Editorial. Photos by AP News
Okay, I'll admit it. I wanted the underdogs to win; I could back it up too. But the playoffs are always a crapshoot. One year you may get everything right, and then there are others where you might as well leave the soothsaying to a
monkey spinning a wheel.
But hey, what can you do?
Never leave anything to chance. Never discount a lower-seeded team. The safe bet is also to never pick a team that has not tasted the postseason for
nearly a decade.
It helps to pick a team that has a playoff pedigree, or has something to prove. Yes, every team has something to prove -- that they're worthy of raising Lord Stanley's Cup -- but there's typically a team that has had to answer the skeptics all season long.
But then again, I never was one to play it safe.
Get set to spin those wheels!
East
4) Pittsburgh vs. 8) Montreal
This is going to be a big matchup between the defending champions and a ragtag group playing for hockey’s most storied franchise. After finishing a minus-3 in the series against Ottawa, I expect a better performance from Jordan Staal in this series. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni, et al. can take care of the rest. Jaroslav Halak may have
proved he’s no slouch, but the Habs simply won’t be able to match Pittsburgh’s firepower.
Prediction: Penguins in 5
6) Boston vs. 7) Philadelphia
Brian Boucher may have had some success against the lowly offense of New Jersey, but with the anticipated return of Marc Savard to the Bruins’ lineup, Boston now has a key cog to drive their offense. Tuukka Rask has been just as good as Boucher. Still, this should be a good mixture of punch and panache between both teams.
Prediction: Bruins in 7
West
1) San Jose vs. 5) Detroit
For a brief moment in each team’s quarterfinal matchups, there were moments where it seemed neither team had enough gas to make it into the second round. Yet they got over their initial stumbling and ultimately ended up taking over.
For San Jose, it's been all about the Big Pavelski. While San Jose's other Joe (Thornton) has taken to playing his normal postseason hockey, Joe Pavelski has stepped up when his team has needed him.
This series is going to be all about control -- who can control the tempo of play, who can control the puck on special teams and which goalie will take control of their destiny.
Prediction: Sharks in 7
2) Chicago vs. 3) Vancouver
The opportunity for the rivalry between these two Western Conference juggernauts to grow is tantalizing. Chicago’s head coach Joel Quenneville’s decision to shift hulking behemoth Dustin Byfuglien back to forward should get under the skin of a number of Canucks, including goalie and team captain Robertlo Luongo. If Louie loses his cool, expect to see him get yanked. I suggested before the playoffs started that Pat Kane and Jonathan Toews might have to take a step backwards before they can truly reach greatness, and they’ve done nothing but prove me wrong.
Prediction: Blackhawks in 6
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