Round 1 Series Predictions Roundup
Before I get to my playoff predictions in the next blog post, here is a roundup of the various predictions of the Wings-Preds series in Round #1. This post will continue to be updated with any additional predictions that I run across leading up to Thursday’s game.
Scott Burnside @ ESPN picks the Wings in five.
Nashville forecheckers vs. Detroit defense: The Red Wings are a puck-possession team blessed with all kinds of skill and speed. The best way to neutralize such a team is to keep the puck from them or make it painful to have it. The pressure, then, is on the Predators’ forwards to disrupt the flow of the Wings’ game by hammering away at Lidstrom, Brian Rafalski, Niklas Kronwall and Stuart. Of course, that’s what teams have been trying to do against the Wings for a while, but that doesn’t mean the Preds should stop trying.
Kevin Greenstein @ Fox Sports also picked the Wings in five games.
Red Wings outlook: Led by captain Nicklas Lidstrom, the talented Wings put together another magnificent season, coming away with their third President’s Trophy in the last four seasons. Lidstrom is the prohibitive favorite to win the Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman while dynamic forwards Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk pace the potent offense. Brian Rafalski, an off-season free agent signee, has replaced the departed Mathieu Schneider (Anaheim Ducks) with aplomb, serving quite capably as a power-play point man alongside Lidstrom. And Johan Franzen emerged as a valuable clutch performer down the stretch. But the key to the Wings’ Cup hopes are in goal, where they’re hoping that 43-year-old veteran Dominik Hasek has a few more dominating performances left in the tank. If not, the task will fall to the re-emergent Chris Osgood, who enjoyed a fine season as Hasek’s backup.
Dave Gross at Canwest News Service:
Red Wings win if: Common sense wins out. Detroit has too many weapons for an out-manned Predators team.
Predators win if: The Great Gazoo makes a comeback off the Flintstones and grants a huge wish.
Prediction: Red Wings in five.
Fellow Wings blogger, Dave, at Gorilla Crouch likes the Wings in six:
This will likely be a physical, low-scoring series. If the Wings can continue to take advantage of the power play at anywhere near the same rate they have during the regular season they should be in good shape to advance.
Prediction: Wings in six.
While Joe at Greatest Hockey Legends doesn’t think this is Detroit’s year, he does foresee a first round series win.
Despite their league best record, Detroit won’t win the Stanley Cup. But Nashville won’t be the team to knock them off. The Predators inclusion in the playoffs is an amazing story, but the clock strikes 12 on this Cinderella team early this year. Red Wings in 6.
NY Times did not actually make a prediction regarding the series, but they did offer up their thoughts on the two teams.
The Red Wings made their methodically successful season interesting only by riding out a knee injury to their flawless defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom. They have the third-highest-scoring offense and the fourth-rated power play. Nashville is the second-best Cinderella story after the Capitals. After off-loading top talent like Peter Forsberg, Tomas Vokoun, Paul Karyia, Kimmo Timonen and Scott Hartnell, the Preds managed to scrape into the playoffs behind Jason Arnott, J.P. Dumont, Alexander Radulov and Martin Erat.
Jibblescribbits made selections on who to cheer for in the Western Conference series. It’s safe to say that this Avs blogger is not cheering for the Wings in the first round. But, it sounds like he hates the Ducks even more than the Wings so that’s a step in the right direction if you ask me.
This one is pretty easy. Even though the Red Wings are way less hate-able today than they were 10 years ago (yes the peak of the Blood Feud was 10 years ago, feel old now?) they are still pretty hate-able. Morso though this year’s Nashville team is pretty likable. They were gutted in the offseason for ownership issues but have managed to survive and make the playoffs. Almost a real life Major League. Also if the Preds win the Avs will stave off the sharks in Round #2 if they make it past the Wild.
Update (4/8 - 10:20pm):
James Mirtle likes the Wings chances this series:
(1) Detroit v. (8) Nashville
Series key: Goaltending
Let’s face it, the Predators are in pretty tough here. No one expected them to make it this far, and it’s really only been a terrific penalty kill that’s stood out this season. My real worry with Nashville is in goal, as if Tomas Vokoun was there, this could be a great series. As it is, Dan Ellis and Chris Mason are both likely to see time in goal, and Barry Trotz and company will just have their fingers crossed. There are some pieces in Tennessee that I really like — Shea Weber, for one — and this team plays hard, but they just don’t have the horses to compete with the Red Wings’ depth. Detroit will find it tough going on the power play, however.
Red Wings in 6
Update 4/10:
Bruce Ciskie @ AOL FanHouse:
Unfortunately for Nashville, they don’t have more than a puncher’s chance in this series. They have some goal-scorers, but they don’t have enough on the blue line to keep up with Detroit’s superior talent and depth. Ellis is good enough to keep this team in games, and he might be able to steal one or two in this series. However, there’s no question Detroit’s skaters are better in practically all areas, and their ability to take care of Hasek will be the key to their series win. If Hasek slips enough, the Predators have sufficient skill to make this series very interesting. It will, however, take a near-colossal failure by Detroit for Nashville to win four of seven. Pick: Red Wings in 5.
Greg Wyshynski @ Deadspin:
Worst Case Scenario for Detroit: They’re not going to lose this series, so the worst case would be to lose even more players to a list of walking wounded that already includes Samuelsson and Maltby.
Worst Case Scenario for Nashville: David Legwand drives the team bus to Detroit.
Well, If You’re Going To Twist My Arm: Red Wings in five. Nashville’s gritty enough to snag a win, but this is Detroit in a walk.
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One Response to “Round 1 Series Predictions Roundup”
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April 9th, 2008 at 9:53 am
I do not have the faith in the Predators’ abilities that anybody else here does . I think they will try to win , but I think Detroit will steamroll the Preds in four games .