[Strutz]

Ok... First of all 5/7 Canadian-based teams are in the playoffs this year! Damn, but I wish all 7 were in there.

Hopefully we will hear our anthem well into June! I'm glad it worked out that our teams do not meet in the first round. Ultimately, an all-Canadian final would be sweet but one round at a time...

Here are the match-ups for the first round:

Toronto - Washington
Boston - Ottawa
Montreal - New York Rangers
Pittsburgh - Columbus
Chicago - Nashville
Minnesota - St. Louis
Anaheim - Calgary
Edmonton - San Jose

Anyone care to make predictions?

[Thanos]

Flames out in five or six because they're simply not capable of beating Anaheim, and haven't been for almost an entire decade. Cheering for the Sharks to beat the piss out of Edmonton hopefully.

[shockedcanadian]

The only Canadian team I see definitely making it to the second round is the Habs. The Leafs have the worst match up and would call it a good playoff if they won a game against the Capitals. Edmonton and Calgary are in tough. Ottawa might have the next best matchup for their style of play, but Boston has a number of competitive veterans. I do see it possible that the Sens win, but I won't bet on it.

My guess is that it's a Washington-Chicago finals.

Of course, this is why they play the games, any team in the dance has a chance. It could be upset after upset. All it takes is a red hot goalie and momentum.

[martin14]

shockedcanadian shockedcanadian:

The only Canadian team I see definitely making it to the second round is the Habs. All it takes is a red hot goalie and momentum.

I agree with shockey. Only the Habs get through, and then Price has to have
the playoffs of his career for them to get anywhere.

Better than Roy.
Better than Dryden.

He will need to channel some Turk Broda.

[N_Fiddledog]

I'll be cheering for a Sharks versus Sens final with Sharks winning the cup in 7. And only Canucks fans know why.

OK, it's not going to happen, but whatever...Go Sharks! Go Sens!

[Strutz]

I'm going to be a little crazy with my predictions just because... why the hell not!

I know what the stats are and the probabilities but I enjoy seeing a good upset (or 2 or 3 ) so...

Toronto - Washington - Toronto in 6
Boston - Ottawa - Ottawa in 6
Montreal - New York Rangers - Montreal in 5
Pittsburgh - Columbus - Columbus in 7
Chicago - Nashville - Chicago in 5
Minnesota - St. Louis - Minnesota in 6
Anaheim - Calgary - Calgary in 6
Edmonton - San Jose - Edmonton in 7

Ok... I'll admit a couple of these are not likely but as far as I'm concerned the playoffs are a new season and anything is possible.

[martin14]

Strutz Strutz:

Ok... I'll admit a couple of these

I'll admit.. yer smoking too much bud, bud.

[Freakinoldguy]

Before I make my Carnac the Magnificent prediction allow me to point out that most of my predictions from previous years have been what could only be described as, hot garbage.

Toronto - Washington Washington in 6
Boston - Ottawa Boston in 7
Montreal - New York Rangers Montreal in 6
Pittsburgh - Columbus Columbus in 7
Chicago - Nashville Chicago in 5
Minnesota - St. Louis Minnesota in 5
Anaheim - Calgary Anaheim in 5
Edmonton - San Jose San Jose in 6

[Strutz]

martin14 martin14:

Strutz Strutz:

Ok... I'll admit a couple of these

I'll admit.. yer smoking too much bud, bud.

No, not me, if anything not enough!

I'm just having some fun is all. Won't it be crazy though if I'm right on a couple of those seemingly unlikely results?

[N_Fiddledog]

Well...

That was disappointing. Calgary was the last hope and they didn't come through.

Doesn't bode well for these battles of Ontario and battles of Alberta we were hoping for.

Not even Montreal could save us Canadians from getting skunked.

Oh well...maybe the game twos will be different.

[Strutz]

N_Fiddledog N_Fiddledog:

Well...

That was disappointing. Calgary was the last hope and they didn't come through.

Doesn't bode well for these battles of Ontario and battles of Alberta we were hoping for.

Not even Montreal could save us Canadians from getting skunked.

Oh well...maybe the game twos will be different.

I think most of the game twos will go the other way. After watching at least a part of each game these last 2 days I predict most of the series going 6 or 7 games for sure. Surprisingly, only a few brief OT games so far and I noted that no team scored more than 3 goals.

[Freakinoldguy]

Strutz Strutz:

N_Fiddledog N_Fiddledog:

Well...

That was disappointing. Calgary was the last hope and they didn't come through.

Doesn't bode well for these battles of Ontario and battles of Alberta we were hoping for.

Not even Montreal could save us Canadians from getting skunked.

Oh well...maybe the game twos will be different.

I noted that no team scored more than 3 goals.

Don't tell Gary Bettman that or we'll be watching goalies with skinny jeans for pads and soccer size nets by next years playoffs. Because, like Bettman says, the 80's with it's non existent defense and unbridled scoring was the greatest decade of hockey.

Me, I prefer old time hockey.

[Strutz]

Freakinoldguy Freakinoldguy:

Me, I prefer old time hockey.

LOL. That particular scene you posted kept coming to mind when watching Canucks games when the play-by-play guys would mention player Drew Shore. "Old time hockey. Like Eddie Shore!"

[Freakinoldguy]

Fantastic. The Hab's and Sen's have evened up their series now we need the Leafs and Flames to do the same. Then, we'll be back on a even keel.

[Strutz]

Heading into 2OT for the Leafs.

Flames off to a rough start but it's early in the game.