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Predictions for the 2004 Playoffsback to: hockey | playoff grid
Another exciting season has come to an end, and I ended up with 9-6 record. See you next season, whenever the league settles its labor issues.
Finals
And now we're on to the finals. I'm still above the median, with a record of 8-6. I've correctly picked Tampa Bay and I've incorrectly picked against Calgary in the first 3 rounds. Something has to give! I have to go with my new favorite, the Lightning, since they eliminated the despised Flyers. Add to it the fact that they are the favorite, and that sooner or later the Flames have to come back down to earth.
Lightning in 6. Okay, it took 7.
Through 2 rounds I'm barely keeping my head above water, going 2-2 in Round 2 for a total of 7-5. But optimism reigns supreme! It's on to the conference finals.
East
Lightning (1) vs. Flyers (3): This Tampa Bay team is not your father's warm weather hockey team. They're the number one seed for a reason. Philly fans will have to wait til next year.
Lightning in 6. Good enough!West
Sharks (2) vs. Flames (6): I'll admit that I have no clue how these teams are still standing. Both have been impressive. San Jose is the higher seed, and have had the easier run so far.
Sharks in 5. Wrong again vs. Calgary!
I consider it a victory to have more correct picks than incorrect ones in the hardest sport to predict, and I went 5-3 in round 1. Now it's on to the 2nd round, the conference semifinals:
East
Lightning (1) vs. Canadiens (7): This pairing looks crazy. The all time greatest team, the storied Montreal Canadiens, go up against a team in Florida. But you have to go with the power here.
Lightning in 7. A Lightning steamroller!Flyers (3) vs. Maple Leafs (4): To use a cliche, these teams don't like each other. Expect another bruising, nasty series between these clubs. Toronto is a little banged up from their 7 game first round series. Now that the Flyers have the Devils' monkey off their backs, they might punch through here.
Flyers in 7. Fly Boys show their stuff.West
Red Wings (1) vs. Flames (6): Reality is about to set in up in Calgary. It looks like Detroit is gearing up for another classic match against the Lanche after they take care of business here.
Red Wings in 6. Another stunning early exit.Sharks (2) vs. Avalanche (4): The up and coming Sharks meet the wily veterans from Colorado. I have to go with wily veterans like Sakic and Forsberg.
Avalanche in 6. What has happened out west?
Another great year of playoff hockey is here! And here are my belatedly posted 1st round picks (although I did make my picks prior to the star of the games).
Here is my analysis of round 1:
East
Lightning (1) vs. Islanders (8): Who would have thought that a team from Florida could grab the top seed in the rough and tumble East? Welcome to the 21st Century! The Islanders will play better than last year, but they have to get out of the dreaded number 8 slot.
Lightning in 6. Tampa Bay moves on!Bruins (2) vs. Canadiens (7): Sorry Montreal, but Boston is primed for a long playoff run this year.
Bruins in 5. A shocking collapse by the Bruins.Flyers (3) vs. Devils (6): It's been an inconsistent year my New Jersey boys, and they miss Scott Stevens a lot. But this is playoff hockey, and they know what it takes to defend their Cup. And the Flyboys are notorious underperformers in the postseason.
Devils in 6. This one really hurt.Maple Leafs (4) vs. Senators (5): Ottawa falls from the #1 seed last year to a much tougher first round matchup this year. And the Leafs have fortified themselves for the playoffs, picking up Brian Leetch from the Rangers. This will be a hard fought series.
Maple Leafs in 7. Exactly!West
Red Wings (1) vs. Predators (8): Hey, what is Nashville doing in the playoffs? Detroit is still smarting from last year's embarrassing collapse in round 1. There is no chance of that happening again.
Red Wings in 5. A bit shaky, but Hockeytown advances.Sharks (2) vs. Blues (7): San Jose was surprisingly good in 2002, a big disappointment in 2003, and now here they are again in 2004. They have enough to advance past St. Louis.
Sharks in 6. Another walk over series.Canucks (3) vs. Flames (6): Don't know too much about these western Canadian teams. Go with the favorite.
Canucks in 6. Vancouver loses its grip over Western Canada.Avalanche (4) vs. Stars (5): This Colorado team is always dangerous in the playoffs. Dallas hasn't been on the upswing since the Hitchcock years. Expect a bruising series here.
Avalanche in 7. Even easier than I thought.
— The Commissioner
