First Round Recap, Second Round Preview

Well, now that the New York Rangers were taken out in 5 games by the Washington Ovechkins in the 1st round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, it’s time to look back and see how all my 1st round playoff picks panned out!

I had 5 out of 8 correct with Vancouver, San Jose, in the West. With the wrong picks being Nashville (Although I consider that win for me) and Detroit (Sorry don’t care…Will never pick the Euro Wings). In the East, I had winners with Boston, Philadelphia, and Tampa Bay and lost with my beloved Rangers (Like Detroit, I will never take the Caps… ever)! So I wasn’t too bad with my picks, giving up a couple of easy ones with the teams mentioned above. I will take credit for the Nashville win though as I picked them on my radio show the “Instigators” as the dark horse of all teams in the playoffs and was extremely pissed when they had to play Anaheim because I felt the Ducks too could of caused some damage to the rest of the Western teams. Oh well! Any how, here we go with my picks for the next round of the playoffs.

San Jose Sharks/Detroit Red Wings… I think you know how I feel about the #%$@ Euro Wings. Going with Joe Thornton and the Sharks. They took care of a pesky LA team, still not on anybody’s radar. I like them in 6.

Vancouver Canucks/Nashville Predators. The Preds took down an excellent team in Anaheim with their tough in-your-face style of Hockey. Their team defense is as good as it gets. As for Vancouver, they could have had an easier time over Chicago but that choke label is still there for this team. Luongo and the Sedin twins will have the weight of the hockey world on them as well as the City of Vancouver. My pick the Predators in 7… their time has come.

Wasington Capitals/Tampa Bay Lightning. Tampa shocked the Penguins after being down 3-1 to win it in 7 games. Plenty of star power in this series. The Caps disposed of the Rangers in 5 games, including 2 OT wins. I’m going with the Lightning in 7. I like their stars better and again I emphasize, much like the Red Wings, I will never pick the Capitals. Sorry, if you don’t like it… too bad!

Philadelphia Flyers/Boston Bruins. Old time Hockey? Bloodbath? Maybe. Will it be like the 70s match ups between these two teams? Probably not, but I can dream, can’t I? Both teams had their troubles in the 1st round and had to go 7 games to win and move on. This should be a physical series and in the end I like Tim Thomas over anyone that the Flyers have in net. The Bruins take this one in 7.

There you go. Agree? Disagree? Let me know what you think! Over and out.

Read more...

The Battle for Lord Stanley's Cup

The new season has arrived for the New York Rangers. That’s right folks, the Rangers are in the playoffs and will face the Washington Ovechkins… Sorry, I meant the Capitals. How they will do is still yet to be seen, but I got give them credit for fighting through injuries and the usual ups and downs of a season in the NHL. To those who feel that the Rangers did not deserve a spot in the playoffs… go take a long walk on a short pier! They played by the rules that the NHL set in order to make in the playoffs and they did! Lump it! With that being said here are my fearless straight up predictions for the upcoming Stanley Cup playoffs.

Eastern Conference Predictions

Washington/New York... Sorry can’t go against the Blue Shirts. Lundqvist needs to shine a bright as ever and the team will follow his lead. Capitals have struggled this season with the Rangers. Hopefully the Rangers will continue to give Ovechkin and his cronies nightmares. Rangers in 7.

Philadelphia/Buffalo… This a tough one to call. Flyers haven’t been that great down the stretch and goaltending is still a big question mark for me. On the other hand, you have Ryan Miller who needs to be big in this series for Buffalo or I’m afraid the Sabres are done. Throwing you a curve ball- Flyers in 6.

Boston/Montreal… An original six match up. Got like that for old times sake. With all the hoopla surrounding Zdeno Chara’s hit on Max Paciorety this should be a dandy series. The Bruins at times this year have looked like world beaters and at other times the opposite. As for the Canadiens, I’m not sure if they can drum the magic they had last year. Bruins in 6.

Pittsburgh/Tampa… Don’t know if Crosby is coming back, because if he was this would be easy. The Penguins played well without their superstar’s in the lineup. Tampa has befuddled me all season. Great at times and then not so great. Stamkos needs to find the scoring magic that has left him that last few months. I’ll go with the Lightning in 7.

Western Conference Predictions

Vancouver/Chicago… Is this the finally the year for the Canucks? Can they finally slay the dragon that is the Blackhawks? Can the Sedin’s and Louongo rise to the occasion? This one is really simple for me. No Dustin Byfuglien, no physical presence, no headaches for Vancouver, no win for Chicago. Canucks in 5.

San Jose/Los Angeles… Losing Anze Kopitar to injury really hurts the Kings chances here in my mind. The Sharks are a big physical team and have been quietly under the radar this season. Sharks in 6.

Detroit/Phoenix… Did the Coyotes learn from their grueling loss to Detroit in last year’s playoffs? If so then they have a good chance of pulling an upset here. The Redwings much to my dismay are still well… the Redwings. Coyotes in 7.

Anaheim/Nashville… This is probably the toughest series to figure out. I think both teams could ruin the party for others in the west. Unfortunately one has to lose. The Ducks have been playing solid hockey at their right time and Corey Perry is on fire. Barry Trotz has the Predators playing tough, stingy hockey and not giving up many goals. Can I pick a tie here? Ducks in 6.

That’s it those are my picks, care to disagree please feel free to. I'd love to hear your comments. Also, Paul Stewart former NHL player & referee will be the guest on this week’s Instigators Radio Show. Here is the link, check out the show! Over and out!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/pauly-d

Read more...