Earlier we told you about how we thought the regular season was going to play out and now it’s time to look at how we think the playoffs will go.
Joe says:
Eastern Conference quarterfinals
Washington over Tampa Bay
New Jersey over Montreal
Philadelphia over Buffalo
Pittsburgh over Boston
Eastern Conference semifinals
Washington over Philadelphia
New Jersey over Pittsburgh
Eastern Conference finals
New Jersey over Washington
James says:
Eastern Conference quarterfinals
Washington over Carolina
New Jersey over Tampa Bay
Philadelphia over Boston
Pittsburgh over Buffalo
Eastern Conference semifinals
Washington over Philadelphia
New Jersey over Pittsburgh
Eastern Conference finals
Washington over New Jersey
In the Western Conference, things shake out a bit differently for your two favorite writers at PHT. Never mind that we’re the only ones here, that’s besides the point.
Joe says:
Western Conference quarterfinals
Vancouver over St. Louis
Nashville over San Jose
Detroit over Los Angeles
Chicago over Phoenix
Western Conference semifinals
Vancouver over Nashville
Detroit over Chicago
Western Conference finals
Vancouver over Detroit
James says:
Western Conference quarterfinalsVancouver over St. LouisChicago over Phoenix
San Jose over Nashville
Detroit over Los Angeles
Western Conference semifinals
Detroit over Vancouver
Chicago over San Jose
Western Conference finals
Detroit over Chicago
Finally, for the Stanley Cup finals, we shake things down and get our love out for all things Western Conference.
Joe says: Vancouver over New Jersey
I fully admit, I’m drinking a lot of blue and green Kool-Aid this year. I like too much what they’ve added on defense, the Sedins are the real deal and just getting better and with a more competent defense playing in front of Luongo, he’ll get the monkey off his back. Also note I had Vancouver avoiding Chicago in the playoffs. That would help out.
As for New Jersey, I can’t shake the feeling that the mix of home-grown players and old-school throwbacks will put it all together with John MacLean coaching them over the first round playoff hump once again. Running into an old school mirror image team like Vancouver in the finals will be too much to overcome after getting run around by the wild Capitals in the East final. Vancouver will celebrate their 40th year in the NHL by finally getting to have that parade they so sloppily and publicly plan each year.
James says: Detroit over Washington
Detroit’s goalies might be a tad bit better than Washington’s (certainly from an experience stand point in Chris Osgood, who won a Cup in relief of Dominik Hasek). Mike Green is no Lidstrom. Zetterberg or Datsyuk might not be able to shut down Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin completely, but I think they can match or maybe even out-play the two elite forwards. Johan Franzen and Alex Semin would probably be the X-factors in this series and I have much more confidence throwing my imaginary vote to Franzen.
I feel weird choosing Detroit because I feel like they’re an aging team with questionable forward depth, but I’m going with my bulbous gut on this one. Feel free to mock me as an old and decrepit Red Wings team doesn’t even make the playoffs this season...