I think the refrain from the classic Bachman Turner Overdrive song refrain, “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet, B-b-b-baby, you just ain’t seen n-n-nothin’ yet, Here’s something that you never gonna forget, B-b-b-baby, you just ain’t seen n-n-nothin’ yet” fits the NHL playoffs up until now with hopefully more excitement and thrills to come. It has been absolutely incredible the intensity of most of the series thus far; with multiple teams battling back from big series deficits to either run the table and advance or stopping just short. There has been plenty of hitting and the occasional controversy that goes with it to keep people talking and the last minute of 3rd periods and overtime have served as the backdrop some truly magical playoff moments this post-season alone. I went into the playoffs feeling not sure if I was going to be able to get caught up in them with the Wild missing the post-season for a 3rd straight year but it didn’t take long after watching the tenacity, speed and energy of the crowds as they hold their breath in anticipation of each shot and then either cheer, boo in disgust or just give a sigh of relief. The emotional rush of the playoffs is incredible and while it is unfortunate the Wild are not there as a hockey fan I can still greatly appreciate the outstanding level of play and genuine drama that each game brings.
On a more personal note, I may have to consider to start playing the lottery. I was a perfect 8 for 8 in my previous gameday post. Check it out yourself http://www.stateofhockeynews.com/2011-articles/april/2011-nhl-playoffs-preview.html While I was wrong about the length of most of the respective series; I picked the winner correctly each time and isn’t that what really matters anyways? Of course, just like in any broadcast on TV or radio I probably just jinxed myself. Although a simulation run through Electronic Arts’ by the league on their video game NHL ’11 also went 8-for-8, so maybe it wasn’t that big of a deal. Before my ego gets too much bigger, the next round has plenty of intriguing questions waiting to be answered. Will the Predators be able to re-focus themselves after their 1st ever playoff series win by toppling the top-seeded Canucks? Will the Canucks live up to the experts predictions now that they have managed to defeat their recent-playoff nemesis Chicago? Will Philadelphia be able to dominate Boston the way it dominated the Buffalo Sabres in Game 7? Who is tougher, the hard charging Flyers or the newest version of the Big Bad Bruins? Which Southeast Division star will shine brighter, Alexander Ovechkin or Steven Stamkos? Can Detroit add another sweep to its resume by routing the Sharks, or will San Jose and Joe Thornton finally live up to their potential? Perhaps none of these questions will be answered, but it certainly will be fun watching it all. Just as the case with my previous Playoff Preview I will provide a summary of each series as well as my own pick as to how I see the series will result. Enjoy!
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All game times are listed in Central Standard Time
Eastern Conference
#2 Philadelphia Flyers vs. #3 Boston Bruins ~ I really think this could be one of the most brutal, physically speaking, series of the playoffs. Both teams pride themselves by having a plethora of tough players to go to make life miserable for their opponents. So far, the team’s tougher forwards like the Bruins’ Milan Lucic and the Flyers’ Scott Hartnell have been fairly quiet offensively. Both clubs have advanced to the 2nd round by contributions by their smaller French-Canadian forwards like Boston’s Brad Marchand (1 goal, 4 assists) and Patrice Bergeron (2 goals, 5 assists) as well as Philadelphia’s Daniel Briere (6 goals, 1 assist) and Claude Giroux (1 goal, 8 assists). Defensively, the Bruins and Flyers have a solid mix of veteran experience and fairly well seasoned youth with; Boston will be hoping Zdeno Chara can be the shutdown force he was against the Canadiens. Between the pipes for Philadelphia, Brian Boucher has emerged as the workhorse and at least early on expect the Flyers to give Boucher the carry the team. Boston looks to Vezina trophy candidate Tim Thomas; suffice it to say Thomas will likely have a lot of traffic near his crease in a way he never really experienced in their first series against the Habs. MY PICK: I think Philadelphia’s ability to storm the crease will steadily erode Thomas’ ability to see the puck and stop it effectively. I think the Flyers will prevail in six brutal games.
Game Schedule
Game 1: Saturday, April 30th at Philadelphia @ 2:00PM – NBC, CBC
Game 2: Monday, May 2nd at Philadelphia @ 6:30PM – Versus, TSN
Game 3: Wednesday, May 4th at Boston @ 6:00PM – Versus, CBC
Game 4: Friday, May 6th at Boston @ 7:00PM – Versus, CBC
*Game 5: Sunday, May 8th at Philadelphia @ 2:00PM – NBC, CBC
*Game 6: Tuesday, May 10th at Boston @ TBD – Versus, CBC
*Game 7: Thursday, May 12th at Philadelphia @ TBD – Versus, CBC
#1 Washington Capitals vs. #5 Tampa Bay Lightning ~ Two of the brightest young stars in the NHL in Alexander Ovechkin and Steven Stamkos face in this head-to-head match up of Southeast Division teams. Familiarity will certainly make the level of discontent that much greater throughout the course of this series. Washington made the transition to a more defensive style to help it win the more intense battles of the playoffs and so far its working after dispatching the Rangers in six games. The Capitals may not be quite as explosive offensively, but they still have loads of offensive skill. Big bodied veteran forwards Mike Knuble and Jason Arnott are perfect for inter-division post-season battles like this. Meanwhile the Lightning got a quiet start from Stamkos, but luckily veterans Martin St. Louis and Simon Gagne stepped up their game. Guy Boucher’s squad plays a viciously efficient puck-pursuit system that gives teams very little time and space to work with. Defensively is where you have the biggest mismatch as the Capitals have a clear edge in skill and offense from its blueline with Mike Green and John Carlson leading the way. Tampa Bay will lean on vets Eric Brewer and Mattias Ohlund to shutdown the Caps deadly core of forwards. Between the pipes the edge goes to Tampa Bay where the veteran savvy of former Wild goaltender Dwayne Roloson comes into play as the Caps are still leaning on youngster Michal Neuwirth. MY PICK: This is a really tough series to call but I think the Capitals’ depth will win out. Unless the Lightning’s vets like St. Louis and Roloson play out of their mind I think Washington wins this series in 5 games.
Game Schedule
Game 1: Friday, April 29th at Washington @ 6:00PM – Versus, TSN
Game 2: Sunday, May 1st at Washington @ 6:00PM – Versus, CBC
Game 3: Tuesday, May 3rd at Tampa Bay @ TBD – Versus, TSN
Game 4: Thursday, May 5th at Tampa Bay @ 6:00PM – TSN
*Game 5: Saturday, May 7th at Washington @ 11:30AM – NBC, CBC
*Game 6: Monday, May 9th at Tampa Bay @ TBD – Versus, TSN
*Game 7: Wednesday, May 10th at Washington @ TBD – Versus, TSN
Western Conference
#1 Vancouver Canucks vs. #5 Nashville Predators ~ For the Canucks there is no time to rest and dwell on the afterglow of a 1st round victory as just one night later after defeating their nemesis Chicago in a 7-game thrill-a-thon as they play Nashville. Nashville is going to have to find someway to put some the good feelings from winning a playoff series for the first time in franchise history; and somehow refocus itself for what will be a giant challenge against the top seeded Canucks. Vancouver is significantly more balanced offensively than the Anaheim Ducks, so Pekka Rinne and the very able Predators blueline will be tested early and often. Nashville has a ‘no-name offense’ which would not scare just about anyone, but where they lack in skill they attempt to make up for it in grit and determination. Newcomer Mike Fisher leads the Nashville attack. The Preds will hope to wear down Vancouver with a strong and physical forecheck led by agitating hitting machine Jordin Tootoo and former Wild farmhand Joel Ward. Vancouver will try to own time of possession offensively as sniper Daniel Sedin and set up man Henrik Sedin by cycling the puck down low and testing top pairing defensemen Shea Weber and Ryan Suter. Between the pipes Pekka Rinne versus Roberto Luongo is probably the best goaltender showdown of the 2nd round. MY PICK: I really want the Predators to win this series. However I think Vancouver has too many weapons and too much depth to lose this series and they’ll win in 5 hard fought games.
Game Schedule
Game 1: Thursday, April 28th at Vancouver @ 8:00PM – CBC, Versus
Game 2: Saturday, April 30th at Vancouver @ 8:00PM – CBC, Versus
Game 3: Tuesday, May 3rd at Nashville @ TBD – CBC, Versus
Game 4: Thursday, May 5th at Nashville @ TBD – CBC, Versus
*Game 5: Saturday, May 7th at Vancouver @ 7:00PM – CBC, Versus
*Game 6: Monday, May 9th at Nashville @ TBD – CBC, Versus
*Game 7: Wednesday, May 11th at Vancouver @ TBD – CBC, Versus
#2 San Jose Sharks vs. #3 Detroit Red Wings ~ This could turn out to be a very intriguing series as the poised and efficient Red Wings take on a re-focused Sharks squad who will have home-ice advantage. Detroit methodically tore apart the Coyotes; with its solid puck control game and that was without Henrik Zetterberg who should be back for this series. Meanwhile the Sharks use a scoring by committee approach that will force Detroit to be very responsible in its own end. Detroit has that incredible ability to step up their game when they need to as Pavel Datsyuk, Johan Franzen, Niklas Lidstrom and Tomas Holmstrom just all seem to know to make big plays happen at the most crucial times. Both team possess oodles of speed; as Darren Helm causes tons of havoc on the forecheck and Patrick Marleau provides blistering speed with offensive skill. Defensively it is fairly even. Veteran anchors Lidstrom and the Sharks’ Dan Boyle will likely log huge minutes. Between the pipes it is interesting as Antti Niemi tries to keep his playoff magic going and Jimmy Howard hopes to repeat a solid performance from his first series against Phoenix. MY PICK: I think this will be a seven game barn burner. My heart wants San Jose to win but they’ve burned me too many times and I think Detroit prevails in game 7.
Game Schedule
Game 1: Friday, April 29th at San Jose @ 9:00PM – Versus, TSN
Game 2: Sunday, May 1st at San Jose @ 2:00PM – NBC, TSN
Game 3: Wednesday, May 4th at Detroit @ 7:00PM – Versus, TSN
Game 4: Friday, May 6th at Detroit @ 6:00PM – Versus, TSN
*Game 5: Sunday, May 8th at San Jose @ 7:00PM – Versus, TSN
*Game 6: Tuesday, May 10th at Detroit @ TBD – Versus, TSN
*Game 7: Thursday, May 12th at San Jose @ TBD – Versus, TSN
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