NHL Playoffs

[K_Mac]

We're off to a great start! Blues win with Jake Allen putting on a goalie clinic in Minnesota and the Blackhawks losing at home to Nashville.

 

My sentimental pick in the West is the Blues, although I would not be surprised to see Chicago in the Cup Finals. In the East I'm taking the favorite to win it all. The Capitals seem to be the complete package, and in Shattenkirk and Oshie are a couple of favorite ex Blues. 

 

What do all y'all think?

[RichF]

Rangers all the way!!  I wish lol.  I can definitely see the Caps taking it.  Should make for a fun party around here.  I'd honestly be happy seeing anyone win other than the Hawks, Pens, or Bruins.

[BrianinMD]

Caps got off to there normal playoff start, good to see they pulled out the win. They would not have won that game the last few years.

[gim]

The Caps and Hawks are both trendy picks as the top seeds in each conference.  We've seen this before from the Capitals though.  They blaze through the regular season, earn a high seed, and then get upset by a lower seed in the first or second round.  If they do get past Toronto, their second round is going to be tough against either Columbus or Pittsburgh.  Honestly I don't care for the current playoff matchup format.  You're likely going to have two better teams play in the second round than the conference finals.

 

I would normally take the Flyers but since they are out, my alternate option is to take whoever is playing the Pens.  Go Jackets

[K_Mac]

Heck of a game in Minnesota tonight.

 

Gimrius I agree the current playoff format is flawed. It certainly doesn't reward excellent play during the regular season very much. Pittsburgh and Columbus having to face each other in the first round is a good example. 

 

My Blues also have a long history of failing in the playoffs regardless of their seeding. They've been breaking my heart for years.

[halochef]

On 4/14/2017 at 1:00 PM, RichF said:

Rangers all the way!!  I wish lol.  I can definitely see the Caps taking it.  Should make for a fun party around here.  I'd honestly be happy seeing anyone win other than the Hawks, Pens, or Bruins.

"not like"  well i want the pens to win back to back!  there!

19 hours ago, gimruis said:

The Caps and Hawks are both trendy picks as the top seeds in each conference.  We've seen this before from the Capitals though.  They blaze through the regular season, earn a high seed, and then get upset by a lower seed in the first or second round.  If they do get past Toronto, their second round is going to be tough against either Columbus or Pittsburgh.  Honestly I don't care for the current playoff matchup format.  You're likely going to have two better teams play in the second round than the conference finals.

 

I would normally take the Flyers but since they are out, my alternate option is to take whoever is playing the Pens.  Go Jackets

CHZZZZ i like the pens!

[CTBassin860]

Bruins blew that game last night.Chara taking that delay of game with 12 seconds to go was a bone headed move.

[A-Jay]

3 hours ago, MassBassin508 said:

Bruins blew that game last night.Chara taking that delay of game with 12 seconds to go was a bone headed move.

 

Can't argue with that sentiment.  

But the B's best hockey is a month behind them.

This team has been hit by too many injuries (too key role players) to expect to be competitive, especially in the playoffs.

So even if they manage to somehow get by what up to this point has been a pretty bad Ottawa team, unless they get some guys back, the 'anything can happen' is a nice sentiment but not realistic for the Bruins I'm afraid.

A-Jay 

[CTBassin860]

1 minute ago, A-Jay said:

 

Can't argue with that sentiment.  

But the B's best hockey is a month behind them.

This team has been hit by too many injuries (too key role players) to expect to be competitive, especially in the playoffs.

So even if they manage to somehow get by what up to this point has been a pretty bad Ottawa team, unless they get some guys back, the 'anything can happen' is a nice sentiment but not realistic for the Bruins I'm afraid.

A-Jay 

Absolutely.Krug,Carlo,Krejci being out kills us.They can't clear their own zone to save their lives either.

Way to much zone time for the opposing teams

[A-Jay]

Just now, MassBassin508 said:

Absolutely.Krug,Carlo,Krejci being out kills us.They can't clear their own zone to save their lives either.

Way to much zone time for the opposing teams

X2 ~ 

WAY Too many guys playing their first NHL games - not too mention PLAY OFF games.

Playing against teams loaded with time tested & grizzled Veterans will expose inexperience in most any sport but especially in hockey.

It's been a decent season and I'm looking forward to the next one, but barring another 'Miracle on Ice' this ones all but over.

A-Jay

[K_Mac]

If someone would have predicted a week ago that the Blues would be 3-0 and the Blackhawks 0-2 in the first round, we would have laughed about it. So much is about timing in the playoffs; getting hot at the right time, good defense and great goal tending. I am not going to predict anything. I'm just enjoying the ride!

 

It does look like the Maple Leafs think they can beat the Caps. That is shaping up to be a great series. Edmonton and San Jose is interesting. I sure would like to see the Oilers beat the Sharks...

[OCdockskipper]

Go Ducks!!

 

I know that the West Coast teams are typically ignored by those fans East of the Rockies, our games usually start when y'all are going to bed.  However, if Nashville & St. Louis continue their good play, home ice for the semi-finals will be in Anaheim, Edmonton or San Jose.  Not a huge deal, but worth having.

 

I believe the Blackhawks had a slogan for this years playoffs, "One Goal: The Stanley Cup".  Ironically, they have yet to score one goal in the playoffs...

 

I am surprised to see a Bruce Boudreau coached team looking to lose a playoff series in 4 straight.  They usually wait until game 7 on their home ice to get eliminated 

[halochef]

ot  win  yes!

[RichF]

32 minutes ago, halochef said:

ot  win  yes!

 

My sentiments exactly..

[gim]

Haha yes

[K_Mac]

Wow. All four games tonight go to overtime. Chicago loses again. A couple of weeks ago they looked like they couldn't lose. Now they can't buy a win. The Maple Leafs winning again makes it quite possible the number one seed in both conferences will be done after one round. I love the playoffs!

[K_Mac]

The Blues add drama as expected. Chicago gets swept. Peguins and Ducks advance. Some great hockey being played...Let's go Blues!

 

Toronto is my dark horse. They still think they can win this thing. They may be right. It will be fun to see.

[yosef]

I'm from Boston so of course that's who I want to win but I don't see them going too far with the roster and injuries, Toronto is playing fast and good and it's one of my favorite cities in North America so I'd like to see them win, if not toronto I'd like to see ovechkin finally get the cup 

[halochef]

how 'bout those blues and nashville!  nashville really suprised  me

[K_Mac]

Well the teams in the West are set. The Blues and Nashville will be a serious battle. 

 

The East could be decided tomorrow, but I would not bet on it. I predict the Senators close out the Bruins, and the Maple Leafs force a game 7. 

 

Only 12 more wins to the Cup! Go Blues!

[K_Mac]

The Caps really looked good to finish off Toronto. It was a tough game, and I still think they are the team to beat. 

 

42 games in the first round, with 18 of them going over time. "A new league record" to take a line from the movie Bull Durham.

[BassThumb]

This Wild team reminded me of some of the Vikings squads in the late-90's, early-2000's. Exciting, high-scoring regular season. High expectations, high hopes. Massive underachievement in the playoffs.

[OCdockskipper]

The team playing the best hockey right now is the Ducks, including their sweep over Calgary they are 15-0-3 in their last 18.  Their last regulation lost was March 10th against the Blues, who scored in the final 30 seconds to win 4-3.  The Ducks have a good mix of experience & youth as well as alot of playoff experience through their core players.  They are one of just a handful of teams to have ever won their division for 5 consecutive years.  With Chicago & Minnesota out of the playoffs, they would have to be the favorite from the west to make it to the Finals.

 

Of course, since many people east of the Rockies are already asleep when they play, they tend to get overlooked.

[gim]

The Capitals-Pens series is arguably the top two teams in the league playing in the conference semi-finals.  Of course, we've seen this before.  The Capitals need to show what they're made of this time.  They literally put this team together to take down the Penguins in a 7 game series after losing to them last season.

[moguy1973]

All of the 2nd round series are going to be good.  That Pens-Caps series should be good enough to be a Cup final.  The Rangers and Ottawa should be interesting.  Edmonton is going to be a tough team for the Ducks. and then we have my team the Blues playing a Nashville team they owned a couple weeks before the playoffs when they were both fighting to make it into the playoff.

 

Let's Go BLUES!!!