NHL playoffs: who'll go the distance?

[Indiana Sev]

Phew, what a relief...

Movies are my first passion but it's always good to let some steam off by talking sports.

Alright, the Montreal Canadiens have once again made many mistakes this season and will miss the playoffs (I love hating them).

Which team will go deep into the postseason this year?

As a Canadian, I feel obliged to pick a team from here and even though they've all but bought the Stanley Cup (throwing money around at the trade deadline), I believe Toronto will at least reach the finals this year.

[arto_j]

Easy...it'll most obviously be the Sens who will proceed to the finals without losing a single game in the process.

As for the Leafs...they've got a good team this year, shame they had to buy a new team to back 'em up, and it still won't do 'em any good...Poor bastards.

[Slim]

Regular season success does not translate into post-season success. The season means nothing, the playoffs are everything.

Poor bastards? Indeed, another series with Ottawa in the second round would be lovely. The Sens attempted to bulk up their lineup this year so they won't be pushed around. All they got was a goon named Ray. That's progress :rolleyes:, basically just replacing Andre Roy.

Even with half a team last year, the Leafs beat the Sens in seven games. The Ottawa faithfuls were talking a lot of shit about breezing through to the finals last year...and the year before...and the year before that...

Third...err...fourth time's the charm, right?

http://www.senssuck.com/images/4thjersey.gif

[arto_j]

Oh, crap...another Leafs fan throwing the same schtuff from the years before at me.

And I'm still defenseless, except for the old "we'll kick your asses this year" thing.

That didn't work before either, though.

But, seriously, we'll kick your asses this year.

[docholiday_13]

In the east, I'd say Toronto and Ottawa seem on a collision course for each other.

The Leafs are reeling from injuries at the moment with many key players out until the playoffs. If they can grind through the first round (not an easy task as they seem likely to play Philly) and get some healthy bodies back, they can win the East. They have the goaltending (Belfour), scoring (Sundin, Mogilny, Nolan) and grit (Roberts, Tucker, Corson) to get it done.

I don't think Ottawa will truly be taken seriously until they beat Toronto. I mean they haven't accomplished anything in the playoffs. That said they do have a powerhouse team and they should be the favourite to represent the East in the final.

Philly and Jersey wouldnt surprise anybody if they made it, but with some glaring weaknesses (scoring for both, goaltending for Philly) not may people are counting on them.

In the West is seems way more entertaining. Vancouver, Detroit, Colorodo and Dallas all should make it past the first round meaning the second round will be clash of the titans.

Can't wait until April!!!

[MixMasterMoose]

I wouldn't bank on there being a clash of the titans in the second round. I think the Oilers or the Wild have a great chance to raise some hell in the post season. I think Dallas will be the first of the big 4 to fall. I like the Canucks chances.

[bankholdup]

I have no clue who will "go the distance", but I'm a Bruins fan. Right now, it looks like they have a good chance of remaining in the top 8 in the Eastern Conference.

[Moviefan1234]

As a Blackhawk's fan, I'm disappointed by their season, but we have come a long way in a year. Hopefully we'll be back in the playoffs next year. :)

[screamer581]

My Wings are gonna tear through playoffs as usual...you all know it. :)

[bob]

Your Wings are gonna tear through the playoffs until we beat Dallas in six games and then go on to kick your asses after you sweep Vancouver (we being the Avs).

I honestly think the Avs could win it this year. We'll take care of the Blues in the first round, and we have enough dedication and grit to beat any of the big three in the West (Dallas, Vancouver, Detroit), and we can easily kick the East Coast's ass.:D

[Benny]

The Flyers, of course. Hopefully they can shake off last year's postseason troubles and do better. As long as those Red Wings don't reach the final, I'll be happy.

[Indiana Sev]

Originally posted by bob
Your Wings are gonna tear through the playoffs until we beat Dallas in six games and then go on to kick your asses after you sweep Vancouver (we being the Avs).

I honestly think the Avs could win it this year. We'll take care of the Blues in the first round, and we have enough dedication and grit to beat any of the big three in the West (Dallas, Vancouver, Detroit), and we can easily kick the East Coast's ass.:D

Ugh. I for one hope the experienced yet old Wings/Aves cancel each other out and The Canucks advance to the western conference finals vs. the Stars. I think the 'Nucks are hungrier and faster than those dinosaurs and they should be able to put 'em away this year after two straight seasons of being eliminated by the both of 'em.

They're mad, now!

[blankpage]

I can see this playoffs being another "cinderella" story for a team. Minnesota, and Tampa Bay had great seasons, so don't count them out. I doubt Sens will make it to the final playoff round, as I think they still need some "toughness" in their team. Third round for the sens, I'm predicting.

I can see Minnesota (or the mighty ducks) kicking the 100 point teams asses during the playoffs. Heck, if Carolina can take out Jersey, the Leafs, and Habs, then then the Wild can make a dent. I am hoping my Leafs can make it to the Stanley cup round and win. And no, not biuying it, winning it ;). But I dunno about that.

It should be an interesting playoff run. Look out for under-dog teams. They can kick some ass.

[Rated R]

My Habs lost to Buffalo...4-1 last night...balls...so my last hope for them to win it all has completely vanished. Onto reality, I would like to think that Ottawa and Vancouver will make it and thus giving another big FUCK you in hockey to the Americans...heh, don't take it personally, it's just been ten years since a Canadian team has won the cup, let alone made it there. Sadly I think that Dallas will make it to the dance and win, whether they face Philly, New Jersey or whatever other American team capitalizes when Ottawa and Toronto falls on their faces like they always do. I'm fine with the Leafs eating it, I love seeing that happen year after year, but I'd like to see Ottawa make good on a fantastic(despite bankruptcy) season. So there you have it, two American teams will battle it out once again, but there is something we Canadians can be proud of, the majority of their players, yes that's right, are Canadian. Even Brett Hull and Adam Deadmarsh were born here, the traitors. So lets all get drunk...

[Rated R]

Oh and bob, I will bet you right now that the Blues will upset your Avs and you will have to go home crying!

[bob]

Yeah, like they did in the 2001 Western Conference finals, right?:D

P.S. How are the Avs "old"? Our average age for our players is 27, and that's with Roy at 37 in the mix.

[Indiana Sev]

Originally posted by bob
Yeah, like they did in the 2001 Western Conference finals, right?:D

P.S. How are the Avs "old"? Our average age for our players is 27, and that's with Roy at 37 in the mix.

Hee, hee. I meant old as in "old news"! I know you're a die hard Nordiques (oops), I mean Aves fan, but if the Canucks face Colorado, they'll be hungrier and let's face it, Crawford can out-coach Granato anytime, anywhere!

Even you have to admit Granato will crumble as the pressure of the post-season falls on his rookie shoulders.

[bob]

Rookie of over 10 NHL seasons with teams that made the playoffs...AS A PLAYER. I'll take that over some asshole who strolls in without any experience and says he knows his shit.








I'm referring to a coach, not you.:D

[Indiana Sev]

Originally posted by bob
Rookie of over 10 NHL seasons with teams that made the playoffs...AS A PLAYER. I'll take that over some asshole who strolls in without any experience and says he knows his shit.








I'm referring to a coach, not you.:D

The same "asshole" Marc Crawford who led your Aves to their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

You heard it here first...Granato will choke under the pressure as Bertuzzi mauls the entire Nordiques team on his own.:D

I admire your love for the Aves, good luck in the playoffs, you're gonna need it.;)

[bob]

Alright, my last post was bordering on assholish, so I'm sorry about that.

I respect the Canucks and Marc Crawford, but, when it comes right down to it, it will be experience that matters if that series comes up. But it won't be coach's experience. It'll be player's.

Hejduk has been in the league 4 years, he's played more playoff games than most of the Canucks team. Roy and Cloutier is just an unfair matchup (Roy's better, wisenheimer:D ). In the end, are Bertuzzi and Naslund having better years than Sakic (even without his injury, Naslund would still probably outscored him)? Yes. Do I trust Sakic, Forsberg, Roy, Foote, Blake, Hejduk, even Tanguay more in the playoffs than The Canucks. Yes.

[Indiana Sev]

Originally posted by bankholdup
I have no clue who will "go the distance", but I'm a Bruins fan. Right now, it looks like they have a good chance of remaining in the top 8 in the Eastern Conference.

I've absolutely no doubt in my mind that much like last year the Bruins will be eliminated swiftly in the first round...

I've nothing against them, in fact, I'm a fan as well, but their play is not consistent as of late (4 months!) and the top four teams in the Eastern conference will be way to tough to beat (Sens, Devils, Flyers and Leafs).

On top of that they made the bonehead move of firing poor Robbie Ftorek a mere two weeks before the playoffs start, this led the best player on the team (Joe Thornton) bitter and angry.

No way, Bruins are out in 4 or 5, no matter who they face in the first round.

[chandler_bing905]

coooooooome on.


it's definately going to be the leafs... i mean they have to win...right?

well if they don't, we're fucked. WE (the leafs) got a shitload of experiance this year. HOPEFULLY, they won't all still be injured, christ theirs only a couple mroe games, i sure hope gilmore, roberts, hously, wesley and all the rest are fine in a couple games... all i know is that if the leafs win, if you're not a leaf fan stay out of Toronto. Stay out of the General Toronto Area, cause it will be fucking crazy when gilmore skates around with the cup. the streets will be bedlam, it'll be 5000 times worse then mardi gras and st Patricks day in dublin put together!


Jay Jay the incredible out...


Peace, forever

[docholiday_13]

Originally posted by chandler_bing905
coooooooome on.


it's definately going to be the leafs... i mean they have to win...right?

well if they don't, we're fucked. WE (the leafs) got a shitload of experiance this year. HOPEFULLY, they won't all still be injured, christ theirs only a couple mroe games, i sure hope gilmore, roberts, hously, wesley and all the rest are fine in a couple games... all i know is that if the leafs win, if you're not a leaf fan stay out of Toronto. Stay out of the General Toronto Area, cause it will be fucking crazy when gilmore skates around with the cup. the streets will be bedlam, it'll be 5000 times worse then mardi gras and st Patricks day in dublin put together!


Jay Jay the incredible out...


Peace, forever


Preach it brother.

[RicochetShaw]

Originally posted by bob
until we beat Dallas in six games



Ha, in your dreams!:D

At least we agree on one thing, WINGS SUCK!

[horrorfreak13]

Toronto's tough series will be their first when they take on Phily or New Jersey in the first round, Ottawa and whoever wins the Atlantic division between New Jersey and Phily have the easiest matchups in the first round, but don't count out Tampa Bay they could end up being the dark horse in the east that could come through and will beat Washington because Kolzig fails in the playoffs.

In the West it's Detroit, Dallas, Vancouver, and Colorado and Minnesota can give someone a hard time the way the play.

Cup final: Toronto vs Detroit

[Slim]

Once again, the Leafs go into the playoffs limping from injuries.

[Ripper1888]

In the East I would say it is a three horse race between Ottawa,New Jersey,and Toronto because they are the most balanced teams though Toronto is banged up.Tampa could be this years Carolina. I like New Jersey in the conference Finals in six over Ottawa.

In the West I like Vancouver,Detroit,Colorado and Dallas with the Wild being the darkhorse. Detroit over Vancouver in the Conference finals in seven.

Stanley Cup Finals
Detroit Redwings over New Jersey Devils in six games

ConnSmyth will go to Sergei Fedorov

[bob]

Okay, here are my Eastern Conference predictions

Ottawa v. NYI: Ottawa in 5
New Jersey v. Boston: NJ in 6
Tampa Bay v. Washington: Washington in 7
Philly v. Toronto: Toronto in 7.

Ottawa v. Washington: Ottawa in 6
New Jersey v. Toronto: New Jersey in 7

Ottawa vs. New Jersey: New Jersey in 6

Now for the Western Conference (these are my predictions as things stand now, I doubt the avs will move into third ahead of Vancouver)

Detroit vs. Edmonton: Detroit in 6
Dallas vs. Minnesota: Dallas in 7
Vancouver vs. Anaheim: Vancouver in 5
Colorado vs. St. Louis: Colorado in 6

I really don't see any upsets in the first round. The top 4 are too good.

Detroit vs. Colorado: In 7....COLORADO (now, most of you will write this off as me being a Colorado fan, but, whereas we have a better team than last year, Detroit has a worse team, so I think we'll pull it off)
Dallas vs. Vancouver: in 7...VANCOUVER (Hungrier, more explosive team will win this one)

Colorado vs. Vancouver- Ah, not even wise bob can figure this one out, but I do know that whoever wins the Western Conference final will take New Jersey in 5.

Eh, those are my (admittedly far out) predictions.

[Slim]

My first round predictions only. I don't want to bother predicting the entire outcome of the 2003 playoffs.

Eastern Conference

Ottawa vs NYI : Sens in 6
New Jersey vs Boston : Devils in 5
Tampa Bay vs Washington : Lightning in 7
Philadelphia vs Toronto : Leafs in 6

I was initially thinking a sweep for the Devils, but decided maybe not. I'm a bit weary about the Lightning pick, it's an unlikely outcome.

Western Conference

Detroit vs. Edmonton : Detroit in 4
Dallas vs. Anaheim : Dallas in 4
Vancouver vs. Minnesota : Vancouver in 5
Colorado vs. St. Louis : Colorado in 6

I don't think there will be any upsets at all in the West.

[bob]

Updated Western Conference matchups:

Dallas vs. Edmonton-Dallas in 5
Detroit vs. Anaheim-Detroit in 5

Vancouver will beat St. Louis or Minnesota, whoever they face.

Ditto for the Avs.

We'll just see if the Kings can beat Vancouver and help the Avs pull out 3rd.

[bob]

THE AVALANCHE JUST WON THE FREAKING NORTHWEST DIVISION!!!!!!

The Kings Beat Vancouver 2-0!!!

Forsberg gets the ART ROSS!!
Hejduk gets the ROCKET RICHARD!!!

We MAKE HISTORY!!!!!!

**ahem**

Colorado beats Minnesota in 5
Vancouver beats St. Louis in 7 (because this will take the wind out of their sails).

[Indiana Sev]

Seeing as I'll be opening up an NHL playoff discussion thread on Tuesday for the remainder of the playoffs and there is already a thread regarding predictions on each series, I'll close this down now.