damned year. Seriously, how does Detroit do this? I guess they’ll beat the Yotes. However, it’s worth noting that Detroit stinks defensively; they allowed more goals per game than any other playoff team, more shots per game than any team in the entire league except the Sharks, and have a lousy penalty kill, so they could flub this one in their own end. The Yotes would be well advised to really press offensively.

  1. Anaheim (99, +4) vs. Nashville (99, +25)

How can you not cheer for the Nashville Predators, the wonderful little organization that somehow puts a contender on the ice every year despite playing in Tennessee? I want them to win something, dammit. I pick them. Anyway I think they’re the better team.

2

Especially when them advancing to the second round means we get an extra second round pick, right? :smiley:

3

I’ll looks through the other matchups later.
Sharks in five, making short work of the La La Landers.

4

Ya, but the 1st round pick is far less valuable the deeper they go in! I want them one and out, even though I’m buddies with their organist. :smiley:

5

As of this morning, the Canucks could have been up against any of three different teams. After watching the Blackhawks/Wings game and the Stars/Wild game in a near state of fan-panic, I’m glad we ended up with the 'Hawks. There’s some demons from past seasons that need to be exorcised.

6

From the tv schedule, it seems not a single game of the Ducks/Predators series will be televised in the United States?

Schedule

I hope this isn’t so. I’m sure the schedule is flexible depending on how long each series goes, but I don’t think an entire playoff matchup should receive no tv coverage. Between Versus, the NHL network, and NBC, there should be enough room to fit all the games in.

7

Nobody wants to see those two teams, anyway. :wink:

8

Damn, up against Boston again. Hope everyone in Montreal has got their riot gear ready.

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I love that every single game will be on TV here in Canada. There will be a lot of channel flipping going on!

3 more sleeps 'til the Habs start their series! Antigen riot gear is a must regardless of match-ups!

10

Sorry for the double post; does the NHL Three Stars (the season-long Compuware ones) lead to anything at the end of the season? I know individual teams in Canada give the Molson Cup to the player with the most star selections, but do the NHL ones have any significance whatsoever? Is there a random award for winning that?

Because Carey Price won whatever-it-was this year, and I want to see a fancy-ass trophy.

11

Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay are also only JIP (Joined in Progress). They have no full games scheduled on Versus.

In the LA area, we have our 2 teams in for the first time - which is awesome - but we also have 2 baseball teams, 2 basketball teams, and 2 soccer teams in season with 7:00 or 7:30 start times on the 2 Fox Sports channels. Wednesday, when the Ducks have their first game, the Dodgers and Clippers are already scheduled. Other days are the same. It sucks. The games could possibly be tape delayed. If they’re not, then they’re probably going to get tossed to a local channel and the one the Ducks use isn’t broadcast in HD on Directv. They had the last 3 games of the season on the channel and the feed was 4:3 standard def. I can’t shame my eyes like that.

12

Crosby and Malkin go down and nobody cares about the Penguins.

Just to do something different this year, I’m going to make two sets of picks. One will be mine. The other will be entirely random and made by flipping my President James K. Polk dollar coin. Heads will be one team. Tails the other. I’ll flip until I get a four game winner. If the coin lands on it’s side and stays there, then Toronto wins the Stanley Cup. Now we can all see if we can do better than an inanimate object.:smiley:

Eastern Conference:

Washington Capitals (heads) vs. New York Rangers (Tails): I still don’t think the Caps have got it in them to go all the way. I’d be hard pressed to put them in the conference finals. I still think they’ll make it up a round. Caps in 5. And President Polk agrees with the Caps in 5 and the Rangers winning game three.

Philadelphia (heads) vs. Buffalo (tails): Ryan Miller last season could take this series. Ryan Miller this season? I don’t think so. Flyers in 6. President Polk has gone the other way with the Sabres taking it in 5, beating the flyers three times at home.

Boston (heads) vs. Montreal (tails): Ooooh. This is one of those things that could turn into a really bitter and nasty rivalry. As Detroit had to lose to Colorado before they could beat them, I’ll take Boston to win in 7. Once again, President Polk agrees with me taking Boston in 7 in a back and forth series.

Pittsburgh (heads) vs. Tampa Bay (tails): I have no rational reason to make the pick this way. I’m simply rooting for Steve Yzerman. :wink: Tampa Bay in 5. President Polk has Tampa winning in 6. I’m starting to like this guy.

Western Conference:

Vancouver (heads) vs. Chicago (tails): Vancouver romped their way through the regular season while Chicago celebrated winning the Stanley Cup by sending their entire team to Atlanta. If there’s a sweep gonna happen, it’s gonna happen here. Vancouver in 4. President Polk sees it differently. Vancouver will win in 7. Now I’m starting to wonder about him.

San Jose (heads) vs. Los Angeles (tails): San Jose’s best chance to win it was last year. I think they’ve peaked, and I’ll take the upset here. Kings in 6. President Polk has opted for the safe pick and taken San Jose in 4. Dirty coward.

Detroit (heads) vs. Phoenix (tails): Detroit just doesn’t have the defense or the consistent play to do it. They’ve gotten a wee bit worse every year and it’ll finally catch them this year. Pains me to say it, but Phoenix in 6. Even Polk is against the Wings with the Yotes doing it in 5. Sorry Babcock. Even President Polk is against you.

Anaheim (heads) vs. Nashville (tails): The battle of two teams I could give a flying frick about. I hate Anaheim more, so they’ll probably win it. Lousy bastards. **Ducks in 4. ** President Polk goes the same way but adds one with Ducks in 5.

13

Hawks in 7.

Sharks in 7.

Red Wings in 6.

Ducks in 5.

Caps in 5.

Lightning in 7.

Bruins in 6.

Sabres in 6.

I’m dismayed that I didn’t find a single sweep, but this is how I see it going down. :slight_smile:

14

I think the Sharks are better this year than last, despite the struggles early in the season. The Canucks are the reason we might not make it this year.

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EASTERN CONFERENCE

  1. Washington (107, +27) vs. 8. New York Rangers (93, +35) - Caps have the greatest pressure to win, but Lunquist will steal a couple in the process. Caps in 6.

  2. Philadelphia (106, +36) vs. 7. Buffalo (96, +16) - Flyers have almost the same pressure as Caps to win, but will the goaltending hold up for them or will their scoring lines have to win alot of 5-4, 6-5, 7-6 games? **Flyers in 6.
    **

  3. Boston (103, +51) vs. 6. Montreal (96. +7) - F’n Tim Thomas. Done said enough. Bruins in 5.

  4. Pittsburgh (106, +39) vs. Tampa Bay (103, +7) - Looking a lot like the Flyer-Saber series, except this is a coin flip. Lightning in 7.
    WESTERN CONFERENCE

  5. Vancouver (117, +77) vs. Chicago (97, +33) - I’ll cut Chicago some slack. Just a little…**Canucks in 5.
    **

  6. San Jose (105, +35) vs. Los Angeles (98, +21) - Evil NoCal must not touch Cup! It taints the precioussss! Kopitar out, Williams back. NoCal still EVIL!!! Kings in 6.

  7. Detroit (104, +20) vs. Phoenix (99, +5) - Possible upset. Bryz better bring it. Can Doan carry the team? Erm…not quite. Red Wings in 7.

  8. Anaheim (99, +4) vs. Nashville (99, +25) - Most intriguing game of the round. Good matchups and goaltending. Homer says Ducks in 6.

16

Already looking ahead, are we? :rolleyes:

17

The Devils just won the draft lottery, moving up from eighth to fourth. The top five are Edmonton, Colorado, Florida, Jersey and the Islanders.

18

Eh. This might just be my expecting the annual collapse of the Sharks, but I was expecting a lot more of a showing early on, and the concept of trying to cheap out on a goalie is really shaky to me. If they still had Nabokov, I’d be picking them to win it.

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EASTERN CONFERENCE

  1. Washington vs. 8. New York Rangers (93, +35) - Caps in 5.

  2. Philadelphia (106, +36) vs. 7. Buffalo (96, +16) - Flyers in 7.

  3. Boston (103, +51) vs. 6. Montreal (96. +7) - Boston in 6

  4. Pittsburgh (106, +39) vs. Tampa Bay (103, +7) - Pittsburgh in 7

WESTERN CONFERENCE

  1. Vancouver (117, +77) vs. Chicago (97, +33) - Vancouver in 5

  2. San Jose (105, +35) vs. Los Angeles (98, +21) - San Jose in 4

  3. Detroit (104, +20) vs. Phoenix (99, +5) - Detroit in 6

  4. Anaheim (99, +4) vs. Nashville (99, +25) - Anaheim in 6

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EASTERN CONFERENCE

  1. Washington vs. 8. New York Rangers (93, +35) - Caps are traditional chokers, but their team does look better for the playoffs this year - Caps in 6

  2. Philadelphia (106, +36) vs. 7. Buffalo (96, +16) - I really want to go against the Flyers but I can’t see the Sabres beating them - Philly in 6

  3. Boston (103, +51) vs. 6. Montreal (96. +7) - Boston is another traditional choker, add one to the resume - Montreal in 7

  4. Pittsburgh (106, +39) vs. Tampa Bay (103, +7) - I think Pittsburgh’s experience wins out, especially if they get Crosby for any of the series - Pitt in 7

WESTERN CONFERENCE

  1. Vancouver (117, +77) vs. Chicago (97, +33) - Admittedly biased pick, but Sedins can’t handle pressure - Hawks in 7 (maybe 6 if they get Brouwer and Bolland back)

  2. San Jose (105, +35) vs. Los Angeles (98, +21) - San Jose has lots of talent and experience (although much of it involves choking) can’t see LA matching them - Sharks in 5

  3. Detroit (104, +20) vs. Phoenix (99, +5) - If Detroit gets healthy, they are always a threat Yotes don’t seem ready yet - Detroit in 6

  4. Anaheim (99, +4) vs. Nashville (99, +25) - I think this is one of the most interesting series in the first round, two very different teams that finished strong and Anaheim’s top line is awesome. Ducks in 7