Monthly Archives: April 2012
Western Conference
#1 Vancouver Canucks vs. #8 Los Angeles Kings
I don’t think that it is all that surprising that the Canucks won the President’s trophy again. They were a dominant team last year and not much changed for them in the off season. With the addition of David Booth, I believe they only got better. Luongo and Schneider have continued to play well. The Sedin’s had another stellar season and they had a fair amount of depth step it up. The only surprising turn of events for this team for me is that Kesler was invisible all season long.
Before the season, the Los Angeles were predicted to do some great, great things. With the addition of Mike Richards, they got some of the hard work, experience and grit that they needed. They locked up Doughty long term, and they had the tandem of Bernier and Quick in net. However, somewhere along the way, that potential just never blossomed into anything. It wasn’t the goaltending. Quick played out of this world all year. Their defense wasn’t bad, but their offense was almost non existent. Richards started strong, but fell off after sustaining an injury. Gagne has been out most of the year and the acquisition of Penner is still a terrible move. But before the deadline, they picked up Jeff Carter and even though he hasn’t done a ton individually, the team seems inspired. They’re playing better and more importantly, they’re scoring goals.
Vancouver is coming in strong. They are 8-1-1 in their last ten. Considering that they have been winning without their goal scoring ginger, they are a dangerous team. I can only imagine that they will continue to strive once he returns. I think this will be a close series, but only if Luongo can keep his head together. Somehow, between him and Schneider, I think they manage it. Also, I think that the experience that the Canucks have the past three years will help them outscore the Kings and take them into the next round.
Prediction: Vancouver in 6
#2 St. Louis Blues vs. #7 San Jose Sharks
When the St. Louis Blues added Jamie Langenbrunner and Jason Arnott, I knew that they were adding valuable experience that would help them develop their younger core. I knew that they would do good things this season and that they would be contenders in the playoffs. Their season started off slow, but before they could get buried they got a new coach. I knew that Hitchcock would do good things for the team. I did not, however, expect them to almost win the President’s Trophy. The St. Louis Blues have played out of this world defense and have have strong scoring depth. The biggest problem that they are having at the moment is which goalie should they start. Not because they are in the Capitals predicament, with both starters out, but because both of their goalies have been outstanding. Brian Elliott and Jaroslav Halak have been competing back and forth for the starting position and they have both been playing phenomenal. If that’s your biggest problem, I’d say that you are probably in pretty good shape.
In the off season, San Jose sent Heatley to Minnesota for Havlat and then shortly after that they sent Setoguchi there for Burns. They were two pretty huge trades that I thought would only make the Sharks that much more dangerous. I thought that those two trades might be exactly what they needed to make that extra push to get to the cup, but like the Kings, they didn’t live up to their potential. I suppose you could attribute that to Heatley’s injuries, but he’s only one player. The rest of the team is still comprised of huge, physical players that dominate. I suppose you could say that it was an off year. Their goaltending was less than desirable and they didn’t get the numbers that they usually get out of Thornton.
The Blues took the sharks in all four meetings this season. Their defensive play and their young core won out all season. It isn’t going to get any easier for the Sharks. They have the experience, and they have the depth, but how are they going to handle a healthy, young defensive team like the Blues?
I don’t think that they will be able to. I think it will be a tough, physical series, but I don’t think that the Sharks can overcome the defensive and goaltender prowess of the Blues.
Prediction: Blues in 6
#3 Phoenix Coyotes vs. #6 Chicago Blackhawks
The departure of Ilya Bryzgalov created a large amount of uncertainty for the Phoenix Coyotes, but it could not have worked out better for them. He wasn’t someone that they were going to be able to afford and his replacement, Mike Smith stepped up big time. Smith has been hands down the MVP for this team this season. He has single handedly kept this team in the race. Don’t get me wrong. Doan, Vrbata and Whitney have been offensive powerhouses. Boedker is developing well. Yandle and Ekman-Larsson have been great, and they have one of the best coaches in the league. Dave Tippett has continued to take this team to the next level and to overcome adversity.
The Blackhawks did one wonderful thing this season. They got rid of John Scott. This has nothing to do with my prediction for this series. I just hate John Scott. He is worthless. Good luck, New York. Anyway. Kane, Sharp and Hossa are still Kane, Sharp and Hossa. Keith and Seabrook are still Keith and Seabrook. Unfortunately, Crawford and Emery have not played as well as they could have. I think that this team would be a lot more dominant if their goaltenders could answer the call. At the moment, Toews is still out with a concussion, but he remains one of the hardest working athletes in the league. If he makes it back for the series, which they are saying that he will, he will definitely be a game changer.
But how do the offensive driven Blackhawks match up against the defensive minded Coyotes? The Coyotes took three of the four games from Chicago. Will that make any difference or even carry into the playoffs? It’s hard to say, but I think that for the Blackhawk, the Coyotes provide the biggest challenge out of the three Pacific Division teams that they could have played. That’s not a knock against San Jose or LA. I just think that the Coyotes have what it takes to frustrate and challenge the Blackhawks. It’s going to take a lot to break them down and get the puck behind Smith.
The Coyotes are the 3 seed in this match up, but they are far from the favorite. I can’t help but think that this is the year that the Coyotes make it out of the first round. I know that seems biased considering that I live in Phoenix, but they are just playing too tough. Mike Smith is playing too well. I can’t help but think that if the Coyotes get the Mike Smith they have had throughout the regular season, they are going to squeak past the Blackhawks.
Prediction: Coyotes in 7
#4 Nashville Predators vs. #5 Detroit Redwings
The Nashville Predators are the most improved team from last season. I don’t think that there are many people out there would disagree with that. With the addition of the bad Kostistyn, Gaustad, Hal Gill, and Radulov they are only stronger and deeper. Gaustad is the go to face off guy. The bad Kostitsyn has played much better alongside the better Kostitsyn. Hal Gill still looks like he’s skating in quick sand, but he is a big, big man and a shut down defender, and lastly, Radulov has been touted as the best player outside of the NHL. He hasn’t “proven” himself thus far, but he has only been back for a handful of games. With the shut down pairing of Weber and Suter, the deep scoring, and Rinne in net. I think that the Predators are the team to beat in the West. They’re that scary.
Detroit’s age is starting to show. Throughout the second half of the season, it seemed like they had more injured players than they had healthy. At one point, they were missing Lidstrom, Datsyuk, Franzen, Cleary, Bertuzzi, Kindle, Ericsson, Miller, Eaves and Howard. Most of those players are back, but none of those players are 100%. Also not at 100%, the rest of their roster. MacDonald is hurting. Zetterberg is hurting. Everyone is hurting. In their favor, Hudler and Filpula have had incredible seasons lining up with Zetterberg. They have gotten a lot of scoring from Miller and Abdelkader, and Ian White has done more than was expected from him. The late addition of Quincey will help the blue line depth, but I don’t know if it will be enough.
I think that this series will be tough for both teams. I’m not sure that either team could have drawn a harder match up. I think that this series is similar to the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia series in that vain. Regardless, I think that the fact that the Red Wings aren’t at 100% weighs them down and I don’t think that they will be able to break through the defensive play of the Predators. I think it will be close and that it could go either way, but if pressed, I’d say that the Predators take the series in 7 games.
Prediction: Predators in 7
Eastern Conference
#1 – New York Rangers vs. #8 – Ottawa Senators
I can honestly say that I did not expect the season that Ottawa put forth. During the draft, they made it pretty clear that this was a rebuilding year. Sure, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re going to tank and go for the first round pick, but I also don’t think that anyone expected them to have the year that they had. Jason Spezza stepped his game up, Milan Michalek had a stellar year by almost doubling his career high for both goals and assists, Daniel Alfredsson played like a true captain, and Erik Karlsson outright dominated all three zones.
But how does all of that match up to the number one team in the Eastern Conference? It’s hard to say. On paper, you would think this series would be all Rangers, all day. They have one of, if not the best goaltenders in the NHL, a shut down defensive core, and solid depth up front. They have done just about everything right all year.
Yet somehow they still had a hard time beating the Ottawa Senators. Ottawa has taken 3 of four games against the Rangers. Two in regulation and one in a shootout. Honestly, I don’t think that the regular season numbers matter all that much, because come playoff time, it is all about that extra gear and you either have it or you don’t. Needless to say, I think that this series will be more interesting than it looks.
I think that the Senators are a quick and relatively young team that will use that to their advantage, but at the end of the day, you still have to get shots through the Rangers defense, and then after that you still have to beat Hank. I believe that this series will be all about goaltending. If the Rangers get the Lundvist they have had all season, I think that the Rangers take the series in 6.
Prediction: Rangers in 6
#2 – Boston Bruins vs. #7 – Washington Capitals
The Boston Bruins started this year on a very, very flat note. They came out looking like they were still hungover from their Stanley Cup celebrations. However, once November came, they reminded everyone why they won the Stanley Cup. I’m not going to lie. The way that they played in that month and a half stretch was down right terrifying. They weren’t beating teams, they were stomping them. They were dominant. They were physical, and they were scoring goals. Anyone who looked at that Boston team would easily have predicted them to repeat this year. Fortunately for the rest of the teams in the NHL, that streak proved to be a streak and nothing more. They are still a tough team with dominant players, but they now appear mortal. Tim Thomas is roared and ready to go after another stellar season. The only thing that I think might hurt them in the long run is the absence of Tukka Rask due to injury. Marty Turco, who has been playing in net for the Bruins lately, is ineligible for playoffs because he was signed after the trade deadline.
Sure, the absence of Tukka Rask as a back up to Thomas might seem problematic, but how about missing both of your starting goaltenders? That’s the boat Washington is currently sinking in. Both Vokoun and Neuvirth are out. They are playing AHL star goaltender Braden Holtby. He’s been playing well enough for the Capitals, but will that be enough for to keep the Bruins at Bay? It’s hard to say, but I certainly wouldn’t count the Capitals out.
The Capitals have taken the Bruins in three of their four meetings this season and their key players are starting to step their game up. Backstrom is back after receiving a concussion in January, Green is starting to get his legs going again, and most importantly, Ovechkin is scoring.
Honestly, I think that this series can go either way. If we see the Bruins from November and last year’s playoffs, I don’t think that anything can stop them. However, if the Capitals can continue the pace that they have been working at these past few weeks, they will make it interesting to say the least. I am picking the Capitals in 7 in this series.
Prediction: Capitals in 7
#3 – Florida Panthers vs. #6 – New Jersey Devils
When Dave Tallon took over for the Florida Panthers, there was a lot of criticism going around that he was simply rebuilding the Chicago Blackhawks. Whether that was his intention or not, it worked. He brought in former Blackhawks, Versteeg and Kopecky for some scoring depth, and then Scottie Upshall for good measure. He brought in some veteran presence with John Madden and Mikael Samuelsson, and then on the back end, the addition of Campbell. I remember Blackhawks fans laughing at Florida for taking the hit on Campbell’s contract, but realistically, there aren’t many better players in the league at quarterbacking a power play and getting the game moving. Campbell has played phenomenal for Florida and is a big part of their success.
New Jersey played this season like the New Jersey Devils we have known for years. Kovalchuk and Parise were dominant. Larsson logged huge minutes, Brodeur played good hockey and rookie Adam Henrique, had a stellar season. They got the scoring and the leadership where they needed it from their veterans and put together a great season. It wasn’t quite the Devils that we saw come together at the end of last season, but they were still a force to be reckoned with. In my opinion, the Devils are one of those teams that can beat any team on any given night.
The Panthers are in a bit of a rough spot coming into the playoffs having won only two of their final ten games, while the Devils are coming in hot, winning their last six. The pair of teams are 2-2 in the regular season, so it’s a wash. The Devils can be a scary team if all cylinders are going. I think that they’re a team that can go far under the right circumstances and I think that the Devils take this series in 5. It’s not that I discount the Panthers, because I think that they are a decent team. But the Devils are just playing that strong.
Prediction: Devils in 5
#4 – Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #5 Philadelphia Flyers
To say that this will be one of the more interesting first round match ups would be a vast understatement. Since Crosby’s second return, the Penguins have been nothing short of dominant. With Malkin, Crosby, Letang, Staal and Fleury all finally healthy at the same, the Penguins are a scary, scary team. In the 14 games since Crosby’s return the team has outscored their opponents 63 to 48, boasting a 9-5 record. In those 14 games, the Penguins took down multiple top tier teams including the Rangers and the Devils twice, and the Predators, while dropping two games to the Islanders. Unfortunately for the Penguins, two of those other two losses were to the Flyers.
When healthy, I would argue that there are few more complete teams in the NHL than the Flyers. I am not just saying that because I’m from Philadelphia and a fan of the team. I am saying it because it’s true. Where do you even begin with a team like the Flyers? Giroux took the necessary steps to the lead the team, Hartnell turned all-star (who thought you would ever say that?), the group of rookies including Read, Schenn and Couturier have done it all and then some, Bryzgalov pulled his head out of the humangous big Universe, and Jagr has provided a much needed veteran presence. That doesn’t even touch on the additions of Talbot, Voracek and Simmonds. There is a reason that the Flyers are one of the top scoring teams in the NHL. Sure, their defense leaves something to be desired (and by something I mean a 6’6, 220 lb monster named Chris Pronger), but they’ve managed to pull it together in the final stretch with the addition of Grossman and Kubina.
It’s been a rough season for the Flyers. They have been bitten by the injury bug a little more voraciously than most teams, but they’re making the best of the situation and are still one of the best teams in the league. It’s scary to think how this team would play with Pronger, Mezaros, and JVR back, not to mention having Grossman, Bryz and Briere at 100%.
The Flyers have taken four of the six meetings this season against the Penguins, and I would argue that they would have taken the last game if Giroux was in the game. But again, regular season statistics don’t always match up come playoff time, and it would be dumb to discount either team in this series. I think that they both have what it takes to take home the cup, and I’m not going to lie, this is a series I was looking forward to as the Eastern Conference Finals. In the end, to me, the Flyers are the Penguins kryptonite. There aren’t many teams in the league that can take the Penguins the way that the Flyers do. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying this series will be a sweep, but I do think that the Flyers take it in 6.
Prediction: Flyers in 6
Recent Comments