Yeah, any team can just get on a hot streak and kill, even if they do blow...take a look at the canes just before the playoffs, hit a 9 game win streak out of nowhere, then lost 5 or so (not sure of exact numbers)

Bruins are no way an underdog, Tim Thomas is a beast, for the lack of respect and interest I have for Boston sports teams, he is still the man

i do. the West is **** this year -- besides the two most obvious teams. realistically every time in the East has a chance (though it's pretty clear which ones have the depth to go all the way). personally i don't think any team has a chance against the Wings or the Sharks.

This, sure it's happened in past years but the Wings and Sharks are stacked, in a weak conference and the only two teams anywhere near their talent level are still substantially behind.

Get your head outta your ass man. These are the playoffs, these are 7 games. Anything can happen...The playoffs are an entirely different thing than the regular season. Dont be so sure about yourself.

Exactly. One goalie can elevate a team. Crosby/Malkin/Ovechkin can disappear for a series. One hit can alter the entire dynamic of the series (see: Cory Sarich on Patrick Marleau).

By the way, what's all this talk of a "weak" Western Conference? I don't understand that. The West had 141 wins versus the East (compared to 129 for East over West). 6 of 8 playoff teams in the West had winning records against the East- only 4 of 6 in the East had winning records against the West.

I'm sorry, but I've watched the Sharks for over a decade now- when it comes to the playoffs, they are never a lock... especially drawing a talented rival in the first round. Detroit's a little more experienced and disciplined in the playoffs, but Osgood/Conklin havs been absolutely horrible.

it's not just the gap in points. Detroit and San Jose have much greater depth than any other team in the playoffs and if you're going to argue that the rest of the west is just as likely to win, well, you're dead wrong.

Playoff experience is just as important as depth this time of year. Thats something hat Detroit has tons of, and Id say they'll be the hardest team to face in the playoffs this year. That said, even if you have a couple hardened playoffs veterans on your 3rd line that arent gonna put amazing numbers on the board. Their experience is gonna help the team a lot. Im just saying this is not the regular season anymore. A lot of things from the regular and long gone when the playoffs start. Its a whole new brand of puck.

Nobody is saying that other teams have the same chance as the Sharks or Wings- we are just acknowledging that they do have SOME chance. The consensus from you guys seems to be Sharks or Wings, 100% guaranteed. I'm saying that is dumb.

The Sharks massively upgraded their playoff experience in the offseason, Detroit still has more but the Sharks are the equal of any other team in the NHL.

Yep, things like depth and experience count a lot more, all the more reason the Sharks and Red Wings will dominate.

I'm not saying it's 100% chance either, but it's the safest bet by a long way, more so than any other year in recent memory.

Look at who the Sharks added in the offseason, factor in the new coach, this is not the team of yesteryear.

Luongo has let in 2 goals in 5 games. He's playing his best hockey all year at the most opportune time. All of our lines have been clicking and our young unexperienced players have shown a lot of maturity in keeping to their games. Our blue line has completely outplayed st.louis' and I think we've got a good chance of upsetting them at home in these next two games and sweeping the series.