Stanley Cup Predictions- Round 3

Sorry about the delay, but I got my picks done. I’m not going to brag about the fact that I picked Tampa to beat the Caps last round, but I would certianly like to bring it up. So far I am 10 for 12 this post season and hoping to make it 12 for 14 after this round.

Kesler has been unreal for the Nuckleheads in rounds 1 & 2, while Hank Sedin must step up his game in this series

Vancouver Canucks(1) vs. San Jose Sharks(2)

It has been a long 17 years for Canuck fans to finally see their team advance past the second round. I really like what the Canucks have going for them. Good goaltending, solid defence, and an offence that is starting to pick this up. The Sedins, who are the key pieces if the Nucks want to advance, are finally looking as though they have found their game in the play-offs. San Jose meanwhile comes off a 7 game Detroit series that they could have finished in 4. Some off the big  Shark forwards look to be invisible so far in post season play, like Marleau, Heatley, and Pavelski. San Jose’s game rely’s on these forwards as the defence isn’t anything to brag about and Niemi has looked hot and cold. I think Ryan Kelser and the Vancouver Canucks have their ticket already punched for the finals.

Canucks in 5

Boston Bruins(3) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning(5)

I really don’t think anyone predicted the Tampa Bay Lightning to be in the position they are in right now. Many “experts” had predicted the Bolts to finish in the bottom 10 in the league. Really we have seen the classic example on what a hot goalie and timely offence can do for a team. Boston meanwhile struggled against the Habs in round one but in round two, they embarrassed the Flyers. Now the two teams face each other with each team full of storylines. I think it will end up being a match-up between Roleson and Thomas. I strongly believe with the hot streak Tampa has it will be close, but Boston is done. Yzerman deserves all of the credit for turning this franchise right around.

Bolts in 7

Stanley Cup Predictions- Round 2

 

Dwayne Roloson could be the "X-factor" in the Caps-Bolts series

Washington Capitals(1) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning(5)

Deja vu? A hot goalie playing against the Capitals? Dwayne Roloson is at the top of his game once again at playoff time. I’m going against the grain and saying the high flying Caps stumble against Dwayne Roloson and the Bolts. Remember that the Bolts won the Cup back in ’04 with a similar core group (Lecavalier and St. Louis) and the Capitals tend to get rattled at a hot goalie. If Rolly the goalie plays to the peak we could see this series end in Tampa’s favour, if not, the Caps got this one easily.

Bolts in 6

Philadelphia Flyers(2) vs. Boston Bruins(3)

This series has drama written all over it! Flash-back to last year, the Bruins went up 3-0 to the Flyers in round 2 before Philly had one of the biggest comebacks in hockey history. The Flyers won the next 4 straight games to win the best of seven series. This year both teams improved in the offseason and are much deeper. With a healthy Chris Pronger, I think the Flyers are that much better than the Bruins. Briere, Giroux, and Phillies offence are on firre right now and could find the holes in the Vezina candidate, Tim Thomas. The goaltending match-up favours the Bruins but the Flyers found their guy last round, Brian Boucher. I’ll take the Flyers based on depth.

Flyers in 6

 

Vancouver Canucks(1) vs. Nashville Predators(5)

This series comes down to goaltending. Luongo vs. Rinne. Both have played unreal in the season, but have had their speed bumps in the playoffs. In game one the goaltenders ended up being the story line in a 1-0 win for Vancouver. I like the Nuckleheads odds in this match-up. Although, the Preds have bought into Barry Trotts system and looked good in round one. There is no clear forward that the Canucks (or Ryan Kesler) have to shut down but Nashville has a bunch of grinders who can chip in at the right time. The Canucks have just too much depth to overpower the Preds.

Canucks in 5

San Jose Sharks(2) vs. Detriot Red Wings(3)

This one will be fun to watch. I don’t think there is two evenly matched teams like this. The Sharks have found their game last round and have their offence coming from everywhere. Meanwhile the Wings destroyed the future Jets last series with a clean sweep, and that was without Zetterburg! Detroit enters this round much stronger, with Zetterburg returning to the line-up. As much as I like the Wings line-up and expirence, I think the Sharks are stronger. The offence for San Jose is nuts! The one thing that will hold San Jose back is their defence. Dan Boyle and the Sharks defence must improve if they want to move on. Also former Stanley Cup winner Antti Niemi will be under pressure to perform at the big stage, similar to last year’s pressure.

Sharks in 7

2011 Stanley Cup Prediction

There has been a ton of hype over the last few days from hockey fans and media on the 2011 NHL season just days away. I have seen too many preview shows and read too many analysis’s predictions, so I decided to post who I think is the favourite to win it all. First I checked to see who other NHL experts picked to win it all:

• NHL.com predicted the Detroit Red Wings to defeat the Washington Capitals in the Stanley Cup Finals
• The Hockey News looked into their crystal ball and saw Henrik Sedin and the Vancouver Canucks lifting Lord Stanley
• Hockey nut, Pierre McGuire said that the Detroit Red Wings will win another Stanley Cup over the Pittsburgh Penguins
• James Duthie predicted John Toews to once again lift the Stanley Cup, beating out Philly once again
• Sportsnet analysis’s Darren Millard and Mike Brophy both picked the Washington to win it all, meanwhile Doug Mclean picked the Nucks and Nick Kypreos picked Pittsburgh

So with all the rumours and speculation from around the league, I have picked the Vancouver Canucks to win it all. Yes the Vancouver Canucks. On paper Mike Gillis and the Canuck management has put together the best team in the league.

But why the Canucks? : It has been 40 years since the Vancouver Canucks have entered the National Hockey League and through those 40 years the Canucks have been cup-less. The city is desperate for a winner. Well Vancouver finally has a team. The Sedin’s have ripped apart other teams defence and have given goalies a sore neck from looking in the back of the net. Luongo is one of the best goalies in the league and has backstopped team Canada in the 2010 Olympics that won the gold medal. Luongo has come into training camp determined to win and shredded some pounds for easier side to side movement. Dan Hamhuis and Keith Ballard were brought in this offseason adding onto a defence core that already contains Elder, Ehrhoff, Bieksa, and Salo. Gillis did an amazing job at improving the blueline without giving up too many picks and prospects. Also the depth up front is strong. Burrows, Samuelsson, Kesler, Raymond, and Torres all can provide secondary scoring for the Sedin twins.

The thing that gives me the most hope is that Vancouver has been knocked out of the playoffs for two straight seasons and underachieved both years, and the team has taken it personally. The Canucks were pissed off for being knocked out of post-season play in the second round against the ‘Hawks. Vancouver is now on a mission to prove to the rest of the league and themselves that they can win in the playoffs. Luongo lead by example by gave up his captaincy and has focus on improving all offseason, not taking the recent failures lightly. With all the adversity, I believe has brought the team together and made them even stronger building up to this year. Things are starting to fall in place for the Canucks and it is a do or die year for the Nuckleheads.

It was a tough decision for me to pick the Canucks, as I think that the Penguins are a threat to take home the Stanley Cup. We all know how good the Penguins offence is, improving defence, and Flower is bound to play better this season. Crosby and Penguins are a close second in my books.

It is early to pick anyone to win the Stanley Cup and a lot can change between now and June. Let’s sit back and have fun seeing on how things will play out.