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Predictions for the 2002 Playoffsback to: hockey | playoff grid
And now, here is my analysis of The Finals:
Well finally I got some picks right, going 2-0 in the conference finals to make me 8-6 overall.
Red Wings (West 1) vs. Hurricanes (East 3): After an exciting conference finals, the Stanley Cup Finals may be a letdown, but now for the true hockey fan. Unless you're from Hockeytown, everybody will be rooting for the upstart and big underdog Carolina Hurricanes. Imagine a hockey champion from the Old South! Well, maybe we can imagine it, and even root for Brind'Amour and the boys, but this probably won't be close.
Red Wings in 5.
Here is my analysis of round 3, the Conference Finals:
I thought round 1 was tough, but round 2 really killed me. The Sharks were so close to pulling the upset, but that's the way it goes. I went 2-2, and am now a cheesy 6-6 overall. But here goes anyway!
East
Hurricanes (3) vs. Maple Leafs (4): The Eastern Final is a little underwhelming. The Canes are making their very first run for the Cup, coming out of the 3 seed only because they won the very weak Southeastern Division. And although the Leafs have shown grit and toughness in their first two series, at this point they're too depleted to have much left. So it's the:
Hurricanes in 7. Yes!West
Red Wings (1) vs. Avalanche (2): Like the battle in basketball, the West features the clash of titans. These teams' rosters read like All-Star teams, with two hall of fame goalies leading the way. The Red Wings are well rested, while the Avs had a marathon struggle with the Sharks. And the Wings have home ice advantage in Hockeytown.
Red Wings in 7. The Avs are out!
Here is my analysis of round 2:
Well, I took a beating in round 1, but so did everyone else, especially with the upset filled East. Hey, I did have the Senators! Now it's time for the conference semis:
East
Hurricanes (3) vs. Canadiens (8): Not sure what to make of these teams. Can they be that good? Probably not. Canes knock off the two time conference champion Devils, while the Habs defeated this year's number one seed. Probably a toss up, but I'm going with history here:
Canadiens in 6. A slow fade.Maple Leafs (4) vs. Senators (7): The Leafs just finished a bruising 7 game series with the Islanders, while the Senators had a pretty easy time with the paper tiger Flyers. This will be another ugly, Pat Quinn style series.
Leafs in 7. Exactly!West
Red Wings (1) vs. Blues (4): After a scare in the first round, the Red Wings finally appear to have their playoff skates on. But the Blues won't go easy. Still, I like Detroit here.
Red Wings in 7. Too easy!Avalanche (2) vs. Sharks (3): Colorado is the defending champion, but they really struggled in the first round. The Sharks are young and hungry. This could be the changing of the guard. I like the:
Sharks in 6. Almost, but that doesn't count.
Here is my analysis of round 1:
East
Bruins (1) vs. Canadiens (8): The bad boys of Boston are back and on top in the East. The Canadiens are suddenly hot too, but not enough to win this matchup.
Bruins in 6. A stunning upset!Flyers (2) vs. Senators (7): The Flyers have developed a serious problem — they can't score. They also don't have a number one goalie. These are major problems entering the playoffs. Ottawa has no superstars, but enough balance to give Philly fits. Another early exit for the Fly Boys! Bob Clarke has to go.
Senators in 6. YES, YES, YES ! ! ! ! !Hurricanes (3) vs. Devils (6): Forget the seedings here. Canes get number 3 just because they won the weakest division in hockey: the Southeast. Devils have been on a roll since they switched coaches, plus they've added some great depth at the trade deadline with Nieuwendyk and Langenbrunner. Oh, and they still have Brodeur in the nets. Devils are clearly the best in the East heading into the playoffs.
Devils in 4. OUCH!Maple Leafs (4) vs. Islanders (5): This is a very intriguing matchup, which you would expect in a 4 vs. 5 series. The Islanders are a real surprise. It's their first time in the playoffs in I don't know how long. Leafs have more experience, but with an inconsistent Cujo in net. I'm goin' with my gut here:
Islanders in 7. Close, but no cigar.West
Red Wings (1) vs. Canucks (8): Detroit has been sleepwalking since running away with the league's best record. But now it's the postseason, and they're getting geared up for a big run in Hockeytown. Oh yeah, and the Dominator is in net this year. An early exit for Vancouver.
Red Wings in 5. Too close for comfort.Avalanche (2) vs. Kings (7): The Lanche are the forgotten team in the NHL this year — and they're the defending Stanley Cup champions! To top it off, Peter Forsberg has been activated for the playoffs. Veterans Patrick Roy and Joe Sakic are still at the top of their games. Kings have no shot.
Avalanche in 6. Whew!Sharks (3) vs. Coyotes (6): Finally the Sharks have improved enough to secure home ice advantage in a series. They have a lot to prove this year, and Phoenix doesn't have enough to stop them.
Sharks in 7. Sharks even sharper than I expected.Blues (4) vs. Blackhawks (5): The Blues have slipped a bit this year, and the Blackhawks are up and coming. This is a toss up, but I'm going with:
Blackhawks in 7. Blues are better than I realized.
