1. Buffalo Sabres vs. 8. Florida Panthers Tale of the Tape:
Buffalo Sabres
Record: 48-21-13-0
Goals For: 262 (T-5th in HFNHL)
Goals Against: 195 (2nd in HFNHL)
Power Play/Penalty Kill: 15.5/86.8% (13th/T-7th in HFNHL)
Top Scorer: Patrick Marleau - 86 points
Florida Panthers
Record: 39 - 33 - 10 - 1
Goals For: 242 (T 12th in HFNHL)
Goals Against: 230 (17th in HFNHL)
Power Play/Penalty Kill: 15.7/87.1% (12th/5th in HFNHL)
Top Scorer: Daniel Cleary - 71 points Season Series: 1-1
Sabres 5, Panthers 2
Panthers 4, Sabres 3 Keys to Success:
The Sabres are one of the best defensive teams in the league, but also one of the scoring teams. They run a strong penalty killing unit and rollout 3 great scoring lines. Basically they just have to keep doing what they have been doing and stay out of the penalty box where the Panthers power play, which has been hot lately can hurt them. The Panthers have to play strong team defense and keep the Sabres to the perimeter. They have strong special teams play, but an inconsistent goalie in Ray Emery. The Prediction:
Sabres in 5
While the season series was relatively close, both games were played earlier in the year when the Panthers were among the top in the East. Since then they have endured a downward spiral in the standings and limp into the playoffs. The Sabres will likely be too much to handle.
2. Philadelphia Flyers vs. 7. Toronto Maple Leafs Tale of the Tape:
Philadelphia Flyers
Record: 42-26-14-2
Goals For: 254 (8th in HFNHL)
Goals Against: 222 (T-9th in HFNHL)
Power Play/Penalty Kill: 12.5/85.7% (T-26th/14th in HFNHL)
Top Scorer: Simon Gagne - 68 points
Toronto Maple Leafs
Record: 40-36-6-3
Goals For: 242 (T-12th in HFNHL)
Goals Against: 225 (T 14th in HFNHL)
Power Play/Penalty Kill: 19.2/86.5% (1st/10th in HFNHL)
Top Scorer: Martin Straka - 83 points Season Series: 2-0 Flyers
Flyers 3, Leafs 1
Leafs 2, Flyers 5 Keys to Success:
Scotty Bowman used to say, special teams win championships. Well the Leafs have the best powerplay in the league, and an effective penalty kill. They score in bunches and need to get more consistent effort from their top 2 lines. For the Flyers, they'll need to get their special teams going. They will have to remain disciplined and stay out of the box to prevent the Leafs powerplay from hurting them. The Prediction:
Flyers in 7
The Flyers do a good job of staying out of the box and during the regular season did a good job of neutralizing the Leaf powerplay in the head to head matchups. The Leafs have a lot of fight in them and this series is a lot more even than the standings would indicate. Expect this series to go either way and be hard fought.
3. Carolina Hurricanes vs. 6. Ottawa Senators Tale of the Tape:
Carolina Hurricanes
Record: 45-30-7-2
Goals For: 281 (1st in HFNHL)
Goals Against: 225 (T 14th in HFNHL)
Power Play/Penalty Kill: 18.1/86.8% (2nd/T 7th in HFNHL)
Top Scorer: Alex Ovechkin - 92 points
Ottawa Senators
Record: 37-31-14-3
Goals For: 214 (23rd in HFNHL)
Goals Against: 198 (4th in HFNHL)
Power Play/Penalty Kill: 11.9/87.6% (29th/4th in HFNHL)
Top Scorer: Daniel Briere - 68 points Season Series: 1-0-1 Hurricanes
Hurricanes 3, Senators 1
Senators 4, Hurricanes 4 Keys to Success:
The best offense in the league goes up against one of the best defenses in the league and the best goalie in the league. Obviously the Hurricanes have to find a way to solve Luongo and speed up tempo. The Senators have to stay out of the penalty box to prevent a dangerous powerplay from going to work. They also have to provide the defense with insurance and some of the veteran forwards have to step up. The Prediction:
Senators in 6
Last year, the Senators upset the Hurricanes in the first round as a 7 seed. This year, the Canes look for revenge but I think will end up falling short again. This was probably the match up the Canes didn't want, as any other team in the first round and I'd like their odds to do some serious damage. However Luongo has proven in the past that he can steal a playoff series.
4. New Jersey Devils vs. 5. Pittsburgh Penguins Tale of the Tape:
New Jersey Devils
Record: 43-30-9-2
Goals For: 257 (7th in HFNHL)
Goals Against: 227 (16th in HFNHL)
Power Play/Penalty Kill: 15.2/86.3% (14th/T 11th in HFNHL)
Top Scorer: Chris Drury - 73 points
Pittsburgh Penguins
Record: 40-31-11-1
Goals For: 247 (11th in HFNHL)
Goals Against: 248 (22nd in HFNHL)
Power Play/Penalty Kill: 16.7/84.8% (6th/T 17th in HFNHL)
Top Scorer: Jason Spezza - 83 points Season Series: 6-2 Devils
Penguins 3, Devils 2
Penguins 3, Devils 2
Penguins 2, Devils 3
Penguins 2, Devils 3
Devils 5, Penguins 2
Devils 4, Penguins 2
Devils 5, Penguins 3
Devils 5, Penguins 3 Keys to Success:
The Devils have vastly underachieved at times this year, going on large droughts where they can't buy a win. However they roll into the playoffs on a 3 game winning streak and dominated the season series. The Devils have a very good offense on paper and are capable of scoring a large amount of goals. This doesn't bode well for the Penguins who will have to step up their inconsistent defensive play. The Prediction:
Devils in 5
The Devils offense is likely to overpower the Penguins and push them into the second round.
THE WEST
1. St. Louis Blues vs. 8. Colorado Avalanche Tale of the Tape:
St. Louis Blues
Record: 54-19-9-1
Goals For: 270 (3rd in HFNHL)
Goals Against: 170 (1st in HFNHL)
Power Play/Penalty Kill: 16.0/89.8% (9th/1st in HFNHL)
Top Scorer: Joe Thornton - 94 points
Colorado Avalanche
Record: 39-36-7-3
Goals For: 228 (20th in HFNHL)
Goals Against: 222 (T 9th in HFNHL)
Power Play/Penalty Kill: 15.9/84.1% (10th/19th in HFNHL)
Top Scorer: Sidney Crosby - 79 points Season Series: 2-0 Blues
Avalanche 3, Blues 7
Blues 3, Avalanche 1 Keys to Success:
The Blues are the high powered juggernaut of the HFNHL. They can score, they've got the best defense in the HFNHL, they shut you down on the PK and they've got a great goalie. However, in the past they've been snakebitten for whatever reason, even losing to the Canucks in the first round last year. They just need to loosen up and play their game. Plain and simple, the Avs have to score goals to win. The team has struggled offensively thus far and in a match up with such a strong defense, it could spell disaster. The Prediction:
Blues in 5
The Blues just need to get this monkey off their back. If they can move on to the second round with ease, it should give them the confidence to win later rounds.
2. Dallas Stars vs. 7. Minnesota Wild Tale of the Tape:
Dallas Stars
Record: 46-28-8-0
Goals For: 238 (T-15th in HFNHL)
Goals Against: 206 (5th in HFNHL)
Power Play/Penalty Kill: 18.0/88.3% (3rd/2nd in HFNHL)
Top Scorer: Derek Roy - 72 points
Minnesota Wild
Record: 38-34-10-3
Goals For: 238 (T-15th in HFNHL)
Goals Against: 224 (12th in HFNHL)
Power Play/Penalty Kill: 14.9/86.3% (18th/T-11th in HFNHL)
Top Scorer: Matthew Lombardi - 66 points Season Series: 1-1
Wild 1, Stars 2
Wild 3, Stars 2 Keys to Success:
Two very evenly matched teams, who fought hard during their season series. Both teams have offenses reliant on the production of some younger forwards. The bluelines of the teams match up well. However, the Stars have one of the best goaltenders in the game Miika Kipprusoff, who helped the Stars to the Stanley Cup Final last year. Going back to my Scotty Bowman quote of earlier as well, the Stars may have the best special teams in the HFNHL. The Wild forwards are gonna have to step up their game to beat Kipper. The Prediction:
Stars in 6
How about that? The two teams I underestimated in my season preview are playing each other in the first round of the playoffs. I think the Stars take this one in a very close, and hard fought series thanks to the goaltending of Kipper and their strong Powerplay.
3. Edmonton Oilers vs. 6. Vancouver Canucks Tale of the Tape:
Edmonton Oilers
Record: 45-31-6-4
Goals For: 267 (4th in HFNHL)
Goals Against: 223 (11th in HFNHL)
Power Play/Penalty Kill: 15.1/82.2% (T-16th/T 27th in HFNHL)
Top Scorer: Doug Weight - 83 points
Vancouver Canucks
Record: 39-30-13-1
Goals For: 262 (T-5th in HFNHL)
Goals Against: 224 (T 12th in HFNHL)
Power Play/Penalty Kill: 16.2/86.9% (7th/6th in HFNHL)
Top Scorer: Eyvgeni Malkin - 70 points Season Series: 6-2 Oilers
Canucks 4, Oilers 3
Canucks 3, Oilers 4
Canucks 6, Oilers 2
Oilers 6, Canucks 4
Oilers 4, Canucks 0
Canucks 2, Oilers 5
Oilers 4, Canucks 2
Oilers 3, Canucks 2 Keys to Success:
This one is tough to call. Even though the season series was lopsided in the Oilers favor, these two teams couldn't be more evenly matched. Both teams rolled into the playoffs on winning streaks as well. The series will come down to goaltending and special teams play. It's Marty Brodeur vs. Eygeny Nabokov, and the Canucks powerplay against the Oilers weak penalty kill. The Prediction:
Canucks in 7
Even with the Oilers winning the season series, I think the Canucks can take it. Martin Brodeur is tried, tested and true, and the Canucks powerplay should be able to capitalize on Oiler penalties.
4. Detroit Red Wings vs. 5. Calgary Flames Tale of the Tape:
Detroit Red Wings
Record: 48-24-10-4
Goals For: 238 (T 15th in HFNHL)
Goals Against: 196 (3rd in HFNHL)
Power Play/Penalty Kill: 13.8/85.8% (20th/13th in HFNHL)
Top Scorer: Mike Knuble - 70 points
Calgary Flames
Record: 40-31-11-3
Goals For: 250 (10th in HFNHL)
Goals Against: 211 (6th in HFNHL)
Power Play/Penalty Kill: 15.7/85.0% (T 11th/16th in HFNHL)
Top Scorer: Jarome Iginla - 83 points Season Series: 1-1
Red Wings 3, Flames 2
Flames 6, Red Wings 2 Keys to Success:
Two more teams who are incredibly evenly matched. Both teams have mediocore special teams, both teams do a good job of keeping the puck out of the net, and both teams score in bunches. The Flames do have a bit more of a high powered offense, but Red WIngs goalie Henrik Lundqvist is a grizzled veteran by now. The key to success is for one team to start scoring and play good hard nosed playoff hockey. The Prediction:
Flames in 6
Another tough series to call, but the Flames are a great team who went through the blender of the Northwest division. Just a hunch.
Everyone else feel free to throw out their predictions in this thread and we'll see who does best!
Flyers will definetely have hands full with Leafs. My achilles heal all season has been the PP. Somehow, I'm hoping it will start clicking soon or else it my came back to haunt me.
I wish I could find an argument against your prediction of Calagry in 6 over Detrot but I can't. Detroit's play has been way too weak for way too long. We've been looking like a prime candidate for a first round upset for awhile.
It doesn't help this is the second consecutive year the Wings finished with the second best record in the HFNHL yet have to start out of the 4 spot and play much tougher competition all the way through the playoffs.
Heck, even having home ice advantage is a disadvantage as my team only seems to play well on the road (only 19wins in 41 home games )
If I had time I'd try and write up a storyline on Backstrom returning to Detroit to renew the battle with Lundqvist to see who's the best but I'll leave that to the producer who can (I would hope at least) write a better hollywood version of this side story.
If I had time I'd try and write up a storyline on Backstrom returning to Detroit to renew the battle with Lundqvist to see who's the best but I'll leave that to the producer who can (I would hope at least) write a better hollywood version of this side story.
Well I would if I had the time. Flying to England today. However I am not as optimistic as everyone else about a Calgary victory. While we seemed to have turned it around the last few games of the season, this team has struggled as well.
Backstrom, if had played one more game (minimum requirements are for 33 games and he played 32), would be in the top 5 in SA% and GAA in the league, performing better actually as a Flame than a Wing, so perhaps that gives me hope.
However, if I was a betting man I'd say Wings in 7.
good work Brock ... but cant help but feel my team isnt getting any respect.. out in 5? time will tell, but i like the depth we bring and its not like we dont have some game breakers.
Scott Nichol injured at 06:37 of the 1st Period
Milan Hejduk ejected at 06:37 of the 1st Period
Michael Ryder injured at 15:51 of the 3rd Period
Chris Clark ejected at 15:51 of the 3rd Period
Yep, and there it is. Hope you enjoyed it! Now to lose 4 straight...
You know Laurens should be the one worried about this, being called out as the 5 game favourite is the kiss of death... Although I can't say I'm not hoping Ryan is right about the Leafs in 6!
good work Brock ... but cant help but feel my team isnt getting any respect.. out in 5? time will tell, but i like the depth we bring and its not like we dont have some game breakers.
bring it on!
well what do i know! brock game me more credit than I was due!!!
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