Playoffs 2013-2014 Archives - Hockey Shrine

Well, here at Lost In Skates we didn’t do too badly on the first round: 6 out of 8 correct with the other two series both going to 7 games (as predicted). Not too shabby!

Now on to the second round.

BOS vs MTL

If there is one team that can give the Bruins fits it’s Montreal. This is a capital ‘c’ classic, original six, playoff match up and, the Habs being the Habs, anything could happen. I don’t think it’s outrageous to posit that the Canadiens could be the only thing that stands between Boston and another Stanley Cup.

Both teams have had some rest after round 1, but particularly significant will be how quickly Montreal can get up to speed after an especially long lay off. The Habs may lose game one due primarily to rust-or jitters. Otherwise, the question becomes whether Montreal can play a pesky, quick enough style, game after game, to throw the Bruins out of their rhythm. Both teams are defensively sound, with Montreal being perhaps the better fore checking team; Boston better at clogging up the middle. The goal tending is as even as you’ll find in any playoff series this year. Yes size will matter, but it’s just a question of whether it’ll be the big bad Bruins or the darting, diminutive Canadiens dudes, that can have their way! An upset is a very real possibility, but I’ll stick with Boston in 6.

PITTS vs NY Rangers

Hard to have resounding confidence in this current group of Penguins. And it starts with Marc Andre Fleury. Goal tending is the key factor in the playoffs, and the Pittsburgh goalie still has the some demons of inconsistency swirling around him. And they’re up against Lundqvist! Are there a bunch of players playing hurt (Crosby, Sutter, Letang), or with varying degrees of disinterest (Malkin, Neal)? Whatever is happening with the Penguins, the parts don’t seem to add up to a whole. The Rangers play a pretty tight game with a great goalie to back em up. NY has some scoring weapons, but they have to get going–better than in the series against the Flyers. I think they will, and the Rangers will win in 7.

ANA vs LA

Once again one feels compelled to decide the outcome of this series, like many of the others, based on goal tending. The Ducks are formidable, but aren’t looking all that convincing to me that their fire power and considerable depth thru their line up can overcome a less than air tight net factor. The Kings are looking like their ‘usual’, playoff ready selves again and definitely have the edge between the pipes. LA are a strong, relentless and tiring team to play against-especially in the playoffs. LA in 5.

MINN vs CHI

The Wild are a team that no one should take lightly. They, like Montreal, could surprise. The have a solid system, with a good balance between defensive and offense. But I think Chicago, who is rounding into form, presents a much more experienced and cohesive challenge than the young Avs team that Minnesota just out played in round 1. Chicago’s key guys are finally waking up after a slow playoff start (where are you Patrick Sharp?). And they are going to be way smarter in systems play, and not so wide open, back and forth, as Colorado was. The Wild are putting an impressive team together. But this is the end of the line this year. Black Hawks in 6

Of course the weather outside doesn’t matter: it’s playoff hockey time! This year provides us with something old (classic rivalries ), something new (the format), and something (black &) blue: such as any team surviving most of the 2-3 seed match ups. Plus a whole lotta goal-tending uncertainty.

To the predictions then….

Bos vs Det

An original six match up! Not since the 1950’s have these two teams gone head to head in the playoffs. That adds a little something. And, in fact, this series at first blush did seem to offer good potential for an upset. But, when you consider just how solid the Bruins are offensively and defensively (even without d-man Siedenberg), and with the edge in nets (Rask), even the wiley, well-coached Red Wings with their long-in -the-tooth vets and surprising up-and-comers are no match for the President’s trophy winners. Bruins in 6

Tampa Bay vs Montreal

Here’s one of those 2-3 seed match ups, although probably the least gritty of the four. Pretty even points-wise during the regular season, these two teams arrived at similar places in the standings, but by different means: the Habs with defensive play; the bolts with scoring punch. Something’s gotta give. As with NY, BOS, and LA, the Habs’ edge is in goal with Corey Price. It’s a cliche by now, but as Corey goes, so go the Habs. If the Habs can out-check Stamkos and Co. they’ll win. Habs in 6

Philadelphia vs New York

Another of the 2-3 seed match ups, this one will feature a little more edge (hitting) than the Montreal/TB pairing. These two teams have played each other tough all year and this series promises to be hard fought. A match-up that contrasts offense (Philly) with defense (NY) should see NY prevail based on King Lundqvist’s presence in goal. But something tells me that a Berube coached Flyer team will have a little more fire in the belly that coach V’s blue shirts. So, Philly in 7

Pittsburgh vs Columbus

The perennially playoff-participating Penguins certainly resemble their former, successful editions, but aren’t as much of a sure thing as in the past. Injuries, age and some question marks in goal are a factor for these Pittsburghers. And Columbus has obviously made some great strides in their development to be in the post season–with strong goal-tending being a notable element. Pittsburgh will still prevail, but it’ll be much closer than anticipated. Pens in 7

Anaheim vs Dallas

The Ducks are a formidable team. Great offense. Not bad defense. A little bit uncertain in goal. Would have picked ’em to win it all, but not sure they have the battle hardness to do so. In this series against the Stars we have two teams who are decidedly offense-first. Anaheim’s Perry and Getzlaf are the elite goal scoring duo in the league, but not far behind are Benn and Seguin in Dallas. The Ducks have more balance in their lines, 1 thru 4, and certainly a deeper defense corps. Dallas, though, does have a better goalie. I’d be surprised if Dallas wins more than one game.
Ducks in 5

Colorado vs Minnesota

Hard to really access this series. Colorado appears to have been punching above their weight this season, and missing Matt Duchene, for at least a while, could spell a bit of a coming down to earth for the Avs. Plus Minnesota is rounding out nicely with a pretty good balance between offense and defense, and has some playoff experience to build on. This has upset written on it. Yet, if Varlamov stands on his head (with inspiration from Patrick Roy), those dynamic Avs forwards O’Reilly, Mackinnon and Landeskog just might be the difference. Avs in 7

San Jose vs LA

Once again, another 2-3 seed match up. This series, like the CHI/ST.L one, will be war. It features offense (SJ) against defense (LA). Year after playoff year the Sharks seem poised to go deep into the later stages of competition. They look even better now than over the last 5 years. But are they really capable of getting shut down again? If so, the stingy LA Kings and Jonathan Quick would be the team to do it. The Kings have a lot of difficulty producing goals, but in the playoffs, in a grind ’em out battle royale, maybe they don’t need many. Kings in 7

Chicago vs St. Louis

The final of the four 2-3 seed pairings. It boggles the mind how any player is not going to come out of this series hurting. Big time. An old Norris division tilt, this has all the hall marks of a classic tilt. Two well developed, mature playoff-seasoned teams with a bunch of newly rehabed players on both sides that will undoubtedly be engaged in the toughest series of the first round–along with that between SJ and LA. Which teams’ players returning from injuries will be up to speed and ready to rumble? I like Chicago’s integrity as a team just a little bit more than the blues’. And also, Ryan Miller is a shade past his best before date and I doubt he will be the difference maker St. Louis needs him to be. Black Hawks in 7

NHL Playoffs 2014 Predictions (Round 2)