The 2011/2012 NHL Playoff Thread

[Jonny B]

...It only took 81 games, but finally, all the playoff spots are now filled. But even now, none of the playoff seedings are set. Until the final day of the regular season comes and goes, we won't know until then.

But with all 16 teams finally set, who are your picks for the Finals? And who will win?

I will be posting playoff series predictions as soon as the seedings are set. But for now, my finals picks are Detroit and Pittsburgh, with the Penguins hoisting the Cup.

The Red Wings are getting healthy at just the right time, and the competition in the West is just a bit weaker. The Penguins have Crosby back, making them 3-deep at Center. I'm a little concerned that their goaltending is giving up more goals as of late...I was never sold on Fleury as an elite starter...but I think they'll have more than enough offensive firepower to carry them through....The Rangers could be a threat, but I just think New York relies too heavily on one line for scoring for them to be a contender, and Lungqvist always seems to falter come playoff time.

My Dark Horse of the west is St. Louis. The scoring-by-committee concept, backed up by incredible goaltending, carried the Bruins to the Cup last year. Maybe the Blues can ride the same philosophy this year. And if for some reason Brian Elliott becomes the Elliott of old that gave up more goals than swiss cheese, they got Jaroslav Halak on the bench, a goalie that carried Montreal to their first conference finals in many many years just a couple seasons back...the question is, can this scoring-by-committee group score goals against better teams when they have no legitimate superstar that can turn a game around? (David Backes leads the team with a modest 54 points.)

My Dark Horse of the east is Ottawa. Craig Anderson single-handedly lifted an inept Avalanche team into the postseason a couple years back. If he continues to perform at such a level, Ottawa could do some damage; their blueline led by Erik Karlsson can put points on the board and make the rest of the team better.

[Jonny B]

Western Conference

#1 Vancouver Canucks vs. #8 Los Angeles Kings
The Canucks felt they lost the Cup last year because they weren't physically tough, so they went addition by subtraction by trading scorers for meat at the trade deadline...The Kings struggles against Vancouver last time they met in the playoffs, but torched them on the Power Play.
X-Factor -- Roberto Luongo gave up nearly half his goals on his glove side in last year's playoff run. The question is, did he address the problem, and will the Kings try to expose it early?
Prediction -- Canucks in 6

#2 St. Louis Blues vs. #7 San Jose Sharks
The Blues, with little playoff experience, got the best draw of the lot, going up against perennial playoff underachievers in the Sharks, only now San Jose's seeding is more indicative of past failures. I gotta give Joe Thornton some credit though. He finally realized that you need will as well as skill to be successful...the Sharks have been playing playoff hockey for a straight month just to squeeze into the playoffs.
X-Factor -- Do the Sharks have anything left in the tank? Can the Blues' goaltenders play as well in the playoffs as their stats indicated, or did Halak & Elliott overachieve? ...the Sharks better stay out of the penalty box...their PK was ranked 2nd to last in the league.
Prediction -- Blues in 7

#3 Phoenix Coyotes vs. #6 Chicago Blackhawks
I don't have much info on either team. All I know, is Phoenix won their first division title...and I wonder if they'll win their first ever playoff series? This will probably be their best chance. But, I'm taking Chicago just on their playoff/Cup winning experience.
Prediction -- Blackhawks in 6

#4 Nashville Predators vs. #5 Detroit Red Wings
I feel bad for Nashville. Every year, they make it to the playoffs on stellar Goaltending, only to be exposed due to a lack of a scoring superstar. And they drew Detroit, who have got most of their players back from injuries and more than ready for a playoff run.
X-Factor -- Home Field Advantage. The Wings were terrible on the road, and Nashville wasn't much better. Could the extra home game be the difference for Nashville this time around? ....I think Detroit will find a way to get a road win. They are just too experienced in the playoffs to falter in the first round.
Prediction -- Wings in 7


Eastern Conference

#1 New York Rangers vs. #8 Ottawa Senators
This has to be the worst possible match-up for the Rangers. I think New York relies too heavily on a top line to be playoff contenders, and Marion Gaborik has yet to prove he can be a top-caliber playoff scorer. The Sens have ridden the back of goalie Craig Anderson & rookie defenseman Erik Karlsson to get to this point.
X-Factor -- Can the Rangers' 2nd and 3rd lines generate scoring against the deep blueline of the Senators?
Prediction -- Sens in 6

#2 Boston Bruins vs. #7 Washington Capitals
The Capitals are the Sharks of the East, perennial playoff underachievers that are now playing as their seed indicates. Goaltending injuries and below-par play have plagued them all season. The Bruins are their usual bipolar selves, who have the best goals to goals-against ratio of the playoff teams, and yet also lead the league in shutout losses.
X-Factor -- Tim Thomas hasn't played up to his Vezina/Playoff MVP self this year, and looked really fatigued at the end of the regular season. Does he have another deep playoff run in him?
Predicton -- Bruins in a Sweep

#3 Florida Panthers vs. #6 New Jersey Devils
Florida enters the postseason with the worst goals to goals-against ratio of all the playoff teams. In addition, their starting goaltender, Scott Clemmensen, was at one time Marty Brodeur's backup. That always spells trouble, for the Devils will know how to score goals off of him.
X-Factor -- Can Marty be the Brodeur of old and steal a playoff series? When you're up against a team that has trouble scoring, that will help.
Prediction -- Devils in 5

#4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #5 Philedelphia Flyers
Every year, there are questions about Flyers goaltending. They addressed the problem...when this series is over, they will still question their goaltending. But then, when you draw Pittsburgh with a healthy Crosby, they have a tendency to make every team question their goaltending. This will be a great back-and-forth high-scoring series.
X-Factor -- Not a strong goaltending matchup for either team. Neither Fleury or Bryzgalov are ranked in the Top 20 for Goals-Against nor Save Percentage. The question is, who will make the one save that swings the momentum?
Prediction -- Pens in 7

[Jonny B]

...I'd like to thank the Blues and Devils for saving my playoff bracket. That's what I like about the NHL, the unpredictability of the playoffs. I'll keep the next round brief.

Western Conference, Second Round

#2 St. Louis Blues vs. #8 Los Angeles Kings
I'm taking the faster team. The Kings may be less disciplined, but they have an awesome goaltender in Jonathan Quick who can bail them out. Lack of Canucks scoring depth allowed the Kings to advance, and now they face an even less talented scoring team in the Blues. At some point I just think the lousy side of Brian Elliott, or the lack of consistency of Jaroslav Halak, is gonna show up at the worst possible time. Kings in 6.

#3 Phoenix Coyotes vs. #4 Nashville Predators
Discipline, discipline, discipline. Nashville showed the Wings just how difficult it is to score goals on them. Coyotes got a lot of help from a leaky goaltender in Crawford to get here. Mike Smith, he's a big goalie, but weak on the stick-side, and can't skate side-to-side very well. Advantage to the highest scoring blueline in the NHL...Preds in 5.

Eastern Conference, Second Round

#1 New York Rangers vs. #7 Washington Capitals
Rangers are lucky they got a lot of secondary scoring or they wouldn't even be here. If the top line doesn't start producing, you can forget about their run....Caps play too conservative for my liking though...and at some point, the opponent will figure out the weaknesses of a new goaltender. The Rangers' top line has more talent than any line the Caps faced against the Bruins. I think they come through, find a weak spot in Holtby, and Beat the Caps in 5

#5 Philadelphia Flyers vs. #6 New Jersey Devils
Brodeur can't decide if he's old or ageless. That Game 7 2OT performance was vintage, but he was really shaky during the rest of the series and showed his age a little bit....Look out, Devils. The Flyers tore apart the Pens' high-ranking penalty kill like it didn't exist, and your lower-ranking penalty kill gave up some untimely power play goals against a less talented Panthers team. If the Devils end up in the penalty box, this series could be over in a hurry. Flyers in a Sweep.

...

(Tell you honestly, if there's any thing I miss about Deano's passing, it's his hockey knowledge. It wouldn't surprise me if he played a small factor in getting the Devils out of the first round...he was always praising Marty Brodeur.)

[Jonny B]

Conference Finals Matchups.

#3 Phoenix Coyotes vs. #8 Los Angeles Kings
Phoenix looks like the most complete team remaining...but I can't count out any team with burning hot Goaltending...Jonathan Quick is carrying the Kings the same way Tim Thomas carried the Bruins last year...Kings in 7.

#1 NY Rangers vs. #6 New Jersey Devils
Original Six teams have been the theme in recent Stanley Cup years, and for that reason, I've got the Rangers advancing in 6. The Devils may be a faster team, but I'm taking the Rangers' scoring depth...and, how many more times can Brodeur possibly stand on his head in that 40 year old body anyway?

Kings and Rangers survived my playoff jinx...and I choose them to make the Finals.

[Jonny B]

Well, I can't explain it any other way...I'd say the Devils are here because of Divine Intervention...Brodeur is at the twilight of his career. And the team, though defensively sound, has very little depth...and yet they find a way to get it done, every time. Maybe they need more than Divine Intervention....So, I'm thoroughly convinced they're winning by way of DEANO Intervention! There is no other reason why a team this average is in the Finals. He loved his Devils, and it wouldn't surprise me in the least bit that outside forces are guiding his Devils to the Cup....I'm superstitious like that.

My series record this year is an abysmal 4 for 14, by far the worst of any year I've predicted the NHL playoffs. I will counter Deano Intervention with my Playoff Jinx, and Choose the Devils in 7. Brodeur leaves the game he dominated with the Cup in his hands.

[RedWingFan]

Well, I can't explain it any other way...I'd say the Devils are here because of Divine Intervention...Brodeur is at the twilight of his career. And the team, though defensively sound, has very little depth...and yet they find a way to get it done, every time. Maybe they need more than Divine Intervention....So, I'm thoroughly convinced they're winning by way of DEANO Intervention! There is no other reason why a team this average is in the Finals. He loved his Devils, and it wouldn't surprise me in the least bit that outside forces are guiding his Devils to the Cup....I'm superstitious like that.

My series record this year is an abysmal 4 for 14, by far the worst of any year I've predicted the NHL playoffs. I will counter Deano Intervention with my Playoff Jinx, and Choose the Devils in 7. Brodeur leaves the game he dominated with the Cup in his hands.

Dean was a Canucks fan.

[Jonny B]

Well, I can't explain it any other way...I'd say the Devils are here because of Divine Intervention...Brodeur is at the twilight of his career. And the team, though defensively sound, has very little depth...and yet they find a way to get it done, every time. Maybe they need more than Divine Intervention....So, I'm thoroughly convinced they're winning by way of DEANO Intervention! There is no other reason why a team this average is in the Finals. He loved his Devils, and it wouldn't surprise me in the least bit that outside forces are guiding his Devils to the Cup....I'm superstitious like that.

My series record this year is an abysmal 4 for 14, by far the worst of any year I've predicted the NHL playoffs. I will counter Deano Intervention with my Playoff Jinx, and Choose the Devils in 7. Brodeur leaves the game he dominated with the Cup in his hands.

Dean was a Canucks fan.

He was also a big Brodeur fan. Nothing but praise and respect.