OT: 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs Matchups
With the big OT win today by the Wings in the Windy City, Detroit takes the 5th seed in the west and pushes Chicago to the 2nd jumping the Sharks to 1st place. So with that being said lets break it down!
WEST
1 San Jose vs 8 Colorado
2 Chicago vs 7 Nashville
3 Vancouver vs 6 LA
4 Phoenix vs 5 Detroit
EAST
1 Washington vs 8 Montreal
2 New Jersey vs 7 Philadelphia
3 Buffalo vs 6 Boston
4 Pittsburgh vs 5 Ottawa
All 16 are ready and geared up for action so good luck to your favorite team and as always GO WINGS
April 11th, 2010 at 10:50 PM ^
Also, the Wings/Coyotes first round schedule is as follows:
Wednesday, April 14 at Phoenix, 10:00 p.m. TBA
Friday, April 16 at Phoenix, 10:00 p.m. TBA
Sunday, April 18 at Detroit, 3:00 p.m. TBA (Most likely NBC)
Tuesday, April 20 at Detroit, 6:30 p.m. TBA
*Friday, April 23 at Phoenix, 10:00 p.m. TBA
*Sunday, April 25 at Detroit, 2:00 p.m. TBA
*Tuesday, April 27 at Phoenix, TBD TBA
* denotes if necessary
Wings in 5
April 11th, 2010 at 10:53 PM ^
Or are they showing Colorado vs San Jose most likely? That series actually fan wise might help the Avs since it's out west near California
The early Versus game on Wednesday is Pittsburgh-Ottawa. Not sure who the late game is.
April 11th, 2010 at 10:55 PM ^
Games 1, 2, 5 are on Vs.
Games 3 and 6 are on NBC
Game 4 will be locally televised
Game 7 is TBA, but would probably by Vs.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=524941&navid=DL|NHL|home
Go Yotes!
April 11th, 2010 at 11:45 PM ^
Yes, a coyotes fan. We exist. Even in Ann Arbor.
It was a better rivalry when they were the Jets. Those Winnipegians (did I just make up a word?) were a lot of fun back when the Wings beat them in the first round of the playoffs 2 or 3 years in a row.
The best thing about the Coyotes was that wild stylized art deco third sweater they had for the first few years. I still regret not picking up one of the originals.
April 12th, 2010 at 10:21 AM ^
but we only played Winnipeg in the 1st round once, in 1996 (unless you're going back earlier than the 90's which was before my time). We played them again in the 1st round in 1998 but they were in Phoenix by then.
I'm wondering what the crowds will be like in Phoenix this year. In '98 they were nuts (all wearing white and all howling after every Coyotes goal). I hope they're not like that again this year because it was a pain in the ass to watch us play there (except when we put them away in Game 6).
April 12th, 2010 at 10:31 AM ^
You're right. I guess one match-up was after the move.
April 12th, 2010 at 10:54 AM ^
I hope the atmosphere resembles that. Unfortunately, the Yotes poor play and poor decision to move to the middle of nowhere have chased a lot of people today.
Tickets have been selling well lately, and there should be a whiteout in effect. However, don't be surprised to see a lot of red at Jobing. Lot of red wings fans always show up to these games.
April 11th, 2010 at 11:00 PM ^
its going to be some rough mornings staying up to watch them when they're out west. You'd think the NHL would step in and for the sake of the fans make them play these games at like 530 or 600 local time to increase viewership.
April 11th, 2010 at 11:03 PM ^
Glendale is really far from the rest of the city, and pushing it earlier would result in a lot of empty seats. Not the best idea when getting fans in the building is hard enough as it is.
April 11th, 2010 at 11:10 PM ^
Not to mention the NHL owns the team. They want their ticket sales.
I'm more surprised at a 630 game on a Tuesday in Detroit. Won't most of phoenix still be working?
April 11th, 2010 at 11:14 PM ^
My parents will be at work, and my brother will just have gotten out of school.
Playing it at 7 would not have made much of a difference. This is a part of being on the west coast.
April 11th, 2010 at 11:10 PM ^
is that not what Pacific OT is all about? The dedication to stay up late when your team is still dead locked? Always makes for interesting conversations in the morning lol
April 11th, 2010 at 11:04 PM ^
San Jose in 5- Don't think they'll have a problem with the Avs.
Nashville in 7 - Nashville is a solid seventh seed and Chicago's goalie issues/an ineffective or wholly injured Brian Campbell leads to a Predator upset.
LA in 7- Jack Johnson scores the GWG in game 7
Detroit in 6- Phoenix is being sold a bit short by some on here, but we're just too hot right now. I'd be pissed if I was a Coyotes fan having to play us.
Washington over Montreal in 4 - Caps dominate. They should be the favorites to win it all.
New Jersey over Philly in 5 - New Jersey is kinda like Detroit...a team that always shows up in the playoffs. I take them to win easy.
Boston over Buffalo in 6 - Boston comes in hot too. Could look stupid with this pick though as Miller is obviously capable of carrying a team.
Pittsburgh over Ottawa in 5 - Too much Crosby/Malkin as much as I hate to say it.
April 11th, 2010 at 11:06 PM ^
I am very pissed we have to the Wings. Hopefully Bryzgalov will stay hot and Shane Doan will pick it up.
April 11th, 2010 at 11:14 PM ^
Color me shocked in regards to your Chicago-Nashville prediction.
April 11th, 2010 at 11:23 PM ^
I'm probably not giving Niemi enough credit, provided he is their starter as he should be. I just think if Nashville can stay out of the penalty box (awful PK unit) they can play with the Hawks. Obviously it'd be a definite upset and I am going on a hunch.
April 11th, 2010 at 11:38 PM ^
a lot of these. I agree Phoenix is going to be tougher than a lot of people think. They're playing for a lot, we're going to be a HUGE target for them, as they have home ice, have never won a play-off series (I believe ever, even in Winnipeg) and doing it over the "model franchise" in the Wings would be a HUGE statement, proving Phoenix's viability.
I would flip San Jose and Chicago. I think Chicago's going to be a little fired up after losing to us, they really want to prove that they're the "new guard" and they're good and talented enough to beat Nashville, solid as they are, even with some goalie issues and defense issues. Chicago went 4-2 against Nashville in the regular season, though they never played them with their depleted defense. I think they'll take the series in 5 or 6 and if their defense gets healthy they could challenge for the West, much as I hate to admit it.
I see San Jose losing in 7. I just don't trust them in the play-offs. Them losing to an 8 seed two years running might stretch it a little, but I just can't pick them. The Avs have tailed off a lot, but it is the "second season" and they have a lot of youth that I think can get a big second wind heading into the play-offs. During the regular season they split 4 games, with each team holding home ice. I see the Avs being able to pull out a road game.
April 12th, 2010 at 12:03 AM ^
In regards to the Devils "always showing up in the playoffs" - they've won all of two playoff series since beating Babcock's Mighty Ducks in Game 7 in 2003. Brodeur has been very mortal in the postseason recently, and their vaunted defense/game-destroying trap was curtailed by personnel losses and the NHL's rule changes. They've maintained regular season success, but their postseasons have been very short since their last Cup.
April 12th, 2010 at 12:46 AM ^
but it's always hard to pick against them in a seven game series. A loss is definitely a loss, but I remember reading somewhere that NJ has lost like 12 playoff games by one goal in the last five years. Something like that anyways.
They lead the league in goals allowed/game and are solid special teams wise. I think the Kovalchuk addition makes them dangerous offensively as well...their GF/GA ratio (differential per game) almost tripled after the ASB.
I definitely didn't think they had so little playoff success recently though. That was a surprise.
I remember listening to the radio broadcast of the Devils and the Canes. It was game seven, the Devils were up by a goal with about two minutes to go. Suddenly, the Canes score. I was only beginning to think how depressing it must be for the Devils to have to play overtime, in a game seven that they had all but won, when, BOOM! Staal scores again with about 30 seconds to go in regulation. GAME OVER.
Was I wrong to laugh with glee? I revisited 1995 and thought to myself "naaah, this is too funny"
That was amazing. The even better story from that game was what happened to the Devils scratches for that game. They were watching it on TV in the practice rink. With about two minutes left they started walking to the locker room for the celebration. By the time they got to the locker room the game was over. They got into the locker room expecting a party. Needless to say they were surprised.
I'll disagree on all of your Eastern Conference picks.
Washington/Montreal - Montreal is a particularly tough match up for the Capitals. Probably the worst possible first round match up for them since Montreal has the best goaltending of the lower 4 seeds. If Washington doesn't come out and play physical on Montreal's smaller forwards right from the start this could be a very dangerous series for the Caps. Washington in 6 or 7.
New Jersey/Philadelphia - I see 6 or 7 games here, and it could go either way. A lot like Montreal being a bad match up for the caps, Philadelphia is the worst possible match up for the Devils. Philadelphia took every game in the regular season from New Jersey. If Brodeur is Brodeur, then New Jersey SHOULD win, but he hasn't been the last several years in the playoffs. Philadelphia in 6 or 7.
Buffalo/Boston - Again, a bad match up for the higher seed. The key to this series will be Miller versus Rask. Boston has a better team than their record indicates, primarily because their offense just hasn't showed up this year. If Boston's offense can spark at all, then this becomes a very dangerous series for Buffalo. Buffalo in 5 or 6.
Pittsburgh/Ottawa - This series comes down to two things: (1) Crosby/Malkin versus Phillips/Volchenkov and (2) Fleury versus Elliot. If Pittsburgh doesn't win both of those match ups they lose the series. Pittsburgh in 5 or 6.
And also, just remember, that the team that wins game one wins the series over 70% of the time. That's something that I think will be particularly telling in these series because of the potential for the lower seeds to flip home ice.
I'm not claiming to be Nostradamus, just picking who I think will win. I do think, strongly even, that New Jersey will beat Philly. Otherwise I am buying everything you sold.
Oh I know. Everyone is just giving their opinions. New Jersey SHOULD win that series because Philadelphia has such poor goaltending, but you never know. I think that series comes down to (1) whether Brodeur is himself, (2) whether Boucher can play better than he should, (3) whether Pronger can shut down Parise and Zajac, and (4) whether Philadelphia's bottom defensive pairing can get the job done. If Pronger can shut down Parise and Zajac, then I think there is a real chance Philadelphia wins this series. If two of those four things go in their favor, they probably win the series.
April 12th, 2010 at 12:11 PM ^
Even if the Wings lose game 1 in Phoenix I'd still say Detroit has the upper hand because they are a team that's had so much experience with the playoffs that they won't be in panic mode. Even two down in the series going back to the Joe wouldn't be enough to put them in panic mode, this team has too man weapons and big guns to play panicky hockey. They always play cool and calm even when down in games and still find ways to win liek they have done in the end of the regular season. Remember in 2002? Hurricanes beat Detroit AT HOME to take the series lead but then Detroit beats them in 4 straight games to win the Cup. I'm not going to be worried about the series unless Phoenix takes a 3-1 lead or 3-0. 1-0 or even 2-0 isn't enough to be unanimous.
Now the Caps/Habs series I'm sorry but this would be a miracle if Montreal can even force 7 games playing a team like Washington. Montreal has choked in the playoffs after they won the cup in 1993. They do not have the speed style of offense that Washington possess. Washington's goaltening is better plus the Cpas just have too many guns. It's either Caps in 4 or 5. Philly's in trouble with New Jersey too. The Flyers don't have the best goaltending (Boucher is not a playoff goalie) and players like Parise will take every shot they have against him and shut Richards, Carcillo and Gangae down. Devils in 5.
Sharks and Avs in my opinion could be the closest matchup in the opening round. I like the Avs chance this year (as hard as it is to say)they finally have a better goaltender since Roy, seem to be able to put quick goals in the net and have some skill back on the roster and with names like Duchane they will be an upset alert team to look out for. Sharks will have to face their demons once again and try to make it farther in because they are a choker team too. I'd have to say Avs in 7.
"I don't really agree with your belief that game 1 sets the tone"
I wasn't stating my opinion when I said that it is an indicator of how the series is likely to go. The team that wins game one wins the series over 70% of the time. That's a fact, not an opinion.
Also, I don't know why you were taking it as some shot against the Red Wings. It was a comment about hockey playoff history in general (i.e. it was stated against no particular team). I actually never said anything about the Red Wings in my post, at all. I'm not sure where you're coming from with that.
April 11th, 2010 at 11:46 PM ^
Something tells me ESPN will be pimping this game like crazy..
April 12th, 2010 at 11:21 AM ^
they'd be pimping the NBA playoffs far more at that point. Sportscenter will show 45 minutes of NBA highlights and bullshit talking-head analysis before they show anything hockey-related.
April 12th, 2010 at 12:23 AM ^
It happens
Detroit against Montreal in the finals. Playing Boston would be pretty sweet too.
April 12th, 2010 at 10:09 AM ^
My predictions..
SJ over Colorado in 5 -- Despite their reputation for being epic playoff chokers, San Jose has a great record in the first round this decade. It's the second round where they usually have their problems.
Chicago over Nashville in 6 -- Nashville, as they always do, will make the favorite nervous and then superior talent will win out in the end of a mostly ugly series.
Vancouver over LA in 7 -- Better high end talent + huge experience advantage means Vancouver will win, but they have big question marks to fill.
Detroit over Phoenix in 7 -- I don't think that this one will really go seven games, but I can't figure out who will win this one. Even though they have been hot since the Olympic break, I still don't think that this is the same Red Wings team. Hank and Pavs still aren't consistently playing like the old Hank and Pavs. I'm defaulting to Detroit, but I could see it going either way.
Washington over Montreal in 5 -- Goaltending is a problem for Washington, but it won't matter for this series.
Philly over New Joisey in 7 -- Philly will pull the upset. It's not the 1990s anymore
Boston over Buffalo in 7 -- Buffalo has great goaltending, but so does Boston, and Boston's recent experience will make the difference.
Pittsburgh over Ottawa in 5 -- A healthy Pittsburgh is the favorite in the East, provided they don't go in overconfident or lazy, which I could see happening.
April 12th, 2010 at 12:07 PM ^
ESPN:
San Jose in 5
Chicago in 5
LA in 7
Detroit in 6
Washington in 5
New Jersey in 7
Buffalo in 7
Pittsburgh in 6
Yahoo:
Washington in 5
New Jersey in 6
Boston in 7
Pittsburgh in 4
San Jose in 4
Chicago in 5
Vancouver in 7
Detroit in 6
April 12th, 2010 at 12:16 PM ^
I don't really give a flying shit what Melrose or any of those "non-hockey" lovers have to say about this years playoff picture. They are giving the the favored way too good of a margin for victory. Upsets are part of the playoffs. I do agree though with Buffalo in 7 games. That series against Boston might be the most exciting next to Detroit vs Phoenix.
April 12th, 2010 at 12:33 PM ^
done.
The Red Wings can kiss my ass. Go Avs!
April 12th, 2010 at 11:53 PM ^
San Antonio Avalanche has a nice ring to it.