Well, greetings and Salutations Hockey Fans. I AM the Hockey Oracle. The 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs begin at 5:00 pm (local MST) Wednesday afternoon, and as is the tradition in Canada, anyone with a mind for the game will be making predictions. And I am no Different, so here we go… (I’ll save the best 2 for last. Ha. Now you have to read the whole thing!!) I’ll try to keep these short, because when I get talking about Hockey, (HOCKEY!!!! WOOOOOOO, Hockey!!!!) I could go on for hours!!
Washington Capitals (1) vs New York Rangers (8):
The Rangers were able to sneak into the playoffs with a win in game 82. A valiant effort down the stretch got them into the post season. Unfortunately their opponent has stormed into the playoffs as well, stealing top spot in the conference away from the Flyers in the last week. “Ovie and friends” will be looking for some playoff success after being ousted in the second and first rounds of the last few playoffs. As always in Washington, Goaltending will be a problem. Inexperience in goal has plagued them before, and I suspect it will again. To make up for this, the Caps will have to Score in Bunches. The team that scored the second most goals in the regular season will literally have to “light it up” to win this series. Easier said than done when your opponent has King Henrik (Lundqvist) in goal. This guy can single handedly steal you a series. And the Rangers have an offensive weapon of their own in Marion Gaborik. Who can score almost at will, when he puts his mind to it. Give the edge to the Rangers in goal. The edge to Washington on Offence. Call the defense a wash. This series will come down to Special teams. And with Ovechkin, Backstrom, Semin, and Green, the power play should make the difference. The Verdict: Take the Capitals in 6.
Tampa bay Lightning (5) vs Pittsburgh Penguins (4):
Without Captain Sydney Crosby, and former Conn Smythe trophy winner Evgeni Malkin, in the lineup, this series should be Tampa’s to lose. But don’t take anything away from those Pens just yet. They maintained a High level of play without their two superstars. Mostly on the back of Goaltender Mac-Andre Fleury. At the other end, the lightning will turn to Dwayne Roloson. A goalie, who at times this season has looked Brilliant, and at other times looked very average. Roloson carried the Oilers to the Finals in 2007, and if he can return to form, he could be the “X-Factor” in the series. Tampa also boasts one of the more potent offences, and one of the league’s most dangerous Power plays. Lead by Stamkos, St. Louis, and Lecavalier. It looks fairly likely that Pittsburgh will get Crosby back in the lineup at some point in the first round, or early second(if they make it past the first round.) but if not, this is going to be Tampa Bay, all the way. The Verdict: Take Tampa in 6 (maybe 7)
Philadelphia Flyers (2) vs Buffalo Sabers (7):
Philadelphia is the number 2 seed, but they are without All-star defenseman Chris Pronger. They have also been rotating 3 different goalies all year, and that has worked until now. They limped into the playoffs, losing a lead of 7 points in the conference, and falling to 2nd behind Washington. Now they will have to find out which of their goalies has the “Hot hand” and try to ride him to a long playoff run. I don’t think it’s going to work, since when you look at the other end of the ice and you See Ryan Miller. A perennial All-Star goalie who can steal you games. How else do you think the Sabers got into the playoffs? It wasn’t by scoring a huge heap of goals! I would normally say this would give Buffalo a decided edge, but… wait a minute. Philly has a pretty potent offence, and can come at you from all sides, with speed. Ryan Miller will be facing a shooting gallery in the Buffalo net. And if he can stand on his head, they may have a chance. This could be a very interesting 2-7 series to watch. Buffalo is stingy, but has trouble scoring in Bunches. Philly can score in Bunches but are going up against Ryan Miller, and their goalies can’t stop a beach ball hurled at them by a toddler. I ‘d say this series is pretty even.
The Verdict: Philly in 7 (maybe even in OT)
Anaheim Ducks (4) vs Nashville Predators (5):
Nashville has been the perennial playoff “whipping boy!” With a first round exit an annual thing. And this year should be no different. They don’t have the talent, or the experience to go deep. The x-factor in this series will be Goaltending. Hiller, and Emery are hurt, and Anaheim is forced to go with 3rd string goalie Dan Ellis. Ellis has never seen a playoff game before, and could get shelled early by a Nashville team that doesn’t know when to quit. Nashville, on the other hand, will go with Pekke Rinne in Goal. No playoff experiences either, but has been standing on his head since late October, and I don’t see him looking back anytime soon. His biggest challenge will be stopping NHL Goal scoring leader Correy Perry, and his line mates of Getzlaf, and Ryan. If you can stop them, the pain isn’t over. The ducks second line boasts one of the most prolific goal scorers in NHL history in Teemu Selane. Shea Webber is going to have his Hands full, for sure. In spite of their Goaltending issues, Anaheim is still the better team here.
The Verdict: Anaheim in 6.
San Jose Sharks (2) vs Los Angeles Kings (7):
And the winner of the “Who gives a Flying Rats ass Cup” is…. This series! The most interesting story line here is that there are more teams from California in the playoffs, than Canadian teams in the playoffs. That’s really sad. The Sharks are primed for their annual playoff failure, but I have a feeling that it won’t be a first round exit. The kings are without Anze Kopitar, and Justin Williams. 2 of their top 3 leading scorers. Without the teams only real offensive threat, they will be hard pressed to provide any kind of resistance to San Jose. Jonathan Quick will again provide stellar goaltending for the Kings, but it won’t be enough.
The Verdict: San Jose in 5.
Detroit Red Wings (3) vs Phoenix Coyotes (6):
In a re-match of a series that last year provided us with some very entertaining hockey, the Wings will once again be entertaining the Coyotes. This series is a lot more even than it looks on paper. These teams tend to match up very well against one another.
That makes it a very hard series to call. Last year these teams went to game 7, where Detroit beat the Coyotes by a lot. I can’t remember the exact score, but it was officially a “Rout!” I wouldn’t expect that this year. Phoenix has been quietly playing well this year. If Bryzgalov stands on his head, then I can easily see The Coyotes winning this series. So if there has to be an upset somewhere… I would imagine it could be here.
That makes it a very hard series to call. Last year these teams went to game 7, where Detroit beat the Coyotes by a lot. I can’t remember the exact score, but it was officially a “Rout!” I wouldn’t expect that this year. Phoenix has been quietly playing well this year. If Bryzgalov stands on his head, then I can easily see The Coyotes winning this series. So if there has to be an upset somewhere… I would imagine it could be here.
The Verdict: Phoenix in 7
Boston Bruins (3) vs Montreal Canadiens (6)
There is some serious bad blood here. These two team do not like each other. This will be the 34th time they have met in the playoffs, and Montreal has had the edge in the past. But this year the “Big Bad Bruins” seems to be back. The line of Lucic, Horton, and Kreijci are just about the biggest trio we have seen in the league since the “legion of Doom. “ Then you add in all 6’7, 270lbs of Zedeno Chara, and Holy crap those guys are Big!! The bruins also have arguably the best goalie in the NHL right now in Tim Thomas. How are you going to beat these Beasts in the east? With Speed and skill. And Montreal has plenty of speed. The players might be smaller, but man can they move the puck quick. And that is what’s needed to beat a team that can dominate you physically. Don’t give them too many chances to slow you down. Make them try to play your game. In goal for Montreal is Carey Price. Can he duplicate what Jaroslaz Halak did last year? I think he can. He has the talent, and the drive, now all we need is to see it in the playoffs. If Boston gets their way, and imposes their size on the smaller Montreal forwards, it’s all over. But if Montreal can use their speed and skill to keep the bigger Boston boys chasing, then this could be an upset waiting to happen. All the smart money is on Boston to win, but I’ve never been known to be the sharpest Knife on the tree.
The Verdict: Take Montreal in 7. “You cannot hit, what you cannot catch!”
Vancouver Canucks (1) vs Chicago Blackhawks (8)
Here we go again. Chicago has really had Vancouver’s number in the playoffs the last 2 years, ousting them in the second round twice. The second time en route to a Stanley Cup. On paper, this is an obvious mismatch. Vancouver has better Offence, better Defense, better Goaltending, better Power play, better penalty Kill… Better everything. But what they don’t have… A Stanley cup. The regular season is over, and all the teams are back to square one. The reason that the Canucks have had so much trouble with Chicago is that Blackhawks coach Joel Quenville, seems to have employed a game-plan that is tailor-made for slowing down the Canucks. Alain Vingeult is going to have to figure out a way to counter act that. And it’s not going to be easy. Looking down the Line ups, the Canucks are deeper in every position. Vancouver’s top 6 on defense are arguably the best top 6 in the league. And their top line of Daniel & Henrik Sedin, matched with Alex Burrows can almost score at will. Their Power-play has dominated since October, and most importantly… Roberto Luongo is Rested, and ready! The time has come for Vancouver to exercise their past Demons, and get over that Chicago Hump. They have the talent, they have the desire, now it’s time to put it into action. This team is just way to good to fall prey to the same team 3 years in a row. Chicago is just not the same team they were in 2010. Sketchy goaltending down the stretch, a bottom 6 group of forwards that was decimated by the salary cap. This will be the best series of the first round, in terms of entertainment value, but maybe not in Length.
The Verdict: Canucks in 5 (maybe 6)
