YAY, Playoffs!!! My hopes/predictions

Western Conference

Kings vs Canucks - This is going to be a tough series, and while the Canucks are a powerhouse this season, Quick has been on fire and I think he will not make it easy on them. If the Kings defensive line holds up, I think they might be able to make it out of this one (I really hope they do since I lost all respect for Vancouver after last year). I see this going to 6 or 7, and my hope is for the Kings.

Sharks vs Blues - Another hard series. I want the Sharks to win, and I think they will put up a good fight... but I am saying Blues in 6. It makes me really sad since it always seems to be the Blues that take them out.

Phoenix vs Chicago - I am very happy that the Coyotes got their division, I think that will give them a good morale boost going in to this series (as well as avoiding Detroit) and that might give them the edge they need to pull this out. Chicago has done well this season, but they are not the team they were in 2010... I saw Coyotes in 7.

Predators vs Red Wings - I am looking forward to this series as well. Given the way both teams have played, and Preds having home ice, I think that the assessment of Predators in 7 is a good one. I would almost say in 6, but I think that not having to travel as far will help the Wings keep in it for a bit longer than if they were playing one of the Pacific teams or Vancouver.

Eastern Conference

Rangers vs Senators - I am hoping for Senators on this one, not going to lie. Rangers were great in the early season but these last few weeks they have been flagging in my opinion. If the Senators can pull their stuff together, they might be able to pull this in 7.

Bruins vs Capitals - I dislike both teams, but I think that in this match up Boston is the stronger contender this year... though the Capitals do have some very strong goalies right now and that will draw this out. If the Bruins play dirty, I say 6 games, if not then 7.

Florida vs Devils - I'm going with Florida in 7 as well. They have really good momentum going in to this series, and winning the SE has got to feel good for them. The Devils have been a bit mediocre this season to be honest, and I think that Brodeur is going to be the only reason that they make it to seven games.

Penguins vs Flyers - Well, we all know where my allegiances lie on this one! That said, this is NOT going to be an easy series. The teams are already at each others throats, and I worry about injuries on both sides if Laviolette can't keep his goons in check (which he won't).  Our main advantage will probably end up being that our 4th line is actually capable of scoring goals as well as hitting, and that will let us keep our players better rested. With us winning that last game on Saturday and breaking the home ice curse, I am thinking Pens in a very hard fought 6 games as well, though my dearest wish is for the Pens to sweep just to shut them all up.

I have not been paying much attention to it this year. I usually like the Mighty Ducks of Anahaim, probably because of the Movies about them. Did they make the play offs this year? I tend to follow baseball (Seattle Mariners), and that just started, and football ( the Baltimore Ravens), and a lot is fixing to happen in the off-season in a few weeks, so yeah. But anyway, did the Mighty Ducks make the palyoffs?

The Ducks are no longer the "Mighty Ducks"

Honestly I'm worried about the Blackhawks a little just because they didn't match up well vs. Phoenix all year. They actually improved their record this year, but I'm not so sure they will go that far if Toews isn't healthy enough to play like his old self.

It's going to be interesting, that's for sure.

As I said to Geo, I'm really interested in seeing the Pens and Flyers series. Seems like the hatred is blowing over this year.

thing1 : no they didn't make the playoffs.... and they are only the Ducks now... not the mighty ducks.

Elara : if I'm totally honest I want every series to go 7 only so I get to watch more games and see the sudden death final game. However I would also love to see the Penguins sweep in 4 just to shut people up.

Jordanv78 : yeah, unless Toews comes back ready to play from game 1 it may put the Blackhawks behind from the beginning and may sink them into a hole they can't climb out of.

What do you guys think of players returning just in time for the playoffs? Players like Toews, Sedin, Carter, Cleary, Backstrum, and probably more are all coming back for the playoffs. I think it is kind of silly that they are hurt enough to sit out games near the end of the season but come back when its playoff time. Toews and Backstrum are particularly interesting since they were out for long periods of time with concussions, 20+ and 40 games respectively.  To just throw them into the intense playoff games seems to go against what the league has tried to accomplish with concussions this season. If they aren't playing the last few games of the season they obviously aren't symptom free, as those games would be used to get them back in to the swing of things.

geeogree : I am curious to know what a Flames fan wants to happen to the organization. There has been alot of talk about rebuilds and trading Iginla, what do you want to happen in that regard?

Hey... is there a game coming on on tonight? And if there is, what channel will it be on? Does any body know. I want to see a few hockey players fight. First round of t play offs, there has to be tension, so there might be a fight.

smotpoker86 : I don't think we need to trade Iginla.... It's hard to say that trading your best player is going to improve your team either in the short or long term.... however Calgary does have a lot of over-paid, under-performing players that either need to go or get resigned for a lot less.

I do think Calgary would have made the playoffs if guys like Tanguay or Cammalleri had actually produced points like they have in the past. Our goaltending/defence was pretty solid all year.

We do have the highest paid team for the last 3 years or something like that but have had the least success. Something there doesn't add up

thing1 : no games tonight.... playoffs start on wednesday

Ah... okay then. I might watch Wednesday... I do not have shows that I watch on Wednesday nights.

thing1 : If you want to see hockey fights watch the Pittsburg vs. Philly series , which starts wednesday at 7:30 Eastern. The two teams played twice in the last few games of the season and those games were very physical. Both sides hate each other and to quote Philly forward Scott Hartnell " It will be a blood bath". I hope Crosby survives LOL

smotpoker86 : I am going to take your word on that blood bath. I hope fights do actually happen though. That is the one of the main reasons people even watch hockey... unless you are Canadian, eh?

Hey, I am not Canadian and I watch for the game more than the fights.

A good fight now and then is fine, but "blood baths" are really not what I want to see. I really hope that this series doesn't turn into one, but if it does I totally see Philly initiating it since that is kinda what they do (and then have the audacity to call the Pens a dirty team).

I trust our guys to pull through though, and I am totally looking forward to tonight's game.

*Currently sporting a Fleury jersey as I type this*

Elara : that opening period is pretty much what I was hoping for at the start of this series. And who is leading the way? Crosby!

I do this it turning ugly the moment it gets to Philly.... if not earlier... but for sure the moment it goes to Philly. And game 4 will be a nightmare if the series is 3-0 by then.

One of my friends in Philly scored tickets to Game 4... I am so envious. I also wonder what he had to do to get tickets since the games on sale here sold out in under a minute.

But yeah... tonight's game started out so nice, and then went to hell. We totally fell apart as soon as they scored, and it really, really pisses me off that the first Flyer goal was on an off-side play that the linesmen missed. Instead of looking for a way to call a penalty on the Penguins to even out the power plays they should be paying attention to the actual game! It should have ended in regulation at 2-3 Penguins.
*grumbles*

At least Detroit lost.

Watching the Canucks/Kings game right now and keeping fingers crossed.

Elara : You should ask your friend who he preformed fellatio on! LOL. During the Sens/Rangers game the commentators said the front row tickets cost $850... I can only imagine what your friend had to pay, especially if it sold out and he bought them from a scalper. I would say that's probably how he got them if they are selling out as fast as you say.  I too am envious of him as this is the best series I've watched in years. Here's hoping this series goes the distance, I would love to watch 5 more games of this caliber.

I'm routing for Philly in this series in hopes of not having to hear about Crosby for the remainder of the season. Don't get me wrong I absolutely enjoy watching him work his magic but I am all Crosbied out after hearing about him nonstop when he wasn't even playing for a year. Oh who am I kidding, even if the Penguins get knocked out the hockey world will continue to talk about him more than anyone/anything else.

I've enjoyed every series I've watched so far except for the Pens/Flyers. That is not good hockey. I'm sure Flyers fans are giddy, and most other eastern team fans, but those games have not been good hockey. It's really too bad because it should have been the best series and it's been terrible.

geeogree : Exactly why isn't the Pens/Flyers series good hockey? I've watched every series except a couple of the early games (wtf are they doin putting playoff hockey games before noon lol) and this isby far the most fun to watch. End to end action with tons of goals, whats not to like?! It's like you never know what to expect next. Considering how many goals have been scored  the games are still surprisingly close. 

the games are being so poorly played.... have they been entertaining? Sure, in their own way... but it's far from being good playoff hockey.

The Blackhawks keep waiting till the last few seconds of the 3rd period to tie the game up. I wished they had won game 1, but I'm happy they are tied 1-1. Hawks did what they needed to do and win 1 on the road.

I have to agree with Geeogree on the Pens/Flyers series... wtf, man? We are a better team than this, and we are just choking. It is horrible! I really hope that we win today's game just so I don't have to deal with the Flyers' fans making broom references for the rest of the year. Ugh,

My solace is that the Canucks are on the verge of being swept by the Kings. That kind of upset is just too amazing not to like.