In a perfect world...

[stevkrause 1,247]

Detroit (2) will get by Columbus(7) unscathed

San Jose(1) will beat Anaheim(8)

Chicago(4) will beat Calgary(5)

and

St Louis(6) will beat Vancouver(3)

Then in the 2nd rd

St Louis will beat San Jose

Detroit will beat Chicago

and we will have a Detroit VS St. Louis WCF

Do I really think this is GOING to happen? No... do I think it is possible? this is the Stanley Cup Playoffs - so, OF COURSE it is POSSIBLE

My reasoning behind this - I don't think anyone factors in JUST how much travel affects a Stanley Cup run and it's not the teams that worry me, as much as the toll it takes on the players to be jetting out back and forth from the West Coast...

here's to hoping! :beerbuddy:

Edited April 13, 2009 by stevkrause

[Chunkylover 26]

I've thought of this too and it would be nice to have an all Central playoff run, although Chicago in the second round and St. Louis in the third round would be very physical taxing series regardless of travel.

With that said, it would be nice to beat Calgary and San Jose again, and to win a rematch with the Ducks to shut up those who say they're built for the playoffs.

[toby91_ca 620]

Everyone talks about it, but I don't think the travel is that big of a deal in the playoffs, at least not to the degree you'd think based on the airtime it gets.

If you think about it, yes, if the Wings played Anahiem, they've have to travel all the way to California and then back to Detroit, etc., but if the series were to go to 7 games, you are only talking about having to fly to California twice and this would take place over a 2 week period. You'd fly there after a few days at home, stay there for a few more days, fly back for a few days, then go back to California again for a couple days, then back to Detroit.

The travel can be tough during the regular season, but I don't see it being much of a factor in the playoffs. The intensity of the games is the big factor in the playoffs, not travel.