Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Playoff Picks to Click, or Not

It's now after midnight in New York and it is time for my picks for the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

We shall start in the Eastern Conference, where I say even if all the ghosts from the old Forum find their way to the Bell Centre, it still won't be enough to keep the Washington Capitals from defeating the Montreal Canadiens in five games. Alexander Ovechkin will win the hearts of the Canadiens fans when he cuts through the Canadiens defense in Games 3 and 4. The centennial celebration is over. In this new century, it's the Capitals who are doing the high flying.

Also getting bounced in five games will be the Boston Bruins, courtesy of the Buffalo Sabres. Forget about the success Boston had against Buffalo in the regular season. I have. I just see a Bruins team that struggles to score.

Dipping into the bag of crazy, I see the Philadelphia Flyers dispatching the New Jersey Devils in six games. I like how Devils honks immediately declared their team leading Cup contenders after the trade for Ilya Kovalchuk. Hmm, I think the Devils still failed to tear up the league. They're suspect, even with Martin Brodeur. Even against the Flyers, a team that is long on injured goaltenders. The Devils can be beaten. Make that, they will be beaten.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will get the best of the Ottawa Senators, but it will take seven games for the Pens to move on to the next round. Too much talent for the Penguins to fall in this round. And no Alex Kovalev to worry about. Well, that makes it easier. Still, it will take seven games to settle this one.

In the Western Conference, the San Jose Sharks are going to rush the Colorado Avalanche to the exits in five games. I don't have much confidence in Evgeny Nabokov, Joe Thornton or Patrick Marleau, but their expiration date does not come up for another round or so. Colorado is not as deep as San Jose, and the young players are banged up.

The Chicago Blackhawks will need six games to break down the Nashville Predators's defense, but they will get the job done and move one step closer to winning their first Cup since I was born. Dustin Byfuglien has played up front and on the back line. And he has pretty much left a bruise or worse on every opponent. He will have some fun with the Predators.

Roberto Luongo, you are Evgeny Nabokov of the North. I see you stop this and that, and then, whoops, four go past and you should have stopped every one of them. I cannot figure you out, but the Kings will, if it takes them a few overtimes to get it done. The Los Angeles Kings will defeat the Vancouver Canucks in six games. I like the Kings' defense, which is good, because I have as much confidence, perhaps less, in Jonathan Quick as I do Nabokov or Luongo.

Finally, I have to admit a little part of me grew misty and warm with the thought of the Phoenix Coyotes doing some damage and perhaps reaching the Stanley Cup finals. Then I remembered that I am old enough to avoid being drafted for military service. I am too old to believe in miracles, and I don't believe this team has the personnel to stop the Detroit Red Wings, who are on a tear. Detroit will defeat Phoenix in six games, and if the proposed ease agreement with the prospective owners holds up, this will be the last time Phoenix makes the playoffs. That's right, it appears that the Coyotes' agreement with the city of Glendale, Ariz., calls for the team to either be called the Glendale Coyotes or the Arizona Coyotes.

Makes you want to kick sand in their faces, which the Red Wings will. Book it.

Now you have my picks and Jeff's picks. What say you. The Lounge wants your picks on the record.

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