Eastern Playoff 1st Round predictions

[scottkoz20]

Ok, time to have some fun.


#1 Washington vs. #8 Montreal
While you think might be the easiest of the all of the 1st round series to predict, look at the last 2 seasons with Washington as the higher seed. Loss to Philly in Game 7 @ home and then had to rally from 3-1 down to beat the Rangers.

I have a funny feeling for all of the offense Washington has, Jaro Halak and the Habs defense will give them fits. I'm not going to say Washington is going to lose the series, but you are going to find a lot of sweep predictions over the next couple days. I don't see it

Caps in 6


#2 New Jersey vs. #7 Philadelphia
Before we give this to Jersey, lets look at some recent playoff history. The Devils have advanced past the 1st round only twice since their last Cup win in 2003 (2006 and 2007). With the exception of the meltdown last spring, when Jersey loses, they have not been series.

Now add this to the fact Philly took 5 out of 6 this season!! This could spell disaster, right. Well... maybe not.

Philly is not world beaters either. After giving away a 10 point cushion to the Rangers to need a shootout in order to qualify isn't really the stuff that dreams are made of.

However, that is now in the past.

This is going to be a very good series with the big question will be can Brian Boucher re-live 2000 for 1 series? I have a feeling he can

Philly in 7.


#3 Buffalo vs. #6 Boston
As a Sabre fan, this is the one team I did not want to see my team draw in the first round. Boston has the edge in the season series 4 games to 2, and Rask's numbers are BETTER than Miller's.

Boston plays a style that will frustrate the Sabres for the entire series. However, their will be 2 saving graces for the Sabres in this series. First, they are a better offense team with 12 players (yes, 12) with 10 or more goals this season, including 4th liner Patrick Kaleta. Secondly, Boston is down Stuart, Seidenberg and most importantly Marc Savard.

Sabres in 6 games, but it will not be easy.


#4 Pittsburgh vs. #5 Ottawa
This is going to be the best series of the 1st round, IMO. This is the 3rd time in the last 4 seasons that this is the 4/5 matchup in the East, and the winner both times have gone to the finals (Ottawa in 07', Pittsburgh in 08'). Both times it has been a 5 game massacre.

THIS WILL NOT BE THAT THIS TIME!!!

On paper, Pittsburgh is the much better team, but games are not played on Paper. I would think that it will be Brian Elliott being the goalie for the Sens and he has been as good, if not better at times than MAF. So the Sens will get the slight edge here.

Pittsburgh gets the edge on the offense, especially with Kovalev done for the season with the ACL injury. This is the difference for the Pens.

Penguins in 6




Feel free to comment.

[Phoenix]

ok, time to have some fun.


#1 washington vs. #8 montreal
while you think might be the easiest of the all of the 1st round series to predict, look at the last 2 seasons with washington as the higher seed. Loss to philly in game 7 @ home and then had to rally from 3-1 down to beat the rangers.

I have a funny feeling for all of the offense washington has, jaro halak and the habs defense will give them fits. I'm not going to say washington is going to lose the series, but you are going to find a lot of sweep predictions over the next couple days. I don't see it

caps in 6

caps will blow the habs out of the water. Sweeeeeeep!


#2 new jersey vs. #7 philadelphia
before we give this to jersey, lets look at some recent playoff history. The devils have advanced past the 1st round only twice since their last cup win in 2003 (2006 and 2007). With the exception of the meltdown last spring, when jersey loses, they have not been series.

Now add this to the fact philly took 5 out of 6 this season!! This could spell disaster, right. Well... Maybe not.

Philly is not world beaters either. After giving away a 10 point cushion to the rangers to need a shootout in order to qualify isn't really the stuff that dreams are made of.

However, that is now in the past.

This is going to be a very good series with the big question will be can brian boucher re-live 2000 for 1 series? I have a feeling he can

philly in 7.

flip it. Nj in 7


#3 buffalo vs. #6 boston
as a sabre fan, this is the one team i did not want to see my team draw in the first round. Boston has the edge in the season series 4 games to 2, and rask's numbers are better than miller's.

Boston plays a style that will frustrate the sabres for the entire series. However, their will be 2 saving graces for the sabres in this series. First, they are a better offense team with 12 players (yes, 12) with 10 or more goals this season, including 4th liner patrick kaleta. Secondly, boston is down stuart, seidenberg and most importantly marc savard.

sabres in 6 games, but it will not be easy.

upset special of the week. B's in 7

#4 pittsburgh vs. #5 ottawa
this is going to be the best series of the 1st round, imo. This is the 3rd time in the last 4 seasons that this is the 4/5 matchup in the east, and the winner both times have gone to the finals (ottawa in 07', pittsburgh in 08'). Both times it has been a 5 game massacre.

This will not be that this time!!!

On paper, pittsburgh is the much better team, but games are not played on paper. I would think that it will be brian elliott being the goalie for the sens and he has been as good, if not better at times than maf. So the sens will get the slight edge here.

Pittsburgh gets the edge on the offense, especially with kovalev done for the season with the acl injury. This is the difference for the pens.

penguins in 6

i powerlaughed after reading the above highlighted section. Kovalev's a chump. Agree with your outcome though.....as much as that pains me.



feel free to comment.

go sens go!!!

[geschrocks33]

Washington in 5, New Jersey in 5, Buffalo in 6, Pittsburgh in 5

[HOCKEY68]

Caps in 5
Devils in 6
Sabres in 6
Pens in 5

[Spaltung]

Caps in 6
Flyers in 6
Boston in 7
Sens in 6

[scottkoz20]

upset special of the week. B's in 7

Boston in 7

There is NOT a chance in you know what that Boston wins a game 7 at HSBC... if they do win the series, they better do it in 6.

[Spaltung]

There is NOT a chance in you know what that Boston wins a game 7 at HSBC... if they do win the series, they better do it in 6.

I'm thinking they find their scoring touch and get some solid goaltending and get the upset away.

[scottkoz20]

I'm thinking they find their scoring touch and get some solid goaltending and get the upset away.

and this is what scares me! I did not want them to finish 3rd, I'd be much more comfortable seeing the Flyers in the 1st round than the Bruins. But I just can not see the Sabres losing a Game 7, at home, in the 1st round.

[wnysupport]

Miller has the playoff experience Rask does not, I see the Sabres in 6.

Other then that, Caps, Pens, and Devils.

[Spaltung]

and this is what scares me! I did not want them to finish 3rd, I'd be much more comfortable seeing the Flyers in the 1st round than the Bruins. But I just can not see the Sabres losing a Game 7, at home, in the 1st round.

Yeah, it would definitely be quite the upset.