Breaking the ice : the Official 2008-2009 NHL season thread

[200 miles]

I have waited 11 years for the Caps to go to the next round , only to face the team that had crushed the Caps' cup hopes for two straight years (2000 and 2001, albeit against a Lemieux-Jagr-led Pens' squad).

I just hope they will better luck against a Crosby-Malkin-led squad with ex-Cap Sergei Gonchar.

It sucks not having Versus.

The Cup Quest continues.

[DarkReign]

lefty,

Not too bad on your predictions.

Now, the hard part...lets review my own...

1.Boston vs 8.Montreal: Habs in 7. Dont know why, Habs have Boston's number and vice versa. Just a guaranteed good series.

2.Washington vs. 7.New York Rangers: Washington in 5. The Rags are fragile and they pay two mediocre centers $7+ million a year. They deserve to lose for those contracts alone. Lundqvist is the only reason they win a game. AO will be quiet on the goal front all series, but it wont matter in the least.

3.New Jersey vs. 6.Carolina: NJ in 6. Carolina is the hottest team in the East right now and New Jersey floated into the playoffs. Doesnt matter. New Jersey is a winning organization with the most accomplished goaltender in history who just came off the longest injury break of his career. Hes rested, focused and almost unstoppable. Should be a good series.

4.Pittsburgh vs 5.Philadelphia: Flyers in 7. This is going to be a great series to watch...unless youre a fan of either team. There Will be Blood. What a brutal series. Awesome. I just think Philly will win, but its a coin toss.

--------------

1.San Jose vs. Anaheim: SJ in 6. Anaheim got the worst luck drawing SJ. bet they wish they were playing the Wings. Oh well, another brutal series that sadly, wont be as close as its East counterpart. Anaheim falls, nonetheless.

2.Detroit vs. 7.Columbus: No predictions. No jinx. Its a tradition I have.

3.Vancouver vs 6.St Louis: Blues in 6. Blues are a very underrated team. Decimated by injuries all year long, 15th place in the conference when the calendar struck 2009. Roar back all the way to 6th in less than 35 games. Amazing. Vancouver is overrated, IMO. Luongo is the best goalie in the league, but hasnt had much playoff success (admittedly, he hasnt had many chances...this is his best so far).

4. Chicago vs. 5.Calgary: Hawks in 5. Calgary is a disjointed team who has literally gone from division leader to choke artist in less than a month. Chicago has rebounded from a so-so late March into April. Chicago is going to crush them in the first three games, IMO. Kipper isnt the goalie we know and love/hate. Maybe playing 70+ games a year has something to do with that.....naaaah, couldnt be. Oh yeah, Camalerri is going to fall to earth just as fast as his rise. Bertuzzi is useless. Iginla is the man. The defense is good, not great. With Keenan at the helm, I wouldnt be surprised to see Kipper pulled in this series early just because Mike is a Moron. The real question for Chicago in this series, and a real playoff learning experience for them is, how do they handle Calgary gooning it up when theyre down? Chicago is going to roll them, IMO, but they wont be the same team afterwards. They'll either be tougher for it or injured. Im betting injured.

Yeeeeah...not so much. I went 2-5 and had every number of games wrong. And you wonder why I dont make predictions on the Wings?

Laughable.

[lefty]

lefty,

Not too bad on your predictions.

Now, the hard part...lets review my own...



Yeeeeah...not so much. I went 2-5 and had every number of games wrong. And you wonder why I dont make predictions on the Wings?

Laughable.

Actually, we both suck at doing predictions

Which means we are good enough to work at ESPN.


Are you afraid to jinx the Wings ?

Don't worry, I'll do it for you : Go Wings !!!! B2B Champs !

Oz is too good!!!!

Hossa + Pavel + Henrik + Frenzen = unstoppable machine !!!!

" Norris " Lidstrom rules !!!

Woohoooooooo

[lefty]

Canes/devils game was crazy!

Yes

Not just game 7, but also game 4 of the series; it was tied and Canes scored the game winner at the buzzer beater !!!!


Those guys are clutch : games 4 and 7 have shown that.

THey have some kind of clutch, refuse to lose, mojo going on.


If I'm the Bruins, I shoud be afraid of them.

[DarkReign]

East Predictions:

1.Boston vs 6.Carolina - B's in 6. After having a deplorable record in the first round, why not continue the trend? I wouldnt be surprised to see this series go either way. Tells you how much I know...

2.Washington vs 4.Pittsburgh - Pens in 5. The Caps are such pretenders. They'd be out of the playoffs if they played any of the other teams not named Montreal or NYR. Shoddy defense, a #1 defensemen who doesnt play defense and all out attack that isnt that deadly. Heres a tip for Pitt... Get the puck in their zone, down low and cycle them to death. They dont like playing defense because they arent very good at it. This series should be quick with the way Fleury is playing and all the offensive depth Pitt has. Could be a barn-burner or a real snooze fest if the Caps never mount a counter-attack. Either way, Washington is done like dinner here.

[lefty]

East Predictions:

1.Boston vs 6.Carolina - B's in 6. After having a deplorable record in the first round, why not continue the trend? I wouldnt be surprised to see this series go either way. Tells you how much I know...

2.Washington vs 4.Pittsburgh - Pens in 5. The Caps are such pretenders. They'd be out of the playoffs if they played any of the other teams not named Montreal or NYR. Shoddy defense, a #1 defensemen who doesnt play defense and all out attack that isnt that deadly. Heres a tip for Pitt... Get the puck in their zone, down low and cycle them to death. They dont like playing defense because they arent very good at it. This series should be quick with the way Fleury is playing and all the offensive depth Pitt has. Could be a barn-burner or a real snooze fest if the Caps never mount a counter-attack. Either way, Washington is done like dinner here.

1. B's versus Canes; Bruins in 7; Boston is the better team, but as I pointed out in my previous posting, Canes have some kind of surnatural clutch mojo going on for them.
Oh, and I'm trying to jinx Boston too

2. Pens vs Caps: Pens in 5, I have to agree with Darkreign; Pens are more talented, deeper.
Their goaltending is waaayyyyyyyyyyyy better, as well as their D.
Mike Green is an offensive defenceman, his D sucks.

Plus, referees bailed Capitals out in game 7
It's obvious the NHL wanted Ovechkin vs Crosby

[jn77]

I have waited 11 years for the Caps to go to the next round , only to face the team that had crushed the Caps' cup hopes for two straight years (2000 and 2001, albeit against a Lemieux-Jagr-led Pens' squad).

I just hope they will better luck against a Crosby-Malkin-led squad with ex-Cap Sergei Gonchar.

It sucks not having Versus.

The Cup Quest continues.

Right there with you buddy!! I grew up in Washington, was in basic training when they went to the cup finals the first time. I think we can take the pens in 6. We played well against them this season. Go Caps

[jn77]

Refs bailing Washington out in game 7

BS !


And OMFG, Canes score 2 late goals to beat NJ in game 7

Alright, watched the game again after your post to see what you were talking about....I don't see it. At all. The game was called pretty well for a game 7.

[lefty]

There is NO way Washington beats Pittsburgh


Even though I hate Crosby; that punk ass deserves a lesson

[cnyc3]

whew almost choked it away.. go canucks go!

[DarkReign]

whew almost choked it away.. go canucks go!

...damnit...

If the first game is any indication, this is going to be a uva series.

[JudynTX]

...damnit...

If the first game is any indication, this is going to be a uva series.

Yea, this is going to be a good series. The Blackhawks are not afraid to hit and push players around.

[DarkReign]

Go Wings!

[lefty]

Great start for Wings-Ducks and and Caps-Pens

Lidstrom


Close, compe ive games; very exciting

[DarkReign]

Triple OT Thriller in Detroit!

3-0 S acking in the Garden?

[lefty]

Triple OT Thriller in Detroit!

3-0 S acking in the Garden?

Yes ! Go Ducks ! (just kidding)

Nice matchup we have there.


LMAO Bruins

Ward was out of this world

[lefty]

WOW Caps up 2-0, who knew ?


Ovechkin and Crosby both with a hat trick !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my God Oh my God Oh my God

[jn77]

caps need to get one of the games in Pittsburg. If that happens I think we close it out in five. Varly is hot right now and Malkin can't find his game rght now. C'mon Caps...I have been waiting over a decade for this!!!

[Marklar MM]

Detroit got ING HOSED!!! ing ref! KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!

[lefty]

LMAO Red wings

[JudynTX]

^^^ Yea, the Red Wings can't win it again!

[DarkReign]

Wings were robbed, true. But Datsyuk and Hossa not showing up this playoff year so far is the reason this is a close series. Not some bunk call.

They pull their respective heads from their asses, this series wouldnt be as close as it is.

[lefty]

Wings were robbed, true. But Datsyuk and Hossa not showing up this playoff year so far is the reason this is a close series. Not some bunk call.

They pull their respective heads from their asses, this series wouldnt be as close as it is.

I agree, Pavel and Marianne have been sucking major octopuss ass.

I'm surpised with Pavel, he is usually a hard working player.

[lefty]

OMG those 2 unknown goalies have been nothing short of spectacular.

Regarding Varlamov, It was a no-brainer to go with him since Theo sucks, but when Giguere was injured, a lot of people thought the Ducks were toasted..........

[Biggems]

That Caps goalie is kicking ass.

Game 1 should have gone to OT...but that unbelievable save on the Crosby shot was the difference.....even though it happened in the 2nd period.

I missed Game 2 cause I was at work....

Tonight, he was once again saving pretty much everything. The Pens had so many chances in OT alone and got nothing, until that Letang shot....IMO, if it doesn't hit a Caps player, the goalie eats it with his glove.

Im just happy the Pens got this one.....now we need game 4

GO PENGUINS