jleyrer::blog

2008 NHL Playoff Predictions – Round 1

Now that the 2007-2008 regular season is over with, it’s time for me to make my playoff predictions. Here are the first round matchups, with my predictions for each.

Eastern Conference

1. Montreal Canadiens vs. 8. Boston Bruins

Prediction: Montreal’s been hot down the home stretch, going 8-1-1 in the final ten games of the season. More importantly, they swept the eight games between them and Boston during the regular season. Though Montreal’s rookie goalie Carey Price lacks NHL playoff experience, he’s 12-3 since the all-star break and is looking pretty confident. Boston’s goalie, Tim Thomas, has been playing well as of late but I think it could be trouble for the Bruins if and when Thomas gets rattled by a couple of early Montreal wins. I can’t see Montreal slowing down any time in the near future, and certainly not against their divisional whipping boys, the Boston Bruins.

Who I Want to Win: Montreal
Who Will Win: Montreal
Number of Games: 4

2. Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 7. Ottawa Senators

Prediction: The mess that has been the Ottawa Senators’ second half of the regular season made this prediction a lot easier than it would have been otherwise. Couple their poor finish with the fact that Daniel Alfredsson and Mike Fisher both got laid out by the Mark Bell freight train during the Sens’ final game against Toronto and are expected to miss most (if not all) of the first round, and Ottawa’s chances are looking grim at best. I expect Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley to make their presence known, which may result in a game or two going Ottawa’s way, but ultimately it will not be enough to overcome the offensive show that Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Marian Hossa are going to put on. Pittsburgh also has the advantage in goaltending. Marc-Andre Fleury has been great since coming back from his high ankle sprain, and backup Ty Conklin was stellar in Fleury’s absence. Ottawa, on the other hand, gave the starting job to Martin Gerber only because he’s been not quite as bad as the #2 man, Ray Emery. Still, Ottawa is Ottawa and I don’t think they’ll go quietly.

Who I Want to Win: Pittsburgh
Who Will Win: Pittsburgh
Number of Games: 6

3. Washington Capitals vs. 6. Philadelphia Flyers

Prediction: The Flyers edged out the Capitals 2-1-1 over the four meetings these teams had during the regular season, but that was before The Ovechkins (Capitals, I mean) turned on the afterburners and shot up the Eastern conference standings. Washington also benefited from some big moves at the trade deadline, namely the one that brought goalie Cristobal Huet over from Montreal. Even if Philly’s Mike Richards and ten million dollar man Daniel Briere play up to their potential, I think the team’s shallow defense and recent lackluster play from goalie Martin Biron are going to spell trouble for them in the end.

Who I Want to Win: Philadelphia
Who Will Win: Washington
Number of Games: 6

4. New Jersey Devils vs. 5. New York Rangers

Prediction: This one seems like it could go either way. Though New York won seven of the eight regular season games between them, New Jersey showed up to play in the final outing and (hopefully) gave us a preview of what’s to come. Devils’ goalie Martin Brodeur has done the playoff dance many a time and over the next few weeks he’ll likely be showing us why he’s still the best in the game. On the other end of the ice, Henrik Lundqvist is also having a great year for the Rangers. New Jersey certainly isn’t known for their offense, and if New York can get their shit together in that department, I think they have the edge.

Who I Want to Win: New Jersey
Who Will Win: New York
Number of Games: 6

Western Conference

1. Detroit Red Wings vs. 8. Nashville Predators
Prediction: Given the sheer point differential between these teams and their head-to-head records during the season, this seems like it should be a walk in the park for the Red Wings. While I don’t see Detroit losing more than a game or two, I think every game in this series is going to be hard fought and close. Nashville’s first line, centered by Jason Arnott, can be pretty dangerous but you can bet that Pavel Datsyuk & co. will back-checking that little party into near obsolescence from the get go. I give Detroit the slight edge in the goaltending department, though anyone familiar with Dominic Hasek knows that that will probably vary from night to night.

Who I Want to Win: Detroit
Who Will Win: Detroit
Number of Games: 5

2. San Jose Sharks vs. 7. Calgary Flames
Prediction: Flames captain Jarome Iginla knows how to step it up in the playoffs, but he is facing a team that only had one regulation loss in their final 22 games of the regular season. Sharks’ goalie Evgeni Nabokov is probably the front runner for the Vezina trophy and for good reason. He started more games than anyone and was a huge part of why the Sharks nearly caught the Red Wings in the final week of the season. Calgary fared better in their four meetings this year (3-1), but I don’t think they’ll have what it takes to contend with this hot Sharks team now.

Who I Want to Win: San Jose
Who Will Win: San Jose
Number of Games: 6

3. Minnesota Wild vs. 6. Colorado Avalanche
Prediction: Colorado has put together a lineup reminiscent of what they had in the late 1990′s, with Forsberg, Foote, Sakic and Hejduk taking the spotlight. However, these guys are past their prime and are going to have trouble cracking the tough defense of the Minnesota Wild. I expect a low scoring series, with Minnesota eventually weathering the storm.

Who I Want to Win: Minnesota
Who Will Win: Minnesota
Number of Games: 7

4. Anaheim Ducks vs. 5. Dallas Stars
Prediction: While Anaheim had a weak start this year, the return of Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne seemed to give them the boost they needed to rebound. While I don’t think Anaheim is the same cup-winning team we saw last year, Dallas has been on a skid lately and are going to have to work some magic to overcome the Ducks.

Who I Want to Win: Dallas
Who Will Win: Anaheim
Number of Games: 7