Review of 1st Round Predictions

Before I get into predictions for round deux, I'm going to do a little backtracking and see where I went wrong, and also where I went...oh so right...in round 1.

1. Washington vs. Montreal: Although Nicklas Backstrom is apparently injured, Washington will roll Montreal because they can beat the Habs at their own special teams game: offence, offence, and more offence. If Montreal is to have any chance at all, Halak will have to stand on his head. Washington in 5.

Halak stood on his head. End of story. Did anyone see this coming? Nope. Absolutely incredible. Montreal wins in 7.

2. New Jersey vs. Philadelphia: With Philly just sqeaking into the playoffs, I predict a more veteran group of Jersey players will eventually prevail against a beat up Flyers squad - Kovalchuk will be a gamebreaker. Jersey in 6.

Well...so much for this one. Even though Brodeur at times played b-a-n-a-n-a-s, and at other times played like he had 40/20 vision, Jersey could not muster enough offence to back him up, and Philly got big goals from unlikely sources. Philadelphia wins in 5.

3. Buffalo vs. Boston: I smell an upset in this one; it's going to be a battle of the goaltenders Miller and Rask, and if Boston plays their ultraconservative style, I think they can squeak out one more win than Buffalo. Boston in 7.

Good call, me. Rask outdueled Miller and Boston produced a surprising amount of offence while keeping it relatively tight defensively. Boston wins in 6.

4. Pittsburgh vs. Ottawa: Pittsburgh will win because Sidney Crosby's got his groove on, and Evgeni Malkin is ramping it up again: beware the two-headed beast. Pittsburgh in 6.

Crosby indeed maintained his groove and a little more, and Malkin was good enough to qualify as the lesser head in the Hydra-lic Pittsburgh beast. Pittsburgh wins in 6.

5. San Jose vs. Colorado: Because I think it's fairly funny, I'm going to choose Colorado over San Jose, because until San Jose proves that they're capable of any kind of post-season success, they ain't getting none of this love. Colorado in 7.

This was awfully close: 3/6 games were decided in OT. Game 4 for the Avs was the pivotal one where they could have stolen a 3-1 series lead, yet it was the Sharks' less renowned Joe - Joe Pavelski - who stepped up to play Mr. Clutch while "No Show Joe" loitered quietly in the background. Nothing new. San Jose wins in 6.

6. Chicago vs. Nashville: Chicago will win because they want it more, and they've got the young talent and the drive to do it, but Nashville will be tough competition, simply because of the way they've been playing their game for years. Chicago in 6.

Chicago won what I thought was one of the more lackluster series in the playoffs, excluding game 5, which heart-pounding exciting. Nashville played their usual suffocating style and at times looked like they were going to rope-a-dope Chicago till death, until Toews, Kane, and...Hossa? stepped it up. Chicago wins in 6.

7. Vancouver vs. Los Angeles: I love Los Angeles, and I especially love Drew Doughty, but as long as Vancouver's defence doesn't deteriorate completely, I believe Vancouver's group is as cohesive as it's been in years. Vancouver in 6.

Poor Drew Doughty ended up -2 in the final game of the series, although he was arguably the Kings' best player overall. Funnily enough, when I said "as long as Vancouver's defence doesn't deteriorate completely," I was referring to their even-strength play, but it was their horrendous PK that just about unraveled their season. Luckily, Vancouver's big guns came to the rescue. Zing, Mikael Samuelsson! Vancouver wins in 6.

8. Phoneix vs. Detroit: I just love the way Detroit is playing right now; they've been in playoff mode for months, and they're healthy - Phoneix has a chance if Bryzgalov plays out of his mind. Detroit in 6.

Bryzgalov played bonkers for the 'Yotes in game 6, and looked like he might steal another one early on in game 7, but ultimately the poise and experience of the Wings took over and sent the Coyotes home howling. Last time we'll see hockey in Phoneix? Probably. Thank God. Detroit wins in 7.

So overall, I went 5/8. Montreal's upset over Washington was the big one that probably screwed over 95% of peoples' playoff brackets. What an amaaazing first round!