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Post by Zoom Waffles on Apr 11, 2009 23:09:21 GMT -5
That time of year is upon us. The Eastern Conference playoff matchups are set, though the West will need tomorrow to battle it out. I'll get the ball rolling with my Eastern Conference predictions...
BOS/MTL... Boston wins this one pretty easily, 4-2 WSH/NYR... Washington has some trouble with Lundqvist, but win 4-3 NJD/CAR... Carolina stays hot, knocks the Devils out, 4-1 PIT/PHI... Penguins have no trouble with cross-state rivals, 4-0
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Post by Wolfpack on Apr 12, 2009 21:32:30 GMT -5
Pretty much agree with you Zoom.
BOS 4-1 WASH 4-2 CAR 4-3 PIT 4-1
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Post by The Hockey Hitman on Apr 12, 2009 22:06:14 GMT -5
Bruins over Habs in six. Rangers upset Caps in seven. Devils sweep Canes. Flyers defeat Pens in epic seven game showdown.
Sharks eat Ducks in five. Blue Jackets over Wings in seven. Blues outlast Canucks in seven. Flames outduel Hawks in six.
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Post by Zoom Waffles on Apr 12, 2009 23:11:45 GMT -5
sharks 4-0 wings 4-1 nucks 4-1 flames 4-3
second round: Carolina over Boston, 4-3 Pittsburgh over Washington 4-2 Calgary over San Jose 4-3 Detroit over Vancouver 4-1
third round: Pittsburgh over Carolina 4-1 Detroit over Calgary 4-3
finals: Detroit over Pittsburgh 4-2. Again.
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Post by leafsfan09 on Apr 13, 2009 13:42:26 GMT -5
Here are my picks:
Bos v. Mtl - Bos 4-2 Wash v. NYR - Wash 4-1 NJ v. Car - Car 4-3 Pit v. Phil - Pit 4-2
SJ v. Ana - SJ 4-2 Det v. Clb - Det 4-2 Van v. Stl - Stl 4-3 Chi v. Cal - Cal 4-3
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Post by fukufuji on Apr 13, 2009 14:17:20 GMT -5
Boston 4-1 Wash 4-3 NJ 4-0 Pit 4-2
SJ 4-1 Clb 4-2 Van 4-2 Cal 4-0
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robicus19
Second Liner
Dun Dun Dun.... Another One Bites The Dust... Dun Dun Dun
Posts: 248
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Post by robicus19 on Apr 13, 2009 22:53:46 GMT -5
Mon 4-3 Wash 4-2 Car 4-3 Pit 4-1
SJ 4-0 Det 4-1 Van 4-2 Cal 4-3
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Post by Zoom Waffles on Apr 14, 2009 0:04:40 GMT -5
HU's official playoff preview is now posted! Just go to www.hockeyutopia.com and click the link on the first headline.
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Post by HockeyEdge on Apr 14, 2009 14:54:24 GMT -5
I dont see any matchups going under 6 games.
Boston/Montreal: Boston in 6 Capitals/Rangers: Capitals in 6 New Jersey/Carolina: New Jersey in 7 Penguins/Flyers: Flyers in 7
Sharks/Ducks: Sharks in 6 Detroit/Columbus: Detroit in 7 Vancouver/St. Louis: Vancouver in 6 Chicago/Calgary: Chicago in 6
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Post by Zipper14 on Apr 14, 2009 20:22:10 GMT -5
Boston in 5 Capitals in 6 Hurricane in 6 Flyers in 7
Ducks in 7 Detroit in 6 Vancouver in 6 Chicago in 5
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Post by idiopathic on Apr 14, 2009 23:32:02 GMT -5
How can some of you guys pick Columbus over Detroit? I would like to know your reasoning. Because frankly, I dont see them having a chance. They may win 1 game, but not the series... no way
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Post by fukufuji on Apr 15, 2009 8:05:39 GMT -5
I think Detroit is due for a first round upset. Sharks, Vancover, Oilers are examples of teams that surprised Detroit in the past. I don't think people should underestimate jackets and the improvements they've made in the last 3-4 seasons. Detroit is statisitcally poised to clober columbus and healthy but every 4 or 5 seasons Detroit slips up in first round. Lidstrom has a nagging elbow injury that has been kept really quiet, and Detroit's goaltending is going to undo them this year.
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Post by Zoom Waffles on Apr 15, 2009 9:21:08 GMT -5
yeah i dont think we need to go past the goalie numbers...
chris osgood vs. columbus: .855, 3.72 steve mason vs. detroit: .930, 2.38
if osgood can't find a way to turn it on again in the playoffs, the red wings are in trouble. they can't just rely on their offense like they're used to... steve mason is in the way.
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Post by Zipper14 on Apr 15, 2009 10:55:22 GMT -5
It's not so much about offense as it is puck possession for the Red Wings. For a lot of the year they led the league in shots for and had the fewest shots allowed. That's because their forwards are skilled enough to keep in on their sticks all of the time. That's what made Osgood so frustrating this year, he would only face 18 shots, but let in three of them. I still think they'll beat Columbus though, they don't have enough skill on the back end to stop Hossa, Zetterberg, Datsuk and the rest.
I don't think Detroit could beat, San Jose, Anaheim, Vancouver, Chicago or Calgary, but I think they can make it past Columbus. Keep in mind Mason didn't 'play great in the last week of the season.
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Post by The Hockey Hitman on Apr 15, 2009 12:01:02 GMT -5
Bruins over Habs in six. Rangers upset Caps in seven. Devils sweep Canes. Flyers defeat Pens in epic seven game showdown. Sharks eat Ducks in five. Blue Jackets over Wings in seven. Blues outlast Canucks in seven. Flames outduel Hawks in six. I'm gonna go ahead and elaborate on my full Stanley Cup Bracket predictions here... 1) Sharks 8) Ducks 1) Sharks 2) Wings 7) Jackets 1) Sharks 7) Jackets 1) Sharks3) Canucks 6) Blues 5) Flames 5) Flames 4) Hawks 6) Blues 5) Flames Stanley Cup Champions: 1) Sharks1) Bruins 8) Habs 1) Bruins 2) Caps 7) Rangers 1) Bruins 7) Rangers 3) Devils3) Devils 6) Canes 3) Devils 3) Devils 4) Pens 5) Flyers 5) Flyers
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Post by The Hockey Hitman on Apr 15, 2009 12:01:54 GMT -5
oh and I pick Joe Thornton as Conn Smythe winner if Sharks go all the way.
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Post by Wolfpack on Apr 15, 2009 19:07:20 GMT -5
How can some of you guys pick Columbus over Detroit? I would like to know your reasoning. Because frankly, I dont see them having a chance. They may win 1 game, but not the series... no way Columbus and Detroit actually tied their season series 3-3 so a Columbus win in a 7 game series is not out of the question.
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Post by idiopathic on Apr 16, 2009 9:17:23 GMT -5
I'm going to have to say Detroit in 4-0 or 4-1. Columbus has Zero playoff experience, and though Osgood might not have had great numbers vs. the Jackets in the regular season, keep in mind... At home the Wings are far better... and He only has to win a few games, plus Conklin will get at least 1 start. Detroit's Defense is also far superior than that of Columbus, with plenty of playoff experience to boot.
There are just too many reasons why the Wings will win, but I understand your thirst for a cinderella story.
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Post by idiopathic on Apr 16, 2009 9:20:27 GMT -5
How can some of you guys pick Columbus over Detroit? I would like to know your reasoning. Because frankly, I dont see them having a chance. They may win 1 game, but not the series... no way Columbus and Detroit actually tied their season series 3-3 so a Columbus win in a 7 game series is not out of the question. The regular season has little to do with the playoffs. Throw the numbers out... It's a new season
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Post by Zoom Waffles on Apr 16, 2009 9:43:57 GMT -5
huselius 20, torres 22, chimera 2, malhotra 5, vermette 38, umberger 22, novotny 4, williams 20, commodore 49, tyutin 24, rome 1, dubielewicz 1,
Zero playoff experience?? I just counted 12 of their 20 guys who have playoff experience... Huselius, Torres, Vermette, Umberger, Williams, Tyutin, Commodore... all these guys have played over 20 games. Rome, Dubielewicz, Chimera, Malhotra, Novotny... all have seen some playoffs.
Oh and that Ken Hitchcock guy... he's only been to the playoffs TEN TIMES including a Stanley Cup ring.
The franchise has no playoff experience, but the team DEFINITELY does.
That said, the Blue Jackets WILL NOT beat the Red Wings. They'll only win if the Wings beat themselves.
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Post by Wolfpack on Apr 16, 2009 10:44:29 GMT -5
I realize this is a pretty common way of thinking, but I disagree for a number of reasons. The main one being that over the last 22 years, approximately 30% of the President's Cup winners have won The Cup. So I would say the regular season has quite a bit to do with the playoffs.
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Post by idiopathic on Apr 16, 2009 19:34:22 GMT -5
I realize this is a pretty common way of thinking, but I disagree for a number of reasons. The main one being that over the last 22 years, approximately 30% of the President's Cup winners have won The Cup. So I would say the regular season has quite a bit to do with the playoffs. When you win the presidents cup your the best team in the league right? So that would make you a favorite to win it all correct?
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Post by HockeyEdge on Apr 16, 2009 20:51:49 GMT -5
Well Wings won game one 4-1 and Osgood, Lidstrom looked great.
Great secondary scoring. Hudler, Filppula, and Samuelsson had 2 points a piece, as did Franzen.
But its only game one.
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Post by Zoom Waffles on Apr 16, 2009 23:58:58 GMT -5
osgood faced all of 21 shots. if the wings' defense (or offense?) keeps playing like that, it'll be smooth sailing to the cup...
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Post by fukufuji on Apr 17, 2009 2:14:01 GMT -5
Detroit played well. Columbus I think had the butterfly's big, plus they worked a little too hard in first and looked sluggish 2nd and 3rd. Mason made some good saves some not so good. Ozgood is looking solid. Looking forward to Sat to see if Columbus responds. If game 1 is the one and only indicator the jackets have no answer for wings offense or Defense. 3 goals against in the 2nd and only 2 shots on goal in the 3rd. Come on Sat let's get here already
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Post by idiopathic on Apr 17, 2009 10:29:42 GMT -5
I have to agree with HockeyEdge. The secondary scoring was awesome to see. Just think how explosive they will be when Datsuyk, and Zetts start scoring........
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Post by fukufuji on Apr 22, 2009 14:16:31 GMT -5
Wow how about Vancover. That city has to be pumped. Going into second round with athority.
How about Varlamov stepping in outta nowhere to get things going pretty good first round so far.
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Post by Zipper14 on Apr 22, 2009 16:25:07 GMT -5
Vancouver fans are definitely pumped! It's the first seven game series sweep in franchise history!
Now hopefully the other series' can go on awhile, and hopefully Aneheim beats San Jose, so the Canucks can get a beaten up Flames or Hawks team.
The team could have more than 10 days off, so everyone, including Sundin and Salo can get healthy, hopefully the layoff isn't too long for them though.
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Post by The Hockey Hitman on Apr 22, 2009 17:34:00 GMT -5
St. Louis never put up much of a fight for the most part, unfortunately...still, I wouldn't want to face Luongo in the next round.
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Post by HockeyEdge on Apr 22, 2009 20:28:43 GMT -5
Too bad Johnson wasent playing. Playoff experience would have helped.
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