Word.
It’s been a while, the round table has reassembled to pick their winners. Lets re-introduce ourselves to the players:
Alex: Rangers fan who doesn’t care how they got into the playoffs.
Ian: First of the Calgary Flames followers. Has the time come to believe in the rival Canucks?
Trish: The Bruins love might just pay off this year.
Keith: Go Flames Go.
Matty: Caps fan, who’s hoping for the #1 seeds to not stop winning.
Nate: Ugh, Flames…
Robbie: Oilers supporter. The draft is his favorite time of year.
Mr.Gun: Penguins fan who will likely let that get in the way of the facts in the East.
Eastern Conference:
(1) Washington Capitals vs (8) NY Rangers
Braden: Capitals in 5 (Callahan would have equaled upset)
Alex: Rangers in 6 (The combined score of their last 3 meetings is 15-1 in favour of NY – Washington exits early again, and Boudreau gets canned.)
Ian: Rangers in 7
Trish: Capitals in 5 (Ovie has been saving his best play for the playoffs)
Keith: Capitals in 6 (They miss Green and Wideman, but it will be more of a team effort from Ovie)
Nate: Rangers in 7 (Caps choke again)
Matty: Capitals in 5
Robbie: Capitals in 5
Mr.Gun: Capitals in 5
(2) Philadelphia Flyers vs (7) Buffalo Sabres
Braden: Flyers in 5 (I just don’t get all the Sabres love)
Alex: Sabres in 6 (Philly limped in, Buffalo stormed in – I predict the trend continuing)
Ian: Sabres in 6
Trish: Sabres in 6
Keith: Flyers in 5 (Too deep and will punish the smaller Sabres)
Nate: Flyers in 6 (Miller takes a couple games to get in the groove)
Matty: Flyers in 6
Robbie: Sabres in 7
Mr.Gun: Flyers in 5
(3) Boston Bruins vs (6) Montreal Canadiens
Braden: Bruins in 5 (My pick to come out of the East)
Alex: Bruins in 5 (this pick relies on Thomas getting hot and the Habs staying scared – I could be wrong)
Ian: Bruins in 5
Trish: Bruins in 7 (Go Bruins!)
Keith: Bruins in 6 (Zdeno terrifies the whole Habs team. Bruins feel they need to make amends for last years choke)
Nate: Bruins in 5 (Riots in Montreal)
Matty: Bruins in 6
Robbie: Bruins in 5
Mr.Gun: Bruins in 7
(4) Pittsburgh Penguins vs (5) Tampa Bay Lightning
Braden: Lightning in 6 (No idea about this one, pens might sweep if i’m wrong)
Alex: Lightning in 5 (Fleury may steal a game, but the Lightning’s offense is firing on all cylinders and Fleury has yet to show he can carry this team)
Ian: Lightning in 6
Trish: Penguins in 6
Keith: Lightning in 7 (No Malkin or Crobsy = no chance. But they make it close and Staal has a great series)
Nate: Penguins in 7 (This one could go either way. I think the Lightning will run out of gas late in the series)
Matty: Penguins in 7
Robbie: Lightning in 6
Mr.Gun: Penguins in 6
Western Conference:
(1) Vancouver Canucks vs (8) Chicago Blackhawks
Braden: Canucks in 6 (Set phaser to DESTROY!)
Alex: Canucks in 4 (Vancouver could be the team to beat this year, whereas Chicago is a shadow of the champs they were last year)
Ian: Canucks in 6
Trish: Blackhawks in 6 (Sorry Braden!)
Keith: Canucks in 6 (It is close but they finally get their head space figured out with the Hawks)
Nate: Canucks in 7 (It pains me to predict this. I take solace in the fact that it’s another 2nd round exit for the Canucks)
Matty: Blackhawks in 7
Robbie: Canucks in 6
Mr.Gun: Canucks in 5 (Disgrace if they lose in the first round. They will work harder than ever before to win)
(2) San Jose Chokes vs (7) LA Kings
Braden: Sharkies in 5 (If they don’t roll the Kings, they are the worst team ever!)
Alex: Sharks in 6 (I like this match up, should be a great series!)
Ian: Sharks in 5
Trish: Sharks in 5 (Please don’t choke again Sharks)
Keith: Kings in 7 (Quick has a great series and steals it)
Nate: Sharks in 5 (Kings have no chance)
Matty: Sharks in 6
Robbie: Sharks in 5
Mr.Gun: Sharks in 5
(3) Detroit Red Wings vs (6) Phoenix Coyotes
Braden: Red Wings in 5 (Future Jets are in trouble)
Alex: Red Wings in 6 (A great re-match of last year – I think Babcock’s coaching and his team of all stars win out)
Ian: Red Wings in 6
Trish: Wings in 5 (Bryzgalov is capable of stealing a series but I think the Wings are too strong)
Keith: Coyotes in 7 (Wings start to show their age)
Nate: Red Wings in 6 (Red Wings roll over the Coyotes)
Matty: Red Wings in 5
Robbie: Coyotes in 7
Mr.Gun: Red Wings in 7
(4) Anaheim Ducks vs (5) Smashville Predators
Braden: Ducks in 7 (Poor preds, still no series win. but this is the closest they’ve been)
Alex: Ducks in 6 (Selanne refuses to go away and seems to be playing his best hockey in a while)
Ian: Ducks in 6
Trish: Ducks in 7 (I love Teemu Selanne so I have to go with the Ducks)
Keith: Ducks in 5 (Top line rolls over anything Preds throw at them)
Nate: Ducks in 6 (Poor Preds)
Matty: Ducks in 7
Robbie: Ducks in 6
Mr.Gun: Ducks in 6
Will update point totals for each person after round 1 and post the round 2 picks.
Point Totals after Round 1
Mr.Gun: 9 pts
Matty: 9 pts
Braden: 8 pts
Nate: 8 pts
Robbie: 8 pts
Alex: 7 pts
Ian: 6 pts
Trish: 6pts
Keith: 6 pts
Stay Tuned.
