Great round 1 for hockey fans. 7 of 8 series I had. 5 of 8 series I had exact games. Good round. Let's see if we can keep it going. Bruins in 6. Not easy to see them clinching in Montreal, but I don't feel this is a 7 game series. Montreal will be tough though. Huge rivalry. Rangers in 6. I know the Rangers always go 7, but I feel 6 this time. This will go 6 or 7 IMO. Quite frankly I think it is as simple as this. Which MAF do we see? If we get the guy who let's up soft goals we win. If we don't they win IMO. Hawks in 6. LOVE that the Wild beat the Avs. Felt that yesterday. They totally deserved that series. Outplayed the Avs overall IMO. The Hawks are on a different level though. Ducks Kings...wow this series is tough...real tough. I will go Kings in 6, but this is the best series of the 4 IMO, although I think they are all real good with Hawks Wild being # 4. I go Kings, but Ducks have a shot especially if Hiller is back on his game.
Hawks in 5. The Wild may have goalie problems. Kings in 7. The series will go the distance Montreal in 6. Just so I am not taking the obvious pick. Rangers in 7. Because no New York team, not just the Rangers, do anything easy. BTW, of the 3 game 7's, we were the only home team to win
I like those picks papa. I can totally see the Hawks in 5, and thought about lowering that one myself given the Wild goalie issues, and the fact that I think the hawks are just better. Reason I didn't go 7 on the Kings is that would be back to back game 7's on the road. Hard to win game 7's on the road. But no doubt that series could go 7. Great series. I am rooting hard for Montreal. Would love to see Montreal do it. And quite frankly I think they have the best shot in the East to do it, but the Bruins are too big and tough IMO. Would love to see it though. As for us, yeah 7 is our thing, so no doubt it could go down that way. But I like winning at home better, and to me either MAF is off and we win in 6, or he is okay and they win. That's how I view that series. Good picks.
Thanks Chuck The key to our series will be games 2 and 4. I'm giving G1 to them because of our quick turn around. So G2 is a must win. G3 is 2nd of a back to back and is at home. We will win that game. We have been great in the 2nd of B to B's all year. So G4 will determine whether we go back to Pitt 2-2 or up 3-1. The Kings have been there done that. I'll take the Kings in a G7 against anyone other than G7 against the Hawks in Chicago which we may see in the next round. The Hawks series I don't think I need to elaborate on. Think about a Montreal vs Rangers final in the East. 4 games in Montreal. Do we start Talbot in one of those games. I know it sounds crazy but the kid gave up 1 goal in 2 games in their building. And we all know Hank doesn't have the greatest history north of the border. I know I'm getting ahead but just an interesting thought.
I agree on our series. I said in the other thread...if we win game 1 we win the series period. And yes if we lose game 1 we must win game 2. Not coming back from 2-0 down IMO.
Experts at ESPN picks: 7 picked us, all in 7 games. 5 picked the Pens, all in 6 or 7 except Scott Powers who said 5. ALL picked the Bruins and Hawks. 9 picked the Kings and 3 picked the Ducks. So the "experts" think we have the closest series by far....and I agree.
Montreal-Boston: Bruins with Rask in 6. Price would have to play flawlessly for Montreal to win this series....though he's capable. Rangers-Pittsburgh: Rangers in 6. NY has to beat Pittsburgh sometime; it could be this year. Very close series. From here on out Rangers are the wild card....just play loose and have fun. Minnesota-Chicago: Hawks in 6. Minnesota will not be shut out. Los Angeles-Anaheim: Ducks in 7. Both of these teams are exceptional; both are fast and punishing.
Rangers in 6 at home Boston in 6 at the Bell Center Chicago in 5 at the delta center Kings in 7 in ....where ever ducks play lol
It will definitely come down to goal-tending, and defense where I think the Rangers have an edge. The problem is that MAF can look great one day, and pure chit the next. Here's to him looking more like chit in at least 4 games, and to the Rangers having the good sense to knock any Penguin who even thinks about skating in front of Hank ... on their azz! Should be a good series
I know I am going to get flak for this but quite frankly I don't care. I still believe that Colin Campbell should not be allowed to be a top executive for the NHL while his son is playing in the NHL. It is a conflict of interest. And whether it ever makes a difference in a call or not, the perception is really bad.
Some solid picks. Papa had all 4, and two in exact games, Kings and Rangers on the road in game 7's. Nice job. Al had 3 of 4 and called the Kings in 7 exactly. I had 3 of 4 and called the Hawks in 6 exactly. Good stuff.
