My Round 1 Predictions
Last postseason, I correctly predicted 12 of the 15 winning teams during the playoffs. I’m not so sure I’ll do as well this postseason, but I’m going to give it a try starting with the Wings-Preds series.
#1 Detroit Red Wings vs. #8 Nashville Predators
Both teams like this match up compared to the other possibilities. This series will certainly feature the gritty forechecking of the Predators and it’s up to the Wings to withstand that on defense and maintain their high level of puck possession styled play. While the Wings aren’t completely healthy at this point, I believe the Wings are healthy enough to play their style of game and do so in an efficient manner against the Preds. And as “unproven” as the Wings goaltenders are (according to Pierre McGuire), I’d take the Dominik Hasek/Chris Osgood duo over Dan Ellis/Chris Mason any day. Let’s just hope Hasek is the Crazy Czech of Insanity and that he’ll keep the games close by making some key saves, without allowing goals on the first three shots giving the Predators an advantage early.
Prediction: Wings in five.
#2 San Jose Sharks vs. #7 Calgary Flames
Yes, San Jose has ended this regular season on a fantastic note and all the mass media members (outside of Detroit) are picking the Sharks to win it all. I don’t see it happening. The team has continually dropped the ball during the postseason despite great regular season success and I don’t really see that changing now. The Flames are physical enough to hang with the Sharks in that regards. Plus, the Flames have a big name goaltender who can really steal a game or two for the team and they have scoring in Jarome Iginla and a bruiser defenseman in Dion Phaneuf. I’m going to go with the upset win in this series.
Prediction: Flames in seven.
#3 Minnesota Wild vs. #6 Colorado Avalanche
If the Avs’ injury situation wasn’t as precarious as it is (ie. fragile Peter Forsberg), I just might go with the Avs to win this series. However, the Wild are obviously a really solid team and I just don’t feel that the Avs’ goaltending is strong enough to beat the Wild.
Prediction: Wild in six.
#4 Anaheim Ducks vs. #5 Dallas Stars
I hope this series goes seven games and I hope it’s physically tough on both squads. I strongly dislike the Ducks, and while I see them advancing to the second round, I hope the Stars wear them out so that when the Wings face the Ducks in the postseason (which I believe will happen at some point), the Wings will be healthy and not quite so beat up. Both team’s goalies are good enough to steal a game or at least keep it close enough to win a game.
Prediction: Ducks in seven.
My Eastern Conference Picks
I’m not going to give my reasons for these ones since I haven’t had that much of an opportunity to watch those teams play throughout the regular season.
#1 Montreal Canadiens vs. #8 Boston Bruins - Montreal in five
#2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #7 Ottawa Senators - Pittsburgh in six
#3 Washington Capitals vs. #6 Philadelphia Flyers - Capitals in seven
#4 NJ Devils vs. #5 NY Rangers - NYR in six
As I’ve made clear in the past, the Rangers are my favorite team in the East so I will be rooting for them all the way. However, I think it would be amazing for the Caps to at least win the first round and with the way Ovechkin and Huet have been playing of late, it’s certainly a possibility.
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