Playoff Predictions

Long time no blog! I've got a few tidbits of Smokies related information to pass on very shortly. Maybe even tonight. The spring camp is coming up in Princeton this weekend with over 90 skaters and 15 goalies. Should be great.

For now I'm just posting some NHL playoff predictions so you can make fun of me when I'm wrong.

Oh, and I think I'm going to predict Pencticton over Nanaimo for the Fred Page Cup. I just have a hunch!

I wrote these down yesterday and since action is underway I better get on it now!

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Detroit over (8) Nashville in 5 games

I don't see this one being particularly tough for the Red Wings. You never know what could happen, but they should feast on Nashville's goaltending. The one thing to watch for is a great PK from the Preds and possible injuries biting the Wings.

(2) San Jose over (7) Calgary in 5 games

I don't buy into the Flames at all. They were healthy all year and got no traction on three teams (Colorado, Edmonton and Vancouver) that were decimated by injury. The Sharks should own them. Calgary's only edges are physical and leadership. Not enough.

(6) Colorado over (3) Minnesota in 6 games

Who do you want to go to the playoff dance with... Forsberg, Sakic, Smyth and Foote or Gaborik, Rolston, Bouchard and Demintra? Colorado knows how to win the Wild don't. That's not to say it guarantees anything but with the teams as close as they are it sure makes a different. Colorado with a healthy Sakic, Forsberg and Foote all year wins the division easily. Wild will put up a fight but that's it.

(4) Anaheim over (5) Dalls in 7 games

I can't predict a short series with the record Dallas has against Anaheim this season. However, the Ducks defence is MILES ahead of Dallas'. It's not even fair. With Zubov out there's no way the Stars can match up on the blue line. Better scoring depth probably but not by enough.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Montreal over (8) Boston in 4 games

Habs owned the Bruins all year. Boston may get a fluke game but it won't be competitive.

(7) Ottawa over (2) Pittsburgh in 7 games

Nobody thinks it'll happen, but the Senators still have all the talent they had last year they just need to get their heads straight. I think the playoffs are a whole different animal and that may motivate this team. If not you have to shake things up drastically in the off season.

(3) Washington over (6) Philadelphia in 6 games

Hottest team down the stretch against a team that faltered. The Flyers forwards are too inconsistent and soft. Their defence is too big and slow. Their goaltending is average. Just not enough there. Capitals are confident, hungry and they have the best player in the game this year.

(4) New Jersey over (5) New York Rangers in 7 games

Toughest series to call in the NHL by far. Rangers have the forward depth, Devils have the better defence. To me it comes down to experience in goal. They're both great but Brodeur knows how to do it.

So there you have it.

Based on that I'd go in the second round Colorado over Detroit, San Jose over Anaheim (great series), Ottawa over Montreal, New Jersey over Washington.

In the third round San Jose over Colorado and New Jersey over Ottawa.

Leaving us with the New Jersey Devils and San Jose Sharks playing in the lowest scoring series of the century for the Stanley Cup. To me the Devils and Rangers are really the only teams who can play the kind of style you'd need to to challenge the western teams for the cup. That being said I'm giving the mug to the Sharks this year. That's a dangerous choice because they are often playoff failures. I think things are really clicking for those guys now, and their younger players have very valuable playoff experience under their belt. Campbell helps the transition game and Nabakov is more confident than ever because he was finally given the ball all season. What's your call?