Predicting the Unpredictable

by Jesse Liebman

Editorial. Photos by AP News

I'm not one to normally make predictions. Sure: in 2007, much to a friend's chagrin, I correctly predicted in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals that Ryan Getzlaf would score the game-tying goal on assist from Corey Perry before Travis Moen got the game-winner for the Ducks, moments before both plays happened. Had this been my own personal sports betting experience out of Hot Tub Time Machine or Back to the Future, I could have probably made a killing.


But I digress; I'm not a gambling man. In any case, the playoffs open Wednesday. And I'm looking to raise some eyebrows.


Read on for my predictions for the first round. Place your bets now. Just don't blame me if a squirrel hops on the ice and stops an Alex Ovechkin one-timer.






East
1) Washington Capitals vs. 8) Montreal Canadiens


The mantra for success in the Stanley Cup playoffs is often to ride the hot hand in net. That strategy might not apply in this series, because the goaltending departments for broth teams have been in a constant state of flux for the entire year. To be fair, Jose Theodore seems to have gotten his act together for the Caps (20-0-3 in the past three months). And on a team that's as loaded offensively as Washington is, Theodore has the luxury of having to be good, not great. Meanwhile, Montreal is incapable of scoring in 5-on-5 situations. This should be a quick one.


Washington in 5


2) New Jersey Devils vs. 7) Philadelphia Flyers


What a difference a decade makes. The last time Marty Brodeur and Brian Boucher met in the playoffs, Boucher and the Flyers squandered a 3-1 series lead, as the Devils took their first Cup of the new millennium and Boucher plunged into relative obscurity, save for his impressive shutout streak in 2004. Brodeur may be getting older, but he's still perhaps the best guy between the pipes come April. The Flyers will be hard-pressed to solve him, but Mike Richards and Jeff Carter are Devil-killers.


New Jersey in 6


3) Buffalo Sabres vs. 6) Boston Bruins

This series will come down to goaltending. At the end of the day, Ryan Miller trumps Tuuka Rask. People are quick to point out that the Bruins are coming off of a recent win over the Sabres, but they forget that Miller wasn't in net that night. My friends, Patrick Lalime is no Ryan Miller. Sniper Tomas Vanek is officially back after tallying five goals through Buffalo's remaining two games. There's hope center Marc Savard may come back from his concussion woes, but that won't matter if the Bruins can't go the distance in this series.


Sabres in 6


4) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 5) Ottawa Senators


This first round matchup should give the Penguins a chance to tune up for a repeat at Lord Stanley's Cup. Sidney Crosby finally found his scoring touch in last year's playoffs, and he delivered in buckets this year, sharing the Richard Trophy with the Lightning's Steven Stamkos. The Senators have Brian Elliot to thank for stabilizing their goaltending situation after Pascal Leclaire was felled by yet another injury. Despite getting Jason Spezza back, the Sens won't last long against a team as dynamic as Pittsburgh.


Pittsburgh in 5


West
1) San Jose Sharks vs. 8) Colorado Avalanche

The Sharks are the cream of the crop out west. Top to bottom, they have arguably the most solid lineup in the game. The Avs should make some noise, but it will be a pop, not a thunderclap. Matt Duchene and Co., welcome to the playoffs. You'll have plenty of time to enjoy it over the next few years.


San Jose in 4


2) Chicago Blackhawks vs. 7) Nashville Predators

What a difference a year makes. After reaching the conference finals the Blackhawks are ready to contend for the Cup again. The Predators? They have never gotten past the first round of the playoffs. This is perhaps as good a year to do it. With Brian Campbell out, the Blackhawks lose a valuable asset from the back end. Pekka Rinne trumps Cristobal Huet in net, and while the Predators may not have the luxury of speed and scoring talent such as Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa, they still are a gritty team that head coach Barry Trotz can get to produce results. I'm going out on a limb on this one: the Hawks will be a great team...just not this year. After all, sometimes you need to take a step backward before you can take two steps forward.


Nashville in 7


3) Vancouver Canucks vs. 6) Los Angeles Kings


This series is going to get very interesting, and has the potential to be as intense as last year's Canucks-Blackhawks series. Once again, we have a team that had been out of the postseason for far too long finally making a triumphant return. Led by bruising power forward and captain Dustin Brown, the Kings have all the makings of an upset. Roberto Luongo has appeared shaky at times this season, and the Kings appear ready to get the Staples Center rocking again.


Los Angeles in 6


4) Phoenix Coyotes vs. 5) Detroit Red Wings


I know my good buddy Jeff Hancock is going to hate me for this. Call me crazy, call me looney tunes...I don't care. Silly rubber snakes or not, they're going to be howling in the desert this spring. Phoenix has a bunch of speedsters that are going to light up Jimmy Howard. Don't get me wrong: I love the kid, and yes, he's deserving of a Calder; he still has yet to convince me that he can avoid a Steve Mason-esque collapse.


Phoenix in 6