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View Full Version : Handicapping the NHL Playoffs(1st round)


NJCardFan
04-07-2008, 10:10 PM
Well, here I go again. Let's see how bad I can do this year:


Eastern Conference

(8)Boston Bruins vs. (1)Montreal Canadiens-This is my favorite matchup of the 1st round. Original 6 vs Original 6. A rivalry almost as old as the NHL itself and congrats to the Habs for being the regular season conference champ. The Bruins are exhausted just by making the playoffs. This series goes chalk. My Pick: Habs in 5


(7)Ottawa Senators vs. (2)Pittsburgh Penguins-A rematch of last year's first round but this time the roles are reversed. If the Sens are going to repeat as conference champions they have to get through Sidney Crosby and the Penguins. Easier said than done. This time around the Pens will advance. My Pick:Penguins in 6

(6)Philadelphia Flyers vs. (3)Washington Capitals-This is one of the most intriguing matchups. Last season the Flyers were the worst team in hockey. The Caps were the 2nd worst team in the Eastern Conference behind the Flyers. Both teams' playoff hopes came down to the last weekend of the season. Both did what they needed to do. They are as equally matched as you're going to get with one exception: Alexander Ovechkin. 65 goals. 112 points. This guy is insanely good. My Pick-Caps in 5.

(5)NY Rangers vs. (4)NJ Devils-I really don't care. I hate both teams. I hope they beat each other into submission. Seriously, this series is a heavyweight fight and it will go the distance. My Pick:Devils in 7.

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Western Conference


(8)Nashville Predators vs. (1)Detroit Red Wings-Ho-hum. Another year where the Wings win the President's Trophy. 115 points only to get bounced in the early rounds. Well, maybe but not this round. Sorry Preds but you'll have wait until next year to win a playoff series. My Pick:Wings in 4.


(7)Calgary Flames vs. (2)San Jose Sharks-The Flames are trying to get back to the finals since they came so close in 2004. The Sharks are still trying to get there for the first time. They'll get started here. My Pick-Sharks in 6.


(6)Colorado Avalanche vs. (3)Minnesota Wild-The Wild won their first ever division championship. The Ave's are the Ave's. As consistent as can be. Experience over youth here. My Pick:Ave's in 6.


(5)Dallas Stars vs. (4)Anaheim Ducks-The Ducks are the defending Stanley Cup Champions. The Stars, like the Ave's, are always in the playoffs. The Ducks are just too strong for the Stars. My Pick:Ducks in 5.


Well, that's the first round. Should be some good playoff matches. A few rivalries. Let's just hope the Cup goes to a more traditional team this year.

AussieCardinal
04-19-2008, 07:44 AM
Pitts look like the team to beat at the moment. Montreal should have wrapped it up at home. Im very disappointed.

Flyers showing some real fight. Enjoying that series.

donnasaurus
04-19-2008, 09:18 AM
Uphill for the Ducks. Can't lose any now. But if they can play the next 2 like they did last night, minus a couple of penalties, they'll be good to go all the way.

Just not as strong.

AussieCardinal
04-20-2008, 07:33 PM
Uphill for the Ducks. Can't lose any now. But if they can play the next 2 like they did last night, minus a couple of penalties, they'll be good to go all the way.

Just not as strong.

So far Ducks up 1-0 in Game 6. Maybe they can hold on.

Wide Left Rackers
04-20-2008, 08:02 PM
So you dont even root for the home team (Devils). Correct me if I'm wrong, but is it true that the Devils don't even play in NJ?

NJCardFan
04-23-2008, 10:00 PM
So you dont even root for the home team (Devils). Correct me if I'm wrong, but is it true that the Devils don't even play in NJ?

The Devils play in Newark, NJ which, even if I were a fan, I wouldn't go to on a bet. That said, the Devils are not my home team. I live in South Jersey which is about 2 hours away from Newark. Philly is about 40 minutes. The Devils didn't come into existance until 1982. Before that, they were the Colorado Rockies and before that they were the KC Scouts. The Devils, as good as a frachise as they are, can't draw flies. They are already in Ranger territory and we in the South are Flyers fans. I know of 3 Devils fans.

As for my being a Flyers fan, the Flyers came to be in 1967. I became a hockey fan in 1972. The Flyboys won the Cup in 74 & 75 so we were deep in Flyerdom long before the Devils came along. During hockey season I bleed orange and black.