I agree with your first point for sure Prod. I think me saying the Sens/Habs series will be the closest in the East is me reaching for something. I really like the 4 favs in round 1 as well, which should set up a very good 2nd round and ECF.
I think you are crazy on this one...but I sure hope you are right.... I think any real shot at that was lost when the Isles blew lead after lead tonight while trying to get home ice (which I think would have been real big).
The Caps as a group just haven't had the playoff success. Remember the 121 point team that got bounced by the Habs in round one? That being said it's about the opponent in round one. The Islanders just haven't played well and are getting the label of not being able to hold leads. That points to the defense and the goalie play.
I don't think that is 100% fair Mess, this is a way different team than those Caps teams. Now I do agree this is just as much about my dislike of the Isles and how they have played and how they play no D, but I fully believe this is a different Caps teams than the teams that have lost early the past few seasons. I expect that round 2 series to be a very good one if we both get there.
The Caps are better than in years past and I think they cruise past the isles, but at the end of the day they still ride or die with Ovi. McDonagh, Girardi and Staal have done a tremendous job on him for the past few years. Lundqvist also has big games against them. Remember the back to back shutouts in game 6 and 7 a couple of years ago? I'd honestly be more worried about seeing the Isles who have an extra gear against us. But first and foremost lets get by this punk ass Pittsburg team.
Thats the point mess. Ovie and all his regular season goals mean nothing to me until the caps can do some major damage in the playoffs.
While it would be exciting you sometimes don't really want those rivalry matchups. Emotion plays a big role and the Islanders would be sky high to play the Rangers.
Now I do agree the Caps are still about OV and the PP. If OV isn't a monster who scores 8 or 9 goals in 5 or 6 games, and their PP is good not great, they don't score much. But they are much better and deeper on D, Holtby is better than any of their recent goalies (including Holtby from a few years back), and they have good depth upfront. I think the Caps are a good team. I think we are deeper and better and would have home ice so I'd expect us to beat them, but I do think they are a good team this season, a dangerous team. I would be VERY surprised if us or the Caps saw a game 7 in round 1...VERY surprised.
I'd like to pay Pittsburg back for celebrating that ridiculous shootout victory,where Boyle got called for the double hit, like they had just won the Cup. They're absolutely my least favorite team in any sport.
I guarantee the Rangers are not over confident. My picks: ROUND 1 RANGERS 4 Pens 2 Isles 4 Caps 3 Montreal 4 Sens 3 Tampa Bay 4 Wings 1 Ducks 4 Jets 2 Wild 4 Blues 3 Canucks 4 Flames 2 Hawks 4 Preds 1
I hate them also Prod. And good point Prod and Mess on the rivalry. With that said I just think the Caps are better, and will root for the Isles to beat the Caps in round 1. But I do agree, and Isles team coming off an upset series win over the Caps would be very dangerous. BUT let's worry about the Pens first....
My West picks: Jets/Ducks - Ducks in 6 (don't love the Ducks and think they are VERY lucky they get the Jets and then the Canucks or Flames to get into the WCF) Flames/Canucks - Canucks in 6 Wild/Blues - Blues in 7 (I like the Wild a lot, but truthfully think the Blues are the best team in the West IF their goalie plays well) Hawks/Preds - Hawks in 6 (like the Preds, but the Hawks are the Hawks and I expect Kane back in round 1 at some point) The West has much better 1t round series than the East. Outside of the Flames/Canucks series, I like all the West series. I think you could get some upsets out West. I like the Wild and the Preds and even the Jets. The West should be a great 1st round.
We are close cage, I just don't like the Isles to beat the Caps at all (hope they do though) AND I think the Blues edge the Wild in a tough series. I think the Wild run out of gas. That one could actually be less than 7 now that I think about it. Right now my SC pick is Blues and Rangers. West backup would be the Hawks if the Blues goalies implode.
I really like them also Step. I just think they may have run out of gas a little. Dub has played so many games in a row, that is rough. If they got the Ducks instead of the Blues I would have picked them to win that series for sure. I just think the Blues are so darn good and deep. Forget goalie and look at forwards and D and I truly think the Blues are the best team in the NHL. BUT can their goalies be trusted. That is the issue/question.
I don't know what to think about the VAN/CGY series. Both teams with questions in net but both teams can score. I think that'll be a fun, back an forth series. But with no Giordano don't see the flames pulling that one out. I'm also on the Wild over the Blues, I like that team and Dubnyk is the real deal. If the Predators can get by CHI before Kane is back, wouldn't be surprised to see the Wild come out of the West. If Kane isn't back Chi is in trouble, they can't score anymore and the Preds D (one of the best in the league IMO) will be all over them. Ducks, Wild, Preds, Nucks
