If I didn't go out last night, I would of beat you to it.
But I pretty much agree with everything you say.
One thing about Jersey though, they've been pretty shit down the stretch but they went 4-1 in their last 5.
EAST:
Boston-Montreal
Without Markov there is no chance for the Habs. Boston is bigger and stronger and has more than 1 scoring line. Montreal will get beat up and beat down. I see this series going 4-1 Boston. Montreal will win 1 game at home from stellar goaltending and the insane amount of noise from being at home.
Washington-New York Rangers
I'm routing for the Rangers here because of the whole Antropov thing and the better the Rangers do the better that conditional pick is for the Leafs. But I think the explosiveness of Ovechkin, Semin, Backstrom, Fedorov, Kozlov, Nylander, and Green will be too much for the Rangers. But then again, if the Rangers can keep this a defensive battle Lundqvist beats Theodore by a long shot. I say Washington wins this series 4-2.
New Jersey-Carolina
Carolina dominated the season series 3 games to 1, and the Devils have not been very good lately. But even still you can't count out the experience that the Devils have. Brodeur, Gionta, Rolston, Shannahan, Elias, etc.. Not to mention the talent level of those guys and add in Zajac, Parise, and Oduya. All this equals a team that could do some damage. But on the other hand, the Canes have been unbelievable down the stretch. Cam Ward is playing as good if not better than he did when the Canes won the cup. Add that with the amazing chemistry of Staal and Cole, not to mention other goal scoring threats like Samsonov, Ruutu, Brindamour, Whitney and Babchuck and this series could be real interesting. I say the Canes take it in 7.
Philadelphia-Pittsburgh
These teams hate each other. Mike Richards vs. Sidney Crosby in a 7 game series will be epic. It is hard to pick just one of these teams because both are so stacked with skill. Pittsburgh: Crosby, Malkin, Gonchar, Staal, Sykora, Satan, Fedotenko, Guerin, Kunitz, etc.. Philly: Richards, Carter, Gagne, Lupul, Hatnell, Giroux, etc.. I think this will come down to who is better defensively and in net. Both teams can be pretty sketchy in each regard. I pick Fleury over Biron, mainly based on his playoffs last year and because of the run the Pens have been on since the coaching change. Philly is the only team in the league who did not allow a short-handed goal this season, so special teams will be key in this series. I say Pittsburgh wins 4 games to 2. This series was so hard to pick...
WEST:
San Jose-St. Louis
Back around Christmas/New Years the Blues were dead last in the West, now they sit top 8 in the conference. That is because of good goaltending and good coaching not to mention the young guys mixed with the veterans are playing really really good. If their was an upset to be had in the first round, it would be in this series. St. Louis has been playing so well, add that up with the fact that San Jose always seems to choke come playoff time and I think we have the ingredients for an upset. Now I am not counting the Sharks out, they have to by one of the most dynamic teams in league. Nabokov is easily one of the best goalies in the league and Thornton has to be one of the best centres. Not to mention San Jose's defence is stacked. The additions of Dan Boyle and Rob Blake have been huge for the Sharks, and that gives them the advantage going into this series. Not to mention them being Presidents Trophy winners this season...I say an upset and the Blues win it is 7.
Detroit-Anaheim
Anaheim is not the big tough scary team that won the cup in '07. They are quite different this season then they were then. They made some big changes at the trade deadline dealing off Steve Montador to Boston, Travis Moen and Kent Huskins to San Jose, Sam Pahlsson to Chicago, and Chris Kunitz to Pittsburgh. But the emergence of Jonas Hiller plus the addition of Ryan Whitney makes their back end scary good. S. Niedermeyer, Pronger, Beauchimen, Whitney? Negro please. Match that up with neither Osgood or Conklin playing very good in net for the Wings and I think the Ducks will be moving on to round #2. Now I am not saying that the Ducks will have their way with the reigning defending Stanley Cup champions, obviously guys like Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Hossa, Franzen, Cleary, Holmstrom (if he can stay healthy), Lidstrom, Rafalski, Kronwall, Stuart, etc.. will put up a fight. It will just come down to Anaheim being bigger and stronger and having better goaltending. I say the Ducks in 6. 4-2.
Vancouver-Columbus
Vancouver has been scary good lately and is pretty deep offensively. They are not too shabby defensively either. Their top 2 lines of Sedin-Sedin-Burrows followed by Demitra-Sundin-Kesler is a great one-two punch. Not to mention Nucks fans will be able to see Sundin's playoff heroics first hand... He is only one of the top OT perfermers on the NHL, no big deal really... Not to mention Luongo ended the season off in great fashion by only allwing 1 goal in his last 3 games. Tying, breaking, and setting a new Vancouver record for shut-outs in a season. But can he keep it up in the playoffs? Well you can't not say something good about Columbus. They have some key veterans Malhotra, Peca, Modin and some key young guys or first time playoffs players in Nash, Voracek, Brassard, and most importantly Steve Mason. He should win the Calder trophy, and for good reason. He put up huge numbers for the Blue Jackets this season and is one of the key reasons why the Blue Jackets are making their first ever playoff appearence. This series will come down to Rick Nash. If he can elevate his game to match the talent of Vancouver, then I like Clumbus chances. But if the Nucks can shut him down, then this is Vancouvers series. It will also be one hell of a goaltending battle. I say Vancouver in 7.
Chicago-Calgary
Calgary has not been playing good lately at all. They can not score, and defensively they have been leaving Kipper out to dry. It's crazy when your first line consists of Iginla-Jokinen-Cammaleri and you can't score. But Calgary has a lot of guys out with injury who should be returning in time for the playoffs. When these guys return, it will take the pressure off the top line to score every shift. But the speed and youthful enthusiasm of the Hawks may just pick the Flames apart. This series will also be an amazing goaltending battle between Kipper and the Boulin Wall. Khabiboulin is a stanley cup champion and knows what it takes to win. Kipper may get tired in the playoffs, seeing as how he played so much during the season. Plus if either goaltender falters, Chicago has the much better back-up in Huet. It will be nice to see Toews and Kane, not to mention all the other young guns the Hawks have, in their first playoff appearence. But you can never count out a team lead by Jarome Iginla. I say the Hawks win in 6.
Now lets get this show on the road! Playoffs begin in just over 3 days.
