Hockey: Conference Semifinal Predictions
Thursday, May 04, 2006
What a wacky first round of NHL playoffs! The top four seeds in the Eastern Conference won, all predicted correctly by me, while the top four seeds in the Western Conference lost, only one result of which was correctly predicted by yours truly. A few may have predicted Dallas' choking, but the Oilers effort to knock out Detroit was unbelievable. Like off the chart. Like, I predicted a sweep against the Oilers. And that humble pie tastes great. In game six, the Oilers came from 2-0 down at the second break to win 4-3 in OT and the Edmonton home crowd cheered like they'd won the Cup. That's what the broadcast sounded like, that's for damn sure.
If you ask me, New Jersey is still on track for the Stanley Cup after sweeping the hapless Rangers and increasing their winning streak to 15 straight games. Carolina and Ottawa still have significant goaltending concerns and I'm just not sure what to expect from Buffalo's seemingly low profile but highly successful team. I'll take the Devils over the Hurricanes in five. I'll go for Buffalo over Ottawa in seven, as the Sabres don't seem to have a problem scoring and the Biron-Miller goaltending duo is far stronger than anything Ottawa can offer.
With the havoc in the West, anything could happen. I'll back in the Sharks for conference champions, as they're team I've been cheering for in these playoffs anyway. Thornton, Cheechoo, Marleau and Toskala are all doing well; I think San Jose should up-end Edmonton's fairytale run in five games. The Sharks have just got the depth and the firepower to get it done. The Mighty Ducks played well and fought hard to "douse" the Flames in seven games, so I'm going to back Anaheim to beat Colorado in six, even if J.S. Giguere is leaving Bryzgalov to "shut the door" at the moment.
5 comments to this post
We only differ on a slight technicality - you say Buffallo in 7, I say 6.
Bring it on.
Ah, so that will decide who is the greatest man alive. Game on.
I, as a Sabres fan, have real concerns for us this round. Ottawa has a major psychological edge over us since we only beat then twice during the regular season, and some of the losses to them were massive. Their offence does enough to cover whatever shortcomings they have in goals, so I would be very wary of the Senators.
If it goes to seven games, watch Buffalo pull one out and win it - our depth is better than anyone else in the postseason's.
Ottawa played crap down the stretch...and I keep hearing they suck in the postseason. I'm gambling it'll come true.
if "the door shutter" was playing the Mighty Ducks would have won in 4
Post a Comment
<< Home