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Predictions for the 2006 Playoffsback to: hockey | playoff grid
Mercifully, the playoffs are over. I ended up at 6-9. I'd have better luck flipping a coin!
We're moving on to the Finals. Thankfully, the hockey season is almost over. I actually made a correct pick last round, which puts me now at 5-9.
The Finals
Hurricanes (E2) vs. Oilers (W8): We like Rod Brind'Amour. We really do, going back to the old Flyer days. The NHL can't afford to have an 8th seed from western Canada win this thing. So I'm going with the chalk. A team in North Carolina is favored to win the Stanley Cup!
Hurricanes in 7. Yessir!
Okay, I have to admit. I don't know what I'm talking about, and the NHL playoffs are a total mystery to me. The fact that every matchup is just a toss up can't be good for the league. A loss for me in every single series in Round 2 puts me at 4-8. Dreadful. So we'll go with the chalk in the conference finals:
East
Hurricanes (2) vs. Sabres (4).
Hurricanes in 7. Exactly!West
Mighty Ducks (6) vs. Oilers (8).
Mighty Ducks in 7. GRRRR!!!!
We survived Round 1 with a 4-4 record. Man, there's just no telling what's gonna happen in the playoffs! The top 4 seeds in the East advance while the top 4 in the West go down. Well, on to Round 2:
East
Senators (1) vs. Sabres (4): This should be a very entertaining series between two teams that adapted to the new style of play in the NHL. Buffalo was mighty impressive against Philly, but Ottawa is a step up in class.
Senators in 6. Wrong!Hurricanes (2) vs. Devils (3): Carolina was lucky to survive in Round 1 after dropping the first 2 games at home. New Jersey hasn't lost a game in about a month, and they won't let the Canes up for air with any missteps here.
Devils in 5. Wrong! Wrong!West
Sharks (5) vs. Oilers (8): The Sharks were picked by many to advance over the beat up Predators. The Oilers win says more about Detroit than anything else (they're sorta Flyers-West, with lots of aging stars that are out of gas come the playoffs). There won't be any upset here.
Sharks in 5. Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!Mighty Ducks (6) vs. Avalanche (7): Boy oh boy did these teams surprise me in Round 1. I've always been a Lanche fan, but didn't think they had enough this year with the losss of Forsberg. I won't go against them here.
Avalanche in 6. Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!
Here comes the NHL playoffs! Man, I've been waiting for this for two years. Let's get skating boys!
Here is my analysis of Round 1:
East
Senators (1) vs. Lightning (8): Two years ago, Tampa Bay caught lightning in a bottle (pardon the pun) to bring a Stanley Cup championship to Florida. But they lost their outstanding goalie Khabibulin and limped along most of the season. Ottawa coasted down the stretch and then spanked the Rangers on the final night to lock up the number 1 seeding. Probably even without Dominik Hasek in goal, you gotta like Ottawa here.
Senators in 6. Okay!Hurricanes (2) vs. Canadiens (7): Here's a "classic" match up between the old school Montreal Canadiens, the most storied franchise in league history, versus the new school Carolina Hurricanes, featuring one of my favorite players, Rod Brind'Amour. I like new school here!
Hurricanes in 5. Down 02, and then 4 straight. Whew!Devils (3) vs. Rangers (6): Man oh man, this series has got me in a frenzy! My New Jersey Devils sneak in and win the division title on the last day of the season, knocking out New York which led most of the way. And now they meet in round 1, featuring probably the greatest offensive player in the game, Jaromir Jagr, versus the greatest goalie in the league, Martin Brodeur. Mix in some bad blood between these cross river rivals, and you have all the ingredients for a great series.
Devils in 5. Even easier than I thought!Sabres (4) vs. Flyers (5): The Flyers have limped along since the Olympic break, Peter Forsberg always seems banged up, and we don't really know who is their number one goalie. Buffalo has been solid all year long. But I like Forsberg in the big games from his days with the Lanche, and coach Hitchcock is a superb playoff motivator. That's what you have to consider here.
Flyers in 6. Not this year.West
Red Wings (1) vs. Oilers (8): Detroit has been an early exit in recent playoff years, but they put up a gaudy 124 points this year. You can also count on some things staying the same in hockeytown: they still have Steve Yzerman and Brendan Shanahan. And I admit, I know nothing about this Edmonton club.
Red Wings in 5. Again, an early exit.Stars (2) vs. Avalanche (7): Another classic matchup, but Colorado isn't the same without Forsberg or Patrick Roy. While they still have Joe Sakic, Dallas has a revitalized Mike Mondano and a good group around him.
Stars in 6. No sir.Flames (3) vs. Mighty Ducks (6): I know even less about these western teams. Calgary should get the job done against this Anaheim team. I swear I'll pay attention and know more for round 2.
Flames in 6. Nope.Predators (4) vs. Sharks (5): How about this! We've got upstart Nashville in the playoffs versus the "veteran" organization out in San Jose. Man, hockey sure is strange. I have to pick an upset here, especially since the Predators are so banged up and the Sharks have Joe Thornton.
Sharks in 6. Upsets rule the West in Round 1.— The Commissioner
