PLAYOFFS!! PLAYOFFS!!

   It's once again time for the NHL Playoffs! There are some real power house teams this year, but the lower seeds aren't too shabby either. Here is my playoff predictions! I will do every round, leading up to and including the Stanley Cup! Let's start out East!

FIRST ROUND
1-Pittsburgh Penguins
vs.
8-New York Islanders
Pens win if: They win if they are firing on all cylinders. Since they have been doing that all year, I don't see why they would stop in the playoffs. If Crosby is back healthy for a playoff run, this team will be unstoppable on their way to the championship.
Islanders win if: They win if they win if they can shut down Pittsburgh's top players, but there are so many of them that I just don't see that happening. JT and the boys won't roll over quietly, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Nabokov steal a game or two.
Prediction: The Islanders have improved, but the Pens are unstoppable this year, and have too many weapons. Penguins in 5.


2-Montreal Canadiens
vs.
7-Ottawa Senators
Habs win if: They win if they can beat Craig Anderson, and keep up the youthful jump that has sprung them all year. They're power-play will have to continue to work hard, and they've need to work for goals against the pesky sens.
Sens win if: They win if they can play that stingy style of hockey they've played all year. This is a good match-up for them. They may not have the fire power to match the Habs, but they have the grit to push them around a bit. Karlsson's return changed any series that the Sens might have played.
Prediction: It will be a close one. The Habs have more fire power up front, but the sens play that pesky, gritty style of playoff hockey. It will be close, but I'll have to go Canadiens in 7.


3-Washington Capitals
vs.
6-New York Rangers
Caps win if: They win if Ovi is hot. It would be hard to argue that there has been a better player in the game over the past month and a half than Alex Ovechkin. Washington found their form and they ran with it. They're a team firing on all cylinders, with a bonafide superstar on their side. If they can match up with the fire power the Rangers have, I like their chances. Also, Holtby needs to outgoaltend King Lundquist or it could be goodnight for the Caps.
Rangers win if: They win if they can keep on their grind, and get back to the New York Ranger hockey that we saw last year. Aside from Matt Hendrichs, the Caps don't really have a lot of size up front. From a grit stand point. If they can play hard, block shots, and punish the caps they'll have a real shot of winning this one.
Prediction: Another hard one to call. They are two of the hottest teams in the NHL right now. The Rangers have a big more depth up front, and a bit more gritiness to their lineup. If their d-men can play like they did last year, and if Lundquist in on his game, it would be tough for the Caps to win this one. With that being said, however, Ovi could probably score on a solid brick wall at this point. A close one to call, but I'm going to go Rangers in 6.


4-Boston Bruins
vs.
5-Toronto Maple Leafs
Bruins win if: They win if they can out-muscle the Leafs. These are two of the toughest teams in the NHL, and both sides have players who can be difference makers at any time. If they B's can play that big bad Bruins style of hockey, and shut down Kessel, Kadri, Lupul, and Bozak, they'll have a good chance.
Leafs win if: *sigh* no more Leaf jokes allowed. Because they have a hell of a year! They improved a lot this season, and that isn't embodied by anyone else but Nazim Kadri. If they Leafs can match depth with the Bruins, as well as match (both metaphorical and literal) punches with the Bruins they'll have a shot. Getting good goal tending from Manitoba native James Reimer will help as well.
Prediction: As much as every Leaf fan would love to see a return to the glory days, I don't see it happening this year. These two teams play a very similar type of hockey. But the Bruins have been here before. Most of those players have a Stanley Cup ring on their finger. I don't see the Leafs matching depth with the  B's in this one. Bruins in 6.

SECOND ROUND
1-Pittsburgh Penguins
vs.
6-New York Rangers
Prediction: Both teams have great goal tenders, and lots of fire power. But I don't see anyone in the East beating the Pens this year. Pens in 6.

2-Montreal Canadiens
vs.
4-Boston Bruins
Prediction: Tough one to call. The Habs have gotten tougher this year, and I feel Boston will be worn down from what is likely to be a tough series against the Leafs, although the same could be said for the Habs with Ottawa. If it had to put money on it.... Bruins in 7.

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL
1-Pittsburgh Penguins
vs. 
4-Boston Bruins
Prediction: Almost a dream series of sorts. You have all-start goalies, great d-cores, and two teams that are deep at forward. As beautiful and cliche as this may sound, Jerome Iginla may be the difference maker in this one. What an ending that would be. Both teams are gritty, but play with skill when they have too. I'd expect it to be long and hard fought, but I have to give the edge to the Penguins. They're too good. Penguins in 6.
 
   Now let's move out to the wild wild west.
FIRST ROUND
1-Chicago BlackHawks
vs. 
8-Minnesota Wild
BlackHawks win if: They win if they continue to play like they did in the regular season. Possibly the most well rounded team in the league, with too many superstars to count. This season has been a Pittsburgh, Chicago super-final in the making.
Wild win if: They win if the Hockey Gods are feeling really generous. They'll need great goal tending from Backstrom, and a miracle.
Prediction: The Wild aren't about to roll over and die, but the BlackHawks are too good, too fast, and too dominant. Hawks in 5.


2-Anaheim Ducks
vs. 
7-Detroit RedWings
Ducks win if: Like the BlackHawks, they win if they continue to play like they did in the regular season. If the big guns like Perry, Getzlaf, and Selanne keep on top of their game and the secondary scoring keeps pouring in, the Wings will be in tough!
Wings win if: They win if Jimmy Howard absolutely stands on his head. There's not doubt the Wings are still a threat. 22 straight years of post-season hockey in the motor-city can attest to that. They lack the secondary scoring that the Ducks have in gallons. Zetterberg and Datsyuk can't carry the load themselves, they will need some help, and a lot of it. It will also be interesting to see how Detroit's shattered d-core deals with their first post-season without Nick Lidstrom.
Prediction: These two teams had some epic playoff battles years ago. Detroit was a much better team then, than now. I don't think it's wise to rule anyone out (flashback: LA last year) but I think the Ducks have too much depth, and too much scoring punch for Detroit's weak d-core to handle. Ducks in 5.


3-Vancouver Canucks
vs. 
6-San Jose Sharks
Canucks win if: They win if they can stop the offensive attack of the Sharks. The Nucks have a solid d-core, and two all-star goalies so it wouldn't surprise me to see them do just that. The Sedin's will have to be on, and they'll need to find some secondary scoring, which was something they lacked in this year.
Sharks win if: They win if they can shut down the Sedins, and get to Luongo early. With Schneider on the mend, Luongo will be expected to carry the load. The Canucks have struggled to find consistency aside from their top line, and the Sharks will need to pounce early to win this one. They have a solid attack with Thorton, Pavelski, Coture, and Marleau. Will Niemi and the d-core be up to the task? Only time will tell.
Prediction: Both teams are very good, and have very good offensive potential. I would have to give the edge to the Nucks based on their d-core and their goal tending which is superior to the Sharks. Nucks in 6.


4-St Louis Blues
vs.
5-Los Angeles Kings
Blues win if: They will win if they don't roll over and die like they did last season against these very same Kings. The Blues are a more matured team, and it wouldn't surprise me to see them make a deep playoff run. Where they lack in superstar talent, and offensive juggernautedness (not a word but it should be eh?) they make up for with solid defense, good goal tending, and a tenacity that you can't teach. They are rough, gritty, and ready to make a push into the playoffs.
Kings win if: They win if they find their form from last year. They were an unstoppable force, and have the exact same pieces in place to make another run identical to last season's. They have depth at forward, solid d, and a good goal tender in Johnny Quick. They need to find that form again this year, from top to bottom they'll need to be solid in order to beat the Blues.
Prediction: This is the series I am looking forward to most in the West. Both teams are very talented, and both teams possess a mean streak that will serve their purpose. I think the Kings will find their form again this year. They are riddled with playoff experience, and it will show. Tough one to call, but I will do so. Kings in 7.
SECOND ROUND
1-Chicago BlackHawks
vs.
5-Los Angeles Kings
Prediction: As much as I think the Kings will find their form again. They won't beat the BlackHawks. It will be a closer series than most will expect, but I think the Hawks will run with this one. Hawks in 6.

2-Anaheim Ducks
vs. 
3-Vancouver Canucks
Prediction: The Canucks just don't seem like the team that they were when they made their cup run in 2010. I think their series with the Sharks will be a long and challenging one that won't prepare them for the most likely well-rested Ducks. Where the Nucks lack, the Ducks flourish with secondary scoring. Ducks in 7.

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL
1-Chicago BlackHawks
vs.
2-Anaheim Ducks
Prediction: By far the two most dominant teams in the West this year. These two teams would battle it out for the right to meet the Eastern Conference champion. The Ducks have improved tremendously. Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf have found their form again. Their secondary players, and everyone else for that matter will need to play hard, and fight against the BlackHawks. But I don't think it will be enough to defeat the mighty Hawks. BlackHawks in 6.

STANLEY CUP FINAL
1-Chicago BlackHawks
vs
1-Pittsburgh Penguins
Prediction: I'm not usually one to take two #1 seeds to play each other in the finals, but this year these two teams really stood out above the rest. A Toews vs Crosby matchup would be one that hockey fans would drool over. Both teams possess the power to score 10 goals on a given night and give up 0. Both teams boast Norris Trophy like d-cores. Where the major advantage will go is in the goal tending department. To the Penguins. With that being said, both he and Cory Crawford have playoff experience. This would be a Stanley Cup final for the ages, two of the best teams assembled in the 2010's, both of which deserve to win the cup. It's an extremely tough series to call, and I wouldn't be surprised if it went all 7 games. I am going to go Pens in 7. If Crosby returns for the playoffs, and a healthy Sidney Crosby plays like he can, then with their other weapons, they'll take home the cup.

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