2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs prediction game

[Jordan]

Same idea as the NBA prediction game:

3 pts for each winner you predict, 5 pts if you call the winner and the length of the series.

Picks have to be in by Tuesday 11:59 pm UK time

Winner gets... I don't know, we'll think of something

First round

Eastern Conference

1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs 8) New York Islanders

2) Montreal Canadiens vs 7) Ottawa Senators

3) Washington Capitals vs 6) New York Rangers

4) Boston Bruins vs 5) Toronto Maple Leafs

Western Conference

1) Chicago Blackhawks vs 8) Minnesota Wild

2) Anaheim Ducks vs 7) Detroit Red Wings

3) Vancouver Canucks vs 6) San Jose Sharks

4) St. Louis Blues vs 5) Los Angeles Kings

In strongly tempted to call a lot of upsets but I think I will hold back just a bit. I think the East--which features a lot of rivalries in the first round, is wide open besides Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh in 5

Montreal in 7

Rangers in 6

Toronto in 6

Chicago in 4

Anaheim in 5

Vancouver in 7

St. Louis in 6

[Uncle Phil]

Pittsburgh in 6

Ottawa in 7

Washington in 7

Toronto in 6

Chicago in 5

Anaheim in 4

San Jose in 6

St Louis in 6

[MC Prussian]

The shortened regular season is a bit misleading when it comes to the playoff picture. I don't think you can write off the lower-seeded teams that much.

Some of them have just gained speed coming through the first finishing line, while others have faded recently.

I can't see Pittsburgh and Chicago stumbling this early on, both teams have a tremendously deep roster.

As for the rest, here's my two cents about it:

Pittsburgh in 5

Montreal in 6

Rangers in 5

Toronto in 7

Chicago in 5

Anaheim in 6

Vancouver in 7

St. Louis in 5

[Guest]

I haven't followed Ice hockey in a couple of decades or more but I'll join in so that none of you finish last.

Penguins in 5

Canadiens in 6

Capitols in 6

Bruins in 7

Blackhawks in 5

Anaheim in 6

Canucks in 6

Blues in 7

[Jordan]

Standings as of today:

Uncle Phil 16

MC Prussian 8

FIF 8

I'm last place with 6

Game 7 in Bruins-Leafs and Caps-Rangers are both tonight.

[MC Prussian]

Jordan, are you going to do the next round, too?

 

Congratulations to the Rangers for beating the Capitals over the course of seven games. Now you'll be facing the Bruins, proper rivalry that.

[Jordan]

Of course you're asking, as you've just jumped into a tie for first

MC Prussian/Uncle Phil 16

FIF 13

Jordan 8

Round 2:

1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs 7) Ottawa Senatoes

4) Boston Bruins vs 6) New York Rangers

1) Chicago Blackhawks vs 2) Detroit Red Wings

5) Los Angeles Kings vs 6) San Jose Sharks

I'm very much looking forward to round 2... Great finish to the 1st round by my Rangers, and now they face Boston in what will be a hockey war. Hawks-Wings is also another great classic rivalry.

Pittsburgh in 6

Rangers in 7

Chicago in 6

Los Angeles in 5

[Guest]

Pittsburgh in 6
Bruins in 5

Chicago in 6
Los Angeles in 5

 

I'll just play the averages.

[MC Prussian]

Pittsburgh in 6

Rangers in 7

Chicago in 6

San Jose in 7

[Jordan]

So, stepping aside from the Stanley Cup playoffs for a moment, USA and Switzerland will meet in the semifinal of the IIHF World Championship tomorrow night. While this isn't exactly a "best on best" tournament, it's a telling sign of how far USA and Switzerland have come on the international hockey scene in recent years.

While USA has been one of the top hockey countries for a while, international success has been relatively scarce (World Cup 1996 and silver in 2002 and 2010 exceptions, although 2010 was something of a surprise and the first sign of our new style/generation reaping rewards with the senior squad). However, USA Hockey's player development program has produced exceptional results lately, and we are now reaping the benefits. We've created a new distinctly American style of play that relies on team speed. Our goalies also keep getting better and better each year.

We never used to medal in World Juniors, and now we've won that tournament twice in four years. We're also the most dominant team in the U18s since that tournament started. We've only medaled twice in the past 50 years at the Worlds, but now we're playing for another medal. We now have the team speed needed to play on the larger European rinks, and the depth to handle the Worlds while most of our top players are in the Stanley Cup playoffs. USA are two wins away from a fantastic run in 2013, with the World Juniors and Women's gold medals already around our necks.

As for the Swiss, they continue to turn heads, and now the scrappy Alpine underdogs are tryinf to turn the "Big 7" into a "Big 8." They'll be playing for their first medal in 60 years. Russian officials are hinting that the NHL and IIHF may resurrect the World Cup of Hockey in 2016 (which may mean the end of NHL at the Olympics). They've said the tournament will take the same format as 1996 and 2004, and if so I think the Swiss--who will end the Worlds ranked no less than 8th in the world, and possibly 6th--should feel aggrieved at not being invited (Germany would be the 8th team) if they continue their excellent play.

I'm looking forward to watching the semifinal tomorrow.

[Jordan]

I'm going to the Rangers game tonight. I paid stupid money to sit in the 400s and I'm a little nervous. Lundqvist has a sore shoulder and if this will affect him, the Rangers may be ****ed. Also, based on how the team and John Tortorella are talking, I suspect the team is lacking confidence. I hope the home crowd will provide some much-needed energy but I can see the fans quieting down or even turning on the team if they fall behind or fail on the power play early.

[MC Prussian]

The suspense, the excitement!

 

Detroit are in for a big upset, currently leading Chicago 3-1 in the series. L.A. Kings are having a tough time against Californian rivals San José (which I fancy nicking it) while in the East, Pittsburgh just steamrolled Ottawa away 7-3, taking a 3-1 lead, as well.

 

As for the Rangers... Well, at least they haven't yet completely surrendered to the Boston Bruins. It's possible, but I don't see New York being able to win three games in a row now (which would be four in a row if they did it).

Still, there's hope for a Pittsburgh vs. New York Eastern Conference semi-final - a true classic in my eyes. I miss the good old days of the early/mid-90ies. Messier, Leetch, Graves, Zubov, Kovalev... and in goal, a certain Mr. Mike "Magic" Richter.

 

Please make it happen.

[Guest]

I'm going to the Rangers game tonight. I paid stupid money to sit in the 400s and I'm a little nervous. Lundqvist has a sore shoulder and if this will affect him, the Rangers may be ****ed. Also, based on how the team and John Tortorella are talking, I suspect the team is lacking confidence. I hope the home crowd will provide some much-needed energy but I can see the fans quieting down or even turning on the team if they fall behind or fail on the power play early.

How was it Jordan?

[MC Prussian]

My predictions have been phish so far, apart from the Pens, all other fancied teams have crumbled or are in the process of doing so.

 

Chicago are facing the all-decisive Game Seven against Detroit, while the Rangers have let themselves down - I expected more determination from NY against the Bruins.

I was close with the San José call, but sadly, the Kings prevailed in the very last game of the series.

[Jordan]

Big move by FIF, nailing all 4 winners and getting the Bruins-Rangers series spot on

FIF 27

MCP 22

Jordan 17

UP 16

That Rangers game was by far the most anxious and quiet playoff game I've ever been to. It was was if the crowd was waiting for something bad to happen... Which it did. I'd have been better off (and probably saved a few bucks) had I gone to game 4 instead.

The Rangers were thoroughly outplayed against Boston and failed a real test to see if they could play with the league's elite. This, $7 million/year center Brad Richards watching the last two games from the press box, and comments by players that didn't exactly ring endorsements of the coaching or team (particularly from Lundqvist, who left his future after his contract expires in 2014 in the open) were among the factors that contributed to Tortorella getting fired as head coach Wednesday.

The Pens have settled down since Vokoun has gone between the pipes. Both West series were classics, as Quick and the Kings have rediscovered last year's groove, and the Hawks overcame a 3-1 deficit (and a terrible call by the refs to negate a likely game winning goal with less than 2 minutes remaining in Game 7) to win Game 7 in OT vs the Wings.

Everybody loves a Game 7, and I'm going with two in the Conference Finals. Just don't ask me why I'm picking against Crosby and Quick...

Bruins in 7

Hawks in 7

[MC Prussian]

I'd love more competition from the Bruins and I expect it, as well. Still, the depth in squad will carry the Penguins through to the final.

As for the West, both teams have shown tremendous resilience and willpower to get to this point, it'll be a much tighter series in my eyes.

 

Pittsburgh in 6

Chicago in 7

[MC Prussian]

Not looking good and my first prediction is already proving to be false. Pittsburgh are on the brink of saying farewell to this year's Stanley Cup.

Boston now holds a 3-0 series lead. I can't see my dear Pens coming back.

 

Quite an upset, I'd say.

 

In the West, Chicago is currently 2-1 ahead in their series with Los Angeles.

[Jordan]

How about Gregory Campbell breaking his leg on a blocked shot, getting back up, and finishing his shift? Hockey players are cut from a different cloth...After that, and on home ice, the Bruins had to win.

This is an excuse for another Jordan's Youth Hockey Career Name Drop; I played against Campbell a bunch of times as a youngster, both as a kid in youth travel hockey and as a teenager in prep school hockey. Campbell played for teams in Rye, NY (where the Rangers used to practice), as his father (Colin) was a Rangers coach at the time (and later the "discipline czar" of the NHL), and I played on Long Island. Back then, he wasn't a gritty player like we see today, but that's because he was always one of the best players on the ice.

Our teams were always better than his, but once in high school, his team upset ours at their rink. The game was played a day or two after the Rangers fired Colin Campbell as head coach. Gregory was chirping at our team towards the end of the game, and our captain shot back, "At least my father has a job."

Oddly enough, I've been to Tilsonburg, Ontario--hometown of the Campbells--twice in the past two years (for curling tournaments ). As it is Canada, naturally, everything Gregory does is a big deal up there, and I'm sure the people there were going nuts last night.

[Jordan]

Well, I can't win!

FIF 30

MCP 25

Jordan 23

UP 16

I love the way the Hawks play... But I can't pick against the Bruins, who are playing like a team of destiny.

Boston in 6.

I'll predict that Tuukka Rask wins the Conn Smythe Trophy.

[MC Prussian]

 

Congratulations to Chicago for the second Stanley Cup win in three years.

 

At least the Bruins didn't get it. 

 

Disappointed in how Pittsburgh crumbled in four straight against them. Hopefully, they've learnt something for the future and are getting even better.

Also looking forward to a fully-fit Crosby making it through an entire season unharmed... 

[Finnegan]

At least the Bruins didn't get it.

[Jordan]

Gary Bettman will be cursing the Hawks for mounting a spectacular comeback last night, because this series was as good of an advertisement for the NHL as they could have asked for following the lockout. A Game 7--which looked certain with 90 seconds left--would have been must-see TV, but the best team this season and the better team in this series (but only just) won. Well done to Chicago, and what a great job by their management to turn them from laughingstock to powerhouse in just a few years.

Boston did quite well to rally and go on a great run this series, but they were always a solid team. The shortened season betrayed this a little. That said, I'm not exactly sorry to see them come home with only the Prince of Wales trophy.

Hockey's over for now but the mad scramble to build for next season has already begun. Alex's Penguins, however, look to be playing it cool (rightfully so, because they're built to win now). Hacks were hinting that Bylsma was gonna be let go, and that Shero would test the market to see what he'd get for Malkin (as if!). But almost immediately, Bylsma and Malkin were both given contract extensions.

It looks like Vancouver and the Rangers have effectively swapped coaches, with Alain Vigneault going to New York while John Tortorella is likely to sign with the Canucks. You couldn't find two coaches that are more polar opposites than those two, but both teams need fresh ideas (Canucks need more grit while the Rangers need to wake their offense up).

[David Guiza]

Really got into this whilst in America, and became somewhat of a Bruins fan. Comfortably the best American sport in my opinion, after going to a Yankees game and seeing the 6finals on tv there is no contest in atmosphere. Love Shaw for the Blackhakws, every sports team needs someone like him.

[Guest]