1st Round Predictions

The Quest for Lord Stanley's Cup begins tonight. The Razor's been put away, the Octopi is on ice and the Molson is in the fridge. All that's left is to sit back at watch who will raise the Cup. Without any further adeiu here are my predictions for the 1st round

Eastern Conference:

8. Montreal vs. 1. Washington

These teams finished 1st and 2nd in Power Play Percentage this season. That is pretty much where the comparison ends. Washington is loaded with offensive talent. Combine that with Montreal's shaky goaltending situation means this won't last too long. Jaroslav Halak may be good enough to steal one game for the Habs but this one ends in 5 games

Capitals in 5

7. Philadelphia vs. 2. New Jersey

The Flyers went 5-1 against the Devils this season. So why am I picking Jersey? It comes down to goaltending. The Devils have Martin Brodeur in net who may be the best goaltender of our generation. The Flyers have Brian Boucher who is the 3rd option in net after injuries to Ray Emery & Michael Leighton. The Flyers depth at forward to match up with the Devils but I'm not sure they can break Jacques Lemaire's trap in the post-season.

Devils in 6

6. Boston vs. 3. Buffalo

If you like goaltending then this series is for you. Buffalo has US Olympic Hero Ryan Miller in net while Boston counters with Tukka Rask who took over the duties from Tim Thomas a couple months ago and has solidified the Bruins in net. Both of these teams are also tops in penalty kill among playoff teams. I don't expect a lot of Power Play goals in this series. Come to think of it I don't expect a lot of goals period. Neither team can score in bunches but I think the Sabres have a better group of forwards than Boston. That should be enough for Buffalo to advance

Sabres in 6

5. Ottawa vs 4. Pittsburgh

The defending Stanley Cup Champions open the post-season as the number 4 seed in the East for the 3rd season in a row. So far that hasn't been an issue for the Penguins as they are looking to make their 3rd straight Stanley Cup Finals appearance. For the 3rd time in four seasons they will open up the post-season against Ottawa. Whatever internal issues the Senators had in their locker room the last couple season seems to have disappeared and they return to the playoffs after a one year absence. I like the Penguins in this one because I think they are more talented than Ottawa at every position on their roster.

Penguins in 6

Western Conference:

8. Colorado vs. 1. San Jose

Every year we all keep waiting for the Sharks to take that next step and become an elite NHL team and every year they find someway to disappoint us in the post-season. I have my doubts whether this year will be any different but I think they should be able to get out of the 1st round this season. San Jose is loaded with talent at every position while Colorado got off to a hot start this season and was able to hang on to a clinch a playoff berth a year after finishing with the worst record in the West. As long as Evgeni Nabokov is a better goalie than Craig Anderson the Sharks should advance

Sharks in 5

7. Nashville vs. 2. Chicago

After making the Western Conference Finals last season a lot of people think this is the year the Blackhawks take the next step and reach the Stanley Cup Finals. Me, I still have my doubts. Chicago is the more talented team but the injury to defenseman Brian Campbell and a shaky goaltending situation makes me think that the Hawks are ripe for an upset. Throw in the fact they are playing a pesky Nashville team that always seems to give teams fit when they play them. I think the tandem of Ryan Suter & Shea Weber on the Predators blue line is enough to contain Chicago's talented group of forwards and I believe Pekka Rinne is good enough to give Nashville the edge in net. What the hell, I'll go out on a limb and pick the upset.

Predators in 7

6. Los Angeles vs 3. Vancouver

All this season I kept hearing people when they talk about Vancouver say this team has all the tools to make the Stanley Cup Finals. Whenever I watch this team play I see a one line squad with a good goaltender. However with the Sedin twins making up 2/3rds of that one line and Roberto Luongo in net those are three important pieces to make a Cup run. As for Los Angeles, I like what this team has accomplished this season and I thought they might be the best bet for a lower seed to make a deep run in the post-season. Then I found out the Kings goalie Jonathan Quick recently became a father. It's no coincidence that he went into a slump right after. I've noticed that athletes whenever they become a father they tend to struggle when they play. Luongo had this happen to him a couple seasons ago and it cost the Canucks a playoff berth. I have a feeling this will be a factor in this series.

Canucks in 7.

5. Detroit vs. 4. Phoenix

Congratulations Phoenix, you surprised everyone who picked you to finish dead last to clinch the #4 seed in the West and home ice in the 1st Round. Your reward, playing the White Hot Detroit Red Wings that went 16-4-1 since the Olympic break. Don't let the seeding fool you this Detroit team is a lot better than their record indicates and are good enough to reach the Stanley Cup Finals. Time will tell whether that happens again this season but I think they will advance to the 2nd round

Red Wings in 6