With the playoffs starting tonight, it's time for me to give a quick breakdown of each series, along with my predictions for round 1 as well as the Final. My season in review started with the East, so we'll start this one in the West.
Western Conference
(1) San Jose vs. (8) Colorado
The Avalanche surprised everyone this year by even making the playoffs, but they started to struggle at the end of the year. The Sharks are notorious for early playoff exits, so this one could be interesting, but I don't see the Avs being able to keep it up when the intensity increases. It won't be quick, but San Jose will come out on top.
Prediction: Sharks in 6.
(2) Chicago vs. (7) Nasvhille
Chicago is probably the best team in the league this year. The only question mark is their goaltending, but even that isn't as bad as people make it out to be. Nasvhille will have to play their game to perfection to even have a chance against the Hawks, and even if they do that, I don't see them winning more than one game. This will be over in a hurry.
Prediction: Hawks in 4.
(3) Vancouver vs. (6) Los Angeles
L.A. is a young, exciting, quick team, but they lack playoff experience. Ryan Smyth will stand out as the Kings' star in this sereis, but Kopitar will crumble when things get tough. The Canucks, on the other hand, are hungry and eager to prove their critics wrong, so they'll be fired up to take this one. Luongo has been shaky, but I'm thinking he'll have no problem stepping up his game once they start to mean something. Honestly, if the biggest question mark facing the Canucks is the play of Roberto Luongo, they're in pretty good shape. Shaky this season or not, he's still Roberto f***ing Luongo. Come on. The Kings will make a series of this, but they'll lose in the end.
Prediction: Canucks in 6.
(4) Phoenix vs. (5) Detroit
Phoenix surprised everyone with their strong season, but offence is a question, as is their ability to win without a shootout. The only reason Detroit didn't finish in the top three is because of their injuries at the start of the season, so their status as underdog is in question. They have a ton of experience; they're more talented, and because of the injuries, they're relatively well rested. Phoenix will bore everyone to tears with low-scoring, dull games, but Detroit will make short work of the desert dogs in a series of close ones.
Prediction: Wings in 5.
Eastern Conference
(1) Washington vs. (8) Montreal
Yes, there are goaltending questions in D.C., but the Captials' offensive firepower will prove to be too much for the Habs to handle. Not knowing who your starting goalie is (Halak vs. Price) can't help either. Washington will take this one easily.
Prediction: Capitals in 4.
(2) New Jersey vs. (7) Philadelphia
Martin Brodeur has struggled in the playoffs recently, but he's still going to have enough to take on the Flyers. Add Kovalchuk to the mix, and they've got a strong all-around team. Philadelphia has struggled all season, and there's no reason to think they'll pull it together in time to get past the Devils. Game 1 notwithstanding, New Jersey is the better team.
Prediction: Devils in 6.
(3) Buffalo vs. (6) Boston
Boston has no offence and questionable rookie goaltending. They have good defence and an effective but boring system, but Ryan Miller will be too much for them to work on, and the Sabres' offensive depth will wear the Bruins down in the long run.
Prediction: Sabres in 7.
(4) Pittsburgh vs. (5) Ottawa
The last two times these teams played in the first round, the winner went on to lose in the final. That won't happen this year. Neither team is strong enough to compete in the long run, and the winner of this will be out in the second round. Ottawa has played better than expected this year, and Pittsburgh has disappointed somewhat, but the two teams are pretty evenly matched -- when healthy. No Kovalev in Ottawa means the Senators are done in this one, again, not counting game 1.
Prediction: Penguins in 6.
So, there's my take on round 1. As for my predictions for the East and West, I see New Jersey beating Washington in the East final, and the winner of Chicago-Vancouver (probable round 2 matchup) beating Detroit in the West. The cup will go to the West this season.
I should have more time available to break down each round of the playoffs, and we can look forward to the return of CanucksTalk as I break down each game the morning after. Thus, until Friday, cheers!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
HockeyTalk: Season in review
Okay, it's been a few months. I've been lazy. Now that the playoffs are under way, I thought it would be a good time for me to take a look at the predictions I made at the start of the season and see how it all panned out. There were a few big surprises, most notably Phoenix and Colorado, but overall, things turned out pretty much how I thought they would.
Eastern Conference:
1. Washington
Is anyone at all surprised that the Capitals won the President's Trophy? They already have the best player in the league, a solid supporting cast, and recently, enough grit to look like a complete team. The question is whether they'll have the chutzpah to get it done in the playoffs. I predicted them doing very well this season, and they didn't disappoint.
2. New Jersey
Brodeur has been criticized all season for being inconsistent, but he put up very good numbers all year and took his team to the top of the Atlantic. Adding Kovalchuk was a great move, and it should put them in position for a long playoff run. I thought they'd finish in the middle of the pack in the East, mainly because of a lack of offense, but they've quietly had a good run.
3. Buffalo
Ryan Miller has played unreal, and they've had enough offensive depth all year to stay competitive at the top of the division. I was wrong about this one. I thought they'd struggle to make the playoffs -- but I did say that they had a good team on paper and that it would be nice to see if they could translate that to on-ice success. (so there!)
4. Pittsburgh
The Penguins had a very inconsistent season, due in large part to Malkin's disappearing act, but they're still a strong team. No team with Crosby will be bad for a long, long time. I picked them as one of the top four teams in the East. I was right. (Easy choice)
5. Ottawa
The Senators have also been incredibly inconsistent all season, but they really overachieved this year, finishing strong to make the playoffs. Losing Kovalev will hurt them in the playoffs, but still, they did a lot better than I predicted.
6. Boston
Wow. Just wow. I picked the Bruins to finish at the top of their division and near the top of the conference. I guess this just goes to show that you can't be highly successful without strong offence. Thomas crapped the bed, so it's a good thing Rask was ready. This team is done in five.
7. Philadelphia
Another disappointment. I honestly thought they had the pieces in place to dominate this year, but without any goaltending to speak of, they didn't get much done. They made the playoffs, butI predict an early exit for the Flyers this year.
8. Montreal
I predicted the Canadiens would be fighting three other teams for a playoff spot, and they were. They're not a bad team, per se, but they're not very good either. They're too small as a group, and not having a clearly defined number-one goalie is never a good thing. Too bad for the frenchmen that they drew Washington for round 1.
9. New York Rangers
What I said at the start of the season: "They won’t be a joke this year, but they’re far removed from being a serious threat. It’s too bad, too – Lundqvist is a fantastic goalie who deserves a better team in front of him." That says it all. I figured they'd be about where they ended up.
10. Atlanta
They pulled together nicely after the Kovalchuk trade, and they finished a bit higher than I expected, but I don't think anyone is surprised -- or impressed -- with the Thrashers' season this year.
11. Carolina
I figured Carolina would have a better season, finishing in the 5-8 seed in the East. I don't follow the 'Canes, so I really can't put my finger on what happened to this team this year. A big disappointment.
12. Tampa Bay
I figured Tampa would have a better season, finishing in the 5-8 seed in the East. I don't follow the Lightning, so I really can't put my finger on what happened to this team this year. A big disappointment. (note: yes, the repetition is on purpose. I feel the same way about both these teams and the way things ended)
13. New York Islanders
What I said in October: "They might be on the way up, but it’s a long time and a lot of early draft picks away." Again, this just about sums it up. They have the potential to become a very good team in a few years, but that's still quite a long time from now. No surprise at their finish.
14. Florida Panthers
Losing Bouwmeester (trade) and Horton (injury) hurt a team that wasn't very good to begin with. Dark times indeed. I'll say it again: too bad, too. I've always liked the Panthers.
15. Toronto
I can't help but smile seeing The Team In The Center Of The Universe finish last in the conference and second-last in the league... and not having a draft pick to show for it. Brian Burke, the pompous, arrogant, ass, deserves this team, and the city deserves him. Here's to "I don't believe in the future" Burkie spending five years ruining a team that, again, wasn't all that good to begin with.
Western Conference
1. San Jose
Once again, the Sharks had an excellent regular season. Heatley wasn't as good as some people expected he would be, but this is still a very solid team. I still don't think they have the heart for the playoffs, but we'll see what happens when they go up against the Avs. I predicted them to finish high, and they did.
2. Chicago
The Hawks are clearly the favorite in the West. They have a strong, deep offence, a strong, deep defence, and (somewhat) reliable goaltending. They have to get it done this year, so look for them to be very hungry in the playoffs. Huet and Niemmi will be the only question marks for them this year.
3. Vancouver
Offensive depth in Vancover? Who knew? They've improved their scoring; they got some defensive depth and mobility, and they play just gritty enough to get things done. This is the best team the Canucks have had since '93, and they've got a very good chance to win it all this year. Luongo has been shaky, and injuries to the defence could be a concern, but I have to believe in this team.
4. Phoenix
Wow. Who saw this coming? If Dave Tippet doesn't win the Jack Adams this year, there's something very wrong with the people who vote for this award. Phoenix has been consistent all ear, an they certainly deserve to be in their position. I have some suspicions about the legitimacy of a league-owned team finishing near the top of the conference, but that's just my opinion. They have had to rely a lot on the shooutout to win game this year, so that could hurt them, but it's been a good run. It's unfortunate for the Coyotes and their fans (both of them) that they have to face Detroit in the first round.
5. Detroit
The only surprise here is that the Wings didn't finish higher. They had a lot of injuries early on, but this team is too good and too complete to not make the playoffs and be considered a heavy favorite. This is a team that's played 11 plaoyoff rounds in the past three seasons and won nine of them. They won't go away quietly.
6. Los Angeles
I'm quite surprised at L.A.'s season. I thought they'd improve on last year, but I didn't think they'd finish in the playoffs. Good for them. They have a young, exciting team that will be very fun to watch during the playoffs and next season. However, they'll be out quick against a hungry Canucks team. Quoting Johnny Depp from Charlie and The Cocolate Factory: "You're just happy to be here, aren't you?" They won't have the gas in the tank to make any kind of splash in the post-season.
7. Nashville
As I said at the start of the season, they're not a bad team. They're not a good team either. They played well enough without a lot of talent to make it into the playoffs, but they'll fall hard against the 'Hawks.
8. Colorado
I really thought the Avalanche would be fighting with the Coyotes for last in the conference. They ended up fighting with Phoenix, for sure, but it was for playoff positioning. A very pleasant surprise, but I think it will be over quick against the Sharks.
9. St. Louis
I thought they would finish higher based on the great end to their season last year, but something was missing for the Blues this season. They can always hope that things go right next year.
10. Calgary
Again, I have to laugh at this one. Flames fans were so smug at the start of the year, going on about their "Olympic lock" defence, goaltending, and forwards, it's really nice to see them quiet down so much. I did say the Flames would probably finish in the playoffs, but I also left a note that it wouldn't be a shock to see them struggle to make the playoffs -- and they did. This is an aging team with no offensive depth, no defensive depth, and a clearly misguided GM. With no prospects to speak of, the future looks very bleak for the Flames. Couldn't have happened to a better team.
11. Anaheim
This one surprised me. I figured they'd be in the top six. Obviously their losses hurt more than I predicted. Funny how the last three teams to trade Chris Pronger have missed the playoffs the following season.
12. Dallas
No surprise here. The rebuild has begun in Texas. Farewell to Mike Modano. Even though he always tended to burn the Oilers and Canucks, he has always been one of my favorite players.
13. Minnesota
Again, no surprise. The Wild just aren't a very good team. Havlat is no Gaborik, and the new coach's system hasn't produced any better results. It's a shame, as apparently Minnesota boasts some of the best hockey fans in the U.S. They certainly deserve better than this.
14. Columbus
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, no surprise here. They have a few great players, a good goalie, and a good coach, but the team just isn't good enough to be taken seriously by anyone.
15. Edmonton
I'm shocked by this, but it was a blessing in disguise as it's provided the Oilers with a chance to truly rebuild. Hopefully they don't screw it up next year by rushing Seguin/Hall into the lineup. Things should be very good in Edmonton in two or three years.
Hey, would you look at that? I'm done. Look for my playoff preview to follow.
Eastern Conference:
1. Washington
Is anyone at all surprised that the Capitals won the President's Trophy? They already have the best player in the league, a solid supporting cast, and recently, enough grit to look like a complete team. The question is whether they'll have the chutzpah to get it done in the playoffs. I predicted them doing very well this season, and they didn't disappoint.
2. New Jersey
Brodeur has been criticized all season for being inconsistent, but he put up very good numbers all year and took his team to the top of the Atlantic. Adding Kovalchuk was a great move, and it should put them in position for a long playoff run. I thought they'd finish in the middle of the pack in the East, mainly because of a lack of offense, but they've quietly had a good run.
3. Buffalo
Ryan Miller has played unreal, and they've had enough offensive depth all year to stay competitive at the top of the division. I was wrong about this one. I thought they'd struggle to make the playoffs -- but I did say that they had a good team on paper and that it would be nice to see if they could translate that to on-ice success. (so there!)
4. Pittsburgh
The Penguins had a very inconsistent season, due in large part to Malkin's disappearing act, but they're still a strong team. No team with Crosby will be bad for a long, long time. I picked them as one of the top four teams in the East. I was right. (Easy choice)
5. Ottawa
The Senators have also been incredibly inconsistent all season, but they really overachieved this year, finishing strong to make the playoffs. Losing Kovalev will hurt them in the playoffs, but still, they did a lot better than I predicted.
6. Boston
Wow. Just wow. I picked the Bruins to finish at the top of their division and near the top of the conference. I guess this just goes to show that you can't be highly successful without strong offence. Thomas crapped the bed, so it's a good thing Rask was ready. This team is done in five.
7. Philadelphia
Another disappointment. I honestly thought they had the pieces in place to dominate this year, but without any goaltending to speak of, they didn't get much done. They made the playoffs, butI predict an early exit for the Flyers this year.
8. Montreal
I predicted the Canadiens would be fighting three other teams for a playoff spot, and they were. They're not a bad team, per se, but they're not very good either. They're too small as a group, and not having a clearly defined number-one goalie is never a good thing. Too bad for the frenchmen that they drew Washington for round 1.
9. New York Rangers
What I said at the start of the season: "They won’t be a joke this year, but they’re far removed from being a serious threat. It’s too bad, too – Lundqvist is a fantastic goalie who deserves a better team in front of him." That says it all. I figured they'd be about where they ended up.
10. Atlanta
They pulled together nicely after the Kovalchuk trade, and they finished a bit higher than I expected, but I don't think anyone is surprised -- or impressed -- with the Thrashers' season this year.
11. Carolina
I figured Carolina would have a better season, finishing in the 5-8 seed in the East. I don't follow the 'Canes, so I really can't put my finger on what happened to this team this year. A big disappointment.
12. Tampa Bay
I figured Tampa would have a better season, finishing in the 5-8 seed in the East. I don't follow the Lightning, so I really can't put my finger on what happened to this team this year. A big disappointment. (note: yes, the repetition is on purpose. I feel the same way about both these teams and the way things ended)
13. New York Islanders
What I said in October: "They might be on the way up, but it’s a long time and a lot of early draft picks away." Again, this just about sums it up. They have the potential to become a very good team in a few years, but that's still quite a long time from now. No surprise at their finish.
14. Florida Panthers
Losing Bouwmeester (trade) and Horton (injury) hurt a team that wasn't very good to begin with. Dark times indeed. I'll say it again: too bad, too. I've always liked the Panthers.
15. Toronto
I can't help but smile seeing The Team In The Center Of The Universe finish last in the conference and second-last in the league... and not having a draft pick to show for it. Brian Burke, the pompous, arrogant, ass, deserves this team, and the city deserves him. Here's to "I don't believe in the future" Burkie spending five years ruining a team that, again, wasn't all that good to begin with.
Western Conference
1. San Jose
Once again, the Sharks had an excellent regular season. Heatley wasn't as good as some people expected he would be, but this is still a very solid team. I still don't think they have the heart for the playoffs, but we'll see what happens when they go up against the Avs. I predicted them to finish high, and they did.
2. Chicago
The Hawks are clearly the favorite in the West. They have a strong, deep offence, a strong, deep defence, and (somewhat) reliable goaltending. They have to get it done this year, so look for them to be very hungry in the playoffs. Huet and Niemmi will be the only question marks for them this year.
3. Vancouver
Offensive depth in Vancover? Who knew? They've improved their scoring; they got some defensive depth and mobility, and they play just gritty enough to get things done. This is the best team the Canucks have had since '93, and they've got a very good chance to win it all this year. Luongo has been shaky, and injuries to the defence could be a concern, but I have to believe in this team.
4. Phoenix
Wow. Who saw this coming? If Dave Tippet doesn't win the Jack Adams this year, there's something very wrong with the people who vote for this award. Phoenix has been consistent all ear, an they certainly deserve to be in their position. I have some suspicions about the legitimacy of a league-owned team finishing near the top of the conference, but that's just my opinion. They have had to rely a lot on the shooutout to win game this year, so that could hurt them, but it's been a good run. It's unfortunate for the Coyotes and their fans (both of them) that they have to face Detroit in the first round.
5. Detroit
The only surprise here is that the Wings didn't finish higher. They had a lot of injuries early on, but this team is too good and too complete to not make the playoffs and be considered a heavy favorite. This is a team that's played 11 plaoyoff rounds in the past three seasons and won nine of them. They won't go away quietly.
6. Los Angeles
I'm quite surprised at L.A.'s season. I thought they'd improve on last year, but I didn't think they'd finish in the playoffs. Good for them. They have a young, exciting team that will be very fun to watch during the playoffs and next season. However, they'll be out quick against a hungry Canucks team. Quoting Johnny Depp from Charlie and The Cocolate Factory: "You're just happy to be here, aren't you?" They won't have the gas in the tank to make any kind of splash in the post-season.
7. Nashville
As I said at the start of the season, they're not a bad team. They're not a good team either. They played well enough without a lot of talent to make it into the playoffs, but they'll fall hard against the 'Hawks.
8. Colorado
I really thought the Avalanche would be fighting with the Coyotes for last in the conference. They ended up fighting with Phoenix, for sure, but it was for playoff positioning. A very pleasant surprise, but I think it will be over quick against the Sharks.
9. St. Louis
I thought they would finish higher based on the great end to their season last year, but something was missing for the Blues this season. They can always hope that things go right next year.
10. Calgary
Again, I have to laugh at this one. Flames fans were so smug at the start of the year, going on about their "Olympic lock" defence, goaltending, and forwards, it's really nice to see them quiet down so much. I did say the Flames would probably finish in the playoffs, but I also left a note that it wouldn't be a shock to see them struggle to make the playoffs -- and they did. This is an aging team with no offensive depth, no defensive depth, and a clearly misguided GM. With no prospects to speak of, the future looks very bleak for the Flames. Couldn't have happened to a better team.
11. Anaheim
This one surprised me. I figured they'd be in the top six. Obviously their losses hurt more than I predicted. Funny how the last three teams to trade Chris Pronger have missed the playoffs the following season.
12. Dallas
No surprise here. The rebuild has begun in Texas. Farewell to Mike Modano. Even though he always tended to burn the Oilers and Canucks, he has always been one of my favorite players.
13. Minnesota
Again, no surprise. The Wild just aren't a very good team. Havlat is no Gaborik, and the new coach's system hasn't produced any better results. It's a shame, as apparently Minnesota boasts some of the best hockey fans in the U.S. They certainly deserve better than this.
14. Columbus
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, no surprise here. They have a few great players, a good goalie, and a good coach, but the team just isn't good enough to be taken seriously by anyone.
15. Edmonton
I'm shocked by this, but it was a blessing in disguise as it's provided the Oilers with a chance to truly rebuild. Hopefully they don't screw it up next year by rushing Seguin/Hall into the lineup. Things should be very good in Edmonton in two or three years.
Hey, would you look at that? I'm done. Look for my playoff preview to follow.
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