2nd round predictions

Well, I’ve procrastinated all year since I came up with the idea to start blogging. So, now here we are, in the middle of just the NHL playoffs. (My Mudbugs got put out a little too early this year) So, my first blog has to be on my predictions of the 2nd round. I did do a complete prediction on my myspace blog the night before the playoffs started. It went as followed......

Eastern Conference

Quarter Finals

Montreal 4 Boston 0
Pittsburgh 4 Ottawa 2
Washington 4 Philadelphia 2
New Jersey 4 New York Rangers 1

Semi-finals
Montreal 4 New Jersey 2
Pittsburgh 4 Washington 3

Conf-finals
Montreal 4 Pittsburgh 2

Western Conference
Quarter-finals
Detroit 4 Nashville 1
San Jose 4 Calgary 2
Minnesota 4 Colorado 3
Anaheim 2 Dallas 4

Semi-finals
Detroit 4 Dallas 2
San Jose 4 Minnesota 1

Conf-finals
Detroit 3 San Jose 4

STANLEY CUP FINALS
Montreal 4
San Jose 2

I completely missed the eastern conference, and got one series right out of the west, but I did pick 3 out of the 4 winners in the west and 5 out of 8 of the whole round. I've decided to blame it on the late night when I decided to do the predictions and I’ll admit I have almost no clue about the eastern conference either. I am going to try my hands at this again and hopefully after watching last rounds games I can get a better grasp on the predictions.

Montreal vs Philadelphia
Montreal had quite a scare last round having Boston come out of nowhere to take them to a game 7. Montreal did end the series in a dominating fashion though leaving me to still believe they will go to the finals. I don’t believe Philly’s depth was tested last series and faced a soft defense in Washington. I take Montreal in 5.

Pittsburgh vs New York Rangers
Pittsburgh faced a team that fizzled their way into the playoffs and did exactly the same on their way out of the playoffs. On the other side, the Rangers completely dominated the Devils with some antics of Sean Avery to cap off the series . I still take the Pens over the Rangers in 6. I believe Malkin and co are the only team in the east that has what it takes in ruining my Montreal in the finals prediction.

To the West.....

Detroit vs Colorado
Detroit of course are always in the mix come this time of the year. Despite some great goaltending from backup goaltender Dan Ellis; Nashville's inabilities to win on the road ultimately lead to their demise leaving Detroit skating into the 2nd round. Colorado comes in after a slow start in their series with Minnesota going 1-2 in the first three games (all in overtime). After that they skated away with the series following a 5-1 win in game 4. I take Detroit in 5 despite all the rivalry talk from the late 90s. Detroit completely dominated the season series shutting out the Avs 3 out of 4 games and I don’t believe Foote and Floppa (Forsberg) are going to change that trend here in the playoffs.

Now to the Sharks and Stars.....
Despite knowing both teams inside and out, this has to be the hardest series to call for me. The Sharks are coming off a game 7 win over the Calgary Flames where their fourth liner Jeremy Roenick came up big scoring 2 goals and dishing out 2 more assist. The Stars are coming into this series after knocking out the defending Stanley Cup Champions in grand fashion scoring 4 goals in the in the 3rd period of game 6 to send the Anaheim Ducks packing and a overly energized Dallas crowd into a frenzy. This was the Star's first series win in 5 years after being ousted in the first round in 2004, 2006, and 2007. These teams are almost a perfect match with both having two great goaltenders, spectacular powerplay and penalty kills, and big time play makers. I am going to change my prediction of the Sharks going all the way and take the Stars in 6 again, but I won't be surprise if it goes to 7. I believe the Stars depth has finally peered its head in these playoffs with Richards settling in nicely with the two Swedes, Lundqvist and Eriksson, which will be hard for San Jose to match up consistently. Another perk for the Star's is that Modano and Ott always seem to play their best against the Sharks giving Thornton, Rivet, and Nabokov fits. Look for Zubov to appear sometime during the series. My guess would be game 3 unless the rookie blue liners start to appear like so. Then you might see him earlier.

Alright on to the 2nd round. Hope my predictions are alittle more on this time.
Good day and good hockey everyone.