This has been up on my Facebook page since before the playoffs.
CONFERENCE QUARTERS
Eastern Conference:
Montreal* vs. Boston
As a Leafs fan you hate to say either way, but look for a resounding victory by Montreal here. Kovalev and the Habs have way too much depth and speed for Zdeno Chara and the Boston Bruins to handle. Having taken the season series 8-0, Montreal should have no trouble with Boston in the post-season. Habs take the series 4-0 – Price will be huge.
Pittsburgh* vs. Ottawa
Now this one is different, as a Leafs fan you LOVE to say this: Pittsburgh dominates. Last year I was stupid in choosing the Pens to beat the Sens, but this season is different. The Penguins have far too much depth with Crosby, Malkin and Hossa, and now with the return of Gary Roberts. With my favourite player Alfie the Clown injured look for the Penguins to take this series 4-1.
Washington* vs. Philadelphia
This will be a series. Two teams that ended the season in completely different forms: the Caps having dominated down the stretch to squeak into the playoffs in their final game, and the Flyers almost ended up missing the playoffs because of bad play, but squeaked through in the end after a solid finish to the season. I made the mistake of picking the Pens over Ottawa last year because I wanted Crosby to win. Still, Ovechkin and the Capitals finished the season like no other team in the East, not to mention their depth between the wickets, and so I have some faith. Washington wins this series 4-3.
New Jersey vs. NY Rangers*
NYR took the season series 7-0-1, but the season is wiped out of memory when the post-season starts. This will be the goaltending duel of the playoffs, containing the two top tenders in the East and arguably the league. Martin Brodeur is going to take over Patty Roy’s place as greatest of all time, and Lundqvist has been amazing for the Rangers. The Rangers have unbelievable scoring depth, but have always neglected to bolster their defense. The Devils on the other hand are known for defense, but forwards like Parise and Elias will help them light the lamp. Let’s face it, Jagr was shit this season, but he stepped it up towards the end. With Jagr and Shanahan’s combined 5 Stanley Cups and veteran leadership, look for the Rangers to take this series 4-2.
Western Conference:
Detroit* vs. Nashville
So they won the President’s Trophy for the 30th consecutive time: good for them! Seriously though, this team is ridiculous. Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Holmstrom own. If they aren’t owning, then Franzen, Cleary, Draper, Maltby, Samuelsson and/or Hudler step it up. Not to mention Chelios, Lidstrom (70 pts.) and Rafalski (55 pts.) on the defensive end and a solid Chris Os-actually-good and Hasek protecting the twine. Oh yeah, and a combined 24 Stanley Cup rings…Detroit in 5.
San Jose* vs. Calgary
This is probably my favourite matchup of the first round. I have no problem with either team winning; it’s looking like chance will take over in this one. Flip a coin – seriously. San Jose is definitely the favourite, but Calgary has skill. Iggy with his second 50 goal season, Langkow (underrated – seriously), Phaneuf and Kipper are awesome. At the other end, Nabokov, Thornton, Cheechoo, Marleau, Michalek, Rivet and the addition of Campbell at the deadline – scary. Not to mention Mike ‘Stone Hands’ Grier who admittedly adds depth and future Hall-of-Famer J.R. who was second in the league with ten game-winning-goals (admittedly this is a bullshit stat, but whatever). San Jose takes this series in six games.
Minnesota vs. Colorado*
Gaborik, Demitra, Backstrom and one of my new favourite players in Brent Burns lead the Wild. As for the Avs, does this seem familiar to you? Sakic, Forsberg, Foote, Hejduk…Rob Blake, Patrick Roy. Seriously though, the new/old look Avalanche with the addition of my boy Ryan Smyth as well as Brunette, Wolski, Svatos, Stastny and Theodore (who was pretty good this year) are a contender. Since the return of Peter Forsberg the Avs have been red hot. I like the Wild, but Colorado takes this series 4-2.
Anaheim* vs. Dallas
Can you say intense? Teemu Selanne and Scott Niedermeyer back in the league and helping out their boys. The Ducks are my pick to win the Stanley Cup again this year so this one’s pretty self-explanatory. Dallas is a great club with Turco manning the pipes and Modano, Ribeiro, Lehtinen, the newly added Richards and Captain Ethan Morrow up front. Zubov and Boucher need to be healthy for this one because they’ll need the help on defense. Getzlaf, Perry, Kunitz, Bertuzzi and Selanne up front along with their checking line of Rob Niedermeyer, Pahlsson and Moen will be pretty damn tough to play. J.S.G. playing back-stop is always some help too. Oh yeah, and they have one or two decent d-men to worry about. Brian Burke’s “defense wins Cups” mentality is brilliant. No team with a lack of depth on defense will ever win the Cup. This will be a hard-fought battle that will end in six games.
My Competition with Maggie the Monkey
Maggie's Conference Quarterfinal Picks
Eastern Conference: Montreal, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New Jersey
Western Conference: Detroit, San Jose, Minnesota, Anaheim
5/8 with Maggie. Screw you Maggie, what the hell do you know anyways? You're just a monkey.
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