Originally Posted by
Deuce
Western Conference-Wide open, anything can happen, any team could win it all.
(1) Vancouver Canucks vs. (8) Los Angeles Kings
These series is quite interesting. Don't count the King out of it right away. This match up depends solely on a few players. Roberto Luongo, Jonathon Quick, Mike Richards, and Jeff Carter. Now you may be thinking to yourself, ya ya, of course captain obvious, of course it does. Not so fast my friend. The Kings can score now with the likes of Carter and Richards getting chemistry back. Williams/Brown/Kopitar all also can bury the puck at any given time. That being said, Roberto can either stop a marble or not even stop a beach ball. Depending on which Roberto shows, this series has a lot riding on him. If Lou shits the bed early, Schneider is more than capable to backing up Lou. I am not too worried about Quick, he has been sensational all season long. A lot of Vancouver's wins came from their horrid division but don't let that fool you, they are a tremendous team with great leadership, playoff experience, and every line can score. They have their tough guys as well but if the Kings come out hitting, watch out. The Kings can easily sway this series based on physicality alone. On that notes as well, the Kings record does not reflect the current team that you will see suit up. With the addition of Carter, this is a totally different team. Carter and Sutter in charge, this team is by far much better than the record indicates. If you're looking for value in these games, be sure to look at totals because I do believe this will be a low scoring series. Look for Vancouver to eventually close the series in 6 but it will be tight.
(2) St. Louis Blues vs. (7) San Jose Sharks
St. Louis has a tremendous season and barely missed the cut to winning the presidents trophy. A team that started so bad mixed things up and put Kenny behind the bench. Doing so jump started this team and they haven't looked back. Elliot and Halak are arguably the top two netminders in the game and have been the heart and soul of the team. The Blues have solid blue line tandems and have some decent up front and physical forwards. The team lacks scoring though and it may bite them in the ass this post season. Home ice advantage has been key to the success of the Blue, they are tied with Detroit for the best home record in the league. With high expectations I think this series may be tough for the Blues. San Jose this year comes into the playoffs having low expectations. Down the stretch they have struggled by as of late they have put it together and made a run to make it in. I think with lower expectations this team will finally buckle down and make something of this post season. Pavelski, Thornton, Marleau, Couture, all are playing well. This team is very physical and look for them to dominate against the glass. Niemi has been sketchy but at the tail end of the season he has pulled his game back together. Combined with the physicality and the ability to put the puck in the net, Sharks close the doors in 7. Look for this series to be a good one.
(3) Phoenix Coyotes vs. (6) Chicago Blackhawks
Phoenix has been riding a hot Smith for quite sometime now and I do believe in the end they will eventually pull out the series. The Chicago Blackhawks have a tremendous team but their heart and soul in Toews is questionable. Without Toews 100% this team has no shot. Hossa, Sharp, and Kane can only do so much. Crawford has been suspect all year, yes he has been playing well, but I think he will eventually choke in the end. The Coyotes aren't a high powered offense but they do like to hit and they have solid tough guys. Yandle will be key in this series to shutting down the little offense that Chicago has left. Combined with being banged up, I think the travel will get to Chicago as well having to travel out to Phoenix. Phoenix will close the series in 6.
(4) Nashville Predators vs. (5) Detroit Red Wings
The additions for Nashville at the deadline have been key into the long term depth this team will have to out power the opposition to make a deep run. I really like Nashville in this post season to take care of business and make a deep run. Renne has been in Vezina form and will carry this team on his back. Suter, Webber, can shut down any top scoring line and will take over the game at a moments notice. With that being said, Detroit is in a bad spot. This team has been there before and this isn't their first rodeo much like it is Nashville's. Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Franzen all need to play at their 100% best to have a shot. Jimmy Howard has been banged up and ever since the All Star break he hasn't been the same. The X factors in this series will be Helm, Abdelkader, and Bertuzzi. This will be a low scoring series. As much as it pains me to say it, I do think that Nashville wins in 5. Detroit is just too banged up and Nashville is full of young guns that are hungry, a team full of guys that have their eyes on the prize. Nashville is very motivated.
Eastern Conference
(1) New York Rangers vs. (8) Ottawa Senators
Lundqvist is the hot hand in this series. Ottawa has played well against the Rangers but I don't think that they have a shot in this one. The Rangers are too powerful and have been playing well all season long. I think the Sens will take one at home but that is honestly all they will do. Rangers will this series rather easily taking the series in 5 games.
(2) Boston Bruins vs. (7) Washington Capitals
Bostons is a team that has it all. They can hit, fight, score, and play solid defensively. Washington is a team that has lacked chemistry all season long, goalies have been suspect, Ovechkin has his head up his ass. Washington has been banged up too, losing Backstrom for quite sometime. Although Backstrom is back and scoring again, I don't think Washington can hang with the Bruins at all. Green hasn't been Green. This series could possibly be a clean sweep. Washington came on too strong near the end too late. Look for Boston to light the lamp behind either poor goalie Washington decides to put in. Boston in 4/5
(3) Florida Panthers vs. (6) New Jersey Devils
This is another quite interesting series match up. For both teams you never know what team will show up. Brodeur will be sharp as usual and I just think this Florida team doesn't have the experience to deal with the top guns in the likes of Kovulchuck/Parise/Elias. New Jersey can also out power a team like Florida with a guy like Clarkson. New Jersey is very scrappy and can also score. Look for NJ to take this in 5/6.
(4) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (5) Philadelphia Flyers
This is the ultimate match up and arguably the most exciting series in all of hockey. Both teams play very well, hard hitting, high flying, fast paced, high scoring, scrapper. Both teams have solid goalies (at times Bryz). Crosby/Malkin are back in great form. It will be very hard for the Flyers to focus on shutting down both Crosby and Malkin because of Neal/Kunitz/Dupuis all are serious scoring threats as well. I think this series will be high scoring and will go deep. You will see quite a bit of penalty minutes and hitting. Don't count out Philly though either. Giroux, Hartnell, Jagr, Simmonds, Schenn, Read, Talbot, Couturiere all can turn it on as well. This series will be exciting to watch. Hunch says, Pens in a tight one in 7. Fleury and Malkin will the factors.
Canucks Canucks
Sharks >
Phoenix
Nashville Nashville
Pittsburgh vs. Nashville-------Pittsburgh as 2012 Stanley Cup Champions
Rangers
Boston > Boston
New Jersey
Pittsburgh Pittsburgh
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2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff write up by Deuce *Pay Attention I have a clue*
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I'm shocked you think your Wings go out in 5 to Nashville, I don't think they'll go down without a fight.
