NHL 12 Playoff Thread

[Fygar]

I could have sworn we had a thread for this season, but I could not find it with the search function. Hell, this is the only time the conversation takes off anyway

And let me get this out of the way, sorry Marc Dachamp Your boys played hard in the second half of the season, but came up short. I like Buffalo and always wish them well.

Let's kick off with our round 1 picks.

EAST:

Rangers vs Senators
Rangers in five

Bruins vs Caps
Bruins in six

Devils vs Panters
Devils in seven

Pens vs Flyers
As much as it pains me to type this...but honestly I have to say it
Flyers in seven

I think this is a very solid Pens team but they've had bad outings with Philly two season in a row. Philly is going to get in their head. It's going to be a very close series but Pittsburgh is going to blow game 7 (like the last two years in round 1).

WEST:

Let me preface this by saying I've paid very little attention to the West this year. I'm looking at these match ups for the first time and I had no idea some of these teams had decent records let alone good ones. I went for upsets from teams who are typically playoff teams.

Kings vs Canucks
Canucks in six

Sharks vs Blues
Sharks in seven

Blackhawks vs Coyotes
Blackhawks in six

Redwings vs Predators
Redwings in seven

[Rian Fike]

Stanley Cup playoffs back in South Florida for the first time in 12 years. Showdown with the Devils, including our former coach. Good times.

We have a bit of a goalie issue, but a solid team and a tight game plan. Rubber rats are back on the ice. Here goes nothing...

[markgrayson]

Bummer, Marc D. . I thought for sure Buffalo was in.

I'm in the same boat as you are as far as not paying much attention, except it's the East for me. A few of my pics match yours though.

EAST:

Rangers vs Senators
Rangers in five. King Henrik.

Bruins vs Caps
Bruins in six. I don't think the Caps have enough goaltending to stop all the weapons Boston has.

Devils vs Panthers
Devils in four. Panthers were looking shaky at the end of the season, and barely managed to win the division.

Pens vs Flyers
Pens in seven. I think Fleury has a better series than Brzygalov.

WEST:

Kings vs Canucks
Canucks in five. The Kings can't score.

Sharks vs Blues
Blues in six. Blues are one of the more dangerous teams in the entire league. As well as..

Redwings vs Predators
Preds in seven. They are playing some shut down hockey right now. Perhaps the most dangerous team in hockey.

Blackhawks vs Coyotes
As much as it pains me to say this, Coyotes in six. The 'Hawks just haven't had enough to consistently beat the 'Scrotes, and there's no telling how Toews will play when he returns. Mike Smith is have a career year so far.

[Henry!]

Been bummed out on hockey the last few weeks during the Stars' spectacular flame out, but the excitement of play off hockey is too much to ignore. But oh how I wish the Stars were in it. Next year!

Picks!

Kings vs Canucks
Canucks in six. LA ended on a bit of a hot streak, but I think the Canucks turn on the amps and handle the Kings in six.

Sharks vs Blues
Defense wins champions, and I like the Blues goaltenders a whole lote more than the Sharks'. Blues in 5.

Redwings vs Predators
Predators in 6. I'm bandwaggoning the Preds now since I have family in Nashville, I love their new uniforms, and seeing non-traditional markets do well always makes me happy. Also, fuck Detroit

Blackhawks vs Coyotes
Coyotes in..seven? Mike Smith!

Don't pay enough attention to east teams to really make any picks.

[Cactusakic]

Avs didn't make it, therefore you all suck.

[Mylazycat]

Predictions in bold:

Eastern Conference

No. 1: New York Rangers (51-24-7, 109 pts.)
vs.
No. 8: Ottawa Senators (41-30-10, 92 pts.)

No. 2: Boston Bruins (48-29-4, 100 pts.)
vs.
No. 7: Washington Capitals (42-32-8, 92 pts.)

No. 3: Florida Panthers (37-26-18, 92 pts.)
vs.
No. 6: New Jersey Devils (47-28-6, 100 pts.)

No. 4: Pittsburgh Penguins (50-25-6, 106 pts.)
vs.
No. 5: Philadelphia Flyers (47-25-9, 103 pts.)


Western Conference


No. 1: Vancouver Canucks (51-22-9, 111 pts.)
vs.
No. 8: Los Angeles Kings (40-27-14, 94 pts.)

No. 2: St. Louis Blues (49-22-11, 109 pts.)
vs.
No. 7: San Jose Sharks (43-29-10, 96 pts.)

No. 3: Phoenix Coyotes (42-27-13, 97 pts.)
vs.
No. 6: Chicago Blackhawks (44-26-11, 99 pts.)

No. 4: Nashville Predators (47-26-8, 102 pts.)
vs.
No. 5: Detroit Red Wings (48-28-5, 101 pts.)

Stanley Cup Finalists:

Pittsburgh Penquins over Vancouver Canucks in six games.

Sidney Crosby playoff MVP

[WillieLee]

Red Wings peaked a month too soon. Injuries have taken away a lot of their depth so they'll be lucky to get past the Predators.

Let's go for the Blues!

And in the East, the Penguins will likely whine and cry their way into finals.

But what's most important is that the most valuable team in the league once again missed the playoffs. But good news Leaf fans, at least they weren't last! I hear they plan on a raising a banner to celebrate that achievement.

[Mylazycat]

This has nothing to do with the playoffs but this is my Statistic Of The Year:

Sidney Crosby finished with more assists than Alex Ovechkin.

Crosby had 29 assists, Ovechkin had 27 assists.

Crosby played 22 games and Ovechkin played 78 games.

Think about that for a moment.

[DAVE]

Let's go Rangers!

[DC Camel]

Caps seem to matchup well against the Bruins and are 3-1 against them this season. I see them winning and yes that's a biased opinion.