[junodog4]

Starts tomorrow people!!!

Should be an interesting year. I'm crushed that the Flyers aren't in, and a little disappointed that the Oilers and Blue Jackets didn't sneak in. However, the Islanders and Leafs are back in after lengthy absences. Obviously the Penguins and Balckhawks are favourites, but the NHL more than any other league is prone to upsets. Thoughts? I'll give my predictions after some thinking...
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Finnegan was super bad-ass.

[pearljammer13]

Wow someone picked the Bruins besides me? Honestly I only picked them because I'm a homer. If I'm picking with my head, it would have to be the Penguins, who have owned the Bruins this year.

But the thing I love about hockey is that truly anything can happen. Case in point is the '11 Bruins, who rode one of the greatest goaltending performances in postseason history to a Stanley Cup, after being totally mediocre down the stretch of the regular season. Sometimes it's the hotter team that wins, not the better one. This is what gives me hope if the Bruins advance and end up playing a team like the Penguins.

That being said, the Bruins really haven't been passing the eye test the second half of the year. They've given away way too many 3rd period leads, their power play is anemic, and they simply can't score when it matters. Hope is there, but it's only a glimmer at the moment.

I haven't been following the West closely this year, but if I were to make a pick it would be the obvious one, Chicago.

[Necharsian]

EAST

1. Pittsburgh
8. NYI

2. Montreal
7. Ottawa

3. Washington
6. NYR

4. Boston
5. Toronto

WEST

1. Chicago
8. Minnesota

2. Anaheim
7. Detroit

3. Vancouver
6. San Jose

4. St. Louis
5. LA

My team is the Sens and they are also my darkhorse for these playoff. They are a suprisingly good team statistically, and have the lowest shooting% of any team to make the playoffs in 7 years (the previous lowest team was LA last year and that turned out pretty good i guess). Getting Karlsson back makes an already good team better and may surprise if they can get some luck with pucks going in.

Out of the west I would not be surprised in the slightest if LA repeated. They seem like the favorite to get through the west to me. My darkhorse would be SJ for similar reasons for Ottawa. They were quietly a really good team this year and have Niemi who is seriously underrated when talking about elite goalies. They were also super smart this year with regards to trades by getting rid of dead weight in Douglas Murray and Clowe for asstes and getting guys like Torres and Hannan for next to nothing to replace them.

So i guess ill go out on a limb and say Ottawa vs SJ final. But i could also see both of those teams losing in the first round haha since most of these matchups look to be close.

[junodog4]

My picks:

EAST

1. Pittsburgh (4-0)
8. NYI

2. Montreal
7. Ottawa (4-3)

3. Washington (4-3) Could go either way.
6. NYR

4. Boston (4-1)
5. Toronto

WEST

1. Chicago (4-1)
8. Minnesota

2. Anaheim (4-3)
7. Detroit

3. Vancouver (4-3)
6. San Jose

4. St. Louis
5. LA (4-3)

2nd Round:
Pitt over Ott
Was over Bos
Chi over LA
Van Over Ana

Semis:

Pitt over Was
Chi over Van

Finals:

Pick 'em. Maybe Pit over Chi?

No team is infallible. Pit and Chi both have unproven goaltending. Was is streaky. Bos haven't been themselves. I never trust Van. Maybe LA to repeat? I dunno. This year is wide open.

...and still no Flyers.
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Finnegan was super bad-ass.

[Necharsian]

just a reminder that pittsburgh is terrible and the only reason they arent down in the series is because nabokov is even worse

[junodog4]

[pearljammer13]

The Bruins/Leafs game last night was probably one of the 5 greatest hockey games I've ever watched. Up and down he ice for almost 75 minutes. It was beautiful to watch. And the ultra underrated David Krejci completes the hat trick on the game winner. I fist pumped around the living room while yelling fuck yes for a solid 30 seconds after the goal. Every time the Bruins charged into Toronto's end I stood up, and every time it went back the other way I sat down on the edge of my seat knowing I'd be getting up again in seconds. Such a blast watching your team in the playoffs (sorry junodog, I wish Philly was in the mix).

[Necharsian]

#sens #sens #sens

and pitt plays vokoun and wins imagine that. hopefully they put fleury back in against ottawa

[junodog4]

[TrekkiELO]

Blackhawks, followed by the Kings!