RKMBs Forums .::Robegories::. Sports and Wrestling NHL 2006 Playoffs

Western Conference Predictions
^{(from an e-mail I sent to a friend)}

1 Detroit vs. 8 Edmonton

2 Dallas vs. 7 Colorado

3 Calgary vs. 6 Anaheim

4 Nashville vs. 5 San Jose

The scary thing about these match ups is that I see them all as possible upsets.

1 Detroit vs. 8 Edmonton

Detroit does have weaknesses, and Edmonton is the perfect team to expose them. Edmonton is younger and faster than Detroit. Edmonton is more physical than Detroit. Chris Pronger is used to playing Detroit in the playoffs (maybe he's the reason for the match up with St. Louis out of the picture), and Michael Peca has always been a clutch performer in the post seaon. Ryan Smyth and Sergei Samsonov are big time goal scores, and Jason Smith is a big time defensive defenseman. Plus, Tarntstrom and Spacek can move the puck better than Pronger, whose shot is almost as good as his mentor's, Al MacInnis.

However, Detroit rolls three scoring lines and an Edmonton style checking line I like to call the new grind line. And while Roloson was instrumental in helping Minnesota to the conference finals three years ago, he's a little bit older now, and he has not been as consistent this season, especially in Edmonton. In Detroit, Legace has been phenomenal at times, and the reason Detroit was able to come from behind only a two goal deficit tonight was because Legace willed the puck to stay out of the net. The other reason was a Swede named Zetterberg, and the Swedish Connection.

I don't want to say sweep, but I don't think it will take Detroit six games to beat Edmonton. I do see a lot of overtime in this series (only one of the four games ended in regulation this season), and that's where Detroit's veteran presence has the ability to take over.

I think Detroit will win this in five, but it might feel more like eight, and those late starts in Edmonton might make it feel even longer.

2 Dallas vs. 7 Colorado

Dallas and Colorado have a great rivalry, and I think I want Dallas to win because I don't like the idea of playing Colorado in the second round. However, Colorado, like Dallas, has a lot of veteran presence, and they know how to score the big goal and protect the lead. What will decide this series is goaltending. Turco just hasn't lived up to expectations in the playoffs. While Theodore has been hurt for some time, he's back, and if he's healthy, he has the ability to steal a series on his own. It wasn't a fluke when Theodore won both the Vezina and the Hart, and he did it in his home town of Montreal. If Patrick Roy says he's the real deal, there is no one qualified to argue with that opinion.

The fact is, Theodore really scares me. I don't think he'll start out hot. In fact, I think the first three games will look more like shoot outs, with Turco winning one or two close ones. I think the series will be tied at four a piece, and after that, I think we'll be looking at some very tight, low scoring games. Taking that into consideration, I think Colorado wins game seven in double overtime on the road.


3 Calgary vs. 6 Anaheim

While the top two seeds play exciting hockey, Calgary is boring. Anaheim will have it's work cut out for it playing the new master of the trap. Calgary knows it can't score a lot of goals, and that's why the team, especially Iginla, has sacrificed offense for almost perfect defense. Kiprisoff is currently the best there is between the pipes, and this young team loves to hit. Plus, Marchment will be head hunting, and one good knee to Selanne could sink the Ducks in the Pond.

However, Anaheim is seeing the resurgence of Giguere, last season's Norris Trophy winner is healthy again, and Selanne is back in form. Like Calgary, Anaheim is young, fast, and physical. Salei will be looking for Iginla, so their could be a draw if things get really ugly.

This series will also come down to goaltending. Anaheim has impressed me a lot more than Calgary, and both goalies have taken their teams to the Stanley Cup finals. The difference is Giguere skated away with the Conn Smyth, and I think that just might be the edge in what should be another seven game series with lots of overtime.

4 Nashville vs. 5 San Jose

Finally, Nashville lost Vokoun, but so far Mason has filled in admirably. Still, Mason is not Vokoun. But it's not like San Jose has a proven goalie either. Nabokov has lost his job to Toskala, probably for good. Still, Nashville needed Vokoun to win this series, and with him out of the picture, I just don't see them able to stop the one-two punch of Thornton and Marleau. Joe Thornton is probably the league MVP, and he's motivated to show Boston just how wrong they were. Nashville should be able to win one or two games, as they do have the heart to back up the talent up front, but with Zidlicky questionable (de'javu) and Vokoun out, San Jose should be able to wrap this up in six games. Nashville will probably win the close ones, but San Jose will get a couple of blowouts, and Kariya will not be able to stop Cheechoo from sealing the series in the opening minutes OT. I would not be surprised if San Jose swept this series.


Eastern Conference Predictions

1 Ottawa vs. 8 Tamba Bay

2 Carolina vs. 7 Montreal

3 New Jersey vs. New York Rangers

4 Buffalo vs. 5 Philadelphia

Again, on the surface, this looks like a conference ripe for upset, however...

1 Ottawa vs. 8 Tamba Bay

Khabibulin ran off to Chicago to become the highest paid goalie in the NHL, but he's not the only key player who walked away from the 2004 Stanley Cup Champions. This team played poor hockey all season while Ottawa reintroduced fire waggon hockey to the NHL. While Ottawa's Cup hopes may well rest on the groin of Dominic Hasek, Ray Emery has shown this season that he should at least be good enough to get his team past the first round. Ottawa should win this in five, six at the most. If the Lightning can somehow push this to seven, anything goes.

2 Carolina vs. 7 Montreal

Carolina plays offense. Montreal plays defense. Carolina likes Gerber. Montreal likes Huet. Montreal has Aebischer as a back up. Gerber is better than both. All that said, Carolina is too deep to lose this series to a weaker Montreal team that almost didn't make the playoffs. Carolina should win in six, but it could take seven because Montreal plays a tough game.

3 New Jersey vs. New York Rangers

Writing this a day after Jagr got hurt doesn't really change what I have to say. If Jagr is healthy, he can win a round on his own. It doesn't matter that Brodeur is in net for the Devils. However, without Jagr, Brodeur wins. It also helps Brodeur to have Gomez, Elias, and Gianta all driving hard to the net. This is a New Jersey team in transition, and they took a big hit on their blue line losing both Stevens and Neidermayer. However, it looks like they should win their first round seires against the NYR in five or six games.

4 Buffalo vs. 5 Philadelphia

People say Forsberg can will a team to win. If that's the case, then why did he only win two championships in Colorado with that stacked roster? Healthy or not, Buffalo has better goaltending, faster skaters, and looks more like a team. I never like Hithcock as a coach, and he has not adapted to the "new" NHL. The Flyers are still big and slow, and if the NHL does conintue to actually call penalties, Buffalo should take this series in five.



So, those are my predictions. Anyone have any thoughts ont he playoffs? That is, other than hockey sucks and all that.

No Bruins = No Interest.

Fucking ownership...

I feel for you, Joe. San Jose will probably win the Stanley Cup within the next five years, and it will be because of the Joe Thornton trade. Jacobs is about as big a fucktard as they come. But we can't forget is partner in fucktardery in the NHL, Bill Wirtz, owner of the Chicago Blackhawks. Sometimes, I can't figure out which won is worse.

go stars. why? because it's the only fucking team in texas. really, where is there ice in texas. we already hit 100. g-zuz.

Stoopid Maple Leafs.

Watcher, you have no idea how hard I was laughing at the morons who run the Leafs.

I wanted to laugh but the tears just wouldn't go away...

Leaf management is gonna change this coming season tho.
There's reports that Tie Domi was given emails from part owner Larry Tannenbaum like a week before Quinn got fired by one of the owners saying that Quinn was going to be fired. And then Domi apparently went around the locker room showing to players. So look for Domi to be gone along with a few management personell next year.

And also The Ontario Teachers Pension Plan,who are the majority owners of the Leafs are looking to sell most of their shares to a guy named Kenneth Thompson(the richest guy in Canada according to Forbes).

So I'm praying it gets better soon.

Strong ownership could go a long way towards turning things around, but they need to do more than that. What is the state of their farm system? They may need to do a complete overhaul. Yes, that would suck, but it's clear the team does not have the right players on the ice right now. How much are they going to tie up in McCabe (he won't have another year like this) and Sundin and the entire cast of slow goons. They need to get some young, smooth skating kids on that club. They should trade Sundin for prospects and picks, and draft themselves a goalie. Thing is, they'll probably just sign Luongo and try to patch up their holes with more of the same if they don't get a GM that can can work the cap.

The Farm team isn't as bad as it seems. Only when all the signings from the offseason got injured, Toronto won 9 straight with all the rookies. Not to mention 2 of the better goalie prospects (Justin Pogge & Tuuka Rask) are in the system. And the young defensive core performed well when they were called up to the big club this year.

I read in the Toronto paper a few days ago that on defence Aki Berg(a.k.a. the pilon in Toronto) and Alex Khavenov wont be brought back. And that Eric Lindros is looking to sign an incentive laden contract that will pay a base of $750. And there's alot of talk around here about grabbing Patrick Elias from Jersey when free agency starts.

As for Bryan McCabe:
I personally don't want him back. He's a one dimensional defenceman that makes too many mistakes in the defensive zone. He's apparently asking for $5-$5.5 million but in the opinion a person that watched almost every leaf game this year, he's definately not worth more than Tomas Kaberle. The ppl in Toronto are watching the Tampa/Ottawa series very carefully. What I'm hearing is that with the money saved from McCabe, Ferguson is gonna make a strong push for either one of Wade Redden or Zdeno Chara from Ottawa, or Pavel Kubina from Tampa and Jay McKee from Buffalo.

As for goaltending:
Belfour has a buyout clause in his contract that would see him get $1.5 million
over 2 years that count against the cap. Curtis Joseph said he'll either sign with Phoenix or Toronto and that would serve as a good band aid until the goalie prospects are ready in a year or two. I'd be comfortable with Joseph and Aubin splitting duties for a year.

And with Quinn gone, look for former Carolina coach Paul Maurice to take over.

The future is getting brighter.

Hockey is pretty fucking boring.

I played it for 14 years......I was good....but the sport sucks.

huh? hockey, what is that again?

Watcher, Toronto sounds in a lot better shape than I thought, although I still don't trust Furguson. He made some very poor decisions by not buying out certain players before the season when it would not have counted against the cap. What the team needs is anyone who can skate, not only on defense, but up front as well. Kubina could be a good fit with Kaberle, but I don't expect them to steal any big forwards away from anyone. Redden will sign with Ottawa, as he is a lot better than Chara. That's not to take away from Chara, but if he went to the Leafs he wouldn't be nearly as effective in their system, and would probably look a lot like McCabe, but for the money, or money than you want to pay him. The guy Toronto should really look hard at is Jovanovsky. He's exactly the type of defenseman Toronto needs back there, and there is a lot of question regarding his willingness to return to Vancouver. I also wouldn't be surprised if Toronto went after Bertuzzi, because that's what Toronto does best, go after problem players.

And don't forget Sean Avery.
The plus side with Avery is that Elisha Cuthburt comes with him.

I'll take Schneider over Avery any day. Especially tonight.

I want all Canadian Teams to do well except for Ottawa.
Ghad I hate them.

Why? Toronto has a great playoff record against them. If anything, Ottawa should hate Toronto for consistantly eliminating them year after year. In fact, no team has more reason to celebrate Toronto's absence from the playoffs this year than Ottawa.

Unless you hate them because they actually took the time to build their team through smart drafting, smarter trades (except for the Demitra deal), and lots of patience. The Maple Leafs could learn a lot from how Ottawa put arguably the Stanley Cup favorites together.

You know what? I hate Ottawa too. No team can that get that lucky without someone hating them.

hooray red wings!

You're telling me. Ah well, what's the NHL playoffs without at least one team embarrassing themselves in the first round. Could be worse. Dallas could have made it past Colorado.

I'll have more to say tomorrow, when the West is set. I'm looking forward to great game tonight that should hopefully end in OT. I would be really disappointed if either Anaheim or Calgary showed up flat like Philly did last night.

On to the semifinals!

I had seven of eight correct predictions in the last round, and if I was not such a homer I might have had all eight called right. Oh well, I never could vote against my home team.

What is most interesting is how the bottom four seeds all advanced in the West, and the top four seeds all advanced in the East. Of course, that doesn't mean the current top seeds in either conference still have a chance. Or does it?

Western Coference Predictions

5 San Jose vs. 8 Edmonton

Edmonton did everything right in the first round against Detroit. Rolosson played better than Legace (who choked). Pronger played better than Lidstrom (I have no idea what happened to the real Nick Lidstrom who will probably win the Norris Trophy this year, age maybe?). But most importantly, as a team, Edmonton won all the one on one battles for the puck, something Detroit wasn't willing to pay the price to do. Looking at San Jose, the Sharks may not look nearly as dangerous as the Red Wings did. And that's what will help the Sharks eliminate the Oilers.

The Sharks are led by Marleau, a solid playoff performer who has the best player in the NHL taking all the pressure and attention off of him. It was the trade for Joe Thornton and the willingness to sit the more expensive Nabokov for the better Toskala that got San Jose to where it is. They would not have made the playoffs without those two moves. Thornton hasn't don't much in the playoffs, and looks to be disappearing as he was criticized for doing in Boston. However, Marleau is hot. If the Oilers sick their best defense pair on Marleau that will open Thornton up for the kill. And if they do what everyone else does and sick their top defense pair on Thornton, Marleau will do what he does and keep scoring big goals.

The Sharks should have won their division, but the Thornton deal came too late. Now they appear to be the Western Conference favorites. The Sharks will win this series in six.

6 Anaheim vs. 7 Colorado

Anaheim looked great in game seven against Calgary. The Flames just did not have enough offense to shoot the Ducks. But the Ducks don't have a goalie. Giguere seemed to have fallen apart through the first five games of the series, and it was Bryzgalov who started games six and seven to backstop the Ducks past the Flames. That was great playing a team with little pop, but Colorado is loaded with fire power, and they are led by the top clutch captain in the NHL right now, Joe Sakic. How many OT winners did Sakic have against the Stars?

Theodore may have finally come around in the final game against the Stars, and if he is back in form, this should be a short series for the Avalanche. I don't want to call sweep, because the Ducks are very good, but I think Colorado will win this in five.

Eastern Conference Predictions

1 Ottawa vs. 4 Buffalo

This is a difficult series to predict. If the rumors are true about Hasek ready to start, Buffalo doesn't stand a chance. Hasek is the missing piece for Ottawa right now. Without him, the Sabres can not only skate with the Senators, they can beat them. Buffalo is built around young, fast, hard working, tallented players. This team is all heart, and Miller is quite possibly the second best goalie in the playoffs right now. After losing two straight games to Philadelphia to tie the series, Miller showed he has what all great playoff goalies need by coming back to win the next two games. But he's not Hasek, and if the '99 Sabres could ride Hasek to game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals, then the '06 Senators can ride him to victory.

If Hasek can't play, Buffalo wins in seven. If Hasek can play, he might win every game he starts, and if he starts four games, that's all the Senators need.

2 Carolina vs. 3 New Jersey

Carolina is another team with a goalie problem. Gerber fell apart after two games, and Ward became the hero. On the other end of the ice is the best goalie in the playoffs. Brodeur has more offense on this team than ever before, and he can still win games by himself. People thought losing Stevens and Neidermayer would destroy the Devils, but all they've done is walked all over the Jagr led Rangers in four games. Sure, Jagr was hurt, and we all knew the Rangers could not win without him, but there was a lot of doubt that they could win with him, too. Carolina is deep, and they'll play their hearts out, but Brodeur will be intimidating at the other end, and in the end, New Jersey will take this series in six games.

This is looking like there could be four sweeps in the second round. Carolina, Buffalo, and Anaheim all have 3-0 series leads. Edmonton looks like it came to play tonight, and currently lead 1-0 about half way through the first period. Still, there is a good chance San Jose could come out of this game up 3-0 just like everyone else. I'll take being wrong about two series in the second round to see four simultaneous sweeps. And since I picked San Jose anyway, GO SHARKS!