First Round is over...
Let's break it down
The East
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Ottawa (1) vs. Tampa Bay (8)
Prediction: Ottawa in 5
Result: Ottawa in 5
Go Sens Go! :) Did anyone else feel that the first two periods of the first game seemed all too familiar? Luckily, the Sens woke up. This could have been a much closer series. Tampa did not get any secondary scoring and our secondary scoring (Fisher, Havlat and Schaefer) played like a first line. Of course, each of our superstars getting 10 points each didn't hurt. Emery was solid. Grahame was not.
Carolina (2) vs. Montral (7)
Prediction: Carolina in 6
Result: Carolina in 6
Damn, wouldn't it have been fun to see Ottawa vs Montreal in the 2nd round? That's real tough to win the first two games away, then lose 4 straight. Losing Koivu was HUGE, he's their heart and soul. They wouldn't have swept Carolina, but I believe they would have bounced back from losing the 2 games at home with him. Carolina was OK, their rookie goalie Ward came up huge for them. Montreal is still a young team, they'll get better.
New Jersey (3) vs. New York (6)
Prediction: New Jersey in 7
Result: New Jersey in 4
Wow, have you ever seen a team bend over and take it more than New York did? I was expecting a WAR with these teams. I'd be embarassed to be a Rangers fan right now. Jagr cracks me up, 'injuring' himself by taking a swipe at a player and then makes a 'heroic' comeback in Game 4, only to leave the game during his first shift. Good lord. I didn't watch much of this series, so there's not much I can say.
Buffalo (4) vs. Philly (5)
Prediction: Buffalo in 6
Result: Buffalo in 6
Yup, as I expected. Buffalo just too fast for Philly's lumbering big defense. So many easy goals in that last game.. of course Philly has a reputation of going out ugly. Remember when the Sens knocked them out? Ryan Miller was good enough (one rough game). I'll give it to Forsberg though, he was great during the series and played each game. Of course, he DID get hurt and will now have surgery.. AGAIN!
The West
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Detroit (1) vs. Oilers (8)
Prediction: Detroit in 4
Result: Oilers in 6!!
Oh my god! Who saw that coming??? Is it too late to consider MacTavish coach of the year? He had his team playing perfectly against Detroit. They just looked hungrier. That comeback in Game 6 was incredible. Best period of hockey I've seen in a long while. I think I underestimated the Oilers. I had mentioned that Detroit played 24 games against 3 of the worst teams in the West, but also since their lead was so huge I think they lost their edge. Edmonton had to fight just to make the post-season and came ready. Congrats to the Oilers, they are going to be fun to watch! Elaine & Blah.. I'm so sorry about your Red Wings. Trust me, I know how it feels to see your team lose like that.
Dallas (2) vs. Colorado (7)
Prediction: Dallas in 6
Result: Colorado in 5
Wow, it seemed like Colorado's game plan was: "They won 12 games in shootouts, so let's take them into overtime." 3 OT wins. Maybe Dallas' point total was inflated. Turco was not his usual solid self and Theodore actually looks like he's fixed himself. He played great. I don't know what t o make of Colorado at this point. We're they playing possum until the playoffs??
Calgary (3) vs. Anaheim (6)
Prediction: Anaheim in 7
Result: Anaheim in 7
I actually feel kind of bad about this, like I jinxed the Flames. Don't get me wrong, as I said I love my Canadian teams but I felt the Ducks were a sleeper team coming into the playoffs. They played a 'perfect' Game 7. Just perfect. I didn't see a single good scoring opportunity for Calgary. If they can keep that form, they may go a long way. Funny how the finalists from last year are both out in the first round.
Nashville (4) vs. San Jose (5)
Prediction: San Jose in 5
Result: San Jose in 5
No real suprise here. San Jose was just too much for Nashville, especially with Vokoun out of the picture. Chris Mason was brave, but had no chance. SJ is bigger, faster and more skilled. They are in good shape going into Round 2.
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So how'd I do? I predicted the winner correctly in 6 out of 8 series' and got the right amount of games in 5 of those 6 games. I'd say that's pretty frakin' good. Although, it's not hard to pick the top 4 teams in the East, anyone can do that. Did anyone notice that in the East teams seeded 1 thru 4 got through while in the West it was teams 5 thru 8? Very strange.
Anyhow, I think I need to be taken out for beer by each and every one of you for doing so well. :) Of course, this means that my 2nd Round choices are going to STINK! :p Those are coming up by Friday at the latest.
The East
--------
Ottawa (1) vs. Tampa Bay (8)
Prediction: Ottawa in 5
Result: Ottawa in 5
Go Sens Go! :) Did anyone else feel that the first two periods of the first game seemed all too familiar? Luckily, the Sens woke up. This could have been a much closer series. Tampa did not get any secondary scoring and our secondary scoring (Fisher, Havlat and Schaefer) played like a first line. Of course, each of our superstars getting 10 points each didn't hurt. Emery was solid. Grahame was not.
Carolina (2) vs. Montral (7)
Prediction: Carolina in 6
Result: Carolina in 6
Damn, wouldn't it have been fun to see Ottawa vs Montreal in the 2nd round? That's real tough to win the first two games away, then lose 4 straight. Losing Koivu was HUGE, he's their heart and soul. They wouldn't have swept Carolina, but I believe they would have bounced back from losing the 2 games at home with him. Carolina was OK, their rookie goalie Ward came up huge for them. Montreal is still a young team, they'll get better.
New Jersey (3) vs. New York (6)
Prediction: New Jersey in 7
Result: New Jersey in 4
Wow, have you ever seen a team bend over and take it more than New York did? I was expecting a WAR with these teams. I'd be embarassed to be a Rangers fan right now. Jagr cracks me up, 'injuring' himself by taking a swipe at a player and then makes a 'heroic' comeback in Game 4, only to leave the game during his first shift. Good lord. I didn't watch much of this series, so there's not much I can say.
Buffalo (4) vs. Philly (5)
Prediction: Buffalo in 6
Result: Buffalo in 6
Yup, as I expected. Buffalo just too fast for Philly's lumbering big defense. So many easy goals in that last game.. of course Philly has a reputation of going out ugly. Remember when the Sens knocked them out? Ryan Miller was good enough (one rough game). I'll give it to Forsberg though, he was great during the series and played each game. Of course, he DID get hurt and will now have surgery.. AGAIN!
The West
--------
Detroit (1) vs. Oilers (8)
Prediction: Detroit in 4
Result: Oilers in 6!!
Oh my god! Who saw that coming??? Is it too late to consider MacTavish coach of the year? He had his team playing perfectly against Detroit. They just looked hungrier. That comeback in Game 6 was incredible. Best period of hockey I've seen in a long while. I think I underestimated the Oilers. I had mentioned that Detroit played 24 games against 3 of the worst teams in the West, but also since their lead was so huge I think they lost their edge. Edmonton had to fight just to make the post-season and came ready. Congrats to the Oilers, they are going to be fun to watch! Elaine & Blah.. I'm so sorry about your Red Wings. Trust me, I know how it feels to see your team lose like that.
Dallas (2) vs. Colorado (7)
Prediction: Dallas in 6
Result: Colorado in 5
Wow, it seemed like Colorado's game plan was: "They won 12 games in shootouts, so let's take them into overtime." 3 OT wins. Maybe Dallas' point total was inflated. Turco was not his usual solid self and Theodore actually looks like he's fixed himself. He played great. I don't know what t o make of Colorado at this point. We're they playing possum until the playoffs??
Calgary (3) vs. Anaheim (6)
Prediction: Anaheim in 7
Result: Anaheim in 7
I actually feel kind of bad about this, like I jinxed the Flames. Don't get me wrong, as I said I love my Canadian teams but I felt the Ducks were a sleeper team coming into the playoffs. They played a 'perfect' Game 7. Just perfect. I didn't see a single good scoring opportunity for Calgary. If they can keep that form, they may go a long way. Funny how the finalists from last year are both out in the first round.
Nashville (4) vs. San Jose (5)
Prediction: San Jose in 5
Result: San Jose in 5
No real suprise here. San Jose was just too much for Nashville, especially with Vokoun out of the picture. Chris Mason was brave, but had no chance. SJ is bigger, faster and more skilled. They are in good shape going into Round 2.
---------------
So how'd I do? I predicted the winner correctly in 6 out of 8 series' and got the right amount of games in 5 of those 6 games. I'd say that's pretty frakin' good. Although, it's not hard to pick the top 4 teams in the East, anyone can do that. Did anyone notice that in the East teams seeded 1 thru 4 got through while in the West it was teams 5 thru 8? Very strange.
Anyhow, I think I need to be taken out for beer by each and every one of you for doing so well. :) Of course, this means that my 2nd Round choices are going to STINK! :p Those are coming up by Friday at the latest.
2 Comments:
You didn't predict Edmonton over Detroit...tsk, tsk! :-D
Actually I didn't either, until I saw that Detroit got 46 points in the regular season from the bottom feeders of the league (St. Louis, Chicago, and Columbus).....Why the hell can't the Sens be in a crappy division like that?!?!
Go Sens!
Just goes to show that you can have a fantastic regular season but if you're not hungry enough for Stanley, it's just not going to happen. Dismayed, shocked and just downright...Oh my god...how did that happen?? LOL Oh well, we get the summer off and next year try try again. Think Stevie Y will be leaving us, hate to see him go because we just all love him.
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