2011-2012 NHL Playoffs: (8) LA Kings vs (6) NJ Devils SCF
1. NY Rangers vs 8. Ottawa
4. Pittsburgh vs 5. Philadelphia
3. Florida vs 6. New Jersey
2. Boston vs 7.Washington
1. Vancouver vs 8. LA
2. St Louis vs 7. San Jose
4. Nashville vs 5. Detroit
My predictions
Rangers in 6 (The inexperence will get to Ottawa and Lundquist will be a force to reckon with)
Philadelphia in 4(if Bryz doesn't crack under the pressure)
Florida in 7 (Both teams can be very inconsistant at times and having that game 7 at home for Florida will be the difference maker)
Boston in 5 (The Defending Champs will have field day with a team that is a mess including major goaltending issues as of late.)
San Jose in 6( It all comes down to how much St. Louis has left in the tank and their last 3 games leaves a question mark on how much is remaining.)
Nashville in 5( The question will be; Did Detroit flip the switch late in the 3rd period vs Chicago? If yes, Nashville is going to have a hard time with this team, otherwise should be an easy series for Nashville.)
LA in 7.( It all comes down to LA's offense, their offense shows up, they will win a tough fought series. If not, Vancouver will have a much easier series than in the last season in the 1st round vs Chicago)
I have a hard time with all the western conference match-ups. God they will be tight.
Indeed.
Speaking of which.
Almost every is saying that the Pens-Flyers will be the most interesting but yet almost of the talk is about the Vancouver-LA series.
NYR vs OTT - I'd like the Sens to win (even though they have that child on their team) but I think the Rangers take it in 6
BOS vs WAS - Can't stand Boston, not sure what to make of the Caps. I think this will be crazy series. Caps in 7
FLA vs NJ - I'd love it if the Panthers made it to the finals out east but there isn't much of a chance there, NJ in 5
PIT vs PHI - Don't like either team in the slightest. I think Philly will use the underdog card to great effect in this one. Flyers in 6
VAN vs LA - I really like the make up of LA's team. I think they start slow but things will click and they'll take off. LA in 7
STL vs SJ - Really want the Blues in this one, and they took a huge step forward this year, but I'd be surprised if the Sharks don't take it. SJ in 5
NSH vs DET - Potential for a great series here. Nash in 7
NY Rangers over Ottawa in 5 - good match-up for the Rangers.
Washington over Boston in 6 - bad match-up for the Bruins
New Jersey over Florida in 6 - Devils landed in a good spot, possibly home ice in Rd 2
Pittsburgh over Philly in 5 - Philly's lost once in 5 years @Pitts...but they go 0-3 here
Vancouver over LA in 7 - tight low-scoring series......Kings have a real shot
San Jose over St Louis in 6 - Sharks are dangerous, could come out of the west
Nashville over Detroit in 5 - better team in 2012 wins
Rangers over Senators in 5
Bruins over Capitals in 6
Panthers over Devils in 7
Penguins over Flyers in 7 (this should be a doozy...possibly the most entertaining series of the entire first-round)
Canucks over Kings in 5
Blues over Sharks in 6
Predators over *** ***** in 6
Assuming we get out of round one (which I have no delusions of thinking will be easy) who would we prefer to face in round 2?
Good question.
Either San Jose or LA if they manage an upset.
Between Nashville vs Detroit Nashville hands down
Of course being satisified with a 1st round win(if it happens) I'd have no problem facing anyone at that point since I did say in that past that if we had to face Detroit I'd rather it be in the 2nd or 3rd round instead.
If we get out of first round we'd play winner of 2/7 so Sharks or Blues.
That's not how that works. If the Sharks win and so does Vancouver, we would have to play Nashville or Detroit. Likewise, if the Blues win and the Kings win, we still play Nashville or Detroit. If the Sharks and the Kings win, we play LA. We only play St. Louis if both the Blues and Canucks win and I don't think there is a scenario where we play the Sharks in the second round.
That's not how that works. If the Sharks win and so does Vancouver, we would have to play Nashville or Detroit. Likewise, if the Blues win and the Kings win, we still play Nashville or Detroit. If the Sharks and the Kings win, we play LA. We only play St. Louis if both the Blues and Canucks win and I don't think there is a scenario where we play the Sharks in the second round.
Who cares? This team fears no one. Even if the do play Detroit, the allure of playing the Yankees-of-the-NHL will be washed away in a flood of hatred and remembrance for what they did last year.
Rangers in 6 (The inexperence will get to Ottawa and Lundquist will be a force to reckon with) Philadelphia in 4(if Bryz doesn't crack under the pressure)
Florida in 7 (Both teams can be very inconsistant at times and having that game 7 at home for Florida will be the difference maker)
Boston in 5 (The Defending Champs will have field day with a team that is a mess including major goaltending issues as of late.)
San Jose in 6( It all comes down to how much St. Louis has left in the tank and their last 3 games leaves a question mark on how much is remaining.)
Nashville in 5( The question will be; Did Detroit flip the switch late in the 3rd period vs Chicago? If yes, Nashville is going to have a hard time with this team, otherwise should be an easy series for Nashville.)
LA in 7.( It all comes down to LA's offense, their offense shows up, they will win a tough fought series. If not, Vancouver will have a much easier series than in the last season in the 1st round vs Chicago)
Would someone be so kind as to clue me in how the 2nd round opponents are determined?
Everything is reseeded. The Coyotes are currently the #3 seed. In the second round, the #1 seed if both the Canucks and Blues lose, they'd be the #2 seed if only one of those teams loses, and the #3 seed if both teams advance. #1 plays #4 and #2 plays #3 in the 2nd round.
