NHL Playoff Predictions 2011

Wednesday, April 13, 2011 Posted by Kyle Mountain
Bearded and mulleted men (and women?) around the world rejoice - it's playoff time. You all know what this means so we'll get to predictions right away:

East

Capitals vs. Rangers: Capitals in 6
The Rangers will be able to hang around a little bit in this series, especially if Henrik Lundqvist gets hot. However, the Capitals are just better. Everyone keeps talking about how the Capitals are way tougher than they were last year. I'm not too sure about that but I think they're at least good enough to get through the Rangers.

Flyers vs. Sabers: Flyers in 6
Two things are key in this series: 1) if the Flyers can get Chris Pronger back and if they can stay healthy, and 2) Ryan Miller. Pronger eats up a ton of minutes in the playoffs but coming off an injury he may not be able to log as many as usual in the first round. However, simply having him in the line-up will cause the Sabers to have to account for him in their game plan, so if he dresses it won't hurt the Flyers.
Ryan Miller is the other key in this series. If he plays well Buffalo is really hard to beat. I'm sure he'll play well but I'm not sure if he can play well enough to win a series against all the fire power the Flyers have.

Boston* vs. Montreal: Boston in 5
This is probably the most intriguing first round series in all the playoffs because of the history these teams have with each other, both recent and distant. These teams hate each other so it'll be real playoff hockey, however just because this rivalry is so heated doesn't mean it's going to be a close series. I hope it goes 7 games as much as the next guy but I just don't think the Canadians can hang around for too long unless Carey Price stands on his head. Boston is just a complete team, and that starts with Tim Thomas who has been lights out this season. I can see every game in this series being really close but I think Boston will come out on top.

Pittsburgh vs. Tampa Bay: Pittsburgh in 5
I think the Lightning are kind of this years Capitals. They're good but they don't strike me as a playoff team. Analysts are making a huge deal about Crosby being out but the Penguins have been great without him, and they have a lot of guys with a lot of playoff experience which accounts for a lot. Plus, Marc-Andre Fleury can win games 2-1 and 3-2, so if Pittsburgh has a hard time scoring without Crosby in the line-up they still have a chance.


West

Vancouver* vs. Chicago: Vancouver in 5
Chicago is not the team they were last year and Vancouver is ridiculous. The Canucks lead the NHL in just about every category you can think of which tells me they're a complete team. Of course statistics don't guarantee wins but if the Canucks can maintain the way they played in the regular season through the playoffs they should be just fine against the Hawks.

San Jose vs. LA Kings: San Jose in 7
This could - and I say could because when you're talking about San Jose and you put "will" and "win a playoff series" in the same sentence, you could be in trouble - be the year that the Sharks win a playoff series. Whether the snake comes back to San Jose to bite the Sharks or not remains to be seen but I have faith that they can pull off a series win. The Kings don't do a whole lot for me. They have a good penalty kill but the Sharks had the second best power play in the league this year. If Niemi plays decent, the Sharks will win, although I don't think it'll come easy for them.

Detroit vs. Phoenix: Detroit in 6
This will be a good series. Phoenix has become a really good team but it's really hard to go against the Red Wings with the weapons and experience they have. These teams played each other four times this year and each team won a pair in the series, and what's more is that three of the games were decided by a goal, the other was decided by two. If there's going to be an upset in the West I think the Coyotes could pull it off, but I think the Red Wings will take the series.

Anaheim vs. Nashville: Anaheim in 7
Not having these games nationally televised should be a crime. If you're a hockey fan you understand what a good series this should be, however those who don't know the game assume it will be boring because these teams aren't marketed very much. You've got the strong defense of Nashville up against the fire-power of Anaheim and this series will be a battle. I like both of these teams but I think the edge goes to the Ducks. They've got one of the best offenses in hockey with guys like Corey Perry, Teemu Selanne, Bobby Ryan and Ryan Getzlaf. If you can watch this series do yourself a favor and do it!!!


*I'll do predictions by round, however for those wondering I do have a Finals prediction: I'm going with the Canucks out of the West and the Bruins out of the East.



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Wednesday, April 13, 2011

NHL Playoff Predictions 2011

Bearded and mulleted men (and women?) around the world rejoice - it's playoff time. You all know what this means so we'll get to predictions right away:

East

Capitals vs. Rangers: Capitals in 6
The Rangers will be able to hang around a little bit in this series, especially if Henrik Lundqvist gets hot. However, the Capitals are just better. Everyone keeps talking about how the Capitals are way tougher than they were last year. I'm not too sure about that but I think they're at least good enough to get through the Rangers.

Flyers vs. Sabers: Flyers in 6
Two things are key in this series: 1) if the Flyers can get Chris Pronger back and if they can stay healthy, and 2) Ryan Miller. Pronger eats up a ton of minutes in the playoffs but coming off an injury he may not be able to log as many as usual in the first round. However, simply having him in the line-up will cause the Sabers to have to account for him in their game plan, so if he dresses it won't hurt the Flyers.
Ryan Miller is the other key in this series. If he plays well Buffalo is really hard to beat. I'm sure he'll play well but I'm not sure if he can play well enough to win a series against all the fire power the Flyers have.

Boston* vs. Montreal: Boston in 5
This is probably the most intriguing first round series in all the playoffs because of the history these teams have with each other, both recent and distant. These teams hate each other so it'll be real playoff hockey, however just because this rivalry is so heated doesn't mean it's going to be a close series. I hope it goes 7 games as much as the next guy but I just don't think the Canadians can hang around for too long unless Carey Price stands on his head. Boston is just a complete team, and that starts with Tim Thomas who has been lights out this season. I can see every game in this series being really close but I think Boston will come out on top.

Pittsburgh vs. Tampa Bay: Pittsburgh in 5
I think the Lightning are kind of this years Capitals. They're good but they don't strike me as a playoff team. Analysts are making a huge deal about Crosby being out but the Penguins have been great without him, and they have a lot of guys with a lot of playoff experience which accounts for a lot. Plus, Marc-Andre Fleury can win games 2-1 and 3-2, so if Pittsburgh has a hard time scoring without Crosby in the line-up they still have a chance.


West

Vancouver* vs. Chicago: Vancouver in 5
Chicago is not the team they were last year and Vancouver is ridiculous. The Canucks lead the NHL in just about every category you can think of which tells me they're a complete team. Of course statistics don't guarantee wins but if the Canucks can maintain the way they played in the regular season through the playoffs they should be just fine against the Hawks.

San Jose vs. LA Kings: San Jose in 7
This could - and I say could because when you're talking about San Jose and you put "will" and "win a playoff series" in the same sentence, you could be in trouble - be the year that the Sharks win a playoff series. Whether the snake comes back to San Jose to bite the Sharks or not remains to be seen but I have faith that they can pull off a series win. The Kings don't do a whole lot for me. They have a good penalty kill but the Sharks had the second best power play in the league this year. If Niemi plays decent, the Sharks will win, although I don't think it'll come easy for them.

Detroit vs. Phoenix: Detroit in 6
This will be a good series. Phoenix has become a really good team but it's really hard to go against the Red Wings with the weapons and experience they have. These teams played each other four times this year and each team won a pair in the series, and what's more is that three of the games were decided by a goal, the other was decided by two. If there's going to be an upset in the West I think the Coyotes could pull it off, but I think the Red Wings will take the series.

Anaheim vs. Nashville: Anaheim in 7
Not having these games nationally televised should be a crime. If you're a hockey fan you understand what a good series this should be, however those who don't know the game assume it will be boring because these teams aren't marketed very much. You've got the strong defense of Nashville up against the fire-power of Anaheim and this series will be a battle. I like both of these teams but I think the edge goes to the Ducks. They've got one of the best offenses in hockey with guys like Corey Perry, Teemu Selanne, Bobby Ryan and Ryan Getzlaf. If you can watch this series do yourself a favor and do it!!!


*I'll do predictions by round, however for those wondering I do have a Finals prediction: I'm going with the Canucks out of the West and the Bruins out of the East.



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Posted by Kyle Mountain at 6:09 PM

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