04-04-2004, 04:53 PM
As always, I think this year a Canadian team will bring the Cup on home. I think Calgary and Toronto have the best chances!!!
So...let's hear your Stanley Cup first round predictions!!
What a mess. God, I hate how this year's matchups turned out. First, for the big one: number 4 Toronto versus number 5 Ottawa. Didn't I say just yesterday that I'm too cynical to be a true sports fan?! Sure enough, I have to give this one to the Leafs. I have always said Ed Belfour could backstop a team full of defencemen to a Stanley Cup. I think Belfour is unfortunately better than Lalime - much better, just to look at the numbers - and last night he proved he's better than Prusek (at least when Prusek's having an off night). I think the Senators will put up a formidable challenge - they do have the league's leading offense, after all - but with Toronto being better disciplined than ever before, I don't think Ottawa can beatr them on the power play the way they could have last year. It's unfortunate that THIS is the year when they meet up again, because last year the Sens could finally have proven they're capable of beating the Leafs in the post-season, but this year all the critics will get to say Ottawa still can't beat Toronto. Ottawa's penalty killing is in the toilet, the goaltending is suspect at best, and the team is just clicking the way they did last year. The communication and coordination, which offer a glimpse of what could have been during the best games of the year, have been way down from last year. Therefore...Leafs in seven. They're just the better team this year.
1. #1 Tampa Bay will beat #8 NY Isles in 6 games
2. #2 Boston will beat #7 Montreal in 5 or 6 games
3. #6 New Jersey will beat #3 Phildelphia in 7 games
4. #4 Toronto will beat #5 Ottawa in seven
I am picking Montreal and Boston to be the shortest series, I just don't think Montreal can defeat a team with powerful offence and an amazing rookie goaltender. A lot of people might be saying Montreal has the advantage because of Raycroft's lack of experience - and he'll undoubtably be the number one goaltender for Boston - but I think he will take Theodore no problem.
You might think the best team in the East, Tampa Bay, could beat the Isles in 5, but I don't think so. I like the Lightning a LOT...they're this year's Senators. But they are young and inexperienced, whereas the Islanders have playoff-ready performers. However, in the end, I want the exciting Lightning style of play to carry over into the second round. They amazed everybody this year and I think they'll continue to in the post season. The only reason I give the Isles the benefit of a couple of wins is because the playoff-inexperienced Lightning will inevitably have some growing pains, but I foresee no realy challenge to the Lightning in this one.
And New Jersey vs. Philadelphia? Well, I just loathe Philly more than any other team in the entire NHL.
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And now we have our Western Conference matchups decided! And here are my picks:
1. #1 Detroit will beat #8 Nashville in five or six games
2. #2 San Jose will defeat #7 St Louis in six games
3. #6 Calgary will beat #3 Vancouver in seven games...I think this will be the most exciting series to watch.
4. #4 Colorado and #5 Dallas - I have NO idea who will win. I just can't call it! I suppose I would prefer Colorado to win, but I seriously can't say who I think WILL win.
I picked Calgary over Vancouver because I maintain Dan Cloutier will never work wonders in the playoffs. Goalies are also the reasons I picked Detroit and San Jose to win...I have heard a lot of speculation on TV that St Louis will pull an upset, but I don't like Osgoode and I think San Jose has worked harder all season for their standing and they deserve it, and they also deserve to win. I haven't seen them play much, but I do get the feeling this is not St Louis's year, despite the professional sports record 25th straight year making the playoffs. Whether Legace stays in goal for the Wings - and I think he will - or not, I think the Wings will provide a much bigger challenge for Nashville than they did for Anaheim. Nashville is just too young with absolutely no playoff experience. I like them as a young team, but I don't think they're professional enough to pull off the upset.
I was very disappointed that Calgary and Vancouver will play each other, considering both teams could easily have made it to the second round, but hopefully it will be a long and exciting seven game series. I think the Canucks have lost a little heart, despite going into the end of the season on a five game winning streak, but Calgary's energy (and brilliant goaltending) will give them the edge.
The only trend I can see in my playoff predictions is that I think most of the top seeds will go on, with only Calgary and New Jersey being the bottom-four seeds I seriously think will make it to the second round for sure.
BRING ON THE PREDICTIONS! I want to see lots of them!
So...let's hear your Stanley Cup first round predictions!!
What a mess. God, I hate how this year's matchups turned out. First, for the big one: number 4 Toronto versus number 5 Ottawa. Didn't I say just yesterday that I'm too cynical to be a true sports fan?! Sure enough, I have to give this one to the Leafs. I have always said Ed Belfour could backstop a team full of defencemen to a Stanley Cup. I think Belfour is unfortunately better than Lalime - much better, just to look at the numbers - and last night he proved he's better than Prusek (at least when Prusek's having an off night). I think the Senators will put up a formidable challenge - they do have the league's leading offense, after all - but with Toronto being better disciplined than ever before, I don't think Ottawa can beatr them on the power play the way they could have last year. It's unfortunate that THIS is the year when they meet up again, because last year the Sens could finally have proven they're capable of beating the Leafs in the post-season, but this year all the critics will get to say Ottawa still can't beat Toronto. Ottawa's penalty killing is in the toilet, the goaltending is suspect at best, and the team is just clicking the way they did last year. The communication and coordination, which offer a glimpse of what could have been during the best games of the year, have been way down from last year. Therefore...Leafs in seven. They're just the better team this year.
1. #1 Tampa Bay will beat #8 NY Isles in 6 games
2. #2 Boston will beat #7 Montreal in 5 or 6 games
3. #6 New Jersey will beat #3 Phildelphia in 7 games
4. #4 Toronto will beat #5 Ottawa in seven
I am picking Montreal and Boston to be the shortest series, I just don't think Montreal can defeat a team with powerful offence and an amazing rookie goaltender. A lot of people might be saying Montreal has the advantage because of Raycroft's lack of experience - and he'll undoubtably be the number one goaltender for Boston - but I think he will take Theodore no problem.
You might think the best team in the East, Tampa Bay, could beat the Isles in 5, but I don't think so. I like the Lightning a LOT...they're this year's Senators. But they are young and inexperienced, whereas the Islanders have playoff-ready performers. However, in the end, I want the exciting Lightning style of play to carry over into the second round. They amazed everybody this year and I think they'll continue to in the post season. The only reason I give the Isles the benefit of a couple of wins is because the playoff-inexperienced Lightning will inevitably have some growing pains, but I foresee no realy challenge to the Lightning in this one.
And New Jersey vs. Philadelphia? Well, I just loathe Philly more than any other team in the entire NHL.
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And now we have our Western Conference matchups decided! And here are my picks:
1. #1 Detroit will beat #8 Nashville in five or six games
2. #2 San Jose will defeat #7 St Louis in six games
3. #6 Calgary will beat #3 Vancouver in seven games...I think this will be the most exciting series to watch.
4. #4 Colorado and #5 Dallas - I have NO idea who will win. I just can't call it! I suppose I would prefer Colorado to win, but I seriously can't say who I think WILL win.
I picked Calgary over Vancouver because I maintain Dan Cloutier will never work wonders in the playoffs. Goalies are also the reasons I picked Detroit and San Jose to win...I have heard a lot of speculation on TV that St Louis will pull an upset, but I don't like Osgoode and I think San Jose has worked harder all season for their standing and they deserve it, and they also deserve to win. I haven't seen them play much, but I do get the feeling this is not St Louis's year, despite the professional sports record 25th straight year making the playoffs. Whether Legace stays in goal for the Wings - and I think he will - or not, I think the Wings will provide a much bigger challenge for Nashville than they did for Anaheim. Nashville is just too young with absolutely no playoff experience. I like them as a young team, but I don't think they're professional enough to pull off the upset.
I was very disappointed that Calgary and Vancouver will play each other, considering both teams could easily have made it to the second round, but hopefully it will be a long and exciting seven game series. I think the Canucks have lost a little heart, despite going into the end of the season on a five game winning streak, but Calgary's energy (and brilliant goaltending) will give them the edge.
The only trend I can see in my playoff predictions is that I think most of the top seeds will go on, with only Calgary and New Jersey being the bottom-four seeds I seriously think will make it to the second round for sure.
BRING ON THE PREDICTIONS! I want to see lots of them!
