NHL Season 08-09

[Abraxas]

ducks in 7
blackhawks in 6
boston in 5
pens in 5

[Brill Weave]

Alright kids since Abraxas was the first to post them, I guess I will follow suit.

Blackhawks in 6 - Too much firepower offensively for Vancouver to overcome. If Luongo plays like he did the first series, my prediction may change. But I just don't see it happening with the players Chicago has.

Anaheim in 7 - On paper and in my brain it all says Detroit in an easy series. But for som reason I like Anaheim's chances in this one. They've been here before. They've eliminated Detroit before when they "shouldn't" have been able to. I think this series is going to be physical and chippy from game 1.

Bruins in 6 - I think that Boston has too many offensive weapons for Carolina to keep pace. Eric Staal has been on fire and Cam Ward has played strong hockey. But with the firepower Boston is bringing in there Ward will need to play near perfect for the Canes to stand a real chance here.

Penguins in 6 - I think the Pens will split in Washington and then take the two games at home. Lose one more on the road before closing it out at home. Varlamov is going to see what it's like to play a team that is an offensively explosive team. Which the Penguins without a doubt are. It's going to be violent and chippy from the first faceoff. These two teams do not like each(though it will be a bit less chippy than Pitt/Philly, nobody surpasses that rivalry!)

[Izzy]

Wings - 4
Vancouver - 7
Boston - 5
Washington - 6

I really hope the Penguins do win, but I'm pretty sure Washington is gonna take it. I guess it's better for the NHL if Washington wins so Ovechkin gets more face time lol.

[Selamis]

I agree 99% with Brill's breakdown, except that I'm not changing my mind on Vancouver if Luongo plays like he did. I am sticking with the Hawks no matter what, but I will allow room to change series total from 6 to 7 games, if Luongo is on fire. I think Chicago will be good as long as we can take at least one game up there, and then come home where we are pretty tough. The rest of what he said, I feel sums up spot on my feelings.

[Ishido]

Alright kids since Abraxas was the first to post them, I guess I will follow suit.

DET/ANA 4-2
VAN/CHI 4-2
BOS/CAR 4-1
WSH/PIT 4-3

I posted mine after the matchings were determined, and no one else posted for awhile, so I figured I would put up a reminder.

These two teams do not like each(though it will be a bit less chippy than Pitt/Philly, nobody surpasses that rivalry!)

Now, probably not. 10-15 years ago... Wings/Avs was where it was at. I do see Ovechkin trying to get under the Pens skin and some fights coming from it. In the end that series I think comes down to the goaltenders most significantly, and while Varlamov is reletively untested, it is possible that he is good enough. Fleury has proven he can be good enough, but can also slump when he needs to show up.

[Sepukku]

AO needs more face time? Please, I know Crosby got the interview on Sportscenter this morning, but they couldn't possibly suck AO's dick more. Everytime AO scores a goal and falls down 2-3 seconds after the shot they act like it was the Immaculate Reception. That game Washington crushed NYR 5-3 (and 5-3 makes it sound much closer than it was, the NYR's 2nd and 3rd goals were freebies late in the game when it was 5-1), Ovechkin scored the 5th goal in the game in the rout, and nothing else, and on Sportscenter they claimed he "led them to victory." Please. He scored the last goal in a blow out when the game was already won, and he doesn't even lead his team in goals in the playoffs so far. What a joke.

Pens in 6, winning it on home ice this time.
Boston in 7.
Vancouver in 6.
Anaheim in 6.

[Tythera]

DET/ANA 4-2
VAN/CHI 4-3
BOS/CAR 4-0
WSH/PIT 4-3

I'll probably be way wrong but we'll see how things play out. I think these will be some great matchups.

[Absolutely Virtue]

AO needs more face time? Please, I know Crosby got the interview on Sportscenter this morning, but they couldn't possibly suck AO's dick more. Everytime AO scores a goal and falls down 2-3 seconds after the shot they act like it was the Immaculate Reception. That game Washington crushed NYR 5-3 (and 5-3 makes it sound much closer than it was, the NYR's 2nd and 3rd goals were freebies late in the game when it was 5-1), Ovechkin scored the 5th goal in the game in the rout, and nothing else, and on Sportscenter they claimed he "led them to victory." Please. He scored the last goal in a blow out when the game was already won, and he doesn't even lead his team in goals in the playoffs so far. What a joke.

Pens in 6, winning it on home ice this time.
Boston in 7.
Vancouver in 6.
Anaheim in 6.

He's going to win his second straight MVP, he led the league in goals again this year, and the NYR swarmed him every time he got near the puck. He hits people, he scores goals, and he has fun while he does it. It's unfortunate for you that he doesn't play on your team, because you'd be in love with him if he did.

I think the Pens will win the series, because the Caps are still just too young to totally get it. Just look at how nervous they were for the first two periods in Game 7. But I want to hear the Pittsburgh fans cry so badly that I'm actually starting to delude myself into thinking the Caps will win. I can't wait to see what excuse for hating Ovechkin they make up next.

[Izzy]

I don't think he NEEDS more face time, I just think it's good for the game to have such an outgoing fun player as their posterboy.

[Absolutely Virtue]

I think it's good that there is a choice between two poster boys who are so different. The purists tend to love Crosby, and the newer school people tend to love Ovechkin. Note that, for the sake of objective discussion, I'm not saying anything close to what I really think about Crosby and the people who love him.

Taken out of context, I can see how Ovechkin does annoy people. He says what's on his mind, and the language barrier doesn't help. Plus he's also found that the more flamboyant he is, the more attention he gets. He's just a 24 year old dude, so he's going to make some mistakes sometimes that will get him in hot water. The "hot stick" goal celebration was a perfect example. He was just trying to have fun and be funny, and he had no idea it would be used against him. But he's not some idiot like TO or Ocho Cinco because his schtick is genuine. He just loves to play the game.

Plus, at some point during the series he's going to catch Crosby looking the other way and he's going to fucking paste him. It will be glorious.

God, I wish he was my boyfriend.

[Thoronas]

Blackhawks in 6 - Too much firepower offensively for Vancouver to overcome. If Luongo plays like he did the first series, my prediction may change. But I just don't see it happening with the players Chicago has.

I agree 99% with Brill's breakdown, except that I'm not changing my mind on Vancouver if Luongo plays like he did. I am sticking with the Hawks no matter what, but I will allow room to change series total from 6 to 7 games, if Luongo is on fire. I think Chicago will be good as long as we can take at least one game up there, and then come home where we are pretty tough. The rest of what he said, I feel sums up spot on my feelings.

One thing you guys gotta realize is that Chicago was playing a highly banged up Calgary team. It made them look way better than they should have. Calgary's defense was literally half made up of farm team defensemen who were brought up for the playoffs.

As for the too much firepower? Are you nuts? What were the scores in the last two games between these teams? Last game chicago didn't even get on the score board.

I'm not saying Chicago isn't a good team, or that I think Vancouver will sweep them. When I predicted a 5 game win I did it with the knowledge it was I was doing so as a fan. But I can stand back and look at this match up and say it could easily go 7 games. But I just can't see the Canucks buckling to the Blackhawks the way Calgary did.

[Selamis]

The last time that the Hawks and Canucks played, Hawks also were hit with injuries. Missing Sharp from our lineup was and is huge, between him and Havlat, they get things going for us.

Don't remember last date for sure but it might have also been when Kane was out hurt for a few games. Injuries happen, it's no excuse for losing and I get that lol, just saying. With both teams healthy and rested there is no reason this shouldn't go to at least 6 games.


Yes, Calgary had weakened defense, but Keith and Seabrook, along with the rest of our D shut down the big guns on offense. Iginla had what, one goal? Two at the most? When our d was sloppy, Habi bailed them out (with the exception of game 4 when it was 4-1 halfway through the second.) But then our offense came right back to tie the game before the second ended....showed a ton of heart eventhough they lost eventually.

It's going to be a fantastic series, only thing I'm worried about are the Sedin twins, they just seem to murder every team they go up against....

[Ishido]

And the Wings lost 8-2 to the BJs in the regular season. There is a limit to how much you can base off regular season meetings in the NHL, and that limit is next to nothing.

[Thoronas]

Yes, Calgary had weakened defense, but Keith and Seabrook, along with the rest of our D shut down the big guns on offense. Iginla had what, one goal? Two at the most? When our d was sloppy, Habi bailed them out (with the exception of game 4 when it was 4-1 halfway through the second.) But then our offense came right back to tie the game before the second ended....showed a ton of heart eventhough they lost eventually.

It's going to be a fantastic series, only thing I'm worried about are the Sedin twins, they just seem to murder every team they go up against....

I like Iginla but him and the rest of the Calgary core have looked like shit for the most part in the post season since their deep run in 2004. Chicagos defense is definitely looking good but I still think this will be a pretty even series. If Vancouver goes up two goals in a game this series and Chicago comes back without the help of a total defensive lapse by the Canucks I will officially declare the Blackhawks ready for a deep cup run.

As for the Sedins I think they'll have a real tough battle against the Chicago defense. Sundin and the others are going to have to play pretty good to force the defensive core to shift their focus to give the Sedins any chance to maintain their offensive numbers.

3 hours till the puck drops on game 1. Soooo stoked :D

[Colm]

I like Iginla but him and the rest of the Calgary core have looked like shit for the most part in the post season since their deep run in 2004. Chicagos defense is definitely looking good but I still think this will be a pretty even series. If Vancouver goes up two goals in a game this series and Chicago comes back without the help of a total defensive lapse by the Canucks I will officially declare the Blackhawks ready for a deep cup run.

As for the Sedins I think they'll have a real tough battle against the Chicago defense. Sundin and the others are going to have to play pretty good to force the defensive core to shift their focus to give the Sedins any chance to maintain their offensive numbers.

3 hours till the puck drops on game 1. Soooo stoked :D

We haven't had a good coach since then though. I wish Sutter would move back behind the bench and someone else become the GM. I like Sutter's drafting, but the moves he made at the deadline fucked the cap space so we couldn't call anyone up. :\ Not making excuses, but I think it would've been a different series.

Anyway:
Vancouver in 6
Boston in 6
Red Wings in 5
Washington in 7

[Ivaden]

It's unfortunate for you that he doesn't play on your team, because you'd be in love with him if he did.

If he played as well defensively as Malkin does, sure.

Personally, I'm already sick of the hype that this series is getting. It seems like every time I check NHL.com there's five more stories about Crosby vs. Ovechkin. I like Ovechkin, there's no way you can deny him respect for his talent, but I wouldn't want him on the Penguins. No one else would get a chance at shooting the puck.

I think this series is going to depend on how well our second line produces, as our first and third lines are pretty fucking incredible. Sykora has been more than invisible for the past forever, and if Satan is still used, I'm still not convinced. Crosby finally has two legit wingers, but in the meantime Malkin's more or less disappeared.

[Thoronas]

Canucks Win Game One!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...bkes_enews.jpg

Vancouver looked pretty good early on. But man did we look bad in the beginning of the third. Chicago were just too impatient, I was stressing about the Canucks going into overtime.

I really hope that's the worst game of the series for the Canucks. We looked so good in the first two periods I want to see more of that.

[KoalaTrap]

Picks:
Van over Chi in 7
Det over Ana in 5
Pit over Wash in 6
Car over Bos in 7

Carolina/Boston is the only one where I'm going with gut instead of head.

Conf finals: Det over Van in 6, Pit over Car in 6
Finals: Det beats Pit again in 5.

I hope I'm wrong.

[Arnwulf]

If he played as well defensively as Malkin does, sure.

I'm singling this out because you obviously haven't been watching Ovechkin play. He was a 2 way beast during that series with the Rangers, it's rare to see a superstar play as hard as he did.

[Ratatapa]

Sorry i'm late

Vancouver in 6 ( i would love chicago to win but Vancouver with Luongo are just stronger then Calgary was)

Boston in 6 (Eric Sttal and Cam ward won't live for the massive attack of boston)

Anaheim in 7 ( I just want Detroit to loose and tbh i wanna see vancouver or chicago in Stanley cup finals)

Washington Vs Pittsburgh (This is all personal but Pittsburgh in 6) Fleury learned alot imo during last playoffs year and so did most of the team, Even tho pittsburgh has problem this year at the start, i think that Pittsbrugh has the most well rounded team of the 2.

If pittsburgh can hold oveshkin line, washington will fall imo. And they have a new goaler that i wonder how much they will face VS Crosby and malkin But interesting Faceoff.

Now as for me beein Level-headed sorry bout my bad english but i have no idea what that word means good or bad,

Yes i do point out most of the team flops, but i have a high sense of critism. Myself i am not just a Canadiens fan but a hockey fan. I am not the guy that will stop watching hockey cuz habs are out. Proof when Rangers Vs Wash and Car vs NJ was at final game i was watching both gamea t same time on 2 different TV lol.

I just eat hockey and all. So if level headed is bad well sorry, if it's good well thx?


man i feel stupid lol