NHL official topic
Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 6:40 pm
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?
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?
