tripolie atche
Pre-Show Stalwart
My Quarterfinal Predictions.
2015 NHL Quarterfinals Predictions
West:
(P1) ANA vs. (W2) WPG - This should be a great series that will end in an upset. Both teams starting goalies (Andersen & Pavelec) will probably be streaky & I wouldnt be surprised if both backups (Gibson & Hutchinson) have to make starts. I would give the goalie edge to ANA in this series. While ANAs offense in Getzlaf, Perry, & Kesler should carry the Ducks to a couple of wins in the series, I expect WPGs defense, namely Dustin Byfuglien, to wear ANA down the longer this series goes (This assuming the Jets can minimize going into the penalty box lol). If WPG can successfully do this, then theres a good chance this will translate into a successful series for Wheeler, Ladd, & Little. I cant wait to see how crazy the Jets fans will be in Game 3 when they host their first playoff game in nearly twenty years .& how even more crazy itll be when they clinch the series at home in Game 6. Jets in 6.
(P2) VAN vs. (P3) CGY - I want to say VANs experience will prevail in this series, but theres just something about this CGY team which continues to defy expectations. Everyone, myself included, has been waiting for CGY to stumble & thought they would after Giordanos injury or in a do-or-die game against the defending champions nearly a week ago. Yet, they continue to prove the naysayers wrong, which is why Im picking the Flames to win this series. I expect CGY to stay out of the penalty box, minimizing VANs PP opportunities (one of VANs strengths), while CGYs first-line (Hudler, Monahan, & Gaudreau) will outplay VANs (Sedin twins & Vrbata). Also, the Canucks just havent been the same in the postseason since losing in the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals to BOS, & while this series will be a lot closer then VANs previous two playoff series, the Flames will go on to Round 2. Flames in 7.
(C1) STL vs. (W1) MIN - I think the deciding factor in this series will be the Blues goaltending situation, which has been overmatched to say the least in their last three playoff series (all losses). Jake Allen will get the first shot at goalie for the Blues, which was the right decision made by Hitchcock as Allen has been playing great the past month or so. If he can carry that momentum into this series then that wont be good news for Parise, Pominville, etc. On offense, STL is pretty healthy compared to last year going into their first round series against the Blackhawks, so there will be no excuses this time around for Tarasenko, Schwartz, Steen, etc. I expect this series to go the distance & while Dubnyk has been the main reason MIN made the postseason, I think Jake Allen will outplay him while having home-ice will lead STL into Round 2. Blues in 7.
(C2) NSH vs. (C3) CHI - I probably still wouldve went with CHI if Kane werent healthy enough to play in the series, but since hes set to play in Game 1, Im not hesitating to pick them to defeat the defensive-minded Predators. While the Preds have one of the best defensive units in the NHL, I think CHIs depth on offense, experience, plus the return of Kane will be too much for NSH to overcome. Blackhawks in 6.
East:
(M1) NYR vs. (W2) PIT - While the Penguins have played like shit down the stretch, clinching the last remaining playoff spot in the East on the last day of the regular season, this could be a trap series for the Rangers if they overlook this PIT team. Playing the Rangers in the first round may not be the worst thing in the world as they rarely have been underdogs in a playoffs series during the Crosby-Malkin-Fleury Era, & if they choose to embrace it, could be beneficial to PIT as they play with a little less pressure. Could they upset the Rangers? Maybe. Will they? Hell no lol. This Rangers team has been firing on all cylinders all season long. They didnt miss a beat when Lundqvist was injured for nearly two months as Talbot filled in remarkably at goalie during that time & they havent missed a beat since Lundqvist returned. While Crosby & Malkin may help PIT win a game or two in this series, they will be without Letang while Fleury has had played like shit in recent postseasons. Not to mention, the Rangers have the edge in depth, speed, & size. If the Rangers dont get too cocky, theyll be fine. Rangers in 6.
(M2) WAS vs. (M3) NYI - The Isles have not played well during the second half of the season, going 15-14-6. While the Caps have the slight edge on offense in Ovechkin, Backstrom, Carlson, etc.; edge in playoff experience; goaltending; not to mention NYIs woeful penalty-kill unit; Im still going with the Isles to advance. Ive seen this story before with WAS in the postseason since Ovechkin entered the league & expect the Caps to get KOed in the first round in seven games yet again. The Isles moving to Brooklyn will be mentioned oh about a couple of thousand times throughout this series, which will be a motivator for this young team. I expect this series to be high-scoring as both Holtby & Halak will struggle, but Tavares, the experience of both Leddy & Boychuk, & the youngins': Ryan Strome, Anders Lee, Brock Nelson, will prevail in seven to set up The Battle of New York City in the next round. Islanders in 7.
(A1) MON vs. (W1) OTT - The Sens have been on fire since Hammond became their goalie & I expect his momentum to help carry OTT in this series & onto Round 2. On offense, the Sens have a balanced attack & more scoring depth (Karlsson, Turris, Stone, Hoffman, Zibanejad, etc.) than a Canadiens team thatll be without Pacioretty for at least Game 1. That very well maybe enough for the Sens to steal a game in Montreal & grab the home-ice advantage from them. While the Habs do have the Vezina & Hart Trophy favorite in Carey Price plus more depth on defense, the Sens will knock them out for the second time in three years in the postseason. Senators in 6.
(A2) TB vs. (A3) DET - Mrazek or Jimmy Howard? It won't matter whos at goalie for the Red Wings because he wont be the answer against the NHLs #1 offensive team. If Stamkos, Callahan, Tyler Johnson, & Co. will do plenty of damage while Ben Bishop, who wasnt available for the Lightning in last years postseason due to injury (TB was swept by MON in the first round), will continue his strong play from the regular season into the postseason. Lightning in 5.
So, these would be my second round matchups: (P3) Calgary vs. (W2) Winnipeg, (C1) St. Louis vs. (C3) Chicago, (M1) NY Rangers vs. (M3) NY Islanders, & (A2) Tampa Bay vs. (W1) Ottawa.
2015 NHL Quarterfinals Predictions
West:
(P1) ANA vs. (W2) WPG - This should be a great series that will end in an upset. Both teams starting goalies (Andersen & Pavelec) will probably be streaky & I wouldnt be surprised if both backups (Gibson & Hutchinson) have to make starts. I would give the goalie edge to ANA in this series. While ANAs offense in Getzlaf, Perry, & Kesler should carry the Ducks to a couple of wins in the series, I expect WPGs defense, namely Dustin Byfuglien, to wear ANA down the longer this series goes (This assuming the Jets can minimize going into the penalty box lol). If WPG can successfully do this, then theres a good chance this will translate into a successful series for Wheeler, Ladd, & Little. I cant wait to see how crazy the Jets fans will be in Game 3 when they host their first playoff game in nearly twenty years .& how even more crazy itll be when they clinch the series at home in Game 6. Jets in 6.
(P2) VAN vs. (P3) CGY - I want to say VANs experience will prevail in this series, but theres just something about this CGY team which continues to defy expectations. Everyone, myself included, has been waiting for CGY to stumble & thought they would after Giordanos injury or in a do-or-die game against the defending champions nearly a week ago. Yet, they continue to prove the naysayers wrong, which is why Im picking the Flames to win this series. I expect CGY to stay out of the penalty box, minimizing VANs PP opportunities (one of VANs strengths), while CGYs first-line (Hudler, Monahan, & Gaudreau) will outplay VANs (Sedin twins & Vrbata). Also, the Canucks just havent been the same in the postseason since losing in the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals to BOS, & while this series will be a lot closer then VANs previous two playoff series, the Flames will go on to Round 2. Flames in 7.
(C1) STL vs. (W1) MIN - I think the deciding factor in this series will be the Blues goaltending situation, which has been overmatched to say the least in their last three playoff series (all losses). Jake Allen will get the first shot at goalie for the Blues, which was the right decision made by Hitchcock as Allen has been playing great the past month or so. If he can carry that momentum into this series then that wont be good news for Parise, Pominville, etc. On offense, STL is pretty healthy compared to last year going into their first round series against the Blackhawks, so there will be no excuses this time around for Tarasenko, Schwartz, Steen, etc. I expect this series to go the distance & while Dubnyk has been the main reason MIN made the postseason, I think Jake Allen will outplay him while having home-ice will lead STL into Round 2. Blues in 7.
(C2) NSH vs. (C3) CHI - I probably still wouldve went with CHI if Kane werent healthy enough to play in the series, but since hes set to play in Game 1, Im not hesitating to pick them to defeat the defensive-minded Predators. While the Preds have one of the best defensive units in the NHL, I think CHIs depth on offense, experience, plus the return of Kane will be too much for NSH to overcome. Blackhawks in 6.
East:
(M1) NYR vs. (W2) PIT - While the Penguins have played like shit down the stretch, clinching the last remaining playoff spot in the East on the last day of the regular season, this could be a trap series for the Rangers if they overlook this PIT team. Playing the Rangers in the first round may not be the worst thing in the world as they rarely have been underdogs in a playoffs series during the Crosby-Malkin-Fleury Era, & if they choose to embrace it, could be beneficial to PIT as they play with a little less pressure. Could they upset the Rangers? Maybe. Will they? Hell no lol. This Rangers team has been firing on all cylinders all season long. They didnt miss a beat when Lundqvist was injured for nearly two months as Talbot filled in remarkably at goalie during that time & they havent missed a beat since Lundqvist returned. While Crosby & Malkin may help PIT win a game or two in this series, they will be without Letang while Fleury has had played like shit in recent postseasons. Not to mention, the Rangers have the edge in depth, speed, & size. If the Rangers dont get too cocky, theyll be fine. Rangers in 6.
(M2) WAS vs. (M3) NYI - The Isles have not played well during the second half of the season, going 15-14-6. While the Caps have the slight edge on offense in Ovechkin, Backstrom, Carlson, etc.; edge in playoff experience; goaltending; not to mention NYIs woeful penalty-kill unit; Im still going with the Isles to advance. Ive seen this story before with WAS in the postseason since Ovechkin entered the league & expect the Caps to get KOed in the first round in seven games yet again. The Isles moving to Brooklyn will be mentioned oh about a couple of thousand times throughout this series, which will be a motivator for this young team. I expect this series to be high-scoring as both Holtby & Halak will struggle, but Tavares, the experience of both Leddy & Boychuk, & the youngins': Ryan Strome, Anders Lee, Brock Nelson, will prevail in seven to set up The Battle of New York City in the next round. Islanders in 7.
(A1) MON vs. (W1) OTT - The Sens have been on fire since Hammond became their goalie & I expect his momentum to help carry OTT in this series & onto Round 2. On offense, the Sens have a balanced attack & more scoring depth (Karlsson, Turris, Stone, Hoffman, Zibanejad, etc.) than a Canadiens team thatll be without Pacioretty for at least Game 1. That very well maybe enough for the Sens to steal a game in Montreal & grab the home-ice advantage from them. While the Habs do have the Vezina & Hart Trophy favorite in Carey Price plus more depth on defense, the Sens will knock them out for the second time in three years in the postseason. Senators in 6.
(A2) TB vs. (A3) DET - Mrazek or Jimmy Howard? It won't matter whos at goalie for the Red Wings because he wont be the answer against the NHLs #1 offensive team. If Stamkos, Callahan, Tyler Johnson, & Co. will do plenty of damage while Ben Bishop, who wasnt available for the Lightning in last years postseason due to injury (TB was swept by MON in the first round), will continue his strong play from the regular season into the postseason. Lightning in 5.
So, these would be my second round matchups: (P3) Calgary vs. (W2) Winnipeg, (C1) St. Louis vs. (C3) Chicago, (M1) NY Rangers vs. (M3) NY Islanders, & (A2) Tampa Bay vs. (W1) Ottawa.