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.

 

 

2010-11 Nhl Playoffs (Round 3)

by

The final four. Lost in skates went 3 for 4 in round 2.  Somewhat surprising how both Tampa Bay and the Bruins swept the Capitals and Flyers, respectively, so convincingly in round 2. That Philly looked so tepid was a real shocker. Not surprising that the two western conference series were real grinds.

 

Eastern Conference final

Boston (3) vs Tampa Bay (5)

I’m still amazed that the Bruins are at this stage, in a way. They have the goal tending and the shut-down defensive parings, but not much offensive fire-and no power play to speak of at all. So much for acquiring Kaberle…I know defense wins championships, but!… The team they are facing has a very effecient defensive system of their own. Bruins don’t have the edge in that department, and they certainly don’t in the offensive category either. And Roloson (who didn’t face the Bruins in the regular season) seems to be the equal to Thomas, at the very least, to boot. Probably lucky to see this series go 6, with the Bolts prevailing.

 

Western Conference final

Vancouver (1) vs San Jose (2)

 

Living in Vancouver it’s hard not to have a soft spot for the ‘Nucks. I would love to see them win. San Jose , too, though, also has that need for a ‘finally, at last’ result that’ll take them into the final. This is going to be the series to watch, and it’s going to go 7 games. I’m thinking that if things go shaky for Luongo you’ll see Schneider put in nets a lot quicker than in the Chicago series. I feel that if it were Corey starting in goal that the Canucks would take the series! But we know that ain’t going to happen and, of course, he’s been sitting so long. The Sharks are going to have a lot of confidence coming in having dispatched an elite Red Wings team. Vancouver, on the other hand, doesn’t really have two particularly good confidence-buiding series under their belt. It’s more of the same old: ‘will the President’s Trophy winners show up, or are they going to be struggling to find their complete game. The doubts still linger. Should be fun. Sharks in 7

Stanley Cup Final 2009-2010

by

Game 6 tonite.

Looking to see Philly even things up (3-3) at home.  Defensively the Flyers have been good, no worse really than the Hawks -they missed a couple of wide open nets that could have tied things up in game 5 before it got away on them- it’s just been a shoot-out-the-lights kind of series. We’ll see how long Leighton lasts in net. He usually plays fine at the Wochovia centre. If they win, maybe go with Boucher in Chitown…

Offensively, no one before the series started would have compared the two clubs in terms of fire power, but the Flyers have held their own with Chicago. Leino has impressed immensely, making things happen every time he is on the ice and should be key again in this game. He works well with anyone he’s paired with. Scott Hartnell, another key player, is a concern because of his health and would significantly diminish Philly’s effectiveness if he’s not 100%. Otherwise, Gagner, Briere, Richards, Carter and Giroux simply all have to have a nose for the net and they should be fine….!

For the Hawks, pretty hard to nail ‘er down when you know you have a retry next time at home if all fails tonite. I haven’t sensed that peddle-to-the-metal, killer instinct from the Hawks this cup run and it may be the missing ingredient that lets it slip away from them. Hossa, always a threat to be a game breaker, could be a liability if he gets in the box once or twice in this game. Look for Madden to be particularly nasty tonite. Hope we see a game 7.

Stanley Cup Final- 2008-9

by

HS went 1 for 2 in the semis. Too bad Canes. We took a beating on that one. 9 for 14 over all. There probably goes my pool…..

Bit surprised that Pittsburgh has prevailed-so far. Fleury has been solid and might be the biggest factor in deciding whether or not the Pens drink from Lord Stanley’s tin can. (Assuming, of course, Crosby and Malkin are recording points and performing at their best.) Detroit is simply this: deep. Too deep for any team in the league. (Some GMs should consider trading their whole team for Johan Franzen.) We wouldn’t mind Bylsma’s boys pulling off an upset. But don’t believe it will happen. It’s gonna be closer and more exciting than last year; Guerrin, kunitz and Fedotencko all bring some valuable experience and, ahem, depth to the ‘burghers.

And then there is the Hossa story line to add some spice to the series. Should be worth watching. Wings in 7

Archives

Categories