NHL official topic

[joeki]

Any NHL fans in the SHN? Did a search and didn't find a topic but there is one for NFL, Football, Rugby (though not really active) and NBA. So I figured we could do with a NHL one.
Especially now the play-offs are about to start. Been following NHL since around 1998, got introduced to the game after seeing some really hockey action (my city has a team in the country's highest league). And continued playing the games and following the NHL on the internet etc.
As the Detroit Redwings were the team to beat in that period, I still support them. But I have sympathy for many teams (this years strong Rangers being one of them, this years überweak Canadiens being another).

So what are your thoughts on the play-offs? My predictions for ROUND ONE :

VANCOUVER > LOS ANGELES in 5 games
ST.LOUIS > SAN JOSE in 7 games
CHICAGO > PHOENIX in 6 games
DETROIT > NASHVILLE in 6 games

NEW YORK RANGERS > OTTAWA in 6 games
BOSTON > WASHINGTGON in 7 games
NEW JERSEY > FLORIDA in 4 games
PITTSBURGH > PHILADELPHIA in 6 games

Vancouver should make relatively quick work of LA. Though LA surprised me a bit this season, they've gone as far as they're going to go. I hope they'll last 5 games, but if Vancouver want to start playing from the get go, it could be done in 4.

St.Louis will have a lot of problems on their hands with San Jose, who have a bit of a bad reputation when it comes to the post-season: they're always good but never really go the length.I fear the same will happen this year as they lose game 7 at St.Louis by a considerable margin. St.Louis has the right combination of players/coach this year and I see them go far. The franchise needed that after a few meagre years.

It's not that hard to see Chicago upsetting Phoenix. Phoenix had another good season but was in a weak division, and all central teams except for Columbus are simply better than them. I give them 6 games because of the home advantage, but Chicago could pull it off quicker. They have the goal scoaring potential and deep Play-off experience, another first round exit for PHX beckons.

Detroit had only one hot streak during the regular season and hasn't looked particularly impressive in the last weeks of it. They have lost momentum and have some injuries. Nashville has the momentum and this year it also has the players to beat their central division rivals. Still, I'm going to go with the upset and give my favourite team the win on experience and power. Could very well go down to the wire, but if Detroit loses the first two, Nashville won't lose this series.

Ottawa are tough competition and won the regular season series against the Rangers, but I'd expect the sharpness and scoring ability of the Rangers to make good work against Ottawa's open defence. They'll swing for a couple of games, but I still see the Rangers pulling this one off fairly easily.

Boston v. Washington is one of the most difficult to call. The cup holders usually survive round 1, but Washington has some very dangerous players. I just don't see them nicking more than one game away at Boston, who'll dominate the series early on and do enough to clinch it in the final one.

New Jersey are simply a better team than Florida, who'll be happy just to be in the post-season for the first time since 2000. The first two games will be crucial, if the Devils can nick one (or even two) I expect this one to last no more than 5. Despite having an higher seed, I'd call it a major upset if the Panthers keep the Devils out of the next round, the Devils fought well in a tough Atlantic Division and have some seasoned play-off brawlers.

Pittsburgh v. Philadelphia is the most interesting first round match: division rivals and state rivals and Philadelphia has an agressive game as usual, we'll see plenty of fighting and hot action in this one. But Pittsburgh has the best team in the NHL skill wise, if they can click together in the post-season and stay injury free, they'll be hard to keep out of the conference final and could go all the way.

Any of you have any predictions/thoughts? Putting any money on the games?

[jazzamataz]

Ducks fan since the days of Kariya & Selanne.

They're not in the playoffs this year

[dickman69]

Pittsburgh v. Philadelphia is the most interesting first round match: division rivals and state rivals and Philadelphia has an agressive game as usual, we'll see plenty of fighting and hot action in this one. But Pittsburgh has the best team in the NHL skill wise, if they can click together in the post-season and stay injury free, they'll be hard to keep out of the conference final and could go all the way.

its gonna be a bloodbath

[kidshuffle]

ABC: ANYTHING BUT (the) CANCUCKS

[Lectric]

CHICAGO BABY. BLACKHAWKS FOR LIFE.

[kidshuffle]

I would also like to see LA win, but fuck Darryl Sutter.

also lol @rangers/sens in 6. i see it in 5

[joeki]

I don't know man, based on the entire Season, the Rangers should eat up the Sens. But the Sens apparently know how to play NYR, I pay some attention to the regular season series, and Ottawa really had the Rangers number during the entire season. Having said that, the PO's are a different thing. If the Rangers work their way around the home games, it should be over in 5.

Personally, of course I'd like to see Detroit win (and if the bookies are anything to go by, that would mean a lot of money heh), but I'm afraid it is going to be Vancouver, even though that is one team I have no sympathy for.

It would be cool if the Rangers clinched it. But don't see them getting past Pittsburgh or Boston tbh.

[Lectric]

Boston v Washington in 5 imo. Boston is way too strong.

[dickman69]

Thoroughly enjoying this Pens game

[the_disconekt]

go leafs









Watching the pens and flyers game right now, turning out to be pretty interesting from the get go.

[dickman69]

well that wasn't complete bullshit or anything...

[ehbes]

Boston v Washington in 5 imo. Boston is way too strong.

Hell yeah son Bruins are fucking nasty

[dub-ray]

sharks all the way

[Gusto]

Big Red Wings fan here, but I'm not overly hopeful. They haven't played like a playoff team since the home record streak ended. Doesn't seem like Weber is gonna do time for his sucker punch on Z, bunch of bullshit there.

My stakes in other series': Philly over Pens, any non-partisan hockey fan wants to see the Pens knocked out; LA over Canucks, I would've loved to see SJ match up with Vancouver in the first round just so one of those diving bitchfest franchises gets knocked out; and Phoenix, amazing this team is competitive in that market with its ownership issues. Doan is the only captain not named Lidstrom that I'd like to see raise the cup of the teams left.

[joeki]

Well the Flyers got a bit lucky tonight in all honesty. Offside goal and Penguins really had the chances to walk away with this one in the third. But they didn''t. Looks like this series is going to be everything it's hyped to be.

Detroit, as to be expected, came up short. They need to win the next one away because a 2-0 deficit they won't recover from.


LA surprised me in Vancouver, they won deservedly, looks like I was dead wrong there.

[kidshuffle]

https://twitter.com/#!/LAKings/status/1 ... 1210113025

The Kings be beefin

[dickman69]

https://twitter.com/#!/LAKings/status/1 ... 1210113025

The Kings be beefin

LOL

a bit early for that?

[frank grimes jr.]

Bruins have a tough road ahead, they need to get a strong start here tonight.

[ehbes]

Bruins have a tough road ahead, they need to get a strong start here tonight.

toucher and rich made a great comment today that the caps are gonna play like caged animals due to what will happen to the front office if they don't make a run

[frank grimes jr.]

Bruins have a tough road ahead, they need to get a strong start here tonight.

toucher and rich made a great comment today that the caps are gonna play like caged animals due to what will happen to the front office if they don't make a run

Yeah, they basically have everything to lose at this point. It's going to be an ugly series, and I hope the B's keep their cool.