Stanley Cup Playoff Update

Well my predictions sure do suck, huh? I had picks for the Western Final and the Eastern Final as well as two darkhorses from each conference. Half of my picks were wrong. Now I'll make my predictions for the semifinal rounds in each conference! Let's hope I fair better than I did last time.

Penguins vs Senators

I have the Penguins going to the Eastern Final and I won't change that. The Pens have some serious fire power and they'll be able to score goal for goal with any team in the league.The Senators have been a beneficiary of solid play throughout their lineup, but the Pens lineup is way too good. If both teams get 100% from their players, the Pens will still will convincingly. If the Senators win, all fingers in Pittsburgh will point to goaltending. The Penguins goaltending was good enough to beat the Isles, but that's really all you can say about it. Marc Andre Fleury was absolutely pitiful in net at times, and for the amount of talent he has, he'll have to get going for the Pens to make the run that they should be fully capable of making.

Bruins vs Rangers

This series is definitely a toss up. I pick the Bruins for a couple of reasons. The Bruins are a team built for the playoffs, but it took a little while to show it. They've got size and skill throughout, and they've got guys like Brad Marchand that can play with an edge that is very helpful come this time of year. I give New York the goaltending advantage, but the Rangers seem streaky to me. They also have a very talented team, but I have trouble believing that they can sustain a high level of play long enough to hold of the Bruins. This series could easily go to the Rangers, but I think that the comeback that Boston just pulled off in game seven is going to have them feeling like they can do anything. That kind of confidence can take you a long way in the playoffs.

Blackhawks vs Redwings

I have to pick the Blackhawks in this one. You could take into account that the Hawks swept the season series with Detroit, but I won't do that, because that kind of thing doesn't matter in the postseason. I'm picking the Hawks because they've been waiting for a chance to beat Detroit in the postseason. The Hawks were vocal about how upset they were with their level of intensity in the first round, and a battle with detroit is exactly what they need to push them the "next level" that they've been talking about since they beat Minnesota. Detroit has all four lines buzzing, but the Hawks do as well. Crawford has been stellar so far, and Dave Bolland returning to the lineup is something that you can't overlook. Bolland is a playoff performer that makes it his mission to frustrate the other teams offensive guns, and he's very good at it. Detroit is going to bring it physically, but I give this series to the hawks.

Sharks vs Kings

Th Sharks have been incredible thus far in the playoffs. They're getting contributions up and down the lineup and they're physical game is rolling. The Kings aren't going to be intimidated, however. L.A. has a serious edge to their game, and it showed in the first round. They probably endured the most physical series of the playoffs and came out on top. They've got guys that can shoot on every line, and the same can be said for guys that can hit. The Sharks ran away with their first series, but I don't see them pulling that off this time around. The Kings haven't reached their best game yet and the Sharks will draw that desire out of them. I think the physicality that L.A. went through in the first series has put them in a spot to be ready for just about anything the rest of the playoffs. I don't see the Sharks being able to keep up with what the Kings will be bringing to the table.

Stanley Cup Predictions

I haven't made a post in a while but in honor of the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs I think I should give my predictions.

Western Conference Final:

This is partially because I'm a Blackhawks fan and partially because I just think the Hawks are too dominant to not make it this far. The Blues really turned it on at the end of the year, and they've also been a really good overtime team, which becomes very important during the playoffs. Although a Chicago vs. Detroit Conference Final would be incredible considering the realignment, I think the Blues are hot at the perfect time. Team defense and physicality will take them a long way.

Hawks win in 6 games

Eastern Conference Final:


The Pens are probably the hottest team heading into the playoffs, and Sidney Crosby in the lineup is a nightmare for opposing teams. Not making it to the conference final would be a gargantuan disappointment for Pittsburgh considering the season they've had. The Caps are too hungry to not make it to the conference final. They really turned things around this year and I think the team has bought in to the system Adam Oates has them playing. Ovechkin's resurgence has been a huge help for Washington this year as well.

Pens win in 7 games


Stanley Cup Final




Rarely do two number one seeds ever meet in the Stanley Cup Final, but this has been a wild year and an incredibly strong year for both of these teams. I think the shortened season is a factor that could propel two number one seeds to the final. Most 1 seeds are tired from a long season of hard work by the time the playoffs roll around, but the shortened season gave these teams just enough time to get hot without getting over-tired. Both teams had streaks during the regular season that were either near record breaking, or in the Hawks case were record breaking. This one would be hard to call, but I have to give it to my team...

Hawks in 7 games

There are a few teams that I could see making it to the final, but I could only choose two. Here are my wildcard guesses at who else has a strong chance at making the final:


Boston has been pretty good this season, and they are built for a playoff run considering how deep they are. They have skill and grit throughout their entire lineup and that will serve them well this postseason. They could be a darkhorse to make it to the final.


Anaheim has had a very good season and they've been surprisingly quiet about it. Not only are they the only team to sweep their season series with the dominant Blackhawks, but they've been able to man handle just about every other opponent. Anaheim has a unique blend of size and skill on every line, and they've gotten very reliable goaltending. Anaheim should be a favorite to win the cup with the way they've played all year, but they somehow have flown under the radar and remain a darkhorse in the race for the cup.

You could say i'm biased for choosing the Blakchawks to win the cup, but that would also mean that you haven't taken the type of hockey they've played this year into account. I would love to see the Senators or Islanders make it to the cup, but they're both just not quite far enough along for that kind of playoff run. I'm excited to what things are to come for those younger teams, but I don't think they have a legitimate chance until next year or the year after that. It should be an exciting playoffs so I can't wait to see how things shake out!

Til next time