Putting on the Foil: NHL Playoff Predictions

By David Wright: SPM NJ Writer
Posted Tuesday, April 8, 2008

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The NHL playoffs are back and I couldn’t be happier. For the first time the two brightest stars in the hockey universe are in the postseason. Yes, that’s right, Riley Cote and Georges Laraque. Just kidding. I am obviously talking about Sydney Crosby and Alevander Ovechkin. Crosby and the Penguins marched into the playoffs and finished two points shy of the number one seed and will take on the Ottawa Senators in a rematch of last year’s first round. Ovechkin’s Capitals made the playoffs on the last day of the season on the strength of his 65 goal season and will play the Philadelphia Flyers. With the NHL’s regular season in the books, it’s time for some playoff predictions. Last year in my predictions I was seven-for-eight in the first round. Let’s see if I can do better this year. Without further adieu, here are my 2008 NHL playoff predictions.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Detroit Red Wings vs. (8) Nashville Predators

Detroit Red Wings

WHY THEY’LL WIN: The Detroit Red Wings had a monster season, capturing their third President’s Trophy in four years (they tied Tampa Bay last year but had fewer wins so the trophy went to the Lightning) and are 7-2-1 heading into the post season. The Wings are so stacked on both offense and defense that even if the offense has an off night, the defense will pick it up and vice versa. Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg combined for an eye-popping 189 points and should have little trouble putting the puck past Chris Mason in this series.

Nashville Predators

WHY THEY’LL WIN: Nashville has a huge mountain to climb in the first round. The Preds are overmatched at every position in this series and will need a miracle. They will have to look to veteran center and captain Jason Arnott, who led the team in scoring this season, to produce and lead this team to victory.
My Pick: Red Wings in four

(2) San Jose Sharks vs. (7) Calgary Flames

San Jose Sharks

WHY THEY’LL WIN: Talk about getting hot at the right time. The Sharks are 18-2-2 to end the season (since February 21). Joe Thornton and Jonathon Cheechoo are firing on all cylinders and are poised to make a serious run at the cup this season. The addition of Brian Campbell at the trade deadline was huge and the Sharks will look to him to shut down the Flames offense as well as produce some offensively as well. Campbell has 19 points in 20 games since coming to the Sharks. Evgeni Nabakov is a legitimate contender for the Vezina Trophy and will look at keep that play going in the post season.

Calgary Flames

WHY THEY’LL WIN: The Flames have a solid core of go-to players on offense and defense. Jarome Iginla had another stupendous 50 goal season. His toughness and nose for the net will surely play a part in this series. Dion Phaneuf will have to be on the ice every time Joe Thornton is if the Flames want to shut him down.
My Pick: Sharks in five

(3) Minnesota Wild vs. (6) Colorado Avalanche

Minnesota Wild

WHY THEY’LL WIN: Goaltender Niklas Backstrom won the only game of the playoffs last season for the Wild, and will look to improve on that this year. Marian Gaborik’s 42 goals led his team and look for his production to continue into the playoffs. The Wild will need veterans Pavol Demitra and Brian Rolston to step it up when the puck drops if the Wild hope to beat a revamped Colorado team that looks suspiciously like their last cup-winning team.

Colorado Avalanche

WHY THEY’LL WIN: The Avs took on a new (old) model when the trade deadline came this season. They acquired two players from their last cup-winning team to join Joe Sakic. Peter Forsberg is averaging more than a point a game since being signed as a free agent at the deadline, although his health is always an issue. If Forsberg and Sakic are connecting and Forsberg stays healthy, this could be an upset.
My Pick: Wild in seven

(4) Anaheim Ducks vs. (5) Dallas Stars

Anaheim Ducks

WHY THEY’LL WIN: The Ducks remain one of, if not the toughest teams in the league. For the second straight year they led the league in fighting majors and tough as nails defenseman Chris Pronger will be returning from his suspension just in time for the playoffs. His hard-nosed style of play will be a definite factor in this series. Jean Sebastian Giguere loves the playoffs. In 45 career playoff games, he has 31 wins and 1.95 goals against average. Giguere will face a tough first round test in the conference’s second highest scoring offense and will need to be at his best to ensure a series victory.

Dallas Stars

WHY THEY’LL WIN: Mike Ribiero will have to continue his breakout season if the Stars want a chance to dethrone the defending cup champs. The veteran defense of the Dallas Stars includes Sergei Zubov, Stephane Robidas, and Phillipe Boucher. If any defense can man up to Anaheim’s rough and tough style play, it’s Dallas. Look for some heavy hitting from the Stars who will have to match the toughness of the Ducks if they want to pull an upset.
My Pick: Ducks in five

EASTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (8) Boston Bruins

Montreal Canadiens

WHY THEY’LL WIN: The Habs are 12-5 since March 1 and have been firing since trading their number one goalie and giving the job to rookie Cary Price, who has won eight of his last ten starts. Someone besides Alexei Kovalev is going to have to make some noise in this series and Price will have to be on top of his game in his first ever playoff series.

Boston Bruins

WHY THEY’LL WIN: The Bruins are going to have to play their hearts out to win this series. An original six match-up with a lot of good old-fashioned heavy hitting is going to be needed if the Bruins hope to prevail. Look for a healthy Zdeno Chara to take care of that, along with fellow mammoth Milan Lucic.
My Pick: Canadiens in five

(2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (7) Ottawa Senators

Pittsburgh Penguins

WHY THEY’LL WIN: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Marian Hossa. These three players will terrorize any defense in the league. Hossa has struggled in the playoffs before, but that should not be a factor here with a team like this. The Pens blueline isn’t too shabby either. Sergei Gonchar will have to put a stop to the high flyin’ offense of the Senators to keep the heat off of the perpetual let down that is former number one pick, Marc-Andre Fleury. If Fleury can’t shoulder the load, which I am predicting he can’t, Ty Conklin has proved to be a more than capable replacement.

Ottawa Senators

WHY THEY’LL WIN: Another powerhouse trio. Dany Heatly, Jason Spezza, and Daniel Alfredsson. If Martin Gerber can keep the puck out of the net, these three should be able to keep the puck in the net. Toughness will be a factor in this series as well. Look for big boys Brian McGratton and Chris Neil to get into it early and often with Georges Laruaque. If the Senators can out tough the Penguins and play solid defense, we could see a huge upset.
My Pick: Senators in seven

(3) Washington Capitals vs. (6) Philadelphia Flyers

Washington Capitals

WHY THEY’LL WIN: The Capitals are in possession of the NHL’s greatest resource, Alexander Ovechkin. Ovie can score from anywhere and will test unproven and inconsistent goalie, Martin Biron, throughout this series. If the Flyers take stupid penalties, which they most certainly will, look for Ovechkin and Sergei Federov to terrorize the Flyers. Netminder Cristobal Huet is playing with a purpose and was a great acquisition at the deadline. His play will be pivotal against a potent offense.

Philadelphia Flyers

WHY THEY’LL WIN: The Flyers have one of the deepest lineups in the league, with six 20 goal scorers. Match that with the return of Derian Hatcher to the lineup and you have a recipe for victory. Hatcher will return for the playoffs to join his partner and pleasant surprise for the Flyers, Braydon Coburn as big defensive pairing for the flyers. That duo, along with Kimmo Timmonen and Jason Smith will have to shut down Ovechkin if they want any chance in this series. Martin Biron needs to prove he is the franchise goalie that the team has been looking for since Ron Hextall, and there is no time like the present to do so.
My Pick: Flyers in six

(4) New Jersey Devils vs. (5) New York Rangers

New Jersey Devils

WHY THEY’LL WIN: Defense wins championships. Nobody in the NHL knows this better than the Devils. Martin Brodeur is always a factor come playoff time, and this year it is no different. In the series that features the best goaltending match-up, don’t expect to see many red lights flashing. Scoring goals against Henrik Lundqvist is hard enough already, but for a team that ranked 27th in the league in goals scored, I don’t like their chances. Someone is going to have to step up and make an impact on offense. Look for Zach Parise to be that guy. With his ten more goals than anyone else on the team, he will be their go-to guy if they hope to beat the Rangers.

New York Rangers

WHY THEY’LL WIN: The Rangers offense was equally as unimpressive as the Devils was this season, but I give them an edge. Jaromir Jagr remains one of the elite players in the game, scoring 25 goals for the 17th consecutive year. Look for him to continue to lead his team deep into the playoffs. Henrik Lundqvist’s solid play all year will mean nothing if they can’t stop the Devils. I don’t see that being a problem. In a showdown of two goalies that will more than likely be Vezina Trophy finalists, Lundqvist will have to outplay one of the best goalies of all time to reach the next round.
My Pick: Rangers in five

Stanley Cup Finals Pick: Sharks over Canadiens in six games. Joe Thornton wins the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Feel free to email me with questions or comments about my picks.