THE 2013 NHL PLAYOFFS ARE HERE! Now I’ve heard it said that
there will be an asterisk beside the team that wins the cup this year because
of the shorten season. That’s garbage! You think if Sidney Crosby or Jonathan
Toews win the Cup it won’t really count? This is for the real championship and
the teams are going to battle every game for that prize.
The best part of hockey is the playoffs. Here’s my take on
how the 1st round will shake down! Of course I could be wrong but I
doubt it.
EAST Round 1
1. Pitts vs 8. NYI
Season series: Pitts won 4-1
Congratulations Islanders you finally made the playoffs
after missing it for 20 years. Your reward is you get to face the best team in
the NHL. The biggest question is, “When is Crosby coming back?” Honestly in this
season I don’t think it matters. Have you seen the tear the Penguins are on
lately? They added key playoff guys near the deadline in Iginla and Morrow. As
much as I like what the Islanders have done they won’t match the firepower and
experience of Pittsburgh.
Prediction: Penguins 4-0
2. Montreal vs 7.
Ottawa
Season series: Tied at 2-2
Can we just say that Ottawa doesn’t deserve to be here?
Listen what team loses their all star C and D and G (for most of the yr) and
still make the playoffs? No one except the Senators. Now they limped their way
into the playoffs but they made it. This team is something else. It’s won all
the games that people said they couldn’t. Everyone is going to be picking the
Canadiens but maybe just maybe Anderson stands on his head and pulls this out!
Because as good as Carrey Price has been he’s had some pretty bad games too.
People are going to talk a lot about the Sens making the playoffs without
Spezza and Karlsson but who would have predicted at the beginning of the season
that the Habs would be #2 in the East? Not me. Actually no one. They too have
exceeded expectations. Montreal’s top 3 lines can score.
Prediction: I’m playing it safe out there, the
Canadiens win in 6. If the Sens pull up the upset I can’t see them winning the
next round.
3. Washington vs 6.
NYR
Season series: 2-1 NYR
Both teams are super hot right now. Ovechkin is FINALLY
playing the way he should. They have a good support scoring around him with
Backstrom, Riberio, Erat, Johansson, and Brouwer. But the Rangers have all the
hired guns with Nash and Richards. They got playoff veteran in Clowe. The
biggest factor in this series will be goaltending…King Lunqvist will rise to
the occasion.
Prediction: Rangers in 7. Then the Caps trade for
Luongo in the offseason. J
4. Bruins vs 5. Maple
Leafs
Season series: 3-1 Boston
TML welcome back to the playoffs (2004). I get it Leaf
nation is pumped but isn’t this worst-case scenario? The Habs would have been a
much better Rd 1 match-up. The Bruins have the experience and the grit. Rask is
stellar in goal.
Prediction: Sorry Leaf fans but the dream is
over…Bruins beat you into submission in 6 games.
WEST Round 2
1. Chicago vs 8.
Minnesota
Season series: Chicago 2-1
The only game Minnesota won this year vs Chicago was in
shoot out. Unfortunately for the Wild there are no shoot outs in the playoffs.
I have no idea what Wild team will show up this playoffs for sure but I know
that the Blackhawks only lost 5 regulation games this season. FIVE! Chicago
scored 95 goals this year and Minnesota only 68. I think the Wild are going to
have trouble scoring vs the Blackhawks who aren’t going to have trouble putting
the puck in the net. In both Chicago wins Hossa scored the winner so Minny
needs to have a better game plan vs him.
Prediction: Blackhawks 4-0
2. Anaheim vs 7.
Detroit
Season series: Detroit won it 2-1
Let’s be honest, the Red Wings miss Lidstrom. He’s the
greatest D man in the history of the NHL. If only Detroit could have landed
Ryan Suter like they had hoped it would have been a better season. 22 years
straight they’ve made the playoffs. That’s insanely good!
Prediction: I’m calling it now…you heard it here 1st,
the Wings win this series in 6!!!
3. Vancouver vs 6. SJ
Season series: SJ 3-0
Vancouver has been more up then down this season. I like how
Van matches up vs the Sharks and this should be a great series!!! The Sharks
were very good to start and haven’t finished well enough in my opinion. Niemi
has been great in net and will have to stand on his head as the Canucks are
hungry. My biggest worries for the Canucks are:
1. They can’t score vs the Sharks.
2. They haven’t beaten the Sharks this season.
3. Ryan Clowe is the x factor.
4. The SJ powerplay unit can be deadly.
5. Schneider won’t play because of injury.
Here’s the answers:
1. They have to score…they got more than 1 line that can.
Even Derek Roy and J.Hansen are scoring!
2. The regular season counts but someone has to win 4 and
someone has to lose 4. The Canucks only lost 3 this year so they can win 4 straight?
3. Ryan Clowe doesn’t play for the Sharks!
4. Vancouver is going to be disciplined and not bite
anyone’s fingers. Haha
5. I would love to see Luongo get his 1st Cup
whether it’s on the bench or can I dream…in net???
Prediction: I am going to be a homer here but the
Canucks win in 7 and only because they are healthy and will finally produce.
4. St.Louis vs 5. LA
Season series: 3-0 LAK
One team I didn’t want the Canucks to play in the 1st
round was the Blues. They are on a tear. Solid top to bottom. No real super
star but that plays to their advantage as you can’t just focus on stopping one
or two guys. The Kings are not going to give up their repeat run that easily. A
playoff ready team with great goaltending. The season series is what surprised me…the
Kings have the Blues # this season. But will revenge be sweet for the Blues?
The Kings swept them last year in the playoffs. In saying that I think the
Blues are amazing!
Prediction: Kings in 7 I was going to pick the Blues
but LA is too strong.
Who’s going to win the Cup?
It’s going to be the Blackhawks losing to the Crosby lead
Penguins in the finals.
Who I want to win in the 1st round:
Penguins
Habs
Caps
Leafs
Wild
Red Wings
Canucks
Blues
