Thursday, April 20, 2006
NHL Playoff Super Extravaganza and Chili Cookoff
As promised, let's talk a little playoff hockey... minus the two teams that squared off in the 1994 Western (Campbell) Conference finals. Pavel Bure scored 60 goals that season... I miss that guy.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
(1) Ottawa vs. (8) Tampa Bay
Interesting. I don't know what else to say. Ottawa should be the undisputed top team in the conference, but it's Ottawa, and no one knows what happens to them in the playoffs. Meanwhile, they draw the top seed and instead of getting a team like Atlanta, they get the still defending Cup champs. The Sens were 4-0 in the season series, and I don't see things changing too much here.
Shape it up - Ottawa, up 2-1 in the series, wins handily in Game 4 on the way to closing it out at home in Game 5.
Series MVP - Any Ottawa forward, they should all score plenty.
Series Goat - As was the case all season, both Tampa goalies will get a heap of the blame.
Ottawa 4-1.
(2) Carolina vs. (7) Montreal
The surprise of the east (sorry Buffalo) against history. Again, the higher seed was 4-0 in the season series, and the lower seed is playing two goalies.
Shape it up - Montreal defends their home ice reasonably well, but Carolina does it even better.
Series MVP - Martin Gerber
Series Goat - Sheldon Souray. The goaltending duo will handle the pressure well, but will be hung out to dry a few too many times.
Carolina 4-3.
(3) New Jersey vs. (6) New York Rangers
The Devils are at it again. The choke that engulfed the Rangers over the last few weeks of the season will get worse as they have to face the team that came from nowhere to steal their division crown and home ice in the first round.
Shape it up - Jagr wins two games almost single-handedly as he makes his case for MVP, but Marty Brodeur won't give him any more than that.
Series MVP - Brodeur will always be their MVP until proven otherwise.
Series Goat - Marek Malik shows everyone the ability he showed when he let Iginla go in Game 7 against the Canucks two years ago. No fancy goals here.
New Jersey 4-2.
(4) Buffalo vs. (5) Philadelphia
Quick, name five Buffalo Sabres! I couldn't do it either... so they must be good.
Shape it up - Philly gets a split in Buffalo, only to drop Games 3 and 4 at home.
Series MVP - Lindy Ruff. I bet I still won't know any Sabres after this series.
Series Goat - The Philly D. They give up too many goals to win here.
Buffalo 4-1.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
(1) Detroit vs. (8) Edmonton
The oil fought a good battle to get in, and won two of four against Detroit this year. They never seem to be an easy out in the first round, and this year won't be any different... Alberta teams feed off crazy fans come playoff time, you can't help but stop hating them (a little).
Shape it up - Edmonton will trade shots with the Wings for six games, but just don't have enough to get over the hump.
Series MVP - Nick Lidstrom, cementing his status as the best defenseman in the world.
Series Goat - Dwayne Roloson, he'll pull a Cloutier at some point and it'll deflate Edmonton enough to get them bounced.
Detroit 4-2.
(2) Dallas vs. (7) Colorado
Two powerhouses from the days of old (ie. the late 90's). Only no Belfour-Roy matchup here, and Colorado is a little rough around the edges.
Shape it up - Theo steals a game prompting the entire city of Denver to enroll in the Jose Fanclub, only to play pedestrian hockey the rest of the series (and be replaced by Peter Budaj).
Series MVP - Any Star not named Marty Turco. The guy could fall asleep back there and win 4-3.
Series Goat - Milan Hejduk. The Avs need him to score in bunches (especially if Svatos can't come back), and he won't have it this time.
Dallas 4-2.
(3) Calgary vs. (6) Anaheim
I love Brian Burke. This Anaheim team may be good for a while with him at the helm... but they run into a team that will grind teams into 2-1 defeats all Spring.
Shape it up - Giguere will continue his work back towards his Conn Smythe form, creating an amazing goaltending battle... one the Ducks can't win.
Series MVP - Kipper. Who else?
Series Goat - Teemu Selanne/Andy McDonald. Each averaged over a point a game in the regular season, they'll be lucky to combine for a point a game in this series.
Calgary 4-2.
(4) Nashville vs. (5) San Jose
Congratulations Nashville, your evolution into a solid contender is rewarded by a first-round matchup with the team NO ONE wants to play. I really wish I had the balls to pick them anyways.
Shape it up - Nashville will falter once on home ice (where they've been spectacular), and that's all the Sharks will need.
Series MVP - Joe Thornton states his case over Jaromir.
Series Goat - Tomas Vokoun's blood. Mason has played well, but they'd have a much better chance to hold off this team with their franchise goalie.
San Jose 4-2.
There you have it. Pat Quinn, enjoy your new freedom watching the action unfold. Maybe we'll dump Crawford and bring you back for a very awkward reunion. Congrats to St. Louis for keeping the first pick in the draft... you're gonna need a lot more than that. Enjoy the festivities tomorrow - look out for the NBA edition of this spiel.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
(1) Ottawa vs. (8) Tampa Bay
Interesting. I don't know what else to say. Ottawa should be the undisputed top team in the conference, but it's Ottawa, and no one knows what happens to them in the playoffs. Meanwhile, they draw the top seed and instead of getting a team like Atlanta, they get the still defending Cup champs. The Sens were 4-0 in the season series, and I don't see things changing too much here.
Shape it up - Ottawa, up 2-1 in the series, wins handily in Game 4 on the way to closing it out at home in Game 5.
Series MVP - Any Ottawa forward, they should all score plenty.
Series Goat - As was the case all season, both Tampa goalies will get a heap of the blame.
Ottawa 4-1.
(2) Carolina vs. (7) Montreal
The surprise of the east (sorry Buffalo) against history. Again, the higher seed was 4-0 in the season series, and the lower seed is playing two goalies.
Shape it up - Montreal defends their home ice reasonably well, but Carolina does it even better.
Series MVP - Martin Gerber
Series Goat - Sheldon Souray. The goaltending duo will handle the pressure well, but will be hung out to dry a few too many times.
Carolina 4-3.
(3) New Jersey vs. (6) New York Rangers
The Devils are at it again. The choke that engulfed the Rangers over the last few weeks of the season will get worse as they have to face the team that came from nowhere to steal their division crown and home ice in the first round.
Shape it up - Jagr wins two games almost single-handedly as he makes his case for MVP, but Marty Brodeur won't give him any more than that.
Series MVP - Brodeur will always be their MVP until proven otherwise.
Series Goat - Marek Malik shows everyone the ability he showed when he let Iginla go in Game 7 against the Canucks two years ago. No fancy goals here.
New Jersey 4-2.
(4) Buffalo vs. (5) Philadelphia
Quick, name five Buffalo Sabres! I couldn't do it either... so they must be good.
Shape it up - Philly gets a split in Buffalo, only to drop Games 3 and 4 at home.
Series MVP - Lindy Ruff. I bet I still won't know any Sabres after this series.
Series Goat - The Philly D. They give up too many goals to win here.
Buffalo 4-1.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
(1) Detroit vs. (8) Edmonton
The oil fought a good battle to get in, and won two of four against Detroit this year. They never seem to be an easy out in the first round, and this year won't be any different... Alberta teams feed off crazy fans come playoff time, you can't help but stop hating them (a little).
Shape it up - Edmonton will trade shots with the Wings for six games, but just don't have enough to get over the hump.
Series MVP - Nick Lidstrom, cementing his status as the best defenseman in the world.
Series Goat - Dwayne Roloson, he'll pull a Cloutier at some point and it'll deflate Edmonton enough to get them bounced.
Detroit 4-2.
(2) Dallas vs. (7) Colorado
Two powerhouses from the days of old (ie. the late 90's). Only no Belfour-Roy matchup here, and Colorado is a little rough around the edges.
Shape it up - Theo steals a game prompting the entire city of Denver to enroll in the Jose Fanclub, only to play pedestrian hockey the rest of the series (and be replaced by Peter Budaj).
Series MVP - Any Star not named Marty Turco. The guy could fall asleep back there and win 4-3.
Series Goat - Milan Hejduk. The Avs need him to score in bunches (especially if Svatos can't come back), and he won't have it this time.
Dallas 4-2.
(3) Calgary vs. (6) Anaheim
I love Brian Burke. This Anaheim team may be good for a while with him at the helm... but they run into a team that will grind teams into 2-1 defeats all Spring.
Shape it up - Giguere will continue his work back towards his Conn Smythe form, creating an amazing goaltending battle... one the Ducks can't win.
Series MVP - Kipper. Who else?
Series Goat - Teemu Selanne/Andy McDonald. Each averaged over a point a game in the regular season, they'll be lucky to combine for a point a game in this series.
Calgary 4-2.
(4) Nashville vs. (5) San Jose
Congratulations Nashville, your evolution into a solid contender is rewarded by a first-round matchup with the team NO ONE wants to play. I really wish I had the balls to pick them anyways.
Shape it up - Nashville will falter once on home ice (where they've been spectacular), and that's all the Sharks will need.
Series MVP - Joe Thornton states his case over Jaromir.
Series Goat - Tomas Vokoun's blood. Mason has played well, but they'd have a much better chance to hold off this team with their franchise goalie.
San Jose 4-2.
There you have it. Pat Quinn, enjoy your new freedom watching the action unfold. Maybe we'll dump Crawford and bring you back for a very awkward reunion. Congrats to St. Louis for keeping the first pick in the draft... you're gonna need a lot more than that. Enjoy the festivities tomorrow - look out for the NBA edition of this spiel.
