NHL Playoffs Preview

Get your playoff beards ready! The NHL postseason is about to begin, and I am here to tell you how it will absolutely, definitely, go down.

In the east the seeding is as follows:

1. Capitals
2. Devils
3. Sabres
4. Penguins
5. Senators
6. Bruins
7. Flyers
8. Canadiens

WHO WILL WIN:
The Capitals. They have 18 more points than the second place team in the East. They have outscored their opponents by 85 this year. The team with the next best differential is the Blackhawks with a +62. Not to mention, they have Alex Ovechkin. Worth noting. While defense might be aquestion here, any team that can score like they can is sure to be dangerous. They draw the Canadiens in the first round, and now that Jaroslav Halak is cooling off, it should be a quick victory for the Capitals, my pick to make the Stanley Cup Finals.

WHO COULD WIN:
The Sabres. Full disclosure: I am a Sabres fan, but I feel they have the next best chance to win the Conference. The Capitals are a team that can score at will. The Sabres are a team that won’t let you. As the Olympics showed us, when it’s crunch time you can always rely on Ryan Miller. However, they are also a scary team that rarely has put together any extended win streaks, so they could just as easily lose in the first round. This is a team that needs to find some consistency, something they’ve struggled with the last couple of months. But again: Ryan Miller. Just sayin’.

DON’T SLEEP ON:
The Devils- The late surge got them the two seed, let’s see if they do anything with it.
The Penguins- They’re the reigning champs, but you know they’re thinking dynasty.

LEAST LIKELY:
The Flyers- Can you say goaltender problems? No Leighton, no Emery, Backlund day-to-day. Have fun against New Jersey. I will give you this: New Jersey rarely goes on offensive frenzies. Just ignore the beating they gave the Islanders the other night.


The Western Conference:

1. Sharks
2. Blackhawks
3. Canucks
4. Coyotes
5. Red Wings
6. Kings
7. Predators
8. Avalanche

WHO WILL WIN:
The Blackhawks. The Capitals of the west, they can score with relative ease. They are led by young firecrackers such as Patrick Kane (88 points), Duncan Keith (69 points), Jonathan Toews (68 points), and Patrick Sharp (66 points). That doesn’t mean they are without experience. Look no further than players such as Marian Hossa and Brian Campbell. This is not only a team that will be good for some time, but they can win right now, and I expect them to win the West.

WHO COULD WIN:
The Red Wings. It’s been the chorus all year: “When the Red Wings get healthy… when the Red Wings get healthy…”. Well, they got healthy. As a result, they got good. Really good. Remember when they were worried about not making the playoffs? Ha, what a laugh. They are no less than 16-3-2 in March and April. Hey, Phoenix! You had your best season in franchise history! Congratulations: here’s Detroit.

DON’T SLEEP ON:
The Sharks- They got the best record in the Western Conference for a reason, right?
The Canucks- Henrik Sedin got the scoring title, and they STILL have Roberto Luongo. Look out for these guys.

LEAST LIKELY:
The Avalanche- You don’t get the Stanley Cup by going 3-5-2 in your last 10 games and backing in. The Oilers had a better last 10.

So, my Stanley Cup Final is as follows:

Washington Capitals vs. Chicago Blackhawks

Yes, a regular offensive show, this one. However, once it gets down to it, I think Alex Ovechkin is going to be too much of a factor in this series. The Caps will have home ice, but I think they win the Cup in Chicago in six games.

Any way it goes, this is going to be a blast of a postseason, as it always is. Now it’s just about time to sit back and see what happens.