"I would welcome getting Boston." You would be retarded for doing that. 1. Boston destroys this team on draws so much it results in goals against. 2. If the Rangers were dominating the series, Boston is dirty and would start cheap shotting our players. 3. Boston can play physical without taking penalties. In the regular season they often don't but they can do this in the playoffs. The series would be grueling which is bad in the first round. Washington can't play physical without taking tons of dumb penalties. Though our PP blows, a lot has to do with the fact St. Louis is out. While he's showing his age, he still is a very good PP guy.
Yeah, Montreal owns the Bruins. I think that's how it will end up anyway. The Sens have fallen off and the Bruins have righted the ship.
Like I said, I "rather" play the Caps, but if we got the Bruins so be it. To me this isn't like last season when we got in and were hoping to play the right teams and make a run. If we cannot beat the Bruins we aren't winning a cup anyway. That's how I look at it. We are supposed to be one of the best teams in the NHL, and I am going to get all nervous if we play Boston in round 1? I won't. Rather play the Caps, slow OV a little and keep them off the PP and we win IMO, but I simply won't be overly concerned if we did get the Bruins somehow.
Every series is nerve-wracking in the playoffs. That's just the way it is. However, I'd much rather have Ottawa or Washington. Either way. If this team is going to make a run, they need Klein back on defense and St. Louis back on the PP.
And we agree. We could lose to the Sens, Caps, or Bruins. I "rather" play the Sens or Caps, Sens aren't getting in anyway, but if we draw the Bruins so be it. We need to win in the 1st round or this season was a total waste. With that said ANYTHING can happen in the NHL playoffs. This isn't basketball where the best team wins 95% of the time. You have to earn it in the NHL playoffs. If we lost to the Caps or Bruins I wouldn't be shocked, but I expect us to beat both of those teams and face the Isles/Pens winner in round 2. That will be an interesting 2/3 series. I expect the Pens to have home ice, but the Isles can still win that series.
One other quick comment on the Met. Let's make it very simple. Home and home with the Devs. Home CBJ. Home Sens. If we win 3 of those 4 games, 2 in regulation or OT, we clinch the Met no matter what the Pens do. In that case we'd have 107 points and 45 ROW's. The best the Pens can do is 107 points and 44 ROW's if they win out in regulation. If the Pens lose a game, then we only need to win 2 of those 4 games. And so on from there.
The Isles will beat Pitt if they meet. That's a good matchup for them. Ottawa isn't what they were when we played them a few years ago, so they might be the 'easiest' 1st rd opponent.
