Hockey Prediction Time!
Well...here it is. LT's annual "pulling playoff prediction out of my ass" time.
I'll do a top to bottom one from the beginning to the finals, but I'll put up a new post after every round is complete.
Here we go.
East Quarter finals:
Ottawa vs. Tampa
Ottawa in 6
Why? I just can't see Tampa being able to contain the Sens offence. Not with their pisspoor goaltending and the defence which was designed in Switzerland. Mind you, the Sens are ripe for an upset...I don't think that Tampa has the tools to do it.
Carolina vs Montreal
Canes in 6
Both of these teams have questions in nets. I think this series is going to be won by the team that steps it up in the goaltending department. As much as I'd like to see the Habs win this series, I think that Gerber is going to be better than what Montreal has to offer.
New Jersey vs. NY Rangers
New Jersey in 5
Brodeur and the Jersey Defence vs. Jagr. Jagr dones't stand a chance against the hottest team going into the playoffs. If they shut down Jagr, the Rangers will fold like a cheap rug.
Buffalo vs. Philadephia
Buffalo in 7
This is a series that I'm going to be paying alot of attention to. If the refs put away their whistles, and let the clutching, grabbing and obstruction into the series...hand the cup to Philadelphia. If the refs call the game the way it's supposed to...Buffalo will skate around Philly and embarass the shit out of them.
West
Detroit vs. Edmonton
Detroit in 4
I'm sorry...not much to say here, but the Oilers don't stand a freaking chance barring a miracle on ice.
Dallas vs. Colorado
Dallas in 7
This series is gonna beat the shit out of both teams. There are alot of questions for both of these teams in regards to goaltending. Will Theo find his old ways? Will Turco finally step up and play to his potential and can the team in front of him not choke. This series could go very quickly if Dallas lives up to their billing or it's gonna be a long, long assed series if both teams start to mis-fire.
Calgary vs. Anaheim
Calgary in 7
This series is only tough to call because of the Ducks. They've been a cinderella team in the past and they are going into the playoffs pretty red hot right now. For me personally, I think that Calgary doesn't have the talent to make it as far as they did 2 years ago. They are putting too much faith in heart, and not enough in raw talent. Although, they do have two of the best players in the league playing for them. Kipper and Iggy...but outside of that...there isn't alot of depth.
Nashville vs. Sharks
Sharks in 6
Vokoun, Vokoun, Vokoun...damn you! I hope you get better soon! This was supposed to be the year for Nashville in so many ways. They had the talent, they had the heart, they had the goaltending. All the pieces were there for them to go deep, deep, deep into the playoffs. With the loss of their goalie (mind you Mason has played well since Vokoun went down) they have been sputtering as well. To top it off, Big Joe and his fellow fish are on a tear right now. But...as with the Rangers, if you shut down Thornton and Cheechoo...they could be had.
The rest of this is just a crap shoot for fun to see if I'm even remotely right...
Semis
East
Ottawa vs. Buffalo - Ottawa in 5
Jersey vs. Carolina - Jersey in 7
West
Detroit vs. Sharks - Detroit in 6
Dallas vs. Calgary - Dallas in 7
Conference finals:
Ottawa vs. Jersey - Ottawa in 7
Detroit vs. Dallas - Dallas in 6
Finals
ottawa vs. Dallas - Ottawa in 7
GO SENS GO!
I'll do a top to bottom one from the beginning to the finals, but I'll put up a new post after every round is complete.
Here we go.
East Quarter finals:
Ottawa vs. Tampa
Ottawa in 6
Why? I just can't see Tampa being able to contain the Sens offence. Not with their pisspoor goaltending and the defence which was designed in Switzerland. Mind you, the Sens are ripe for an upset...I don't think that Tampa has the tools to do it.
Carolina vs Montreal
Canes in 6
Both of these teams have questions in nets. I think this series is going to be won by the team that steps it up in the goaltending department. As much as I'd like to see the Habs win this series, I think that Gerber is going to be better than what Montreal has to offer.
New Jersey vs. NY Rangers
New Jersey in 5
Brodeur and the Jersey Defence vs. Jagr. Jagr dones't stand a chance against the hottest team going into the playoffs. If they shut down Jagr, the Rangers will fold like a cheap rug.
Buffalo vs. Philadephia
Buffalo in 7
This is a series that I'm going to be paying alot of attention to. If the refs put away their whistles, and let the clutching, grabbing and obstruction into the series...hand the cup to Philadelphia. If the refs call the game the way it's supposed to...Buffalo will skate around Philly and embarass the shit out of them.
West
Detroit vs. Edmonton
Detroit in 4
I'm sorry...not much to say here, but the Oilers don't stand a freaking chance barring a miracle on ice.
Dallas vs. Colorado
Dallas in 7
This series is gonna beat the shit out of both teams. There are alot of questions for both of these teams in regards to goaltending. Will Theo find his old ways? Will Turco finally step up and play to his potential and can the team in front of him not choke. This series could go very quickly if Dallas lives up to their billing or it's gonna be a long, long assed series if both teams start to mis-fire.
Calgary vs. Anaheim
Calgary in 7
This series is only tough to call because of the Ducks. They've been a cinderella team in the past and they are going into the playoffs pretty red hot right now. For me personally, I think that Calgary doesn't have the talent to make it as far as they did 2 years ago. They are putting too much faith in heart, and not enough in raw talent. Although, they do have two of the best players in the league playing for them. Kipper and Iggy...but outside of that...there isn't alot of depth.
Nashville vs. Sharks
Sharks in 6
Vokoun, Vokoun, Vokoun...damn you! I hope you get better soon! This was supposed to be the year for Nashville in so many ways. They had the talent, they had the heart, they had the goaltending. All the pieces were there for them to go deep, deep, deep into the playoffs. With the loss of their goalie (mind you Mason has played well since Vokoun went down) they have been sputtering as well. To top it off, Big Joe and his fellow fish are on a tear right now. But...as with the Rangers, if you shut down Thornton and Cheechoo...they could be had.
The rest of this is just a crap shoot for fun to see if I'm even remotely right...
Semis
East
Ottawa vs. Buffalo - Ottawa in 5
Jersey vs. Carolina - Jersey in 7
West
Detroit vs. Sharks - Detroit in 6
Dallas vs. Calgary - Dallas in 7
Conference finals:
Ottawa vs. Jersey - Ottawa in 7
Detroit vs. Dallas - Dallas in 6
Finals
ottawa vs. Dallas - Ottawa in 7
GO SENS GO!