EHM The Blue Line

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Bragging rights on the line!

East

1. Senators
8. Sabers

2. NYR
7. Capitals

3. Panthers
6. Penguins

4. Flyers
5. Canadiens

West

1. Kings
8. Blue Jackets

2. Oilers
7. Stars

3. Blues
6. Red Wings

4. Canucks
5. Wild

Sens in 5
Rangers in 6
Panthers in 5
Habs in 6

Kings in 5
Oilers in 6
Blues in 4
Canucks in 7

West!
Conference Quarterfinals
1. Los Angeles Kings 4
8. Columbus Blue Jackets 2

2. Edmonton Oilers 4
7. Dallas Stars 2

3. St. Louis Blues 2
6. Detroit Red Wings 4

4. Vancouver Canucks 4
5. Minnesota Wild 1

Conference Semifinals
1. Los Angeles Kings 2
6. Detroit Red Wings 4

2. Edmonton Oilers 4
4. Vancouver Canucks 2

Conference Finals
2. Edmonton Oilers 3
6. Detroit Red Wings 4

East!
Conference Quarterfinals
1. Ottawa Senators 4
8. Buffalo Sabers 0

2. New York Rangers 4
7. Washington Capitals 2

3. Florida Panthers 4
6. Pittsburgh Penguins 1

4. Pittsburgh Flyers 4
5. Montreal Canadiens 3

Conference Semifinals
1. Ottawa Senators 4
4. Philadelphia Flyers 3

2. New York Rangers 4
3. Florida Panthers 2

Conference Finals
1. Ottawa Senators 2
2. New York Rangers 4


***Stanley Cup Finals***
2. New York Rangers 3
6. Detroit Red Wings 4

Predictions: the Stanley cup will be one for the ages, with the wings coming out on top in game 7 in 4 over times, 3-2. Rene Lovell will win the Conn Smythe Trophy, posting 15 goals and 20 assists in 26 games!

Sens in 4
Rangers in 7
Panthers in 5
Flyers in 5

Kings in 6
Oilers in 6
Blues in 7
Wild in 7

East

1. Senators
8. Sabres

Sabres don't even have enough guys on the roster right now to ice a full team. This series could get ugly fast. Predication: Sens in 4

2. NYR
7. Capitals

Rangers late injury to Korneev is a big problem as the Rags have been giving up 5 goals a game without him. Everything ratchets up a bit in the playoffs so we could see some 8-7 games in this series. One saving grace may be that GM Midas has been awfully quiet this year. Prediction: Rangers give up 35+ goals and Caps win in 7.

3. Panthers
6. Penguins

This series could be all about the injuries. Panthers are getting healthy at the right time while the Pens took a huge hit to a position they have no depth in. Will Hulva or Bobby Oake get the start in goal? Either choice looks equally brutal. Prediction: Cats in 5

4. Flyers
5. Canadiens

Any chance that the Flyers had went down the drain with McKay's injury. Isomakki and Carlson head off to retirement with a whimper. Prediction: We get to hear Vic blubber on for another week about his 11 rookie defensemen, Hab-nots in 5
West

1. Kings
8. Blue Jackets

Interesting twist to the Brand/Leroux deal as the two goalies, neither with much history of playoff success, will be counted on to stem the other teams strong offense. Belief here is that the Kings PP is too much for a questionable Blue Jacket PK and the Kings bully their way to a series win. Prediction: Kings in 5

2. Oilers
7. Stars

Not enough ribbiting to avoid Tyler's juggernaut. Prediction: Oilers stick with a GK rotation but Stars can't take advantage. EDM in 5

3. Blues
6. Red Wings

Brutal first round series between two of the leagues most talented teams. Wings GM is as full of bold predictions as he is short on experience and should find himself a legal pad because he should be taking lots of notes. Prediction: Blues show the importance of home ice and grind out a win in game 7.

4. Canucks
5. Wild

Another tough series. You won't here much chirping out of either of these two GM's as they let their playoff resumes speak for themselves. Both teams are healthy, veteran laden, and experienced winners. Prediction: Canucks have been on a steady ascent since the mid way point of the year. 'Nucks in 7

East

1. Sens over the Sabres in 4 decisive games.

2. NYR over the Caps in 6. Should be a good series.

3. Panthers over the injury riddled Pens in 4 or 5.

4. Habs should dismantle the Flyers in 4; Mckay separated his shoulder after patting himself on the back to celebrate a great season!

West

1. Kings over the Jackets in 6. Kings are good this year, but Bill is always tough.

2. Oilers over the Stars in 6. Oilers top end talent is just too much.

3. Red Wings get by the Blues in 6. Red Wings are very good, but the Blues play hard, ice 4 solid lines. Should be a good series.

4. Canucks over the Wild in 7. I don't think the defending champs are going to repeat, but they have enough talent and moxy to get by the talented (but inconsistent) Wild.

East
Sens vs Sabres: If the Sabres were healthy then this would be a great series, goaltending will be the difference here. Sens in 5
Rangers vs Caps: With Korneev out the Rangers will have their hands full against an underrated Caps team. Capitals in 7
Panthers vs Penguins: Pens are in trouble here since Aberg and Fabian are their key to success. Panthers in 5
Habs vs Flyers: Losing the big Mac is huge and Isomaki will need to stand on his head to keep it close. Habs in 5

West
Kings vs Jackets: A very close series if Bill coach, overall the Kings should be able to win this one. Kings in 6
Oilers vs Stars: Oilers are too talented not to win this one but the wily Stars should snag a few games to keep it close. Oils in 6
Blues vs Wings: The rookie GM will have experience and talents to help him get the advantage over the Blues’ tactical edge. Wings in 7
Canucks vs Wild: This series is too close to call but the nod will go to the Canucks since the Wild vets might not have the legs to play a long series. Nucks in 7

East
Sens vs Sabres - This will be a close one as Sabres can score goals too. I still think that if Sens can avoid picking more injuries they will take it in 6.
Rangers vs Caps - In PO's it's about the team in whole. Rags lost their GK and that will hurt them. Caps in 6.
Panthers vs Pengs - Losing Fabian and Åberg is just too much for Pengs even though Panthers are missing a player or two themselves. Florida in 7.
Habs vs Flyers - Flyers lost McKay and that is more than any contender can take. There's a few hundred points in the line lead by him so it's obvious Flyers are in trouble now. They will do all they can to stop Habs but it just isn't enough. Habs in 5.

West
Kings vs Jackets - Kings are on their way to the Cup but Blue Jackets can't be taken too lightly. Actually I'd see this one can go either way. But I'd go with Kings anyway - in 7.
Oilers vs Stars - Another series that can end up either way. But I'll say it's Oilers in 6 just because of the better defense.
Blues vs Wings - After being in the same situation myself I have no other options than to say Blues in 5.
Canucks vs Wild - Nucks in 6, just because the reigning champs can't be out so soon.

East

1. Senators 4
8. Sabers 0

2. NYR 4
7. Capitals 2

3. Panthers 3
6. Penguins 4

4. Flyers 4
5. Canadiens 2

West

1. Kings 3
8. Blue Jackets 4

2. Oilers 4
7. Stars 2

3. Blues 4
6. Red Wings 1

4. Canucks 4
5. Wild 3

Round 2 of the PO will begin tomorrow. Here are the matchup.. who will you pick to move on.

East:

NYR vs Sabres: Rangers' offense will be too great for the underrated Sabres but you never know with the young Sabres. Rangers in 6

Panthers vs Habs: This will be a very good series, if the balanced attack of the Habs can keep produce secondary scoring and able to shutdown Bolland/Radulov then they have a very good chance. Habs in 6

West:

Kings vs Stars: Kings are too deep for the Stars to compete but tactically Stars will win a game or two. Kings in 5

Blues vs Nucks: This will be a great matchup, Nucks should prevail but it's all up to Green!!! Nucks in 7

East:

NYR vs Sabres: Sabres in 7

Panthers vs Habs: Panthers in 5


West:

Kings vs Stars: Kings in 5

Blues vs Canucks: Blues in 6

1st rnd results

Cap'n wrote:East

1. Senators
8. Sabres
Sens in 4

2. NYR
7. Capitals
Caps win in 7. at least I had this going 7!

3. Panthers
6. Penguins
Cats in 5 Dead on!

4. Flyers
5. Canadiens
Hab-nots in 5 another one right on the money!

West

1. Kings
8. Blue Jackets
Kings in 5 took 6 games but LA prevailed.

2. Oilers
7. Stars
EDM in 5 way off!

3. Blues
6. Red Wings
Blues in 7 didn't take the Blues nearly that long

4. Canucks
5. Wild
'Nucks in 7 wasn't as close as I thought

5 and 3 for the 1st round. Let's see if I can do better in the conference Semi-Finals.

East:

2. NYR
8. Sabres

One of these teams easily overwhelmed an overmatched opponent in the first round while the other got in a deep hole, rolled the dice and is fortunate to be hear, strangely enough it's the #2 seeded New York Rangers who easily could be out golfing. Playing Korneev despite a minor injury is a major risk but his play so far has justified the action. Sabres young squad seems to be playing well above it's head but that's going to be tested this round. Prediction: Simon joins Rowe on IR with level 3 burns on the back of his neck from the goal light constantly being lit by Nurmi and Charron. Rangers in 6

3. Panthers
5. Habs

Kaartinen looked good in the Panthers easy first round win over an injury riddled Penguins squad who were further limited by their GM being on vacation. The Habs GM made a lot of moves with the playoffs in mind and so far they all seem to be turning up roses. The Habs lead the league in goals for per game after the first round and the top scorers list is slam packed with Montreal players. Prediction: While the Panthers were my mid-season Eastern Conference Champion I feel like the Habs have too many players playing really good hockey to be sent home in the 2nd round. Habs in 6

West:

1. Kings
7. Stars

Both teams are relatively healthy heading into this series (though I'm sure the Stars would prefer having Zimmer in the lineup) between division foes. The Star offense was clicking in the first round at 5.5 goals a game led by Colton Wagar and Dan Dahlgren. The Kings offensive star power wasn't what tipped the balances in the first round matchup as much as their young GK Stew Leroux pitching two shutouts and answering the question about what type of PO performer he would be. Prediction: Kings send waves of offensive talent at Vladamir Federov and his .881 save% and he's unable to bail the Stars out. Kings in 5

3. Blues
4. Canucks

The Blues dismantling of the Red Wings was so efficient that you have to look all the way down the Playoff scoring list to 30th place before you find the first from St. Louis. Vancouver had no trouble with the Wild averaging 6 goals a game vs. the stingiest defense in the NHL's regular season. Prediction: Sertich and Svoboda find a way to crack Green and Vancouver wins 7

Feels like Manifest Destiny that the Habs will face the Kings for the Stanley Cup. Hope you can hold up your end of the bargain Vic!

My predictions (worth 87 %):

West:

Kings vs. Stars: Kings in 6 - Stars will put up a fight but the depth is too much.

Blues vs. Canucks: Nucks in 7 - Canucks team still remembers how to win, that's the difference to the young Blues team.

East:

NYR vs. Sabres: Rags in 6 - New York just has to make it with their squad. They just have to.

Panthers vs. Habs: Panthers in 7 - I think Habs project is not ready yet. But I may be wrong too...