Hockey Playoff starting

[Phlegm]

Here are the series:

East:

Sabres vs. Islanders

Thrashers vs. Rangers

Devils vs. Lightning

Senators vs. Penguins

West:

Predators vs. Sharks

Redwings vs. Flames

Canucks vs. Stars

Ducks vs. Wild

[Lionking]

I sense another first round washout by the Red Wings. Maybe it's a flameout this year. Either way, this already sucks and they haven't even dropped the puck yet. Years of Detroit Sports has taken its toll.

[Phlegm]

Why would you say that? The Redwings tied with the Sabres for the most points in the season. They also will play a Flames team that barely made the playoff.

[Tuggan]

cause the wings have sucked the big one the last few seasons in the playoffs.

it's a different team this year though, our defense is a little weak this time but we have more grit all around. i don't think we will go out in the first round this time around, but i don't really have high hopes for going very far.

without much thought, and not seeing which teams are going to come out swinging i'm going with Ducks and Sabres for the cup.

[Arlos]

How many games Calgary lasts in that series is going to be entirely dependant upon how how Kiiprusoff is during the series.

My off-the cuff predictions (and these are REALLY off the cuff for the east, as I don't follow teams there as much as I do the West)


East:

Sabres vs Islanders: This one'll be over quick, especially since the Isles' goalie got hit in the head so hard, he currently thinks HE is Kevin Bacon. Sabres in 5, tops. High sweep potential.

Thrashers vs Rangers: I know the least about these teams, so I'll call it the biggest crapshoot. Hrm, I guess I'll guess that Jagr finally finds some more of last year's 120ish point scoring touch and goes nuts this series, and Rangers win in 7.

Devils vs Lightning: Martin Brodeur is obviously a cyborg. HOW many games did he play this year, and how good were his stats? Add in that the Lightning had to claw their way in recently, and we'll call this one Devils in 6.

Senators vs Penguins: Should probably be the best series in the first round in the east. Not sure how to factor noted Playoff Choke Artistry (Ottawa) vs Golly Gee, Wally, are these the playoffs? newbiesm (Penguins). Well, lets go out on a limb and give the mild upset: Penguins in 7.


West:

Predators vs Sharks: How well the Preds do is going to entirely depend on how healthy they are. I don't think they're that healthy, really. Sharks, on the other hand, only have 1 person injured, Guerin, and he just got > 1 week rest for it. In a prediction that should surprise no one, I call Sharks in 6.

Redwings vs Flames: Nowhere near as big a mismatch as 1vs8 in the East, but as I said, how well Calgary does depends intirely on Kiiprusoff. I think he'll play great, but that the rest of the Flames won't. Redwings in 6.

Canucks vs Stars: Ahhh, now, if Playoff Choking is an art, then Marty Turco is its Michelangelo. I wouldn't trust him to backstop a peewee league playoff game, not and win a deciding game. Unfortunately, the Canucks have no real scoring, once you get past Sedin-unit A and Sedin-unit B. Still, Canucks in 7.

Ducks vs Wild: Ducks are good, no question, but they honestly haven't been playing that well for a while. There's no way the Sharks & Stars should've been able to make up that much ground that fast at the end of the season. If the season were 5 games longer, Ducks would've been 3rd in the Pacific. In the biggest upset of the first round: Wild in 7.

-Arlos

[Lionking]

Detroit / Calgary season series: 2-2 w/Calgary taking the last game. I expect Kiprusoff to stand on his head against Detroit.

However, if Detroit gets past them, watch out.

[Arlos]

Well, I think Kiiprusoff to steal 2 games for Calgary, but they've been playing like crap recently. There's no way Colorado should've almost caught them like that.

Should Detroit get past Calgary, which I think they will, I don't think they'll get past the Sharks, if they play each other. Sharks have a 3-1 record against Detroit this season, and I really like their chances. PRobably a 7-game series between the two, but I am pretty confident the Sharks'd take it. Now, whether they'll meet or not...

In my predictions, the 2nd round games'd be Wings vs Wild & Canucks vs Sharks, which I think'd have the Wings vs the Sharks in the Western finals, which would be an awesome series. Out east, if I'm 100% right, it'd be Sabres vs Rangers and Devils vs Penguins, which I think'd be Sabres vs Devils in the Eastern finals.

Sharks vs Sabres'd make for some awesome hockey in the finals, don't you think? *grin*

-Arlos

[Xaiveir]

Go Rangers!

[Lionking]

Well, I think Kiiprusoff to steal 2 games for Calgary, but they've been playing like crap recently. There's no way Colorado should've almost caught them like that.

Should Detroit get past Calgary, which I think they will, I don't think they'll get past the Sharks, if they play each other. Sharks have a 3-1 record against Detroit this season, and I really like their chances. PRobably a 7-game series between the two, but I am pretty confident the Sharks'd take it. Now, whether they'll meet or not...

In my predictions, the 2nd round games'd be Wings vs Wild & Canucks vs Sharks, which I think'd have the Wings vs the Sharks in the Western finals, which would be an awesome series. Out east, if I'm 100% right, it'd be Sabres vs Rangers and Devils vs Penguins, which I think'd be Sabres vs Devils in the Eastern finals.

Sharks vs Sabres'd make for some awesome hockey in the finals, don't you think? *grin*

-Arlos

I'll buy your take for $1. Sharks vs. Sabres would definitely be... fresh! If it comes down to Sabres vs. Devils in the East finals, I see Brodeur being a big reason why the Devils steal it.

Like I said, Sharks vs. Sabres would be fresh, a long-awaited rematch of Wings vs. Devils is a chance at sweet revenge!!! Now there's a long shot.

[Lionking]

Go Rangers!

The only EQ sports class. The NY Rangers are going to get nerfed too.

[Xaiveir]

Go Rangers!

The only EQ sports class. The NY Rangers are going to get nerfed too.

Yeah the rangers have been Nerfed since '94. Hey lets bring in a bunch of over the hill big names, that cost a shit ton, and get close to the playoffs ever year and never do much.

/sigh

Last couple of years they have gotten alittle younger, so im still holding out hope that i will see them in the Finals again in my lifetime!

[vonkaar]

Turco ftw

[Arlos]

Some good first round games there. And does it get any sweeter than wtching Dallas lose in quadruple OT? *grin*

-Arlos

[Tuggan]

watchin cheechoo get fucked up was pretty sweet

[Phlegm]

For what it's worth, the Blackhawks won the NHL draft lottery and will picked first. They only had an 8.1 percent chance but got lucky.

[Arlos]

Why would you cheer about someone getting injured, especially from a dirty hit? If it were someone like Bonds, maybe I could see it, but Cheechoo's never been an asshole... Well, I guess we DO know who the asshole is, eh?

-Arlos

[Tuggan]

Why would you cheer about someone getting injured, especially from a dirty hit? If it were someone like Bonds, maybe I could see it, but Cheechoo's never been an asshole... Well, I guess we DO know who the asshole is, eh?

-Arlos

Cause I never got over the SJ vs Detroit matchup several seasons back, and SJ and anyone on SJ will be on my perma shit list.

[Zanchief]

It was hardly a dirty hit.

[lareau]

Go sens Go!

[Phlegm]

watchin cheechoo get fucked up was pretty sweet

Cheechoo is day to day with a knee sprain.

[Tuggan]

everyone is day to day in the playoffs.

[Arlos]

Now, even if you didn't think Hartnell's was, how about Radulov running Bernier completely from behind right into the boards? That was fucking blatant. Radulov got tossed, deservedly.

-Arlos

[Tuggan]

yeah, that was pretty bad. i'm really startin to think nashville are a buncha dirty fuckers.

[Zanchief]

This ain't ice skating boys.

[Phlegm]

Kiprusoff should sue his teammates for abandonment.