NHL Play-Offs: Round Two

Alright, so as I’ve found out, doing this, following the post-season, and writing finals all at the same time is harder then I thought, but with one final to go… I should be able to balance it out better. Onto the play-offs!

First Round Review

• Eastern Conference
  • MON vs. BOS: I chose Montreal in 5, and figured they would walk right through this series… MON took it in 7 and Price had two bad games, which I think are outshined by his two shut-outs.
  • PIT vs. OTT: I called Pittsburgh in 6, claiming that the Sens were the biggest chokers in recent history… well I was right, the Sens are big chokers… bigger then I thought they were. PIT swept.
  • WAS vs. PHI: I picked Washington in 7, and they were one shot away from making that happen, but the Flyers persevered in 7.
  • NJ vs. NYR: I really thought Brodeur would carry the Devils through when I picked them in 6, didn’t really think that NYR would for the most part, manhandle the Devils in 5.
• Western Conference
  • DET vs. NAS: I underestimated Ellis in this when I picked the Wings to sweep the Preds, but other than one wicked bounce… Ellis was spectacular,  but wasn’t enough to get the Preds through as they lost in 6.
  • SJ vs. CGY: I picked the Sharks in 7, and I feel as though they are lucky to have pulled it out after blowing a 3-0 lead in Game 3. But they did, and won in 7.
  • MIN vs. COL: I picked this one completely by guessing, and was biased because my Dad’s team are the Avs, so I chose them in 6, and low and behold, they won in 6.
  • ANA vs. DAL: I really thought that the experience of the Ducks would make it impossible for the Stars to win when I picked Ducks in 5… turns out Dallas won in 6, and the Ducks never had a chance!

So in the end, I finished with a 5-3 record and I called 2 of the 5 in the correct number of games. Not bad… but not good at the same time, hopefully the second round is better for me.

Second Round Predictions

• Eastern Conference
  • MON vs. PHI: While Briere hauled ass in the 1st Round, he wasn’t playing against Komisarek, Markov, & Price. I expect his production to stall, and I believe the Habs too much depth and speed for the Flyers to handle. Canadiens in 6.
  • PIT vs. NYR: I was pulling for the Pens vs. Caps, because that would have just been epic, but now this. This is a completely different match-up for the Rangers, and while I under estimated their depth last round, I seriously doubt that they can bring it when they are forced to play defensively. Pittsburgh in 7.
• Western Conference
  • DET vs. COL: Let’s call this one the “Senior Men’s Cup”. Colorado’s average age is 26.7 while the Wings clock in at 28.2; two of the oldest teams in the league. Still though, I think the wings pull it off and Theodore can’t keep playing like this… can he? Detroit in 6.
  • SJ vs. DAL: The Sharks could be tired after the physical series with the Flames, and the Stars disposed of the Ducks with ease. The Stars showed that they will not be intimidated and that they can apparently handle anything. Dallas in 7.

So there you have it, I am looking for a Montreal/Pittsburgh Eastern Final, and a Detroit/Dallas Western Final. Now I have to go back to studying.

Play-off Beards Starting to Show & Nonis

With just under a week having gone by in the NHL’s post-season, the beards are starting to show. While some guys can grow a decent beard overnight or have had one all season long, others take a little longer to get going. Case in point, Sid the Kid.

It might be a little difficult to see from that picture but I think you get the point. I first noticed his little perv stache when he was being interviewed about Avery’s antics the other night, and now when I go the the TSN website… there it is staring me in the face.

If at all possible, when the Pens line up in Ottawa tomorrow and attempt to sweep the Sens, try to get a good glimpse of his perviness.

Nonis Fired

Admittedly this isn’t big news at all, but the one thing that is continually being left out of this story is Swedish star Fabian Brunnstrom. Reports were coming out that Brunnstrom had given his agent a list of 6 teams that he was willing to play for, and the Canucks were at the very top of that list with Nonis being a huge factor in that decision. Apparently, Brunnstrom liked the direction that Nonis was taking the team into and he wanted to be a part of that… however, now that Nonis is gone, what does thacrt mean for Brunnstrom and the Canucks? I believe that because of the Nonis firing, Brunnstrom won’t be as willing to head to the west coast, and will instead go to Detroit… a team that continually just keeps getting better without losing their core and prospect pool.

Night One Of ’08 Playoffs

Oh yes, the day that many of us have been waiting for has essentially come to an end (essentially because the Flames/Sharks is still in play). So here is the wrap-up of the festivities.

Penguins vs. Ottawa

I say versus Ottawa, but what I really mean is nobody. Ottawa never really showed up for this one and the Penguins were all over the Sens. Gary Roberts potted two goals, and continued his dominance over the Sens during playoffs. Marc-Andre Fleury may have shushed some of his critics for a little while, by shutting out the high-powered Senators (can we still call them that?) Volchekov, staying true to his style of play, was blocking shots like an offensive lineman, until he took a shot in the face. He tripped over the foot of a Penguins in front of the net and was smoked in the face with a hard Malkin shot. The game ended with some fiestiness as Roberts was kicked out after a questionable hit, and he then appeared as though he challenged every Senator on the ice to a fight… I bet those Sens are still really wishing they had this guy last year. Penguins win 4-0 and lead the series 1-0.

New Jersey vs. New York Rangers

I believe this game was a lot closer than the score indicates. I didn’t catch the majority of this game as I was watching the Pens/Sens, but I did see the two goalies putting up a duel in the first part of the game. There should be much more of that to come as this series carries on though, so we should expect no less. Gomez stuck it to his former team, and fans as they booed him every time he touched the puck. There was also some intensity to this game, and the fans sounded like they really into it until the Rangers took over. I might have to start watching this series unless the Senators actually show up. Rangers win 4-1 and lead series 1-0.

Minnesota vs. Colorado

Again, I didn’t watch this game, at all really because I was half-assed working on a paper and half-assed watching the Flames/Sharks game. Of the highlights that I saw though, it appeared as though it was a physical game, with a goal disallowed due to a kick, and that was a kick, so good call. The game went into overtime and Mr. Clutch Joe Sakic scores his record 8th career playoff overtime goal. Avs win 3-2 and lead series 1-0.

San Jose vs. Calgary

So the newly mohawked Flames, trying to be less uptight this year than last came into the Shark Tank and did not waste any time. They came out flying and scored a quick one that had to be reviewed. Yelle’s stick was well under the cross bar and it counted and they never really looked back from there. Yelle’s second goal also had to be reviewed because the net came off the pegs just after he slid it across the goal line. San Jose did make it interesting though, scoring a last minute goal with their goalie pulled, and then they were buzzing all around the Flames end while Kipper flipped around like a shark out of water (see what I did there? Genius!) Flames win 3-2 and lead series 1-0.