Official Playoff Prediction Thread.

[nocera]

Rangers beat Sens 4-2
Bruins beat Caps 4-1
Devils beat Panthers 4-0
Pens beat Flyers 4-2.

Canucks beat Kings 4-3.
Blues beat Sharks 4-2.
Blackhawks beat Coyotes 4-1
Preds beat Wings 4-3.

[Kovy27]

Come on. Are you all serious? How are the caps such a hot upset pick? They really don't have much of a chance to upset the bruins and no way they would have beaten the rangers.

If Ovechkin keeps remembering he's one of the best players in the league like he has been the last few weeks they have a shot. Plus having Backstrom back helps immensely as well.

This and Holtby isn't a crappy AHL goalie like Theissen. Plus the injuries that the B's have really hurt them.

The Kings are the hot upset pick, as well.

[Kovy27]

Anyone else feel this is going to be one of the closest playoffs in recent memory? I think there won't be a series over in less than 5 in the entire 1st round.

Florida will either take it to 7 or get swept. Depends on which Theodore shows up.

[Kraftster]

Rags over Sens in 5
Bruins over Caps in 5
Devils over Panthers in 6
Pens over Flyers in 6

Canucks over Kings in 6
Blues over Sharks in 6
Yotes over Hawks in 7
Wings over Preds in 7

[Durbano]

Come on. Are you all serious? How are the caps such a hot upset pick? They really don't have much of a chance to upset the bruins and no way they would have beaten the rangers.

Their best player just returned after missing half the season, and for the first time in at least a few years, they enter the post-season without the pressure of being a favorite. Also AO has regained at least some of his scoring touch lately. Also -- and I'd sincerely welcome a correction from anyone who's really into the technical aspects of hockey -- but it seems to me Hunter's system is more conducive to playoff success than that of his predecessor.

I know about Washington's flaws, too, but they don't seem like an unreasonable upset pick here, especially against a team that might not be as hungry since they won it all last year.

[llipgh2]

Voukun and Neuvirth are hurt. I don't know if Holtby is good enough to help win a playoff series.

[Mr. Colby]

NYR over OTT in 5
BOS over WSH in 7
NJ over FLA in 5
PIT over PHI in 5

VAN over LA in 7
SJ over STL in 6
PHX over CHI in 7
NSH over DET in 6

NYR over NJ in 7
PIT over BOS in 6

VAN over SJ in 6
NSH over PHX in 7

PIT over NYR in 7

NSH over VAN in 6

Pittsburgh over Nashville in 6.

[Daniel87]

Rags over Sens in 4
Caps over Bruins in 6
Devils over Panthers in 5
Pens over Flyers in 7

Canucks over Kings in 5
Blues over Sharks in 5
Hawks over Coyotes in 6
Wings over Preds in 7

[Loaf31]

NYR over OTT in 6
WSH over BOS in 6
NJ over FLA in 5
PIT over PHI in 7

NYR over WSH in 6
PIT over NJ in 6

PIT over NYR in 6
______________

LA over VAN in 6
STL over SJ in 5
CHI over PHX in 6
NSH over DET in 7

STL over LA in 6
NSH over CHI in 6

NSH over STL in 6

______________

PIT over NSH in 6

[meecrofilm]

Come on. Are you all serious? How are the caps such a hot upset pick? They really don't have much of a chance to upset the bruins and no way they would have beaten the rangers.

Their best player just returned after missing half the season, and for the first time in at least a few years, they enter the post-season without the pressure of being a favorite. Also AO has regained at least some of his scoring touch lately. Also -- and I'd sincerely welcome a correction from anyone who's really into the technical aspects of hockey -- but it seems to me Hunter's system is more conducive to playoff success than that of his predecessor.

I know about Washington's flaws, too, but they don't seem like an unreasonable upset pick here, especially against a team that might not be as hungry since they won it all last year.

I think the stat is something like Caps are 12-1 this season with all of Ovechkin, Green, Semin, and Backstrom in the lineup. Obviously you throw the regular season out, but I still think that counts for something.

[JJB1996]

Come on. Are you all serious? How are the caps such a hot upset pick? They really don't have much of a chance to upset the bruins and no way they would have beaten the rangers.

Their best player just returned after missing half the season, and for the first time in at least a few years, they enter the post-season without the pressure of being a favorite. Also AO has regained at least some of his scoring touch lately. Also -- and I'd sincerely welcome a correction from anyone who's really into the technical aspects of hockey -- but it seems to me Hunter's system is more conducive to playoff success than that of his predecessor.

I know about Washington's flaws, too, but they don't seem like an unreasonable upset pick here, especially against a team that might not be as hungry since they won it all last year.

I think the stat is something like Caps are 12-1 this season with all of Ovechkin, Green, Semin, and Backstrom in the lineup. Obviously you throw the regular season out, but I still think that counts for something.

The Caps definitely have a great chance of upsetting the Bruins. Like a poster mentioned above, this year, they don't have the target on their backs that everyone expects them to play well. I think that will help and I truly think they have the ability to pull it off, especially if Holtby? gets hot.

[Pens Fan Since 1970]

RANGERS OVER SENATORS IN 6
BRUINS OVER CAPITALS IN 5
DEVILS OVER PANTHERS IN 6
PENGUINS OVER FLYERS IN 5

KINGS OVER CANUCKS IN 6
BLUES OVER SHARKS IN 6
COYOTES OVER BLACKHAWKS IN 7
PREDATORS OVER RED WINGS IN 6


RANGERS OVER DEVILS IN 6
PENGUINS OVER BRUINS IN 6
KINGS OVER BLUES IN 6
PREDATORS OVER COYOTES IN 5

PENGUINS OVER RANGERS IN 6
PREDATORS OVER KINGS IN 7

PENGUINS OVER PREDATORS IN 5

[André]

East:

Rangers over Senators in 6
Capitals over Bruins in 6
Devils over Panthers in 5
Penguins over Flyers in 6

West:

Canucks over Kings in 7
Blues over Sharks in 6
Hawks over Coyotes in 5
Preds over Wings in 7

[meecrofilm]

Sens over Rags in 7
Caps over Bruins in 7
Debs over Cats in 6
Pens over Philly in 6

Nucks over Kings in 5
Blues over Sharks in 5
Hawks over Yotes in 7
Preds over Wings in 6

[Troy Loney]

Rangers over Senators in 5 (Rags are just better)
Bruins over Capital in 4 (Caps will get blitzed in the first game and realize its not worth the effort to try and win the series, and then just fold)
Devils over Panthers (Florida is a pretty week team)
Penguins over Flyers in 6 (Bryzgalov will give up 2 early goals wednesday, thus Lavs will bounce back and forth between the two goalies all series)

Canucks over Kings in 5 (Kings aren't there yet)
Sharks over Blues in 7 ( I like the experience of the sharks, and having two stud goalies doesn't help in the playoffs)
Hawks over Coyotes in 6 (I don't think the Coyotes are built for playoff success)
Red Wings over Predators in 7 (Sucks for the Preds to enter the playoffs with expectations, and then have to face the Red Wings in round 1.)

[llipgh2]

The fun has already started in Boston. TT shut down a presser when asked about the White House:

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/09/thomas-shuts-down-media-session-after-white-house-question/related/

[Godric]

The fun has already started in Boston. TT shut down a presser when asked about the White House:

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/09/thomas-shuts-down-media-session-after-white-house-question/related/

What a **** baby

[itissteeltime]

East:
Rangers over Senators in 5
Bruins over Capitols in 5
Devils over Panthers in 6
Penguins over Flyers in 6

West:
Kings over Canucks in 7
Blues over Sharks in 5
Hawks over Coyotes in 5
Wings over Preds in 7

East:
Penguins over Bruins in 6
Rangers over Devils in 7

West:
Blues over Kings in 5
Wings over Hawks in 6

East:
Pens over Rangers in 6

West:
Wings over Blues in 7

Finals:
Pens over Wings in 7

[Staggy]

NYR over OTT in 6
BOS over WAS in 6
NJ over FLA in 6
PIT over PHI in 5

NYR over NJ in 5
PIT over BOS in 5

PIT over NYR in 5
______________

LA over VAN in 7
STL over SJ in 6
CHI over PHX in 6
NSH over DET in 7

STL over LA in 6
CHI over NSH in 7

CHI over STL in 7

______________

PIT over CHI in 5

Conn Smythe to Sid.

I'm being optimistic

[Steve]

NYR over OTT in 6
BOS over WSH in 4
NJ over FLA in 4
PIT over PHI in 4

LA over VAN in 6
SJ over STL in 7
CHI over PHO in 7
NSH over DET in 7

[Fire0nice228]

How do so many have LA beating Vancouver? LA hasnt scored all year and for as hot as Quick has been I dont think he can keep Vancouver to to a goal or two against every single game.

I think most of the first round matchups will be short save Det/Nsh and Pit/Phi

[brwi]

How do so many have LA beating Vancouver? LA hasnt scored all year and for as hot as Quick has been I dont think he can keep Vancouver to to a goal or two against every single game.

I think most of the first round matchups will be short save Det/Nsh and Pit/Phi

Agree. I think the Canucks have enough to beat the Kings without too much of a struggle even with D Sedin being 50%. Preds-Wings and Pens-Flyers look like two series that could go a ways. That, and FL-NJ which will probably have 4 OT games.

[Fire0nice228]

I disagree. Florida was terrible down the stretch. Nerves or what I dont know what the problem was. I think Jersey beats them in 6 at most. That being said, it will be some boring hockey I think.

[Kovy27]

Am I the only one that thinks Florida has a shot? If they shut down Kovalchoo and Parise, I don't think the Devils are that impressive.

[ShipHockey7]

East:
Rangers over Senators in 5
Bruins over Capitals in 6
Devils over Panthers in 7
Penguins over Flyers in 6

Rangers over Devils in 5
Penguins over Bruins in 6

Penguins over Rangers in 5

West:
Kings over Canucks in 7
Blues over Sharks in 5
Coyotes over Hawks in 6
Preds over Wings in 7

Blues over Kings in 5
Preds over Coyotes in 6

Blues over Preds in 7

______

Penguins over Blues in 5