NHL 2006 Playoffs thread...

[Red Baron]

EAST

(1) Ottawa vs. (8) Tampa Bay - Ottawa in 5

(2) Carolina vs. (7) Montreal - Carolina in 4 (I'm even going to admit than none of these games are going to be close)

(3) New Jersey vs. (6) N.Y. Rangers - New Jersey in 5

(4) Buffalo vs. (5) Philadelphia - Buffalo in 6

 

WEST

(1) Detroit vs. (8) Edmonton - Detroit in 6

(2) Dallas vs. (7) Colorado - Dallas in 7

(3) Calgary vs. (6) Anaheim - Calgary in 6

(4) Nashville vs. (5) San Jose - San Jose in 5

[the pinjockey]

The Flyers team is maddening to watch. If Hatcher can provide some physical play, him and Gautier (who I know will provide some physical play) can slow down the pace of the series throwing it in the Flyers favor.

 

However, if the defenseman continue to back into their zone letting Afenegenov fly all over the place it is going to be a long series for Esche.

 

With the emergence of the Carter-Umberger-Niko line providing a second scoring option and Gautier really stepping up for them, I'll go with the Flyers in seven, but I wouldn't put any money on it. Haven't seen many of the other teams at all, so I won't bother spitballing guesses.

[Red Baron]

Lets just say this.

 

Phili is known to have shaky goaltending throughout the playoffs, and don't knock off Buffalo for being soft. They have some pretty big guys up there like Grier, McKee Fitzpatrick, Roy. Don't forget that Drury is basically a playoff player with a sickening amount of GWG during the playoffs.

[the pinjockey]

The goaltending is the least of my concerns with them. Esche and Nitty have some crappy numbers because the defense has laid down like dogs in front of them most of the second half of the season.

[C Dubya 04]

I agree with pinjockey. The Flyers lack any consistent defensive presence that just has been killing the goalies.

[CanadianChris]

And that's why Philly is getting bounced in the first round. Their goalies aren't good enough to raise their game to a point where they can overcome the kinds of defensive lapses that the Flyers have had. Against a similar type goalie, they could probably score enough to win a series, but Ryan Miller isn't going to give them the goals they're going to need.

[CanadianGuitarist]

Even if Buffalo does win, I can't envision them going that deep just on the grounds that they're gonna be pretty beat up by Philly, more so than any of the other first round winners. That said, there's a lot of talent on this team, and they could easily be a darkhorse.

 

1) Detroit vs 8) Edmonton - Detroit in 6

2) Dallas vs 7) Colorado - Dallas in 6

3) Calgary vs 6) Anaheim - Calgary in 5

4) Nashville vs 5) San Jose - San Jose in 5

 

1) Ottawa vs 8) Tampa - Ottawa in 4

2) Carolina vs 7) Montreal - Carolina in 5

3) New Jersey vs 6) NY Rangers - New Jersey in 5

4) Buffalo vs 5) Philadelphia - Buffalo in 7

 

Is anyone keeping track of these?

[nl5xsk1]

Is anyone keeping track of these?

Of course not, which means we can all go back and edit our picks to show how smart we were when we made them.

 

"See, I told everyone that both #1 seeds would lose!"

[CanadianChris]

What the heck is your avatar, CG?

[stahl]

http://images.tsn.ca/images/e/headers/nhl-...iens-775x50.gif

[Guest Felonies!]

Yeah, 775x50 images are great for 100x100 spaces. Just grab a CH from somewhere on Google.

[Guest]

Of course not, which means we can all go back and edit our picks to show how smart we were when we made them.

Why need to edit when I'll be right in the first place?

[CanadianGuitarist]

What the heck is your avatar, CG?

Poor. Fixed, though.

 

Esche will start game one. This is a quality week line up with 4/20 being the segway to two days of playoff hockey.

[Guest]

I'm going to count Gauthier for one dirty hit in game 3 or 4 that leads to a suspension.

 

Dirtiest player in the game.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Not with Darius "Let Me Hipcheck Your Knees" Kasparaitis still in the league. And I'm sure people can name some guys dirtier than Gauthier. The only "dirty" play he's had since joining the Flyers was the hit on the Rangers dude, and Gauthier was apologising to the guy immediately afterwards.

[Guest]

That's since he's joined the Flyers. He's done countless other things while playing in Calgary and Phoenix. This season as a matter of fact, he got Nedved knocked out by Fedoruk after he elbowed Lupul in a Ducks/Yotes game. He plays on the edge...I like that. I just wish he'd take his visor off.

 

Only guys that come close to him are Kasparaitis, Marchment and Ruutu.

[CanadianGuitarist]

I'm pretty drunk, so forgive my lack of eloquency:

 

I haven't anticipated anything this much since the first time a girl took her top off in front of me. Fuck, think of all that's happened in the last 22 months. THE PLAYOFFS ARE FUCKING HERE!

 

Best of all, alot of these matchups, like RedBaron, could go both ways. Look at the west. Colorado is a way better team than seventh place. Imagine how far Edmonton could go if they pull it together against Detroit (and they did take five points of eight against the Red Wings this season). Eight superb teams are going home after he first round, this is the most wide open playoffs I can remember in some time.

[Red Baron]

Darcy Tucker still plays, so Tucker automatically wins by default.

[KGB]

Not with Darius "Let Me Hipcheck Your Knees" Kasparaitis still in the league. And I'm sure people can name some guys dirtier than Gauthier. The only "dirty" play he's had since joining the Flyers was the hit on the Rangers dude, and Gauthier was apologising to the guy immediately afterwards.

 

And the hit on Kyle Wellwood, same deal.

[the pinjockey]

I think that may have been who Spiff was talking about and just mixed up the team. Unless I am missing a hit.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Yeah, Wellwood. For some reason I though he was on the Rangers instead of Toronto.

[CanadianChris]

I'm tired of waiting already, and there's still almost 36 hours before the pucks drop.

 

I'll be at Game 2 of Sens/Bolts on Sunday night. Hopefully I can break my streak of never attending a home playoff win.

[JustJoe2k5]

I am a fan of the Carolina Hurricanes and I am really worried about their effectiveness in the playoffs. Ever since the injury to Erik Cole, they have struggled to return to the consistent play that put them at the top of the NHL. Martin Gerber has also seemed to have struggled down the stretch, most likely from fatigue. I think they'll be able to take the first-round series against Montreal, but anything beyond that will be a struggle. If they can find the right combination of players on lines, they could still be a force as they still are one of the deepest teams in the NHL.

[Red Baron]

They have the third line and can rotate with that to any combinations. If Carolina struggles (please) and still beat Montreal, they aren't going to the second round.

 

I expect Abby to start in game two though.

[CanadianChris]

Have they announced anything about game 1? I was actually expecting them to start Aebischer from the get-go.

[Red Baron]

No, but take Boullion out and place Streit in, and Montreal won't be giving up as many shots as they did.

 

Did anyone see Sportscentre top 10 goals so far. I think Souray was deeked three times in the top ten.

[Guest]

http://cap-ink.com/Playoffs/TreeSENATORS.jpg

 

Sub in the name of your team, provided they're a playoff team.

 

Something cool to look at.

[CanadianChris]

Did anyone see Sportscentre top 10 goals so far. I think Souray was deeked three times in the top ten.

I saw that. The Spezza goal still blows my mind.

[Red Baron]

Man, Souray should have clocked him, or if not took the penelty, and everytime I look at it Theodore really gave up on the shot (especially since his glove hand is right.)

 

Huet gets the call for game 1.

[CanadianChris]

Looks like it's Huet for the duration. We'll see how long that lasts.