EASTERN CONFERENCE
Bruins (1) vs. Red Wings (WC)
My prediction: Bruins in 5
RESULT: Bruins in 5
Thoughts: Bruins are the strongest team in the East. I figured Detroit would take one game from them, but didn't offer much resistance. Boston is the team to beat this year. While I suspect someone will upset them, it's not likely to be the Canadiens. Possibly the winner of the Penguins/Jackets vs. Rangers/Flyers series, but it won't surprise me at all to see the Bruins in the finals.
Penguins (1) vs. Blue Jackets (WC)
My prediction: Blue Jackets in 7
RESULT: Penguins in 6
Thoughts: I know this was a bit of a "hopeful" pick. I thought Columbus really had a chance to beat the Penguins. Unfortunately for them, the previously no-show Malkin decided to come alive at exactly the wrong time, sealing up the series. The Jackets should be proud, though, as they took it to the last minute. Great season. I look for more from this this young, solid team over the next few years.
Lightning (2) vs. Canadiens (3)
My prediction: Lightning in 6
RESULT: Canadiens in 4
Thoughts: I really didn't see this coming. The Canadiens aren't a very good team this year, so the Lightning really had to fall apart. Not sure what happened. They have the talent to beat Montreal. This one is a puzzler. Good for the Canadiens for pulling it together.
Rangers (2) vs. Flyers (3)
My prediction:
Flyers in 7
RESULT: Rangers in 7
Thoughts: This was a heartbreaker. The Flyers had major identity issues. They proved all year that when they put in the work, they could skate with (and beat) anyone. But their work ethic was surprisingly inconsistent. When they worked hard, they dominated...literally...some of the best teams in the NHL. Other times (far too often), they just looked disinterested and lackadaisical and (as a result) struggled greatly. In game 7 they really only worked in period 3...and still almost took it. The one thing they can take from this, though, is that they finally have a true starting goalie. One of the best goaltending playoff performances I've ever seen, loss or not. Seriously. Mason > Lundquist.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Avalanche (1) vs. Wild (WC)
My prediction:
Avalanche in 4
RESULT: Wild in 7
Thoughts: Color me surprised on this one too. On paper (and based on the season) the Avs should have taken this series easily. But give the Wild credit for a great series. When the right team gets hot at the right time, anything can happen.
Ducks (1) vs. Stars (WC)
My prediction:
Ducks in 5
RESULT: Ducks in 6
Thoughts: The Stars put up more of a fight than I suspected, and not just because they won two games. The other games were pretty close and the Stars competed in all of them. These are two teams with great offense and shaky D/goaltending, so I expected this to be a high scoring series, and it was.
Blues (2) vs. Blackhawks (3)
My prediction:
Blackhawks in 6
RESULT: Blackhawks in 6
Thoughts: Most people picked the Blues in this series because of their strong play down the stretch (excepting their slight falter at season's end), but I still believe the defending champion Blackhawks are the strongest team in the West. The Hawks have underachieved this year, while the Blues overachieved; such is usually exposed in the playoffs, and indeed it was.
The Blues have limited talent but Hitchcock is great at making players play as a team, which covers a lot of deficit in pure ability...and with Miller in goal they really had a shot. On the other hand, the Hawks have way more talent than their regular season record would indicate, and they've stepped it up in the playoffs.
Sharks (2) vs. Kings (3)
My prediction:
Kings in 7
RESULT: Kings in 7
Thoughts: This is what I expected: a long series with lots of scoring from two great offensive teams. I didn't quite expect that it would go down the way it did, but the Kings impressed with their resilience, becoming the latest team to rally from a 3-0 series deficit for just the 5th time (I believe) in NHL history. The Kings had several players from the Flyers team that did the same thing against Boston in 2010, so they knew what they were up against, and they pulled it out. Great job Kings!
