Hockey Shrine - Lost in Skates

The puck drops here

NHL Playoffs 2014 Predictions (Round 2)

by

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

2010-2011 Stanley Cup Final

by

Looks like Lost in Skates lost the handle on the conference finals this year. Not only did we not pick the correct winners, we were also wrong about which series was going to be the most interesting. Way back in the first round we said that Tim Thomas couldn’t win the cup all on his own, but he’s 12 out of 16 wins from doing just that! The Boston/Tampa Bay series was a real battle and  turned out to be much more entertaining, by far, than the Canucks/Sharks penalty riddled, special teams, affair.  Who knew?

 

Stanley Cup

Vancouver Canucks vs Boston Bruins

 

You get the sense that the referees, by this stage, are going to be swallowing their whistles. No way the NHL or any fan is going to want to see what happened between Vancouver and San Jose in the last round. If the whistles are put away, then that would help Boston a lot.  The Bruins have an inept power play and are not quite as good at killing penalties as the Canucks have been. Otherwise, if Vancouver’s speed draws power play opportunities in any significant number, Boston won’t survive.

For the Bruins to win it’s going to have to be the Zedeno Chara/Tim Thomas show all the time. These two are the story where limiting scoring chances in the defensive zone is concerned. Also, the B’s have shown decent fore checking, smash and crash pressure down low, which will have to continue period in, period out.  If they can do it they’ll have to stymie Vancouver’s (break out) speed and the ‘Nucks creativity in the attacking zone. Boston has been blocking a helluva lot of shots, and that may be the key to being able to prevail once again.

Vancouver, the President’s trophy winners, have been the best team all year and  have to be considered the favourite in the final. They stack up just fine against the Bruins in every and any category you care to pick.  The thing that is problematic for the Canucks is playing against relatively tight, defense-first minded teams. Boston is that. (Look how much fun Vancouver had with the Predators.) The glaring difference maker in the final though, we believe, is going to be the depth that Vancouver can boast at every position as compared to the Bruins. And Manny Malholtra might even return you say? If they have him (at 100%) just to take draws and get off the ice that would be enough to seal the deal. Vancouver looks too well rounded, too explosive offensively not to win their first Cup. It’s possible the bruisin’ Bruins could smash and crash their way to victory, but doubtful. Take ‘Nucks in 5.

 

 

Nhl Playoffs 2010-11 (Round 2)

by

First round is in the books for 2010-11 playoffs. Mostly things went without a major upset; two fifth seed teams won out over two 4th place teams, but there wasn’t much daylight between the Ducks/Preds, or the Bolts/Penguins (especially with Pittsburgh missing so many key guys). But how about Tampa Bay, nonetheless? Who’d have thought they’d have the edge in goal with Roloson playing just as he did for the Oilers back in the 2006 Cup run? The Lightning are a complete team with a great coach (and GM) and i think they’ll take the Capitals in this second round.

LA Kings put up a good fight and showed they were a better team than at first glance. Positives for them to build on.  San Jose and Detroit took care of biz more or less as predicted: the wings proving to be even more formidable than thought.  The Bruins did not look all that convincing in prevailing over Montreal. Thomas is mighty good, but can’t win the cup for them all on his own.  Philly looks just now to be coming together as a team and should go by the Bruins without much trouble. And finally the Canucks at last exorcised their big nemesis the Blackhawks. The jolt or wake up call that that series provided (basically telling them that from President’s trophy to the Stanley Cup ain’t no smooth ride) is really just what Vancouver needed.  They left their season hang in the balance on one goal, but were fortunate to prevail. They really are the better team this year.

 

East

 

Washington vs Tampa Bay

 

Can the Bolts maintain their stellar defensive play (against a decent defensive team in Washington) while still getting the offense they clearly possess? I think so. If Roloson doesn’t tire, the Lightning are a balanced team and might, in fact, hold the edge in coaching– and Boudreau ain’t no slouch behind the Caps bench. Take TB in 6.

 

Philly vs Boston

 

As mentioned above, the Bruins didn’t look that impressive in dispensing the Habs and Philly did look a lot better by the end of their series than at the beginning. With Pronger back…I think the Bruins are cooked in 5 games.

 

West

 

Canucks vs Predators

Vancouver and Nashville play tight, low scoring, wear-em-down type games and I’m not sure that if the Predators had’ve been the Canucks’ first round opponent that they wouldn’t have won. But the lift (lesson?) of getting by Chicago I think will help Vancouver immensely. Pekka Rinne: fantastic goalie. Luongo and Sneider: better, certainly with the team playing in front of them. The music stops in the ‘Music City’ this round. ‘Nucks in 5

 

San Jose vs Detroit

 

This is going to be the best of all the second round match ups. The perennially solid and well coached Redwings are capable once again of getting to the cup. They have all the pieces, are getting key players back and have pretty good (under rated) goal tending. They play so methodically and with such determination (sense of entitlement?) that it’s hard to see them failing…

The Sharks however seem superior in their explosive, opportunistic offence and creativity. San Jose has, like Vancouver, some playoff bogeymen to exorcise themselves. They seem a bit more intense this year. And they have a lot of scoring threats.  If Niemi has it together, the Sharks will take hockeytown in 6.

NHL Playoffs 2010-2011 (Round 1)

by

Well, that time again. Lost in Skates comes out of hybernation for the ‘real’ hockey season. Herewith the first round match-up predictions and Cup final choices.

 

Eastern conference

Washington (1) vs NY Rangers (8)

By all accounts this one could shape up to be a quick series with a much improved Caps team, defensively, taking care of business over an injury riddled also-ran blueshirts squad that can only hope for ‘king’ Lundqvist’ to steal a game–but only one at best. Caps in 5.

 

Philly (2) vs Buffalo sabres (7)

There has to be an upset (or two) in the post season, right? That’s why we watch. Philly, a preseason cup favorite and still so pegged by many, are also dealing with some injuries (Pronger) and still have question marks in goal. Nevermind the sabres’ inconsistent season; they’ve been hot down the stretch and Lindy Ruff is a great coach. And to top it off they have that most prized of commodities the elite goalie, in Ryan Miller. Sabres in 7

 

Boston (3) vs Montreal (4)

Shouldn’t be a lack of intensity to this match up. Boston finally has a pretty well rounded team with strong defense, impressive goal tending and an ability to score some goals. And they have size. If they play their game (ie, don’t get chasing the darting little guys in red, white and blue around and lay on the big bodies) then there isn’t much even a Halak-like performance from Carey Price can do to stop the B’s. Bruins in 6.

 

Pitts (4 vs Tampa Bay (5)

This series will be tight and will go the distance, I think, to 7 games. Am tempted to take theBolts with all their fire power, but Bylsma is by now a well seasoned coach, has configured his team to carry on with the loss of some key guys (Malkin, Crosby…) and will have his team ready to grind it out playoff style. Plus the pens have the edge in goal, which is always crucial at this time of year. Pittsburg in 7

 

 

Western conference

 

Vancouver (1) vs Chicago (8)

It really is poetic justice that the road to the cup, for the Canucks, should go through Chicago. Not that it’s going to be easy for Vancouver. But if they do win it all, it’ll be all the sweeter for having slayed the Blackhawk dragon en route.  Chicago has simply lost too many of it’s decisively gritty players, and Vancouver has stocked up well in all departments, especially defense, for this series to go the way it has the last two seasons. There will probably be more jitters early for Vancouver than the Hawks, but finally the Canucks will prevail. Vancouver in 6.

San Jose (2) vs Los Angeles (7)

Along with the Washington/Rangers series, this will be a short one. The Sharks are pretty solid looking and with Niemi in goal are set for a pretty good run this year. Maybe because the spot light has been off them a bit this year, but they have quietly gone about their business: they are a physical club, a scoring club and, again, have the goal tending. LA unfortunately hasn’t got the fire power to match (especially with Kopitar out) and can’t have their goalie stop everything. Sharks in 5.

 

Detroit (3) vs Phoenix (6)

Experience is again the huge intangible in this series, even though the two teams met last year. Detroit is too well coached and has too much experience together and in the playoffs to not get the job done. Phoenix will give them fits, especially if Bryzgalov is solid. The desert dogs have some wiley vets themselves to be sure: Whitney, Jovo, Fiddler, Vrbata, Doan.  Belanger is a good pick up, and Yandle can score…so it won’t be a cake walk. Wings in 6

 

Anaheim (4) vs Nashville (5)

This series, along with the Flyers/Sabres one, is ripe for an upset. If you can call the Preds winning an upset since both teams finished with the same number of points. You’d figure Nashville would be due to win their first playoff series; they’ve been in the post season a number of times. And if they do, it’s going to be largely because of goal tending–again. Pekka Rinne is a superb net minder. Add that to a team that plays to win 2-1 almost everytime they hit the ice and you’ve got one defensively tough opponent.  Nashville’s coach Barry Trotz fashions his teams  on a playoff-style-of-play template year after year, so why wouldn’t they finally see some successs? I’m tempted to pick the Preds, but I’ll still have to go with the Ducks, mostly because of their size, but also because they have 6 guys who pose a major scoring threat. Anaheim also has a decent veteran back end, if, albeit, some question marks in goal. Still, Ducks in 6.

 

Cup final prediction:

Sorry Vancouver fans, but that President’s trophy is probably going to be too much of a jinx. Something tells me that San Jose will finally reach the promised land and win in the final against….what?….Buffalo!  Hey why not? Don’t you think something unusual has to happen? Sharks over Sabres in 6.



 

Archives

Categories