Brain Enema of a Savage Mind

Then there were eight.

Well I fell a bit short of the mark last year – I got 6 out of 8 which isn’t terrible, but it still leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth.  One wrong in each conference, I demand a recount!  Well, okay, not really, but let’s see how I can do with the second round of playoff action.

Eastern Conference

#1 Montreal Canadians v. #6 Philadelphia Flyers

I didn’t give Biron enough credit.  After years of watching him play for Buffalo I remember his tendancy to blow the big moments and become unraveled.  For the most part he held together in the series against Washington, and the boys up front got the job done.  Now the Flyers have to face Montreal who came through their series by the skin of their teeth – much like Philly they almost blew what seemed like an unstoppable push through the first round.  Montreal’s rookie goaltender (Carey Price) did everything but score a goal of his own in their game 7 thrashing of the Bruins.  Offensively they’ve got the momentum on their side, but sadly they’ve shown how quick they are to give up that momentum.  In order to get past Philly Montreal will have to get under Biron’s skin – look for an agressive attack right out the gate.  However, assuming Biron continues playing to the level he played in the first round, Philly’s size, experience, and big guns are going to prove too tough for Montreal to handle in the long run.  Daniel Briere has been a goal scoring machine.  He leads the playoffs in both goals and overall points.  He’s going to be too much for Montreal’s rookie netminder to handle.  Philly takes in six.

#2 Pittsburgh Penguins v. #5 New York Rangers

While half of them can’t slide up to the bar for happy hour, the Pittsbrugh Penguins sure can put the puck in their opponents net.  They’re young goaltender is finally coming in to his own as well.  This was a team that did nothing but break a lot of hearts last year, but this year it seems to have come together for them and they’re carrying that fast paced style of play right through the playoffs.  They’re seeking to prove that in the NHL experience isn’t everything.  They’re about to put that to the test because the Rangers have some of the most experienced long lasting players in the game today.  Some of these guys put the energizer bunny to shame.  For years the Penguins relied on Jagr’s quick hands and aggressive skating to light up the scoreboard, but now they are going to see how the other teams felt with Jagr on the other side of the ice.  Add to that Scott Gomez, and hard hitter Sean Avery and you’re starting to look at a lot to contend with.  The only potentail soft spot for the Rangers is their goalie, Lundqvist, who hast yet to have a break out playoff performance.  He had a good first round and is going to seek to build upon that.  To win the Rangers are going to have to turn their physical game up a notch and win every battle in the corner.  It’s going to be a tight one, but I stick with the adage that come playoff time experience trumps youth.  Rangers in 7.

God, am I really calling a Rangers v. Flyers Conference finals?  Wouldn’t that just suck, but that’s what it looks like to me.

Western Conference

#1 Detroit Red Wings v. #6 Colorado Avalanche

This is the kind of game that makes fans of the Western conference all giddy on the inside.  Two traditional power houses coming together.  Normally this is the type of action reserved for the Conference final, but the Avs had a few hiccups along the way and didn’t finish as strong as one might expect.  Still, this series is the kind that could generate a lot of highlight reels.  Big names, heavy hitters, and a strong supporting cast.  The Red Wings got a special apperance from Chris Osgood who stepped in to relieve the floundering (and lets face it, long since over the hill) Dominik Hasek.  Osgood made a great claim on the number one netminder spot by playing some brilliant hockey against a determined Predators squad.  Datsyunk, Zetterberg, and Holstrom were insturmental for the Wings, dominating the transitional play and finding the back of the net.  On the other end of the ice both Forsberg and Foote proved that they haven’t lost their game quite yet.  Both of them put on performances harkening back to previous Avs Stanley Cup victories in the past.  Throw in Joe Sakic’s scoring magic and you have what looks like a great lineup on paper.  In round one they proved that paper translated to perfection on the ice.  Now they have to prove that they have their age won’t compromise their endurance as they are poised to face the best team in the league.  Will Detroit fall apart as they have in so many past playoffs, or will they roll four exceedingly talented lines right overtop of the Avs veteran squad?  I’m going to say that the stars for Colorado have enough left in them for one more good cup run and that they’ll dispatch Detroit in 6.

#2 San Jose Sharks v. #5 Dallas Stars

Dallas threw me for a loop.  They had the Ducks number and held their high flying scorers in check while solving the Giguere riddle.  Dallas took advantage of several powerplay opportunities and played a controled game that kept their own players out of the box.  They are going to be looking for that same kind of advantage when they face a San Jose team who nearly fell apart in their series against the Calgary Flames.  Joe Thorton is going to have to play the defensive series of his career to keep the San Jose big bodies out of the crease.  They’re going to need Zubov to stay consistant on offense (especially the power play) if they want to pull off another upset.  On the other side of the ice San Jose is going to look to continue is bone crushing, hard hitting style of play.  They’re gone to have to pound the Stars defensive with wave after wave of physical, rough and tumble play and create a lot of traffic in front of the net so talent like Marleau, and Cheechoo can put the puck away.  Both these players thrive in close quarters and aren’t afraid to take a run at the net.  If San Jose can get their act together and keep the penalty minutes down they should be more than enough for the Stars to handle.  San Jose wins the series in 6.

It’s that time again!

Well the NHL playoffs start tomorrow and even though the Sabres decided to really suck it up the past couple of months it won’t keep me from watching some playoff action.  I figured as such it was time to once again post my predictions.

Eastern Conference

#1 Montreal Canadians v. #8 Boston Bruins – The only team hotter coming down the home stretch than the Candians was the Washington Capitals.  The Bruins almost fell apart completely and dropped out of the 8th spot (less than a month ago they were the sixth seed).  Montreal is a fast team that capitalizes on every mistake made by the other team.  They are dangerous in the neutral zone and generate a bevy of odd-man rushes.  If Boston hopes to survive the onslaught they’ll have to tighten up their lax defense.  They’ll also need someone to step up and be a big offensive weapon for them.  It’s cliche but the first game will dictate the tempo of this series.  Look for Boston to come out giving it all they got, playing up the scrappy underdog role, but I feel they will fall sadly short.  I say Montreal takes this one in 5 games.

#2 Pittsburgh Penguins v. #7 Ottawa Senators – Even if this is a two seed facing a seventh seed this is going to be the Eastern Conference series to watch.  The Senators have been struggling as of late, but if they can shake off the regular season blues, and get their head in the game they have all the talent they need to take on team Crosby.  Even with Daniel Alferdson, the Senators big gun, likely out for the series, upcoming talent such as Jason Spezza have the capacity to step up and fill the scoring gap.  Ottawa is a dangerous team that combines a quick transition game with big hitting defensemen who could slow down the Penguins young talent.  Certainly, despite my feelings towards him, Crosby is a big time play maker and its impossible to discount him.  Their goaltender, Fluery, has been brillant as of late, playing well beyond his early season showings.  The Penguins are a team on a mission, and through sheer force of will I think they will win this series in 7.

#3 Washington Capitals v. #6 Philadelphia Flyers.  The Capitals went from being considered out of contention at one point to charging their way up the ladder, taking the Southeast Division by storm.  In a late season rally, winning 9 of their last 10 games, the Capitals made a lot of sports writers and critics eat their words.  Alexander Ovechkin, Washington’s amazing young star, only got better in every single game he played and now, with everything riding on the line, it’s time to find out if he has the mental edge.  There is going to be a lot of young talent on the ice for both teams – plenty of inexperience to go around.  This means there’s going to be a lot of offense, a lot of chances taken, and a lot of scoring both ways.  This series will come down to which goalie can rise to the top.  People should know how I feel about Biron, and I’m going to let that color my feelings here and say that the Caps take this series in 6.

#4 New Jersey Devils v. #5 New York Rangers – I dub this series the battle of who gives a flying f*ck.  Both of these teams have been streaky all season long, and despite having some considerable talent, neither has managed to get that talent to gel in to a cohesive unit that’s ready to go out and play night after night.  I think this series is going to be an odd one with one team dominating one game, and then the next night the other team hitting back.  In the end I have to give the edge to the New York Rangers, in large part due to former New Jersey Devil Scott Gomez.  Add to the Chris Drury, and a Jaromir Jagr who is starting to play back at his former levels of scoring prowess and you have a team that is poised to go deep in the playoffs.  The Rangers will own this series in 6.

Western Conference

#1 Detroit Redwings v. #8 Nashville Predators – Detroit finished the season with the best record in hockey.  Nashville almost folded during the off season and relocated the greener pastures.  It’s almost too easy to say nothing about this one, point at Nashville, laugh, and then move on, except for the fact that since the mid-90′s Detroit has been an amazing regular season team that fails spectacularly come the post-season.  Nashville has a crop of young talent who have taken turns leading their team to wins.  Each night leaves their opponents unsure just who to watch as they have so many players capable of stepping up and dictating the flow of the game.  Still, the Redwings have depth, depth, and more depth.  There isn’t a soft line on their team.  Even their checking line has soft hands to deflect blue line shots in to the net.  The Predators will need to come out of the gates on all cylinders.  If they slip early the Redwings will devour them.  I think the Predators will make this series look closer than it probably should be – yeah, I’m going with the safe bet and saying Detroit in 5 (though 4 of these 5 games are going to go to OT).

#2 San Jose Sharks v. #7 Calgary Flames – Hitting.  Hitting.  Hitting, and oh, some more hitting.  That’s what this series will be about.  Both teams play a very physical game that relys heavily on big hits to force turn overs and disrupt the offensive flow of their opponents.  This should be a fun one to watch for all you boxing fans out there.  This series will come down to one thing, and that’s which team has the better power play unit.  Even strength is going to be a low scoring affair, so both teams will have to capitlize on power play opportunities (because there’s going to be a lot of penalties in this series).  I’m going to be a Sabres fanboy here – Brian Campell (now playing for San Jose)has a great power shot from the blue line, and on the power play he is going to open a lot of opportunities up for them.  The Sharks will win this one in 6.

#3 Minnesota Wild v. #6 Colorado Avalanche – The Wild.. number 3.. really?  Seriously?  This isn’t some bizzare joke is it?  The Avalance might have finished six, but the depth of their playoff experience carries a lot of weight now that the regular season has ended.  They’re going to break out the brooms in Denver as they sweep the Wild – Colorado excites the home crowd and seals the deal in 4.

#4 Anaheim Ducks v. #5 Dallas Stars – The Ducks come in to this series riding a tidal wave of winning.  Dallas comes in to this series, limping, broken, and struggling to find the back of their opponents net.  While the Stars have a talented roster, the Ducks picked up some superior talent of their own.  Scott Niedermayer and Teeemu Selanne add creativity and offensive sniping capability to an already dynamic offensive line.  Marty Turco is going to be hard pressed to hold off the shooting gallery that the Ducks will let lose upon them.  With JS Giguire playing at levels he hasn’t seen in the past couple of seasons Dallas will be hard pressed to match the offensive output of their opponents.  The Ducks are going to walk away with this one in 5.

So there you have it, we’ll see if I need to take my crystal ball back to the shop for repairs at the end of this season or not.

Really bad hockey year.

Well the Sabres went from being the team with the best regular season record last year to blowing a game against Montreal tonight and failing to make the playoffs.  They’re in good company as they aren’t the first team to fuck up like that.  People can say what they want about losing Briere and Drury, but the Sabres were one of the top 5 goal scoring teams in the NHL.  What killed them was a weakend defensive core and a goaltender who redefines streaky.  If I were the Sabres GM I’d be looking to trade Miller over the off-season while he’s still under contract.  Pick up a couple solid defenders for him because, despite his serious flaws, he’s still highly regarded in the league.  There’s always a fair group of goalies in free-agency each year, and the Sabres should pick up a solid netminder.  They don’t need someone who can have amazing nights for them, they need someone who is stable – a goalie who you know exactly what to expect from night after night.  Miller is not that goalie.  I respect his ability, but I don’t think he has his head in the game enough to be a guy who can play 70+ solid games for you in a season.  Maybe a few more years and he’ll gain the consistancy he needs, but I don’t think the Sabres can afford to keep waiting for that year where his game settles down.

Pre-Cup Thoughts.

I’ve been silent lately.  Not only have I been stunned by the Sabres absolute dismantling by the Senators, but life has been hectic.  Between the Sabres lack of inspiration, and the Senators amazing defensive prowess I was absolutely taken back.  The Senators should be congradulated for doing what no one expected them to do, and making their first ever Stanley Cup appearance.  Of course the Ducks are making their second cup appearance so in a couple of weeks one team is going to win their first ever Stanley Cup.  I’m torn over this matchup, and honestly, I’m not going to make any prediction as I had expected a Sabres v. Wings cup since day one.  Obviously I’m just out of whack on this one.  I’m also conflicted who I’m pulling for so I’ve decided what I really want to see is a 7 game series where every game is decided by one goal.  If there’s any slight bias I’d have to say I’m pulling for Ducks – not because they beat the Sabres, but because I despise Danny Heatly (something that may be discussed at a later date, but  most people who know me know why).  Still, as long as it’s a good series I won’t be upset no matter who wins this years cup.

Hey, there’s only about 180 days until the start of the next season.

Playoffs, Round 2

Woo boy that was a wild first round. While I didn’t even imagine the Rangers would possibly sweep the Thrashers all four teams I thought would advance did. In the West Vancouver kept me from calling all four winners out there. I can’t say I’m upset with them though as I really hate Dallas. Seven out of eight isn’t so bad for starters. Let’s see what I can do with Round 2.

Eastern Conference:

Buffalo Sabres (1) vs. New York Rangers (6) – Okay, you know who I’m going to pick in this one. No, in years past I didn’t always pick the Sabres out of loyalty. There were times I just didn’t think they had what it took; I wanted them to win but I wouldn’t have counted on it. This year is different. After a battered and bruised Sabres squad pulled its way to game 7 of the conference finals it makes me believe this healthy squad (the same core group as last season) is the real deal. I don’t want to take anything away from the Rangers. No matter who you play a sweep is one hell of a statement to make, and the Rangers made it loudly. They played physical. Sean Avery single handedly threw Atlanta’s top line off their game. This is where I give the Sabres the edge though – which line do you throw off? It’s going to be hard to target just one line when each night a different group of guys steps up. Still the Rangers are going to put Miller to the test. They are going to pepper him from every angle and with some big bodies sitting in front of them he is going to have to cover every shot – the Rangers will eat you alive if you give them second and third chances on net. The biggest flaw the Rangers have is in net. Lundqvist is not the goalie he has led you to believe. Yes, since 2007 started he has played an amazing game, he’s been a stabilizing force, he’s kept the Rangers in games that a few months ago he would have let slip through the cracks. He had a great first round, but I really feel the dam has to give. If the Sabres can pepper him early it might be enough to crack the shell and knock him down to the subpar performances of the first half of the season. This is going to be a tough series, but I’m calling the Sabres in six.

New Jersey Devils (2) vs. Ottawa Senators (4) – This is going to be the series to watch. Ottawa made short work of team Crosby (not the sweep I had wanted, but hey, can’t have it all). Not only did they shut down a lot of the Penguins young guns, Ottawa’s veteran players flat out skated the youngin’s. The Senators are a gritty team and now that their top line has gotten back on track they are going to be tearing up the ice. This is a team that can score goals. Fortunately for New Jersey they have Brodeur. Once again he proved he is a future hall of famer by taming the explosive Penguins offense, turning away a flurry of shots. His focus, his experience, and his raw talent energizes his team. This is not going to be a wild west shoot out of a game. This is going to be a physical, old school hockey game where every inch of ice is fought for. Both teams have a balance between offense and defense. Both teams have a very similar core. This series is going to come down to who has that one guy who is going to come out of nowhere and surprise everyone. With top line being matched against top line I wouldn’t count on any of them to be the big difference maker in the series. Will Parise continue his amazing playoff run and give the Devils two lines of scoring options, or will some third liner for Ottawa solve the mystery to beating Brodeur? All I know is each and every single game is going to be a big question mark that has no answer until the final whistle blows. Both teams can shrug off loses and stay on its game. In my mind it comes down to playoff experience and that’s where Jersey is a titan. Jersey wins in 7.

Western Conference:

Detroit Red Wings (1) vs. San Jose Sharks (5) – At first it looked like the Red Wings were going to sweep through their series with Calgary. Then they let Calgary win back to back games at home. In a tightly contested game six the Wings got back in to proper form and were able to hold back a less than desperate showing by the Flames who looked as if they had given up by the third period. Detroit outshot Calgary by a wide margin. The Kipper is what kept Calgary alive – San Jose, however, doesn’t have him. What the Sharks do have is Nabokov, a solid starting net minder. However his flashes of brilliance are few and far between. Against a high octane team like Detroit he’s going to have to find a level of play he never knew he had. If San Jose’s defense can tie up Detroit and keep the shot count low then they’ll have a chance. They have what it takes to rattle Hasek. I watched him play with the Sabres for years and nothing threw him off his game quicker than wave after wave of players crashing the net. It’s what the Sharks offense is built to do. At times their offensive style may not be pretty, but it got them to round 2 in a hurry. Getting under Hasek’s skin quickly will be a key for San Jose. If they can rattle him night after night they might just have a chance. This is going to be a wild series. Hard hitting, fast transitions, and gritty intensity. Detroit has the players who can match the Sharks physical game – but can an ice time leader, Chelios keep up that intensity at 45 years of age? This won’t be the prettiest of series, but Detroit is a capable team that can match styles of play against just about any team in the NHL. The Red Wings win this one in 6.

Anaheim Ducks (2) vs. Vancouver Canucks (3) – Fool me once Vancouver.. fool me once. While Anaheim was busy playing musical goaltenders, Vancouver was given up a 3 games to 1 lead. Fortunately for them they rallied and gave the fans a show beating Dallas 4-1 in last nights game 7. That makes 14 times Dallas has failed to come back when down 3 games to 1. No one said the playoffs were easy. Vancouver had back to back scoreless games, 8 periods in all without registering a single tally. Quite frankly they got lucky to move on. However that luck will turn in to determination and motivation. They dodged a bullet and now have to use that momentum to come out of the gates full speed against a Ducks team that literally beat the Wild in to submission. The Ducks aren’t subtle. You know what to expect. A physical style of play where they are going to tie it up in the corners, pinch hard against the boards and try to wear your top line down. The Canucks are already worn down from a 7 game series that saw more than its fair share of overtime moments. With only a couple days off before the second round begins its going to be a physically challenged bench. Still, this is the playoffs and you don’t make it to the second round by folding like a house of cards. When their top line is on the Sedin boys make magic happen. Watching them play at the top of their game together makes you willing to believe that twins can read each others thoughts as it seems like they are always aware of the others presence on the ice. They are lethal. They will also be a target of the hard hitting Ducks defense. If they can match the physical intensity of the Ducks the Sedin’s could pull Vancouver in to round three. I disbelieved once, but won’t make that mistake again. Vancouver in 7.