If the playoffs started today...

[thesnake87]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/standings.htm...id=DL|NHL|home

There are some match ups I hope will stay, like Dallas - Detroit, Boston - New York, Montreal - Washington, Vancouver - LA

To me, almost an ideal playoff bracket. Lot's of rivalries I think. Your thoughts...

[Bostonfan46]

My Thoughts for the Day

1. Philly Vs 8. Buffalo

Both of these teams are strong in their respective area's Philly's got a strong offensive core, while Buffalo is good in goal. Miller would have to come up huge against this scoring offense, and sometimes the Buffalo O' looks anemic, my edge has to go to Philly, how can you not take Pronger and Richards in a series over Buffalo FLYERS win series: 4-1

2. Boston Vs 7 NYR

Again both these teams are strong in certain area's. the thing with these teams are both are strong in relativly the same area's. Goaltenders. Boston has Thomas. NYR have Lunqvist. Boston has a slight edge IMO since their back-up is Rask. Defensive edge again goes to Boston, and the offense is up in the air. Krejci, Bergeron, Marchand Vs Anisimov, Gaborik, Dubinsky. close series, but Boston takes it BRUINS win series: 4-2

3.Washington Vs 6 Montreal

I think Washington could be a strong threat in the PO's. Think is the keyword. if they run into Montreal, the fans will get their money's worth. the key to this series is can Washington get could goal tending? If they can they have a shot, but Montreal remember has a good playoff history and their fans go nuts in the playoffs. in order for Washington to win Varlomov has to come up huge, but my gut says Montreal takes this one. Canadians win series: 4-2

4. Pittsburgh Vs 5 Tampa Bay
When you think about it you'd assume Pittsburgh would sweep Tampa away. but dont think so fast, theirs many questions one may ask. Will Crosby be the same? How is the new roster going to gel in the playoffs? will Fleury be up to the job? you could also say the same about Tampa Bay since the teams fairly young and Stamkos would have to carry a team on his back, and the goalies would have to come up huge. honestly i have no clue who Tampa would go with Rolo? Smith? But i think Tampa can actually take it. LIGHTNING win series: 4-3



WEST PREDICTIONS in NEXT POST!

[Bostonfan46]

Cont.

1 Vancouver Vs 8. L.A

now i dont have much knowledge about these teams, correct me if you disagree. but from what i have seen, Vancouver has been a pretty consistant team this year, while L.A was been off and on. now L.A doesnt have strong playoff experience and Vancouver hasn't had a deep playoff run, but i gotta go with Lou over Quick and the Kesler over Kopitar. Vancouver wins it. CANUCKS win series 4-2

2 Detroit Vs 7. Dallas

With Richards being a huge rumor at the trade deadline, this is when he's going to have to come up huge and show Dallas managment to give him a new deal. Detroit has strong veterans on their roster which gives them a good edge heading into the playoffs, but the youth on Dallas may give Detroit a battle. i still think Detroit can easily take this but it all depends on factors within the series. if i had to guess right now, which may surprise you, STARS win series: 4-3

3 San Jose Vs 6 Phoenix

Phoenix finally made it last year after being on the chopping block of being relocated, which is a reason why they got fired up. San Jose has the classic "choke" playoffs. but i think this is the year for them to get past the leap, and at least get to the conference finals. Phoenix on the other hand has nothing to loose, so they'll be all out for a series win. SHARKS win series 4-2

4 Blackhawks vs 5 Flames

different match-up here, Chicago won the cup last year, Calgary hasnt had a true playoff run in years. the thing about Chicago is the whole roster shake up which may make things challenging. this years roster is nowhere near last years calibar. I still think Chicago takes this one....easily. Blackhawks win series 4-1

[Wickabee]

Philly has the firepower, Buffalo has the goaltending. For sure. That said, though, Philly has better goaltending than Buffalo has offense. Philly's skid at this point is nothing more than that and when the playoffs start, it will be a whole different story. The drubbing they took from the Rangers should be the kick in the pants they needed at this point. Flyers in 4

The Big Bad Bruins vs the Manhattan Manglers. If this series happens it will be the roughest, dirtiest, most "old time" hockey you've ever seen. Ogelthorpe should come back for this one. With that said, the Rangers won't be able to beat the Bruins in the alley or on the scoreboard. Boston will have one really, really bad game that Thomas can't save them from, though. Bruins in 5

Montreal is a team on the rise. After last season's playoff run and Price finally proving himself on a nightly basis this season, they look to be a scary team. Washington, however, is very talented and, like Vancouver, tired of being a wannabe. Crosby and the Penguins have their Cup, I think Ovechkin and the Caps would like theirs. The worst thing that can happen, though, is running into a team that may want it a little bit more. With that said, Montreal could very well be that team. Habs in 7

Is Crosby going to come back for the playoffs? If he does, I think he's an idiot. To any Pittsburgh fans who would disagree I ask, would you rather have a cup run this year, or many in the future? Crosby needs to take care of himself and I think this season is a total write-off for him at this point. With that said, even without Crosby the Pens can make a splash in the playoffs this year, but I still gotta take Tampa in 6

If Vancouver plays LA that is going to be one heck of a series. The Canucks are sick of being "wannabes" and are looking to put it all on the line for a long playoff run this year. The Kings are young, talented, headstrong and don't like the Canucks one bit (the feeling is mutual). This would be a hard fought, very entertaining series. I'd have to take Van in 6.

The Sharks have been underacheiving all season long. The Coyotes have been overacheiving all year long. I can't see the Coyotes winning more than 1 game against the Sharks in a playoff series this year. Sharks in 5

Detroit's core roster knows what it takes to win in the playoffs and, while I don't see them coming out of the West into the finals, it wouldn't surprise me to see them in the Conference finals. Dallas, while a good team, just doesn't have the consistent goaltending needed for a deep playoff run. Detroit in 6

Don't sell the Flames short. They may not look like much over the course of the season, but they're peaking at the right time. Calgary is firing on all cylinders right now. This would be the closest series of all and, while I wouldn't go so far as to pick a winner unless I had to, I'd pick Flames v Hawks to go 7 games. Oh what the heck, Hawks in OT Game 7.

[Kipper_Backlund]

4 Blackhawks vs 5 Flames

different match-up here, Chicago won the cup last year, Calgary hasnt had a true playoff run in years. the thing about Chicago is the whole roster shake up which may make things challenging. this years roster is nowhere near last years calibar. I still think Chicago takes this one....easily. Blackhawks win series 4-1

What makes you say easily? Have you not seen the last 2 games between them? The most recent (just a few days ago) went down to the wire and took an empty net goal to seal it. And the game before was a 7-1 flames win.
Both teams have an equal shot IMO... But in the end I say either team in 7 games.

[scottkoz20]

My Thoughts for the Day

1. Philly Vs 8. Buffalo

Both of these teams are strong in their respective area's Philly's got a strong offensive core, while Buffalo is good in goal. Miller would have to come up huge against this scoring offense, and sometimes the Buffalo O' looks anemic, my edge has to go to Philly, how can you not take Pronger and Richards in a series over Buffalo FLYERS win series: 4-1

There is NO CHANCE in hades that the Flyers win in less than 6 games. This reminds me of 2000-01 when Philly beat the Sabres in the regular season, and quite easily with Cechmanek... then the playoffs came and this happened

[wolf1bh]

What makes you say easily? Have you not seen the last 2 games between them? The most recent (just a few days ago) went down to the wire and took an empty net goal to seal it. And the game before was a 7-1 flames win.
Both teams have an equal shot IMO... But in the end I say either team in 7 games.

the 7-1 win was against turco though who's been an average at best backup. corey crawford is one of the best in the league and had he started all year i think the hawks 'd be a 1 or 2 seed.

[Wickabee]

the 7-1 win was against turco though who's been an average at best backup. corey crawford is one of the best in the league and had he started all year i think the hawks 'd be a 1 or 2 seed.

Not a chance, at least not at this point.
You're right about Crawford being one of the best backups in the league, though ;)

[wolf1bh]

Not a chance, at least not at this point.
You're right about Crawford being one of the best backups in the league, though ;)

all right i'll give you vancouver. but with crawford they give up about a goal a game less then turco (crawford- 3rd best gaa in the league). if he had about 10-12 more of marty's 25 starts, the hawks have more points than san jose and detroit right now. imho.

[thesnake87]

I really want to see Columbus in it though... and Nashville...