2011 NHL Playoffs Round 2

Before I start, if you read my last predictions you will notice I was 8 for 8 in round 1. Pretty proud of that. Now I didn’t get the games right but 4 of the games went to game 7 so that’s pretty difficult to predict.

Did you know the Vancouver - Chicago game was the 2^nd most viewed game in the 1^st round of the playoffs in NHL history? What a game! Canucks hit & hit & hit. The Blackhawks didn’t quit and Luongo put on a show. But Burrows became the hockey hero when he scored the OT goal!

I have heard it said, “Vancouver fans are making too big of a deal being the President Trophy winners beating the 8^th place Canucks.” Here’s my take: Yes it was 1 vs 8 for the 1^st 3 games but Chicago woke up after the Torres - Seabrook hit and played the last 4 games like the last years Stanley Cup Champs. It was a huge test for Vancouver and that was a big game 7 win.

Eastern Conference

1. Washington vs 5. Tampa Bay

Clash of the superstars begins in the Capital city. Ovechkin vs St.Louis. This series will be a good one for the talent to shine. Washington won the season series 4-2. The 1^st 2 games in the series D.Roloson was not on the team. The next 2 games Roloson shut out the struggling Caps. Then Caps out scored the Bolts 6-3.

The Lightning have been playing better of yet and came back to beat the Penguins. The Caps have excelled in the last 2 months. Each game should provide a lot of action but I think the Caps keep it rolling.

Washington in 6

2. Philadelphia vs 3. Boston

Boston won the season series 3-1. Both are solid teams and I think this turns into a battle. Pronger vs Chara is the most intriguing match up. Chara might be up for the Norris Trophy but Pronger does nothing but win big playoff games. The Bruins have T.Thomas in net and he’s been the best goalie in the entire league. The Flyers, as I predicted, would switch goalies and ride Boucher. Granted they have 3 good goalies in Philly but none of them are great. The Flyers offense is powerful but it was silenced twice by Ryan Miller and if the Sabres had more fire power they would have won that series. If you think T.Thomas is going to shut the Flyers down he got lit up by the Canadiens scoring 20 goals in 7 games. Briere is a playoff stud with 5 goals and Grioux leads the NHL in playoff points. Many of you know that I love the Flyers but my head says this series ends in disappointment.

Boston in 7.

Western Conference

2. Detroit vs 3. San Jose

This series is going to be a great one. This will be a high scoring grueling battle. Either team has the potential to win the Cup. Loaded with talent and tons of experience. Niemi hasn’t played well but Joe Thornton finally scored an OT winner. But I think the experience of the Red Wings will be tough to handle. These boys have been in many of these wars. Even though Lidstrom is getting older give me his kind of experience any day over youth. Datsyuk will be hard to contain and both Franzen & Zetterberg will be back to face the Sharks. The other factor that rarely gets discussed in the excellent role players in Cleary, Flippula, and Holmstrom. Plus they have a great defensive core. Howard, even though young, will be up for the challenge.

Detroit goes to the West final in 6 games.

1. Vancouver vs 5. Nashville

The Predators won their 1^st playoff series ever. Great win to knock off the Ducks who really missed J.Hiller in net. Speaking of net Pekka Rinne is unbelievable. He’s up for the Veinza just like Luongo. When thinking about the Predators they are a solid team but they don’t have solid scoring. They don’t have anyone as offensively gifted like Toews, Kane, Sharp or Hossa. S.Weber is up for the Norris and will be a headache to the Canucks. If Vancouver can play like they did in games 6 & 7 this will not be a long series.

Vancouver wins a quick one in 5.

Of course I could be wrong but I doubt it!

KEMPNER 2011 NHL PLAYOFFS Predictions

KEMPNER NHL 2011 PLAYOFFS Predictions

Okay people here it is...my bold predictions. Before you disagree why don't you man up and publicly tell the world what you think each series will result in.

East

1. Wash vs 8. NYR

The Capitals should destroy the Rangers were wishing they didn’t play NY in the 1^st rd. Dec 12 NY won 7-0! Feb 25 NY won 6-0. Actually the Rangers won the season series 3-1 this year. The good thing about Washington is they have been on fire to finish the year. Lundqvist is a very good goalie better than Neuvwith. But the Caps somehow win this series in 7.

2. Philly vs 7. Buffalo

The Flyers should win this series easy but there ar

e some major question marks. Q1 Will Bobrovsky hold up? He’s been struggling of late and Boucher might be the better option. Q2 Will Ryan Miller steal the show? Philly is going to throw a ton of pucks at this stellar goalie and maybe Miller pulls it out. He’s going to have to put this team on his shoulders. Q3 Which game will Pronger be back? People hate this guy but proven fact he takes teams DEEP into the playoffs. This guy is a future hall of famer. He is physical, has the experience, and is a winner. I think Pronger plays...if not Buffalo has a legit chance.

Philly wins in 6

3. Boston vs 6. Montreal

This is the tail of 2 opposite teams. The Bruins are very physical and the Canadiens are very fast. I know Canada has only 2 teams in the playoffs but Montreal is not a playoff team. Boston is built for the playoffs. They are hard working, hard hitting, in your face kind of team. Chara and Lucic are the difference makers and Tim Thomas will out play Carey Price.

Boston sweeps the series 4-0.

4. Pittsburgh vs 5. Tampa Bay

Forget Syd the Kid (he’s out for at least half of this series o

r more) but somehow someway the Penguins are winning without Crosby or Malkin. I give credit to good coaching, guys stepping it up, and Fleury standing on his head. Here’s the problem…can they sustain it without Syd? Listen to this St.Louis had 99 pts this year, Stamkos had 91, but the best surprise has been the return of V.Lecavalier. Vincent is on a tear. They have 2 really good lines that can score. The biggest question mark will be the play of Roloson. He isn’t the best but he’s got a ton of experience and might just play well enough to squeak by the Penguins.

TB wins in 6

Boston beats Washington in the Conference Final

West

4. Anaheim vs 5. Nashville

Other than the twins there is no better pair right now than the Perry and Getzlaf. The Predators play boring hockey. P.Rinne is going to carry his team on this shoulders. ??? You know who is going to be in goal for Anaheim? Dan Ellis. Nashville will score bad goals and stay out of the box enough to compete.

Nashville win the series in 7.

3. Detroit vs 6. Phoenix

All I hear is the Red Wings are old. And yes they are the oldest team in the playoffs but to me that means they have the most experience. The Coyotes are a blue collar team with a great goalie in Bryzgalov. The challenge is 40+ shots a night from these oldies. Not only does Detroit win but win quickly.

Red Wings win in 5

2. SJ vs 7. LA

This is going to be the worst match-up in the 1^st rd. LA is without Kopitar and J.Williams. It’s over. I love Quick but there is no way they are pulling out the upset. The Sharks are WAY too strong and will take a bite out of the Kings. Niemi is great in goal and the question must be asked “Why did the Blackhawks let him go?”

SJ wins in 4

1. Van vs 8. Chic

3 yrs in a row they play each other in the playoffs. No love lose here. Chicago being the defending Cup champs know what it takes to win. In the offseason, Chic got worse and Vancouver got better. These games are going to be tough. Chic should be in the playoffs but thanks to the disappointing Dallas Stars they are in. Vancouver is on fire and is the undisputed best team in the regular season by a landslide. But this is the playoffs. Canucks top to bottom are solid. Daniel is the best player in the NHL and they still have Henrik who was last years MVP. Plus Burrows, Kesler, and Torres are playoff type players. And the Canucks are hungry. They will win this war quickly.

Vancouver in 5

Canucks beat out the Red Wings in the Conference final.

Here’s some things I could see…

In the East:

NY beating the Caps, Buffalo upsetting the Flyers, and Syd Crosby coming back. If those things happen Pittsburgh makes the finals beating out Boston.

In the West:

The only thing I could be wrong on is the Ducks destroy the Predators. But Van, SJ, and Detroit are the real deal and the Cup stays in the West when the dust settles.

2011 Cup Winner: 40 yr anniversary = 1^st Vancouver Stanley Cup.

I don't think I have ever predicted the Canucks to win the Cup but this is our year. It's time for us to prove it and do it. I fully believe they will win the wars and come out on top.