(1) Vancouver defeats (5) Nashville in 6. I actually think Nashville gives the Canucks a lot of matchup problems. Shea Weber and Ryan Suter eventually won the battle against the Ducks' top line to beat Anaheim in 6, and while Pekka Rinne didn't play great in that series, he is perfectly capable of stealing games for the resilient Predators. This will be a chess match between Alain Vigneault and Barry Trotz all series long, but I think the Canucks win out with superior talent and I don't see Nashville keeping up offensively.
(3) Detroit defeats (2) San Jose in 6. Last year's series was closer than it seemed at first glance. Detroit was gassed and they coughed up a couple games, most notably Game 3. The Sharks are better in net but about the same elsewhere as last year. Special teams will be critical, as Detroit will need to limit penalties in order to win. 5-on-5, they can take down the Sharks.
This is what I said before the playoffs began and a lot of it still holds true. However, a couple factors have made me more confident in this pick. Antti Niemi looked shaky at times in net against the offensively challenged Kings, and the Wings will be completely healthy heading into this round. I believe Detroit is slightly deeper at forward and better defensively, though both teams can be sloppy on the back end at times. Detroit's penalty kill needs to be a lot better than what it was against Phoenix, but San Jose had power play problems of their own. All in all, it's a pretty even series but I see Detroit's depth taking over, even though many will give the edge in net to Niemi.
East picks are the same:
EAST
(5) Tampa Bay defeats (1) Washington in 7. Tampa Bay will be playing with house money at this point, and will throw everything they have offensively at the Caps. This will be the real test for whether the Caps have really changed as a hockey team. If so, they will squeak by the Lightning in 7. If not, and I have my doubts, they'll be failing to reach the conference final yet again.
Washington got rid of New York in 5, but it could have been much worse. The Caps seem to be a more complete team, but I'm not fully convinced yet. I'll stick with picking the young Lightning to pull off the upset.
(2) Philly defeats (3) Boston in 7. New year, same story. Boston won't move out to a 3-0 series lead this time, and the Flyers' depth offensively and defensively will tip the series their way. A word of note, however....Tim Thomas is completely capable of swinging the odds back to Boston, and I would not be surprised if the Bruins prevailed. My gut says Philly, though.
Nothing changes here....both teams played a tough 7 game series, so rest won't be an advantage for either. Thomas has the potential to pull off a Ryan Miller and Boston is better than Buffalo as a whole, but I think Philly finds a way to do it again.
good to see the B's actually playing a real team in the second round, instead of a bunch of divers. anyone see Suban grab a bruins stick, look at the ref and fall backwards...so much fail in diving and glad it was part of their downfall
Comments
Preds over Canucks in 6
Wings over Sharks... in 7
Flyers over Bruins in 5
Caps over Lighting in 5
Detroit over San Jose in 6
Philly over Boston in 5
Washington over Tampa in 6
GAME 1 - Saturday, April 30 at Philadelphia - 3:05 PM. NBC
GAME 2 - Monday, May 2 at Philadelphia - 7:35 PM. Versus
GAME 3 - Wednesday, May 4 at Boston - 7:05 PM. Versus
GAME 4 - Friday, May 6 at Boston - 8:05 PM. CSN
GAME 5 - Sunday, May 8 at Philadelphia - 3:05 PM. NBC
GAME 6 - Tuesday, May 10 at Boston - TBD, CSN
GAME 7 - Thursday, May 12 at Philadelphia - TBD, CSN
WEST
(1) Vancouver defeats (5) Nashville in 6. I actually think Nashville gives the Canucks a lot of matchup problems. Shea Weber and Ryan Suter eventually won the battle against the Ducks' top line to beat Anaheim in 6, and while Pekka Rinne didn't play great in that series, he is perfectly capable of stealing games for the resilient Predators. This will be a chess match between Alain Vigneault and Barry Trotz all series long, but I think the Canucks win out with superior talent and I don't see Nashville keeping up offensively.
(3) Detroit defeats (2) San Jose in 6. Last year's series was closer than it seemed at first glance. Detroit was gassed and they coughed up a couple games, most notably Game 3. The Sharks are better in net but about the same elsewhere as last year. Special teams will be critical, as Detroit will need to limit penalties in order to win. 5-on-5, they can take down the Sharks.
This is what I said before the playoffs began and a lot of it still holds true. However, a couple factors have made me more confident in this pick. Antti Niemi looked shaky at times in net against the offensively challenged Kings, and the Wings will be completely healthy heading into this round. I believe Detroit is slightly deeper at forward and better defensively, though both teams can be sloppy on the back end at times. Detroit's penalty kill needs to be a lot better than what it was against Phoenix, but San Jose had power play problems of their own. All in all, it's a pretty even series but I see Detroit's depth taking over, even though many will give the edge in net to Niemi.
East picks are the same:
EAST
(5) Tampa Bay defeats (1) Washington in 7. Tampa Bay will be playing with house money at this point, and will throw everything they have offensively at the Caps. This will be the real test for whether the Caps have really changed as a hockey team. If so, they will squeak by the Lightning in 7. If not, and I have my doubts, they'll be failing to reach the conference final yet again.
Washington got rid of New York in 5, but it could have been much worse. The Caps seem to be a more complete team, but I'm not fully convinced yet. I'll stick with picking the young Lightning to pull off the upset.
(2) Philly defeats (3) Boston in 7. New year, same story. Boston won't move out to a 3-0 series lead this time, and the Flyers' depth offensively and defensively will tip the series their way. A word of note, however....Tim Thomas is completely capable of swinging the odds back to Boston, and I would not be surprised if the Bruins prevailed. My gut says Philly, though.
Nothing changes here....both teams played a tough 7 game series, so rest won't be an advantage for either. Thomas has the potential to pull off a Ryan Miller and Boston is better than Buffalo as a whole, but I think Philly finds a way to do it again.
# GAME 2: @San Jose, Sun. 5/1, 3 p.m.
# GAME 3: @Detroit, Wed. 5/4, 8 p.m.
# GAME 4: @Detroit, Fri. 5/6, 7 p.m.
# GAME 5*: @San Jose, Sun. 5/8, 8 p.m.
# GAME 6*: @Detroit, Tues. 5/10, TBD
# GAME 7*: @San Jose, Thurs. 5/12, TBD
IT'S ON!
Its a bitter sweet victory though as I myself have french canadian roots.
^That shit was on TRL for the longest time.
I'll Just leave it there because bagging on the refs is lame at best. But seriously?!
Flyers will handle them for you :>