Who will win the Eastern Conference?

**LT Profits** · 04-09-07, 03:27 PM

New Jersey +515

They play the best defense in the East, have one of the best clutch-game goalies of all time, and have the most playoff experience among the top three favorites. Not bad for a 5-1 shot!

**cobra_king** · 04-09-07, 05:01 PM

Can't go out on a limb in the East, Buffalo i believe is just better than the rest. Ottawa is and will always remain suspect, Pittsburgh is the unknown factor and here's hoping the Devils bomb out in the first round so that Lou and his tremendous ego take a bruising.

**bigboydan** · 04-09-07, 06:05 PM

I hate to play chalk here, but I gotta go with Buffalo.

**moses millsap** · 04-09-07, 08:38 PM

Nj.

**Razz** · 04-10-07, 12:29 AM

Let's not over complicate this. It's Buffalo's to lose. I actually think the Devs get knocked out in round one, but if they play Buffalo, it would be a great series.

**onlooker** · 04-10-07, 01:26 AM

Sabres.

**betplom** · 04-10-07, 06:30 PM

Lovin OTTAWA! Can't wait to see OTT Buff series.

**Junkyard Dog** · 04-10-07, 08:26 PM

Devils

**LT Profits** · 04-11-07, 12:11 AM

Originally posted by Razz

I actually think the Devs get knocked out in round one

HUH? I actually think that is the only first round series where the favorite has virtually no shot to lose. Even in the 1 vs. 8 matchups, the Islanders and Calgary both have the defense to steal a game on the road and make the series competitive. But in Devils series, Tampa Bay is the only team in the playoffs that did not finish in the top 15 in the league in goals against, and that porous defense will be their undoing.

**Razz** · 04-11-07, 01:00 AM

Originally posted by LT Profits

HUH? I actually think that is the only first round series where the favorite has virtually no shot to lose. Even in the 1 vs. 8 matchups, the Islanders and Calgary both have the defense to steal a game on the road and make the series competitive. But in Devils series, Tampa Bay is the only team in the playoffs that did not finish in the top 15 in the league in goals against, and that porous defense will be their undoing.

NJ can't score enough to make them a shoo in to advance. Maybe Tampa struggled to defend most teams, but the Devils and 'Ning played four games this year. The Devils didn't score more than two goals in any of those games, and TB won 3 of the 4. Historically, defense wins championships. I'm not sure that is the case in the new look NHL.