Sunday, April 11, 2010
First Round Predictions -- West
San Jose versus Colorado: (San Jose in 5). The Sharks finally luck out in the first round. The Avs stalled over the last two weeks in the season and seem unlikely to carry their regular season brio into the post-season. They have already defied expectations, and Adam Foote isn't enough of a veteran presence to get them caring enough to make a real run for the Sharks' money.
Blackhawks versus Predators: (Chicago in 6): This will be a relatively easy 6 game series as the Hawks simply have too much firepower for the Predlies. I suspect that the Hawks will lose two games rather than the Preds winning two.
Canucks versus LA Kings (Kings in 7): Upset special. Roberto Luongo is probably the most over-rated player in hockey. He has never won anything and was nervous as a house cat in the Olympics (Canada won in spite of Luongo, his inability to catch a routine wrist shot lead to Parise's tying goal in regulation). Kings have exceptional players in goal and in key defensive areas and are deep up front with Ryan Smyth providing grit and leadership.
Coyotes versus Red Wings (Coyotes in 6): One of my sports memes is that the team that lost in the championship round the previous season almost never does as well the next season (Yes the Pens won after finishing second last year, but onyl after firing their coach and vastly changing their roster at the deadline. It's also nice to change horses in midstream and yet still keep Malkin and Crosby, too). Of course, even finishing second is a tall order and requires many things to go right. A lot of people like Bar Food in this series because they have so much experience and finished strong, but the Yotes have the goaltending and the leadership to win a frustrating unfair type series the way Edmonton did several years back. The Wings have gotten tons of breaks over the last several years and this team is not as good as recent vintages. Ilya Bryzgalov is as underrated as Luongo is overrated. Phoenix does not have any pressure, and never lulled this season. The higher seed will pull off the "upset".
Blackhawks versus Predators: (Chicago in 6): This will be a relatively easy 6 game series as the Hawks simply have too much firepower for the Predlies. I suspect that the Hawks will lose two games rather than the Preds winning two.
Canucks versus LA Kings (Kings in 7): Upset special. Roberto Luongo is probably the most over-rated player in hockey. He has never won anything and was nervous as a house cat in the Olympics (Canada won in spite of Luongo, his inability to catch a routine wrist shot lead to Parise's tying goal in regulation). Kings have exceptional players in goal and in key defensive areas and are deep up front with Ryan Smyth providing grit and leadership.
Coyotes versus Red Wings (Coyotes in 6): One of my sports memes is that the team that lost in the championship round the previous season almost never does as well the next season (Yes the Pens won after finishing second last year, but onyl after firing their coach and vastly changing their roster at the deadline. It's also nice to change horses in midstream and yet still keep Malkin and Crosby, too). Of course, even finishing second is a tall order and requires many things to go right. A lot of people like Bar Food in this series because they have so much experience and finished strong, but the Yotes have the goaltending and the leadership to win a frustrating unfair type series the way Edmonton did several years back. The Wings have gotten tons of breaks over the last several years and this team is not as good as recent vintages. Ilya Bryzgalov is as underrated as Luongo is overrated. Phoenix does not have any pressure, and never lulled this season. The higher seed will pull off the "upset".
Labels: Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, Nashville Predators, nhl, Phoenix Coyotes, playoffs, San Jose Sharks, Stanley Cup, Vancouver Canucks, Western Conference
// posted by Grinder McCarver @ 9:06 PM 
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