Jonny B wrote:Until further notice, the road goes through the Stanley Cup Champs, the Penguins. However, watch out for the Sabres. Ryan Miller is without a doubt, the best goaltender of the competing teams.
My dark horse: Boston, if they even make the playoffs (That's a BIG if.) I fugging hate their management, as they keep getting rid of their good players in trades, and they struggled all year scoring goals as a result. However, Tuuka Rask has been a savior, posting a 1.99 GAA for the season. I still don't like inexperienced anything though. Any other team but the Caps and they could pull a 1st round upset.
But all that aside, in the eastern final, I've got the Penguins downing the Sabres. As good as the Caps are, I don't see them getting to the eastern finals; I just don't like their goaltending, and explosive offenses tend to disappear in the playoffs, when defense and goaltending become more important.
The whole western conference is a big crapshoot, but I can narrow it down: The Canucks use Luongo too much to be effective in the playoffs. The Blackhawks won't win because they have Hossa. (Teams with Hossa have never won the Cup,) young teams fall to inexperience (bye bye Avs, Kings, Preds, and Coyotes,) and the Wings...lucky to be there, my dark horse due to the hockeytown prestige, but they won't make the final.
Based on that, this is gonna be the year where the San Jose Sharks quit choking in the 1st round and get to the finals once and for all! They take down the Blackhawks in the Western final.
And in the Sharks/Penguins final, you know I'm picking the Penguins to repeat. Two words: Joe Thornton. He'll find a way to lose it for the Sharks. Always did for the Bruins. Always has for the Sharks. This time, it happens on the biggest stage.
This is a damned good post. Because of this post, I chose this hockey thread to participate in for the time being.
I disagree with SJ getting to the final but I do agree about Washington not getting there.
About Vancouver and Luongo, he flat out sucks right now, but then again he won the fucking gold medal when all the chips were down as well. Between Vancouver, San Jose, Chicago and Phoenix, they are all the same. I can make an argument for each team.
Phoenix- Bryzgolov is probably the best goalie in the West.
Chicago- Just explosive
San Jose- experience and the fact that you can't choke every year can you?
Vancouver- also experienced and the Sedin Twins along with Burrows and Kesler are as good as the Hawks if not better.
Nashville is an unknown factor
Colorado is too young albiet with great goaltending
Los Angeles- I kept waiting for them to fade and the didn't
Detroit- scary right now, playing better than anyone