Official 2011-12 NHL Playoff Thread

[archibalduk]

The 2012 Playoffs are upon us! Here are the first round match-ups:

Western Conference
LA Kings v Vancouver Canucks
San Jose Sharks v St Louis Blues
Chicago Blackhawks v Phoenix Coyotes
Detroit Red Wings v Nashville Predators

Eastern Conference
Ottawa Senators v New York Rangers
Washington Capitals v Boston Bruins
New Jersey Devils v Florida Panthers
Philadelphia Flyers v Pittsburgh Penguins

Is anybody up for a friendly prediction competition? Here are my predictions:

Western Conference
LA Kings v Vancouver Canucks
San Jose Sharks v St Louis Blues
Chicago Blackhawks v Phoenix Coyotes
Detroit Red Wings v Nashville Predators

Eastern Conference
Ottawa Senators v New York Rangers
Washington Capitals v Boston Bruins
New Jersey Devils v Florida Panthers
Philadelphia Flyers v Pittsburgh Penguins

The Eastern Conference match-ups are much harder to predict than the Western Conference IMO. If the Bruins get it together then I see them beating the Caps over say six or seven games, but if they can't then I think it's for the Caps' taking (assuming their netminder can step up). The Rangers have had a bit of a rocky time over the past month but, with the likes of Lundqvist and Gaborik on form, they should be okay. With Crosby back, I'd have though the Pens should just make it past the Flyers (but it'll be a close one).

I'm really torn over which series to watch. Ordinarily I'd watch the Bruins, but the Flyers v Pens series is going to be such a battle that I'm really tempted to watch that one instead. Decisions decisions!

Ah, this is by far the best time of the sporting calendar!

[DJP19]

Western Conference
LA Kings v Vancouver Canucks
San Jose Sharks v St Louis Blues
Chicago Blackhawks v Phoenix Coyotes
Detroit Red Wings v Nashville Predators

Eastern Conference
Ottawa Senators v New York Rangers
Washington Capitals v Boston Bruins
New Jersey Devils v Florida Panthers
Philadelphia Flyers v Pittsburgh Penguins

[batdad]

LA vs Van...Vancouver in 6
San Jose vs StL...>San Jose in 6
Chicago vs Phoenix--Phoenix in 6
Detroit vs Nashville...Detroit in 7

Ottawa vs NYR--Rangers in 5
Washington vs Boston...Washington in 6 (just an odd feeling I have)
New Jersey vs Florida ... New Jersey in 6
Philadelphia vs Pittsburg...Pitt in 6

2nd round then looks like this

Vancouver vs San Jose...Vancouver in 6
Detroit vs Phoenix ...Detroit in 5

NYR vs Washington ...I dunno, want to say Rangers...have a feeling. Washington in 6
Pit vs New Jersey ... Pittburg in 5

VAncouver Detoilet..>Detoliet in 7
Pittsburgh-Washington----oh boy....oh boy...Pitt in 6

Pitt-Detoilet--Pens in 5

pens win cup.

Just a feeling...I dunno ....just a weird in the back of the head.....Washington gets it together. I dunno.

[nino33]

Western Conference
LA Kings v Vancouver Canucks
San Jose Sharks v St Louis Blues
Chicago Blackhawks v Phoenix Coyotes
Detroit Red Wings v Nashville Predators

Eastern Conference
Ottawa Senators v New York Rangers
Washington Capitals v Boston Bruins
New Jersey Devils v Florida Panthers
Philadelphia Flyers v Pittsburgh Penguins


I don't follow hockey closely anymore, so I may be way off...and I always vote with my heart, so I always hope for the Canucks/Flyers as I have since the 1970s (back then I lived in B.C. and was a Canucks fan and the Flyers were someone to cheer for in the playoffs!).....I figure St. Louis is young and needs to learn to win, and San Jose has enough veterans to get through the first round...I will cheer for Phoenix once they're located in Quebec!...Detroit is getting old/Nashville seems ready...my pick of Washington is a heart pick too, as I hope for Ovechkin to lead his team to victory as I think it would be good for the game.....Devils/Panthers are "who cares" for me...if the Flyers lose to Pittsburgh, I'd like to see Pittsburgh/Crosby go all the way (I think it would be good for the game), though the Rangers/Bruins would be great too

I hope for a Canucks/Flyers Final.....and then I won't know who to cheer for!

[batdad]

So it is you who caused that possible final to never happen for me as a kid Nino. Was my dream final from way back in the days of Andre Boudrias and Ken Lockett (well further back than Lockett), and Van Dorp and Saleski.

I always thought I was the jinx. Turns out...it was you. Phew.

[Manimal]

Western Conference
LA Kings v Vancouver Canucks
San Jose Sharks v St Louis Blues
Chicago Blackhawks v Phoenix Coyotes
Detroit Red Wings v Nashville Predators

Eastern Conference
Ottawa Senators v New York Rangers
Washington Capitals v Boston Bruins
New Jersey Devils v Florida Panthers
Philadelphia Flyers v Pittsburgh Penguins

Of course, I hope for the Rangers to win it all but I think the Penguins will be too strong and win the cup

[nino33]

So it is you who caused that possible final to never happen for me as a kid Nino. Was my dream final from way back in the days of Andre Boudrias and Ken Lockett (well further back than Lockett), and Van Dorp and Saleski.

I remember Ridley, Maniago and Hanlon among others...Bernie Pascall and the occasional game on BCTV (and Jim Robson on radio)...and I remember pretty much never seeing the Flyers on TV (all three channels!); playoff games weren't televised like they are now!.....remember when the Canucks actually played the Flyers in the 1979 playoffs?

It's hard to believe the Canucks are a decent team now...after decades of not taking them seriously (lucky to make the playoffs)...and then the brief Bure era...and then back to years more disappointment (Dan Cloutier!)...at least last year they made the Final

[batdad]

Remember? I was at the rink. pascall oh wow. He was horrible. And we got Howie Meeker too once Tiger came here. Hanlon was a wuss cried when he got traded. Wahhhhh. Poor baby.

Ridley was awesome. My favorite was Lockett. Guy would get 2 shutouts in a row. Then would let in 8 goals for 6 straight games.

Used to love Pit Martin and sudsy sedlbauer. That night he scored his 40th was awesome. Hilliard Graves, Rick Blight, Don Lever. Then anyone on that 82 team. Always be my heroes. Especially Smyl and Fraser.

[nino33]

And Harold Snepsts too right? Hard working, talent lacking Harold Snepsts...I think guys like Snepsts and Smyl were the best (loved the work ethic)

[Loosie]

I'm actually going to be in Vancouver for game 1 and Egmont for game 2. We'll actually be at a Whisky house while Game 1 is going on. Should be fun.

[batdad]

Where is whiskey house? Man I mold don't know the bars anymore.

[Loosie]

A whisky house...We'll be at Shebeen in Gastown for a bachelor party.

[batdad]

Ok. Not so old. Or maybe older and need bifocals to read what you said properly.

[Syvis]

Western Conference
LA Kings v Vancouver Canucks
San Jose Sharks v St Louis Blues
Chicago Blackhawks v Phoenix Coyotes
Detroit Red Wings v Nashville Predators

Eastern Conference
Ottawa Senators v New York Rangers
Washington Capitals v Boston Bruins
New Jersey Devils v Florida Panthers
Philadelphia Flyers v Pittsburgh Penguins

Since the Lightning is out of the playoffs this year I'm pulling for Nashville. They're probably my second favourite team, mostly because of Rinne. I doubt though they get it done but I wouldn't have even dreamt that the Lightning go all they way to the ECF so anything's possible.

Another series I'm interested to see is the Flyers - Penguins. I actually hate both teams but the games in this series should be pretty entertaining and intense. My prediction is what I hope is going to happen but I'm afraid Pittsburgh is just too strong.

What I most want to see is Boston sweeping the Capitals and giving them another early exit.

[Asbeen]

Western Conference
LA Kings v Vancouver Canucks
San Jose Sharks v St Louis Blues
Chicago Blackhawks v Phoenix Coyotes
Detroit Red Wings v Nashville Predators

Eastern Conference
Ottawa Senators v New York Rangers
Washington Capitals v Boston Bruins
New Jersey Devils v Florida Panthers
Philadelphia Flyers v Pittsburgh Penguins

Hard to predict but; Van should win first rd, STL I have a feeling they will go far, PHO will surprise, NAS goalie will be the difference, OTT have NY numbers, BOS will beat the playoffs chokers Capitals, FLO can beat NJ and PIT will make it to the final.

[philou21]

Time to do mine since it starts today....

East

OTT vs NYR. Rags in 6. Ottawa will probably put a good opposition to NY but Lundqvist will make the difference if he is in shape.
WSH vs BOS. BOS in 7. This one is hard to predict. Both team were really inconsistent this year. But the Caps were worse than Boston and have less depth.
NJ vs FLO. NJ in 5. I don't know if the Panthers could make a surprise but not IMO. Worse team in the NHL that made the playoffs, all a bunch of plumbers who suck. NJ as less experience in playoffs than before but still, they have far more superior players compared to the Florida Pampers.
PHI vs PIT. PIT in 7. Well, one of the hardest to predict! Gonna be one hell of a series that's for sure. I dunno if it can go to 7 though but I prefer to put it like that since it's gonna be a tough series for both team. But with Crosby and Malkin on fire like this, how can the Pens lose?


West

LA vs VCR. VCR in 6. The Kings are a huge deception with the team they got, not gonne make it far against the Canucks even if the Sedins don't wake up.
SJ vs STL. STL in 7. I really hope STL will make a big surprise this year. Hitchcock has done an awesome job with them. If Halak plays like he did in MTL in 2009 watch out! I don't think they will win the Cup though. SJ as always, are the Caps of the West. They can handle STL but can they really win the series? Not for me.
CHI vs PHO. CHI in 6. This one is hard too but CHI as way more experience in playoffs and way more talent than Phoenix. The Yotes are good but not enough for the Hawks. The only problem that could sink the Hawks, their goalies and it's the same thing that could save the Yotes. Smith. I wish though that the Yotes don't make it too far in the playoffs if they win this one, I don't want them to make cash for saving their butts!
DET vs NSH. NSH in 7. I have a hard time not writing Detroit in 7. Nashville got an awesome team this year but Detroit always seems to have their number. Rinne could make the diffence, I wish a win by the Preds........


Each year we know a series can finish in four in the first round but nobody predicted one...... The one that got the most chances is probably NJ vs FLO.

[Laker2415]

Rangers over Ottawa in 5

Bruins over Capitals in 6

Devils over Panthers in 6

Flyers over Penguins in 7

Canucks over Kings in 6

Blues over Sharks in 7

Blackhawks over Coyotes in 7

Red Wings over Predators in 5

[batdad]

Saying 4 is just not possible. I always say 5 when I think 4. It will be of the ones most think will go 7 that goes 4. Like Bo's-was. Caps in 4. Hahaha. Right.

[bestrafer7]

My picks...

East
1. NYR in 6 games
2. BOS in 5 games
6. NJ in 7 games
4. PIT in 5 games

West
1. VAN in 5 games
2. STL in 7 games
6. CHI in 7 games
5. DET in 7 games

[Danny]

Rags in 6
Bruins in 7
Devils in 5
Pens in 6

Nucks in 6
Blues in 6
Hawks in 6
Wings in 7

[nino33]

I really enjoyed the Flyers/Penguins game 1 tonight...a great game to watch!
Can't say the same about what I've seen of Detroit/Nashville game 1...for me, boring passionless hockey...

[Danny]

Good game in Pittsburgh, and great to see the Pens blow a 3 goal lead on home ice. How the hell does Staal get beat to that puck by Voracek. What a pylon.
Was switching to the Wings/Preds during intermissions in the Flyers game, rather dull from what I could see. Suspension for Weber ? That's a great move if you're in the WWE.

[McQwak]

Weber should be definitely suspended. Maybe he learnt that from Radulov

[joehelmer]

With the playoff under way I still want to predict:

LA Kings v Vancouver Canucks
San Jose Sharks v St Louis Blues
Chicago Blackhawks v Phoenix Coyotes
Detroit Red Wings v Nashville Predators


Ottawa Senators v New York Rangers
Washington Capitals v Boston Bruins
New Jersey Devils v Florida Panthers
Philadelphia Flyers v Pittsburgh Penguins

[McQwak]

Joe, you predict advancing of all the teams that lost yesterday