Sunday, September 30, 2007

Pre Season Playoff-Cup Winner Predictions- West

1) Like the East we used the order of finish we predicted for the conference to determine the playoff matches and get our predicted results. As we mentioned last time we understand its no more than a blind folded dart throw, but its the preseason and almost everyone else does it, so why not?

2) Next the West:


  • Detroit-vs-L.A.- Assuming the old Wings stay healthy(Hasek) this won't be a push over series for a first round, but the Wings and their experience will be not be denied and proceed to round 2. Wings in 5


  • San Jose-vs-Vancouver- The Vancouver Luongos will keep things interesting and perhaps steal one at home in double OT, but the Sharks high powered offense will NOT be deterred by Luongo's heroics. Sharks in 5


  • Colorado-vs-Minnesota- The Avs come into this match up with a high degree of confidence. Though Lemaire's troops never say die, in the end the potent attack of the boys from Denver overcome the defense-first Wild, but not easily. Avalanche in 6


  • Anaheim-vs-Calgary- The series to watch! The defending Cup champs(with or without Neidermayer-?) never seem to get comfortable in their first round Cup defense. Kiprusoff playing for a new contract stands on his head and propels the Flames into the second round, but not without a fight(s). Flames in 7

3) Now on to the next rounds:


  • Detroit-vs-Calgary-A rematch/grudge match from last season. The bad blood is evident early and often, and the Flames 'Cinderella story' continues as they win a very hard fought chippy series. Flames in 6


  • San Jose-vs-Colorado- Another great series with both clubs possessing a full array of talented forwards. In the end the difference is between the pipes as Nabokov is the ultimate difference. Sharks in 6

4) This sets up a very interesting match up (Though not the one Mr. Bettman would have wanted) between the upstart Flames, and the high flying SJ Sharks. A great skating display with specialty teams carrying the day. Sharks in 6

5) This sets the stage for the Finals. The San Jose Sharks vs- Pittsburgh Penguins. Finally Gary Bettman and the NHL get a Finals they can be happy about. Not sure if the ratings will be a huge improvement over the last 2 years, but they couldn't get much worse. The NHL gets to showcase its 'next one'. Sidney Crosby in the premier series in the league. Unfortunately for the Pens though they are thoroughly outmatched in this series. The pens manage to win a game to avoid a sweep, but still fall to the Sharks in 5. So the Cup stays in California, but moves up the coast a bit.

6) Our run down of how tenuous each NHL coachs' position are with respect to their team should be out sometime this week. As always, keep it here for all the latest. By the way, anyone notice the season started? Don't feel bad, very few folks in the states(including California) did either.

10 comments:

Jintzie said...

Hey faux, you aint kidding Bettman would be happy with that as the finals this year. Theresa and I would be happier than pigs in spit too! Hope you and yours are doing well back east

FAUX RUMORS said...

1) The prediction wasn't necessarily to make you and your other half happy, but we see the Sharks as the best team in the league
2) If they fail to make it to the Finals they have underachieved this season in our opinion!

Antzmarching said...

My predictions are soon to come, but I will say now that I agree completely that San Jose is the class of the NHL this year - they are my Cup winner...

Rogo said...

I have a bloody hard time seeing those bastards from Pittsbugh getting past us into the finals. You said it yourself man. They aint got any good goalies. We got that dam swedish superstar. Aint no way we are losing to them if hes playin.

Antzmarching said...

Easy now, Rogo... Remember buddy, you have to "Get them through." Also, say "Hi" to Linda for me...
On to the predictions:

ROUND 1:

San Jose v. Dallas - The Stars shouldn't even be in the playoffs to begin with... This is a slam dunk... Sharks in 4...

Detroit v. Minnesota - This will be a struggle, with 3-4 games ending in OT... The Wings survive in 7...

Vancouver v. Calgary - MY surprise team, the Canucks, triumph on in 6 hard fought games... "Daniel to Henrik" lives to play another round...

Anaheim v. Colorado - The Avs win... It's just a hunch... Colorado in 7...

Rounds 2 and 3 to follow - I need to eat lunch...

FAUX RUMORS said...

1) ANTZ: We look forward to seeing your completed predictions once you eat some lunch LOL
2) ROGO: Your sounding a lot like Vlad. We don't discount the goaltending issue, but unlike Vlad, we believe there are other factors involved. After all the Senators made the Finals with ray Emery as the goalie!

Antzmarching said...

Lunch was very good, Faux, thank you... Sal and the boys really outdid themselves with their gourmet pizza today... Love the Rat Pack picture on the wall... Anyway, on to Round 2:


San Jose v. Colorado - As much respect as I have for Joe Sakic, I just don't see the Avs moving on... San Jose will get the breaks for a change and move on to the Conference finals... The Great Whites in 5...

Detroit v. Vancouver - Luongo dominates this series and carries the Canucks ahead... The Sedins continue to impress and Detroit's D shows its age in April once again... Canucks in 6...

ROUND 3:

San Jose v. Vancouver - In the most exciting series of these playoffs, San Jose is a little better - Joe Thornton finds a way to get it done (with assists, of course)... As great as Roberto is, he can't do it all... Makos in 7...

STANLEY CUP FINALS:

Thornton v. Jagr - Sharks in 6... Thank God the Rag$ wild ride is over... Its been fun!

Antzmarching said...

On another note, a hardy Congrats to the New York Metropolitans for pulling off the second biggest choke in MLB history... GAG, GAG!!! Greg Norman is grinning widely today...

People had better be more careful before they put Jose Reyes in the same sentence as Derek Jeter... Four rings versus a total September collapse... Gimme a break Mets fans... BTW, did Reyes manage to hold on to a .280 batting average? What a joke...

FAUX RUMORS said...

1)Antz: Looks like we get to the same destination, just different routes. You much like Rogo earlier today must be on the Vlad the Impaler bandwagon with your Vancouver picks.
2) Vlad loves to pick the team with the best goalie regardless of other factors. The Canucks margin for error is so razor thin that unless someone other than Daniel/Henrik step up offensively, they won't be going to the conference finals

FAUX RUMORS said...

1) Were those baseball references Antz? We may now start to watch now that the boring 250 game regular season is over

 
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