my picks: Caps def Flyers in 5 Pens def Rangers in 6 Panthers def Isles in 6 Lightning def Red Wings in 7 Ducks def Predators in 6 Wild def Stars in 6 Blackhawks def Blues in 7 Kings def Sharks in 7
You have to think one of these years they'll get past an LA/Chicago, but I'll believe it when I see it. A lot of pressure on Jake Allen (assuming he starts). Hitchcock is on a one year deal and basically needs to win a series to retain his job.
Agreed...I'm on the believe it when I see it train too, with San Jose also. The Blues back-end is seemingly improved this year but we'll know if they are for real by the end of this series. They always are unsure on their goalie situation and with Elliot playing well I don't know how to put Allen back in. Let the Hitchcock Horror show begin for yet another year...
I like the way the playoffs set up with the teams from the same division playing each other in the 1st round. But the difference in the Caps bracket compared to the Panthers bracket makes me think something needs to be tweaked. Its basically like the Final 4 in one half an the NIT in the other , no offense to those other teams. If the Isles get some good goaltending they could make a run. But having to get past Florida and then either Tampa without Stamkos or Detroit, who IMO is the weakest playoff team , is a huge difference than the Rangers having to take down the 2 best teams in the East to get to the same destination. Def not feeling bad for the Rangers but maybe some reseeding should be taken into consideration after the 1st round.
I agree. Tough luck for the Caps, Pens, Rangers, and Flyers. Here is how the seeding would look if it was just done 1-8 via record and division winners being 1-2: 1. Washington Capitals (120 points) vs. 8. Detroit Red Wings (93 Points) 2. Florida Panthers (103 points) vs. 7. Philadelphia Flyers (96 Points) 3. Pittsburgh Penguins (104 Points) vs. 6. Tampa Bay Lightning (97 points) 4. New York Rangers (101 Points) vs. 5. New York Islanders (100 points) Then lowest seed plays highest seed etc round to round. I would prefer that. It is what it is though.
picking two upsets Caps def Flyers in 5 Pens def Rangers in 7 Panthers def Islanders in 5 Red Wings def Lightning in 6 Ducks def Predators in 7 Wild def Stars in 6 Blackhawks def Blues in 6 Kings def Sharks in 5 note that the Penguins' top two goalies are questionable for Game 1 (Fleury and Murray). Could be Zatkoff in net.
the Islanders picked their poison with Florida.. that's never a good idea, and i hope it bites them. had they played the Penguins, i would have rooted for them.
only issue is Parise is hurt, but I was going to go against the Stars regardless unless they played the Sharks. as for the Islanders, they were in trouble either way. They're simply not that good, and PIT and Florida are both clearly superior teams.
I honestly don't think the current format will last long. I like it now, but in a few years from now you are going to likely see so many repeated series when teams finish in the same positions that it's going to get boring for fans.
If not for the Parise injury I would take Minnesota. Dallas is not built for the playoffs. Pens could be in trouble with their goalie situation
Caps def Flyers in 6 Rangers def Pens in 7 Panthers def Isles in 7 Lightning def Red Wings in 5 Ducks def Predators in 5 Stars def Wild in 7 Blues def Hawks in 6 Kings def Sharks in 6
that's what I'm saying last chance for vbetting, get those bets in edit: Fleury named G1 starter for Penguins. Hasn't played in a while.
Caps def Flyers in 6 Pens def Rangers in 7 Panthers def Isles in 5 Red Wings def Lightning in 6 Stars def Wild in 5 Blues def Hawks in 7 Ducks def Preds in 6 Sharks def Kings in 7 Going bold with the Sharks pick but they've had the Kings number all year and I think they finally beat them, only to lose to the Ducks the following round. So it goes, San Jose
Elliott standing on his head I think they said five straight playoffs that the Blackhawks have opened with an OT game Blues win
