We've set a new record for threads in this ghost town over the past season, but I know a couple of you still watch this game! I'm about ready to start watching again, myself. Check out the results of the meaningless regular season:
EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST-ROUND MATCHUPS
SERIES A - A1 vs. W2 1 BOSTON BRUINS vs. 4 DETROIT RED WINGS Game 1: Fri. 7:30PM @BOS Game 2: 4/20 3PM @BOS Game 3: 4/22 7:30PM @DET Game 4: 4/24 8PM @DET Game 5: 4/26 3PM @BOS * Game 6: 4/28 TBD @DET * Game 7: 4/30 TBD @BOS *
SERIES B - A2 vs. A3 2 TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING vs. 3 MONTREAL CANADIENS Game 1: Wed. 7PM @TB Game 2: Fri. 7PM @TB Game 3: 4/20 7PM @MON Game 4: 4/22 7PM @MON Game 5: 4/24 7PM @TB * Game 6: 4/27 TBD @MON * Game 7: 4/29 TBD @TB *
SERIES C - M1 vs. W1 1 PITTSBURGH PENGUINS vs. 4 COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS Game 1: Wed. 7:30PM @PIT Game 2: Sat. 7PM @PIT Game 3: 4/21 7PM @COL Game 4: 4/23 7PM @COL Game 5: 4/26 TBD @PIT * Game 6: 4/28 TBD @COL * Game 7: 4/30 TBD @PIT *
SERIES D - M2 Vs. M3 2 NEW YORK RANGERS vs. 3 PHILADELPHIA FLYERS Game 1: Thu. 7PM @NYR Game 2: 4/20 12PM @NYR Game 3: 4/22 8PM @PHI Game 4: 4/25 7PM @PHI Game 5: 4/27 12PM @NYR * Game 6: 4/29 TBD @PHI * Game 7: 4/30 TBD @NYR *
WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST-ROUND MATCHUPS
SERIES E - C1 vs. W1 1 COLORADO AVALANCHE vs. 4 MINNESOTA WILD Game 1: Thu. 9:30PM @CO Game 2: Sat. 9:30PM @CO Game 3: 4/21 7PM @MN Game 4: 4/24 9:30PM @MN Game 5: 4/26 TBD @CO * Game 6: 4/28 TBD @MN * Game 7: 4/30 TBD @CO *
SERIES F - C2 vs. C3 2 ST. LOUIS BLUES vs. 3 CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS Game 1: Thu. 8PM @STL Game 2: Sat. 3PM @STL Game 3: 4/21 8:30PM @CHI Game 4: 4/23 9:30PM @CHI Game 5: 4/25 8PM @STL * Game 6: 4/27 3PM @CHI * Game 7: 4/29 TBD @STL *
SERIES G - P1 vs. W2 1 ANAHEIM DUCKS vs. 4 DALLAS STARS Game 1: Wed. 10PM @ANA Game 2: Fri. 10PM @ANA Game 3: 4/21 9:30PM @DAL Game 4: 4/23 8PM @DAL Game 5: 4/25 10:30PM @ANA * Game 6: 4/27 TBD @DAL * Game 7: 4/29 TBD @ANA *
SERIES H - P2 vs. P3 2 SAN JOSE SHARKS vs. 3 LOS ANGELES KINGS Game 1: Thu. 10:30PM @SJ Game 2: Sun. 10PM @SJ Game 3: 4/22 10PM @LA Game 4: 4/24 10:30PM @LA Game 5: 4/26 TBD @SJ * Game 6: 4/28 TBD @LA * Game 7: 4/30 TBD @SJ *
* if necessary Times are EDT!
I can't possibly predict anything other than I'm going to try to catch every Sharks/Kings games (assuming I get home from the Timberwolves finale in time for the start of Game 1), TRY to catch the Rangers games, and expect an early dismissal of the Wild.
Well, two of my favorite things in life are the Rangers winning and the Flyers losing, so this first round is going to either go very very well or very very badly for me. I don't really see my Blueshirts going all the way, but I'm cautiously optimistic that we can at least get past Philly.
The format still seems a bit weird, staying in your division but if I remember correctly it just so happtens that most of these match ups would've happens with the old 1-8 seeds anyways.
I don't like Boston, but fear that Detroit doesn't stand a chance. 4-1. Montreal has the pressure of being the only Canadian team on their shoulders but will be able to squeeze past the Lightning, 4-3.
Penguins over Blue Jackets, 4-1.
Rangers over Flyers, 4-2. This should be when St.Louis starts showing his experience and all that.
Colorado should beat the Wild, but they're still a relatively inexperienced playoff team. Roy's guidance might be enough, 4-1.
Anaheim over the Stars, 4-0
Kings beat the Sharks, 4-2
IMO the most interesting series is the one of the BLues vs Blackhawks. The Blues are a contender, but the Blackhawks have the skills, the experience and want to become a dynasty. I'll say Blackhawks, 4-3.
I usually don't watch a lot of hockey until the playoffs, so this is the start of the season for me. I am hoping the Blackhawks have another run, but in the one or two games I watches, they didn't look overly sharp. We shall see.
We'll be back right after order has been restored here in the Omni Center.
That the universe was formed by a fortuitous concourse of atoms, I will no more believe than that the accidental jumbling of the alphabet would fall into a most ingenious treatise of philosophy - Swift
The Pens have stumbled into the playoffs and their best lose was against Philly sending the Flyers to MSG for hopefully the end of their season. All the games in that series are essential home games for the Pens due to how little Columbus brings to the fan table. Will they get past the Rangers who knows. I am not in favor of this format at all and it feels needlessly complicated for no reason. Boston is going to go to the Eastern Championship game, they are too good not to. As for the West, I have no idea. I'll go with Colorado since they don't have to play Detroit.
Detroit over Boston, 4-2 Montreal over Tampa, 4-2 Penguins over Blue Jackets, 4-0 Rangers over Flyers, 4-3
Avs over Wild, 4-1 Blues over Blackhawks, 4-3 Ducks over Stars, 4-0 (though I'd love to see the Central Division Stars win the Pacific Division title) Sharks over Kings, 4-1
I think Colorado can figure out any team in the playoffs over seven games except Anaheim and Boston, but I think somebody else in the WC will figure out Anaheim before Colorado has to.
"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." --- Bart Giamatti, on baseball
Thread ahead: 2014 Conference Finals - Schedule and Predictions Next thread: 2014 Conference Semifinals - Schedule and Predictions Previous thread: Dallas Stars have a great scoreboard operator
no way the wings are losing in the 1st round 2 years in a row. what exactly have they had to play for the past 2 months? IMO their lack of depth and playoff experience makes it the wings in 5. vancouver can beat detroit, but 4 times?