Curse

Arkantos · Apr 13, 2009, 02:14 AM // 02:14

Just a thread for all you NHL fans out there. Feel free to talk about, well, the playoffs.

The regular season ended today, playoffs start Wednesday. The teams that made it:

Eastern Conference

Boston Bruins
Washington Capitals
New Jersey Devils
Pittsburgh Penguins
Philadelphia Flyers
Carolina Hurricanes
New York Rangers
Montreal Canadiens

Western Conference

San Jose Sharks
Detroit Red Wings
Vancouver Canucks
Chicago Blackhawks
Calgary Flames
St Louis Blues
Columbus Blue Jackets
Anaheim Ducks

The first round match-ups are:

Boston vs. Montreal
Washington vs. New York
New Jersey vs. Carolina
Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia

San Jose vs. Anaheim
Detroit vs. Columbus
Vancouver vs. St Louis
Chicago vs. Calgary

Now that all that's out of the way, here are some of my opinions on this years playoffs.

First of all, I'm sad that Ottawa didn't make the playoffs. We had a very rough season with a shitty coach and players who were playing far from their potential, and it's the first time we didn't make it since 1996. Oh well. I'm also disappointed that Montreal made it instead of Florida. Not because I like Florida, but because I hate Montreal (but they're losing first round, so no worries

).

The eastern conference has almost the exact teams as last year, except with Carolina instead of Ottawa. As for the western conference, it has 4 of the same teams as last year. I'm surprised to see Chicago, St. Louis and especially Columbus all make it this year.

For once, I'd like to see the eastern conference win the cup. Last time that happened was back in 2005, when Carolina won it. One thing I absolutely do not want to see is Detroit winning it...again. Detroit is an amazing team and I do like them, I'm just tired of seeing them win it. So I hope they do lose, but I won't be surprised if they win.

This year, I hope Boston will win it. They've had an amazing season, have the best goalie in the league, and have great players. They have the potential, hopefully they succeed.

More stuff to say as the playoffs progress.

Now, here are my predictions for this years playoffs:

Round 1

Boston vs. Montreal - Boston wins
Washington vs. New York - Washington wins
New Jersey vs. Carolina - New Jersey wins
Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia - Pittsburgh wins
San Jose vs. Anaheim - San Jose wins
Detroit vs. Columbus - Detroit wins
Vancouver vs. St Louis - Vancouver wins
Chicago vs. Calgary - Calgary wins

That's it, really. So feel free to post your opinions and predictions for this years playoffs.

Snow Bunny · Apr 13, 2009, 02:19 AM // 02:19

Go Sharks.

No, really.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SHARKS!

Arkantos · Apr 13, 2009, 02:43 AM // 02:43

Yeah, the Sharks have a chance at winning this year. I'm sure they'll make it to the finals if they can manage to beat Detroit in the second round (assuming Detroit beats Columbus).

Snow Bunny · Apr 13, 2009, 02:47 AM // 02:47

My only concern is that they've gone out a little hard in the regular season, and might burn out in the playoffs. But seriously, my buddies and I are set on them.

I know you think detroit is a hurdle, but I think that the sharks are simply better, and not prone to making mistakes.

Arkantos · Apr 13, 2009, 02:58 AM // 02:58

That's one thing that Detroit has over San Jose. Both are great teams, both are pretty equal in my eyes, but Detroit is used to the post season. They know what it takes to make it to the finals and win. They've won the cup twice in a row before, and I'm sure they can do it again. San Jose went hard in the regular season. Luckily their first round shouldn't be too much on them, but if they're tired against Detroit they're going to lose. If San Jose is anything like Ottawa, fatigue is going to be the biggest factor in the playoffs for them.

I'm not saying they're bad or worse than Detroit, I'm saying that Detroit has much more experience.

I pwnd U · Apr 13, 2009, 03:02 AM // 03:02

Don't sleep on Washington IMO. With the leagues best scorer I wouldn't be surprised to see them pull of an upset. But I don't think they are strong enough to get to the finals.

Arkantos · Apr 13, 2009, 03:09 AM // 03:09

Yes, Ovechkin is a beast. 56 goals is very impressive. They surely have the potential to make it to the conference finals (and possibly the finals), but I don't think they have it in them to win the cup. All I know is New York better be playing their best defense if they want to win.

Apoc · Apr 13, 2009, 08:47 PM // 20:47

I'm a Habs fan, though not one of those blind ones that still think the team will get their 25th cup thanks to Carey "Jesus" Price. Overall, they had a disappointing season (shame on their 100th). I also think they'll get pounded by the Bruins and hopefully that will make changes upstairs (new GM please).

East - Either Boston or Pittsburgh
West - San Jose or Detroit... though, I really like Chicago but they're still young

@ Arkantos: I don't like Ottawa :P but at least we probably agree on something: we hate the laffs.

Winterclaw · Apr 13, 2009, 09:21 PM // 21:21

*Winterclaw waves his cowbell

Since all I know about hockey is they don't hit each other with those sticks enough, I'm going to vote for Carolina vs Calgary for the finals.

Sir Skullcrasher · Apr 13, 2009, 09:46 PM // 21:46

I can't wait until the playoff kicks off!

My predictions:

Round 1

Boston vs. Montreal - Boston wins
Washington vs. New York - Washington wins
New Jersey vs. Carolina - Carolina wins
Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia - Philadelphia wins (Game 6 or 7)
San Jose vs. Anaheim - San Jose wins
Detroit vs. Columbus - Detroit wins
Vancouver vs. St Louis - Vancouver wins
Chicago vs. Calgary - Calgary wins

Conf Finals:
Detroit vs San Jose - San Jose
Boston vs Washington - Boston

Final:
Boston vs San Jose - San Jose takes the cup in game 5 or 6!

Fril Estelin · Apr 13, 2009, 09:46 PM // 21:46

Sharing the sadness about Ottawa (where I'll hopefully be this summer). But gogo the Canadiens, my hockey heart belongs to them

.

Time to go to youtube and check the NHL, unless you have a better website?

moriz · Apr 13, 2009, 10:07 PM // 22:07

i think someone did a rough calculation: had ottawa brought the coaching change 2 weeks earlier, they would've been in the playoffs right now, given how they've played under clouston. oh well, there's next year, and ottawa seems to have a few very good young players ready to go in.

but yeah, the habs are done. they're like the ottawa of last season, except even WORSE.

Arkantos · Apr 13, 2009, 10:20 PM // 22:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apoc

I'm a Habs fan, though not one of those blind ones that still think the team will get their 25th cup thanks to Carey "Jesus" Price. Overall, they had a disappointing season (shame on their 100th). I also think they'll get pounded by the Bruins and hopefully that will make changes upstairs (new GM please).

East - Either Boston or Pittsburgh
West - San Jose or Detroit... though, I really like Chicago but they're still young

@ Arkantos: I don't like Ottawa :P but at least we probably agree on something: we hate the laffs.

Thank God you aren't one of those fans.

But yeah, it's a shame that their 100th season was as bad as this one. I really thought they had a shot at the cup this year, but that quickly changed.

And yes, we can agree on that.

Quote:

i think someone did a rough calculation: had ottawa brought the coaching change 2 weeks earlier, they would've been in the playoffs right now, given how they've played under clouston. oh well, there's next year, and ottawa seems to have a few very good young players ready to go in.

Theoretically if we had Clouston since the beginning, we'd have over 100 points. Hartsburg really did a crappy job, but I think that Ottawa not making the playoffs this year is a good thing - more rest for next season. We do have some very good young players, but I really think we need to get rid of Spezza and Ruutu. For his first time coaching a NHL team, Clouston has done an amazing job at bringing the team back. If he can do the same next year, we're going to do great.

moriz · Apr 13, 2009, 10:54 PM // 22:54

ruutu yes, spezza no, purely for the fact that we'll never find anyone to replace him. despite being godawful, ottawa's top three forwards still finished with more than 70 points each. that's still fairly respectable.

if anything ottawa needs to find a good second line center. i don't think mike comrie is what we need, but we'll never know i guess. whether we'll need another puck moving defenseman will basically depend on whether karlsson will be ready next season.

pseudocode · Apr 13, 2009, 11:14 PM // 23:14

OMG playoff Hockey! Yah! I can’t wait.

The OP has a great post. I agree with the predictions. However my hope that is Vancouver and Boston are fighting for the cup with a Vancouver win! But that’s just wishful thinking I'm sure.

Regardless I’m stoked for some playoff hockey.

zelgadissan · Apr 14, 2009, 12:07 AM // 00:07

Just for the record Arky, you have Columbus beating Detroit in the first round, but Detroit in the conference finals somehow.

Anyway, if you switch Chicago beating Calgary, we basically agree on everything else. I seriously think the winner of San Jose/Detroit will be doing laps with the Stanley Cup.

Also, red engine Detroit.

Edit: oops, I meant the conference semifinals. Wouldn't Boston play Pittsburgh in Round 2, Washington and New Jersey, San Jose vs. Calgary, Detroit vs. Vancouver? Or have I been detached that long from hockey?

Arkantos · Apr 14, 2009, 12:37 AM // 00:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelgadissan

Just for the record Arky, you have Columbus beating Detroit in the first round, but Detroit in the conference finals somehow.

Anyway, if you switch Chicago beating Calgary, we basically agree on everything else. I seriously think the winner of San Jose/Detroit will be doing laps with the Stanley Cup.

Also, red engine Detroit.

Edit: wait, did you match up 1v2 and 3v4 in the quarterfinals?

Haha, my bad, meant for Detroit to win.

Although I think Detroit vs. Columbus is going to be more interesting than most think. Out of the 6 times they met during the season, Columbus won 3, Detroit won 3. I don't think Columbus have it in them to beat them in the series, but I do think they'll win 2 games.

San Jose and Detroit both have great chances of winning the cup. I highly doubt they'll lose in the quarterfinals, but I do hope that Detroit loses in the semifinals. Either way, I hope Boston wins it this year. If they don't, I can only hope for an eastern team winning it for once.

And no, I got the quarterfinals right (1v8, 2v7, etc).

MMSDome · Apr 14, 2009, 05:22 AM // 05:22

philadelphia flyers

Arkantos · Apr 16, 2009, 02:47 AM // 02:47

Watched some of the Pit vs Phi game, and Wash vs NY game, gonna check out the highlights later. Crosby's goal was meh, Ovechkin had a nice one.

The scores were:

Van vs. St Louis - 1-0 (End of first)
NY vs. Wash - 4-3, bleh
Pit vs. Phi - 4-1, not surprised
NJ vs. Car - 4-1, again, not surprised.

Can't wait to see Boston play Montreal. Definitely going to be an amazing series.

zelgadissan · Apr 17, 2009, 03:18 AM // 03:18

So I was just typing out how pissed I was at the Blackhawks defense tonight; give up the puck to a light forecheck consistently, giving up multiple odd-man rushes, etc. Then Havlat scores 12 seconds into overtime.

Maybe I should rant more often.