Quote:
Originally Posted by pourmeanother
East - Round 1
1. Capitals vs. 8. Rangers - Capitals in 7
2. Flyers vs. 7. Sabres - Flyers in 5
3. Bruins vs. 6. Canadiens - Bruins in 6
4. Penguins vs. 5. Lightning - Lightning in 6
West - Round 1
1. Canucks vs. 8. Blackhawks - Canucks in 6
2. Sharks vs. 7. Kings - Sharks in 6
3. Red Wings vs. 6. Coyotes - Coyotes in 7
4. Ducks vs. 5. Predators - Ducks in 7
East - Round 2
1. Capitals vs. 5. Lightning - Capitals in 5
2. Flyers vs. 3. Bruins - Bruins in 6
West - Round 2
1. Canucks vs. 6. Coyotes - Canucks in 5
2. Sharks vs. 4. Ducks - Ducks in 7
East - Conference Finals
1. Capitals vs. 3. Bruins - Bruins in 7
West - Conference Finals
1. Canucks vs. 4. Ducks - Canucks in 5
Stanley Cup Finals
1. Canucks vs. 3. Bruins - Canucks in 6
The first year that I haven't been a homer and at least put the Sharks in the WCF. I'm done picking my own team, only primes you for disappointment.
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1 Capitals vs. 5 Lightning - Capitals in 6
The Lightning surprised a few and went out and won a series. Hats off for a quality come back from down 3 games to 1. The run ends here against a talented, and now defensive-minded team.
2 Flyers vs. 3 Bruins - Flyers in 6
I know I put the Bruins in the finals, but I feel that in order for the Bruins to succeed here they need Tim Thomas to be superhuman. I agree that Pronger is one of the keys to the series, if healthy I think the overall depth and talent of Philly will carry them in a hard-fought series. The Bruins PP was atrocious, and they'll need to get things clicking in order to contend here.
1 Canucks vs. 5 Predators - Canucks in 6
The Canucks nearly had a letdown in round 1, and while I think they will struggle to find their scoring rhythm against Nashville I still see them pulling this out in 6. The Preds will grind the Nucks into a pulp, but they just don't have the scoring talent to keep up, even if Rinne stands on his head while getting outshot 2-to-1 every night.
2 Sharks vs. 3 Red Wings - Red Wings in 7
Two deeply talented teams going head to head. Wings are a great road team, and the Sharks have shaken their Joe Louis Arena demons- home ice will be meaningless, and every game will be up for grabs. The Red Wings enter the series rested and healthy, which make them about level with the Sharks at this point. The keys I think are going to be the PP/PK matchups, the Sharks ability to limit Datsyuk's puck possession, and most importantly goaltending... Niemi has struggled, and Howard will get tested a lot more than he did against Phoenix. If I have to pick, I say goaltending is a wash here, the Sharks take fewer penalties but their PK lets them down. Wings move on.