Official 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Finals Thread

[warwick.hoy]

So all regular season games have been decided and now war can begin.

Eastern Conference:

Washington Capitals
New York Rangers


Philadelphia Flyers
Buffalo Sabres


Boston Bruins
Montreal Canadiens


Pittsburgh Penguins
Tampa Bay Lightning


Western Conference:

Vancouver Canucks
Chicago Blackhawks


San Jose Sharks
Los Angeles Kings


Detroit Red Wings
Phoenix Coyotes


Anaheim Ducks
Nashville Predators

Games start on Wednesday.

[jp58]

I can't wait to see Rinne lifting the cup

[burk48237]

Cannucks-Blackhawks will be a war, I'd say it's 50-50 at best. As a Wings fan it's fine with me to see those two beat each other up for seven games.

I don't know Phoenix that well, so I really don't know what to expect. As a Wings fan I must admit I'm more worried about Zetterbergs health than the Coyotes.

San Jose-LA should be a good one. As should Anaheim-Nashville. To me the West is wide open, but the Wings will prevail if they get and stay healthy.

I would say in the West one key injury is separating the best team from the worse team in the hunt.

In the East it's going to be the Capitals this year I suspect. The loss of Oprek, Gonchar and Malken makes the Pens vulnerable. And I don't believe Tampa Bay (inexperience) and Boston (playoff fortitude) are ready at this point.

[warwick.hoy]

The way the Flyers ended their season it will be a miracle if they make it past the 1st round.

[Hollow Man]

Lookin' forward to the playoff push! Hopefully the Caps make it more than 7 games this year...

Philly has been playing some pretty lousy hockey lately, but I still think they're the deepest team in the East. Their biggest problem is suspect goaltending. I'd love to see Buffalo win the series, since I'm a closet Sabres fan, a not-so-closet Philly hater, and quite frankly, Buffalo scares me a lot less than Philly does.

I'd like to see Boston crunch the Habs for what they did to the Caps last year, but as good as Carey Price is, Tim Thomas is another notch up. So I don't know who I'd rather see the Caps face: a probably more dangerous Boston team, or a Montreal team who obviously has a blueprint for shutting down the Caps?

Again, my Caps pride wants to see the Pens get squashed early, but Tampa Bay has a lot of weapons, and the Pens are missing a bunch. But Tampa Bay plays lousy defense, and the Pens have managed to win without Crosby and Malkin, and Crosby gets closer to a potential return everyday. Not sure who I'd be more eager to play.

Out of the West... go Chicago!

[geeza]

Originally Posted by jp58

I can't wait to see Richards lifting the cup

Fixed.

[arbitrary]

Awesome. Playoff hockey!

Did anything ever happen to the Montreal Police "investigating" Chara? A perp walk would be awesome & I imagine it would it would really ignite the Bruins. It'll be a great series. If the Bruins don't make it past the second round Julien is gone though.

[Ziltoid]

They won't make it past the first, say goodbye to Juju.

[arbitrary]

Originally Posted by jp58

I can't wait to see Chara lifting the cup

It would be like 20 feet off the ground!

Originally Posted by Ziltoid

They won't make it past the first, say goodbye to Juju.

If that happens he'll be gone the next day and will be shacking up with Grady Little.

[warwick.hoy]

Schedules:

2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs Quarterfinals Schedule - 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Conference Quarterfinals

[Ziltoid]

They changed the date of the election debate in Canada because of the playoffs

"The French-language debate set for Thursday was switched to Wednesday to avoid a conflict with the start of the National Hockey League's playoffs"

Canada rocks

[arbitrary]

Originally Posted by Ziltoid

They changed the date of the election debate in Canada because of the playoffs

That is pretty damned awesomely hilarious.

[Ziltoid]

Originally Posted by arbitrary

That is pretty damned awesomely hilarious.

Shows you where the priorities are! Also the bunch of 1600 or so Nordic fans going to a NJ game was pretty cool.

[warwick.hoy]

I like Canada,...they gave us Hockey,...and Jim Carey,....



and Celine Dion,....












































wait.......

[Ziltoid]

This sums it up quite well:

[jp58]

Since we dominated the Ducks during the regular season, I'm expecting us to continue that.

[heroincredible]

First round predictions:

Caps > Rangers

The Caps have looked great to end the season, and while their offense isn't as potent as last season they are still a dangerous team as well as better defensively this year. Lundqvist might steal a game or two, but I think Caps in 6.


Flyers > Sabres

While the Flyers haven't been playing that well lately, they are a deep team that has a lot of experience from last season's playoffs. I was rather impressed by them last year, and if I hadn't been cheering for the Hawks I would have been cheering for the Flyers. Flyers in 6.

Bruins > Habs

The Chara hit on Pacioretty might give the Habs something to rally around, but Boston is just too good this season. While Price has been playing well this year, Thomas has been far and away the best goalie this year. Bruins in 5.


Lightning > Penguins

The Penguins have been impressive without Malkin and Crosby, and I'm surprised that they've been playing as well as they have, which is a testament to Bylsma's coaching. This series boils down to who can win on the road, and I think the Bolts pull it off in 7 games.


Canucks > Blackhawks

As much as I love the Hawks and hate the Canucks, I don't think Chicago wins this series. Vancouver has played really well this season and they are going to be out for blood against a Hawks team that is nowhere near as deep as they were last year. Canucks in 5 (possibly 6).


Sharks > Kings

I haven't paid much attention to either team this year, but the loss of Kopitar is going to hurt the Kings chances. And after a slow start Niemi has been playing really well (hated to see him leave in the off-season). Sharks in 5.


Wings > Coyotes

Not much to say about this. Bryzgalov needs to be solid in goal if the Jets...err, Coyotes have any hope of winning the series. The Wings showed in the final game against the Hawks that they are a dangerous team without Zetterberg, so I like their chances in this series. It all comes down to defense and goaltending, and I think Detroit comes out on top in 7 games.

Preds > Ducks

I like the Preds style of play, mostly because of Barry Trotz (I hope he wins the Jack Adams at some point because he definitely deserves it). Pekka Rinne has had an excellent season, and if Tim Thomas didn't have such a stellar season Rinne is my favourite for the Vezina. I also hate Corey Perry (this stems from his lack of effort on the empty net goal in the Canada-USA game in the Olympics where Kesler outhussled him to the puck and scored). This series will come down to goaltending, and I like the Preds in that regard. Preds in 6.

[mkandolf]

Playoff beard underway (and I can't grow one very well even at 51, damn bare patches)!!! Posting playoff predictions by Tuesday night. GO FLYERS!!!

Be fun to see everyone on this thread post their entire bracket and see how we all do. 1 pt 1st round winners, 3 2nd round, 5 3rd round, 10 Stanley Cup winner. Post by Wednesday noon. Who all would be up for it? No prize except bragging rights.

[Ziltoid]

1st round EST
Caps > Rangers
Flyers < Sabres
Bruins < Habs
Lightning > Penguins

1st round WEST
Canucks > Blackhawks
Sharks > Kings
Wings > Coyotes
Preds < Ducks

2nd round EST
Caps > Lightning
Habs > Sabre

2nd round WEST
Canucks > Ducks
Wings > sharks

EST finals
Habs > Caps

WEST finals
Canucks > Wings

Cup
Habs > Canucks

[Hollow Man]

I'll bite!

1st round EST
Caps > Rangers
Flyers > Sabres
Bruins > Canadiens
Penguins > Lightning

1st round WEST
Canucks > Blackhawks
Sharks > Kings
Wings > Coyotes
Predators > Ducks

2nd round EST
Caps > Penguins
Flyers > Bruins

2nd round WEST
Canucks > Predators
Wings > Sharks

EST finals
Caps > Flyers

WEST finals
Canucks > Wings

Cup
Caps > Canucks