Re-examining the NHL Playoffs
At the mid-way point of the NHL season, I gave some predictions as to what teams would still be on the ice come playoff time - How did I do? Well two out of the three teams I said it would come down to in the East are still with us while the third has packed their bags, and same goes for the West two for three there as well.
I called for the Phoenix Coyotes to come on strong the second half of the season and be a surprise playoff contender, my wife must have slipped something into my coffee before that prediction because the Coyotes finished dead last in the West.
My pick from the East that didn’t make it was a real shocker to me, the defending Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricaines didn’t make the cut, finishing in eleventh place in the East with only 40 wins.
So, with the final eight set in either conference and the playoffs beginning tomorrow night, here’s what you’re likely to see:
Round on in the East:
Buffalo over the Islanders in five games
Devils over the Lightining in six games
Rangers over Atlanta in six games
Penguins over Senators in five games
Round two in the East:
Buffalo over the Rangers in five games
Penguins over the Devils in seven games
Eastern Conference Finals
Buffallo Sweeps a tired Penguins team to take the Eastern Conference Championship
First Round in the Western Conference:
Detroit over Calgary in four games
Anaheim over Minnesota in five games
Dallas over Vancouver in five games
San Jose over Nashville in four games - that’s right big Joe Thorton breaks out his broom on Peter Forsberg and the Predators
Round two in the West:
Detroit over Dallas in six games
San Jose over the Ducks in six games
Western Conference finals:
San Jose over Detroit in five games
Stanley Cup Finals:
I’m going to stick with my pick from mid-season and say the Sharks beat up on the team with the best record in the NHL in five games. Sorry Sabres but the Cup belongs to Joe Thorton and the Sharks this year!
Leave a Reply