Round 1 predictions

[adtthosa 5]

EAST

Boston over Montreal in 6

Washington over New York in 5

Carolina over New Jersey in 7

Pittsburgh over Philly in 6

WEST

Anaheim over Sharks in 7

Detroit over Columbus in 6

Vancouver over St. Louis in 5

Chicago over Calgary in 7

[Guest mindfly]

#1 Boston Bruins vs. #8 Montreal Canadiens

#2 Washington Capitals vs. #7 New York Rangers

#3 New Jersey Devils vs. #6 Carolina Hurricanes

#4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #5 Philadelphia Flyers

WESTERN CONFERENCE

#1 San Jose Sharks vs. #8 Anaheim Ducks

#2 Detroit Red Wings vs. #7 Columbus Blue Jackets

#3 Vancouver Canucks vs. #6 St. Louis Blues

#4 Chicago Blackhawks vs. #5 Calgary Flames

Edited April 13, 2009 by mindfly

[dat's sick 1,002]

East

#1 Boston vs. #8 Montreal

Bruins in 4. Habs are a not a good team, they have injuries and inconsistant goaltending. I don't think they have what it takes to pull it together and give the Bruins trouble.

#2 Washington vs. #7 New York

In the end, defense often wins in the playoffs. Caps defense and goaltending has looked shaky to say the least this season and especially lately, while Lundqvist seem to have really started to step up his game. The Rangers also have a good defense and an amazing PK which could potentially neutralize the Caps biggest weapon, their PP. Will be a tough series, but I say Rangers in 6 (maybe 7).

#3 New Jersey vs. #6 Carolina

This will be a tight series. My gut feeling tells me the Hurricanes are a little bit stronger, but if Brodeur is on his game the Devils could very well take it.

Hurricanes in 7.

#4 Pittsburgh vs. #5 Philadelphia

Flyers in 5. Really wouldn't surprise me to see the Pens take it in 4, but Flyers is the better team, and if they can find a way to stop Malkin and Crosby (easier said than done), this series should be theirs pretty easily.

West

#1 San Jose vs. #8 Anaheim

Ducks are hot. If they take either of the first two games I could see this series getting ugly for the Sharks. But I have a feeling the Sharks have had enough of choking in the playoffs, and will go far this year. Sharks in 6.

#2 Detroit vs. #7 Columbus

First two games are vital. Will the Wings be able to "flick the switch" and start playing good right out the gate? I would not want to go into Columbus with a 1-1 or even 0-2 standing. But I have faith that the team is ready. Mason steals one game, but that's all. Wings in 5.

#3 Vancouver vs. #6 St. Louis

I don't see why people think the Blues will even have a chance here. Mason won't outplay Loungo. The Blues are a fun young team, but this year is "watch and learn" for them. Canucks in 4.

#4 Chicago vs. #5 Calgary

This series could go either way. I'll say Flames in 6, they're heavier and more experienced.

[kevotron 3]

East

#1 Boston vs. #8 Montreal

WHO CARES

#2 Washington vs. #7 New York

WHO CARES

#3 New Jersey vs. #6 Carolina

WHO CARES

#4 Pittsburgh vs. #5 Philadelphia

WHO CARES

West

#1 San Jose vs. #8 Anaheim

WHO CARES

#2 Detroit vs. #7 Columbus

WINGS IN 3

#3 Vancouver vs. #6 St. Louis

WHO CARES

#4 Chicago vs. #5 Calgary

WHO CARES

[Nightfall 871]

Nightfall: there's always one big upset it seems in the first round, so you're likely spot on it's going to be one of them.

I hate to say it, but I see either the Sharks or the Wings croaking in the first round. The Sharks because I have seen Anaheim play a lot this season on my center ice package and these teams hate each other. The Sharks couldn't have gotten a tougher first round opponent. That being said, the Wings should be able to beat Columbus, but the unknown will be Mason. Will Mason be a first year goalie and fizzle out like Price did for the Canadians? Will he be a stud and steal a series for Columbus? I guess we will see, but my money is on Mason fizzling out.

As for complete predictions.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

#1 Boston Bruins vs. #8 Montreal Canadiens - Boston in 5

#2 Washington Capitals vs. #7 New York Rangers - Caps in 6

#3 New Jersey Devils vs. #6 Carolina Hurricanes - Canes in 6 (one of two upsets I am predicting)

#4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #5 Philadelphia Flyers - Pens in 7

WESTERN CONFERENCE

#1 San Jose Sharks vs. #8 Anaheim Ducks - Ducks in 6 (This is a bold move, but I am going to predict that the Sharks flame out in the first round)

#2 Detroit Red Wings vs. #7 Columbus Blue Jackets - Detroit in 6

#3 Vancouver Canucks vs. #6 St. Louis Blues - Vancouver in 6

#4 Chicago Blackhawks vs. #5 Calgary Flames - Flames in 6

ROUND 2

#1 Boston Bruins vs. #6 Carolina Hurricanes - Boston in 7

#2 Washington Capitals vs. #4 Pittsburgh Penguins - Caps in 7

#2 Detroit Red Wings vs. #8 Anaheim Ducks - Wings in 6

#3 Vancouver Canucks vs. #5 Calgary Flames - Vancouver in 6

ROUND 3

#1 Boston Bruins vs. #2 Washington Capitals - This is tough but I am predicting Bruins in 7

#2 Detroit Red Wings vs #3 Vancouver Canucks - Wings in 7

FINALS:

#1 Boston Bruins vrs #2 Detroit Red Wings - I hate to say it, but I see Boston winning the cup this year. Boston in 7.

[StevieY9802 6]

Boston/Habs - Bruins in 5, maybe 6. The Habs are pretty banged up and the Bruins are pretty good. I think they will finally beat Montreal this year. in saying that I can't say I would be surprised if somehow Montreal pulls the upset just cause they are playing the Bruins.

Washington/NYR - Caps get this one...I will say in 6. I'm not sold on them 100% yet. They are good enough to get it done in 5 but I don't know. Same time I could see NYR getting it but they just were not playing well down the stretch.

Devils/Canes - This is a tough one. Even though the Canes lost their last 2 they won 9 in a row before that. Devils have been going down since Marty got the record but I think they pull it off in 7.

Battle of PA - Gonna go with the Pens in 6, maybe it goes 7, but the Flyers just seem to be a lost team at times. They can be good one night and play flat the next.

Now onto to the run and gun West.

Sharks/Ducks - This is a tough one. Even though the Ducks are 8 they have been playing well and still have the cup experience so they could pull it off and the Sharks tend to choke. I'm gonna go with San Jose getting it one though in 6 games.

Wings/Jackets - This one hurts me to say. I picked the Jackets about a month ago to possibly pull an upset of one of the top teams and I still have to go with it even though they haven't been as hot as they were a month ago. The Wings can't seem to get on the same page. Goaltending is good one night but then the D or the offense let them down. Or when the offense is there the goaltending lets them down. They give up way too many quality chance and you can't do that in the playoffs. Mason is a very good young goalie and I think he steals this one. Jackets in 6. Now saying that if the Wings can find their legs and get going and get out of round one anything is possible after that. I really think this will be their toughest test. I pray I am wrong with my prediction.

Canucks/Blues - A rematch of 2003 first round when the Blues blew a 3-1 lead. Blues have been good down the stretch but so have the Canucks. I think the Canucks get this one in either 5 or 6. Blues are a pretty young team so I think this will be a learning experience for them.

Finally Hawks/Flames - Hawks are a real young team, leagues youngest, but have a Cup winning goalie. Flames have played terrible down the stretch and are pretty banged up. Pretty much had the 3 seed locked up at the deadline and then their defense imploaded and so did Kipper really. I think this is perfect for the young Hawks to have a team reeling like this. Flames will still be stiff competition but I think the Hawks get to round 2 for the first time since 96, taking the series 4-3.

[Never_Retire_Steve 35]

My predictions weren't very good in the first round....

Here's how I had things shaking down...

Montreal def. Boston (4-3)

Washington def. NYR (4-3)

NJ def. Carolina (4-1)

Pittsburgh def. Philly (4-2)

San Jose def. Anaheim (4-2)

Detroit def. Columbus (4-2)

Vancouver def. St. Louis (4-0)

Calgary def. Chicago (4-3)

Here's how I initially had round 2:

Boston def. Carolina (4-2)

Wash def. Pittsburgh (4-3)

Detroit vs. Anaheim 7 games

Chicago def. Vancouver (4-2)