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2004 NHL Playoffs: Round 1 (1 Viewer)

Markus Lidstrom

Stunt Coordinator
Joined
Jan 25, 2002
Messages
134
Its that time of the year again where Canada pretty much shuts down and watches hockey every night. I cant comment on American interest in Hockey, but I imagine its as big as it is here in key cities (Detroit, Boston, Tampa Bay)... Anyone have any first round predictions? As always the Eastern Conference is strong, but considering the production of the west I wouldnt be too surpised to see the cup come out here.

EASTERN CONFERENCE
(1) LIGHTNING vs ISLANDERS (8) - I can see the Islanders putting up a fight (won the season series), but lets not kid ourselves... Lightning in 5 games.
(2) BRUINS vs CANADIENS (7) - A classic match, but with Thorton looking pretty hurt the Canadians will win in 7.
(3) FLYERS vs DEVILS (6) - Im not sure that Brodeur can carry them without Stevens helping him.. Flyers in 6.
(4) MAPLE LEAFS vs SENATORS (5) - For the 4th time in 5 years we have this matchup... Toronto Always Wins. (5 Games)

WESTERN CONFERENCE
(1) RED WINGS vs PREDATORS (8) - It'll be a slaughter, but the Preds could beat them up bad enough to hurt them in round 2. Wings in 4 games.
(2) SHARKS vs BLUES (7) - Blues have the experience and an edge. Blues in 6 games.
(3) CANUCKS vs FLAMES (6) - This will be a war, but the nucks are looking good without Bertuzzi and using Cook on the front line. An epic matchup with Canucks in 7, just for nostagia.
(4) AVALANCHE vs DALLAS (5) - The Avs are in a slide, and I think that Dallas can shut them down after losing the division. Dallas in 5.

Put in your predicitons before Wednesday so they're valid.
 

Brandon_T

Screenwriter
Joined
Oct 3, 2000
Messages
1,903
East

Lightning over Islanders
Bruins over Canadiens
Devils over Flyers
Leafs over Sens

West
Wings over Preds
Blues over Sharks
Canucks over Flames
Avalanch over Dallas


ps Go Wings
 

Mark Hamilton

Stunt Coordinator
Joined
Mar 16, 1999
Messages
122
East

(1) Lightning over Islands
(2) Canadiens over Bruins
(3) Devils over Flyers
(4) Senators over Maple Leafs

West
(1) Red Wings over Predators
(2) Shars over Blues
(3) Canucks over Flames
(4) Avalanche over Dallas
 

Casey Trowbridg

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Apr 22, 2003
Messages
9,209
East
Tampa Bay over N.Y. Islanders 5 games
Boston over Montreal 6 games
New Jersey over Philadelphia 7 games
Toronto over Ottawa 5 games

West
Detroit over Nashville 6 games
St. Louis over San Jose 6 games
Calgary over Vancouver 7 games
Colorado over Dallas 6 games

The thing I love about hockey’s postseason is that it really can be unpredictable. All it takes is for 1 goaltender to get hot and it doesn’t matter if they’re playing in the 4-5 game or if they’re playing the winners of the President’s cup, if the goalie is hot any team can get bumped off.
 

Philip_T

Supporting Actor
Joined
Jun 28, 2002
Messages
876
East
Tampa over NY - Love that lamp lighting Leprechaun St. Louis
Montreal over Boston - Upset dejur
NJ over Philadelphia - Brodeurs experience
Toronto over Ottowa - Belfours experience

West
Detroit over Nashville - Detroit is way too much for them in playoff hockey.
San Jose over St. Louis - Blues will be blue yet again with their playoff ineptness.
Calgary over Vancouver - Kiprusoff will be this years Giguere.
Dallas over Colorado - why oh why did we have to draw perhaps the hottest team in hockey for the 1st round?) Well, if the Av's lose in 1st round again, I would hope that they can Granato. Im still trying to figure out this guys system, if he even has one. And you cant build any chemistry with contant line juggling either.
 

Terry Hansen

Stunt Coordinator
Joined
Sep 15, 1999
Messages
102
East
Islanders over Lightning in 7 - For some reason I think the Lightning will be out in the first round, not sure why.

Bruins over Canadiens in 5

Devils over Flyers in 7 - I think this one could go either way, but how can you count out Brodeur?

Sens over Leafs (I hope)in 7 - This should be a wild one, I just want the Sens to take it to the Leafs.

West
Wings over Preds in 4 - I think the Preds will battle hard, but lack of experience will do them in.

Sharks over Blues in 6 - Blues barely sqeeked in the playoffs, just doesn't seem like the team they once were.

Canucks over Flames in 5 - What can I say, had this been 2 weeks ago I would say it would be a toss up. 'Nucks have been playing their best hockey of the season the last couple of weeks, and Cloutier has been solid.

Dallas over Avalanche in 6 - Avs seem to be a fragile bunch this year, not sure why. Skid at the end of the season doesn't help.

Of course anything can happen so in the playoffs. I love it!

PS Go Canucks!!
 

Daryl Furkalo

Second Unit
Joined
Dec 8, 2000
Messages
373
Lightning in 6.
Canadiens in 6.
Devils in 7.
Leafs in 5.

Preds in 5.
Sharks in 5.
Flames in 6.
Dallas in 4.

Will be lots of upsets as usual.
 

ZacharyTait

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2003
Messages
2,187
EASTERN CONFERENCE

Conference Quarterfinals
(1)Lightning over the (8)Islanders in 6
(7)Canadiens over the (2)Bruins in 7
(6)Devils over the (3)Flyers in 7
(5)Senators over the (4)Leafs in 6

Conference Semifinals
(1)Lightning over the (7)Canadiens in 6
(6)Devils over the (5)Senators in 7

Conference Finals
(6)Devils over the (1)Lightning in 7

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Conference Quarterfinals
(1)Wings over the (8)Predators in 5
(2)Sharks over the (7)Blues in 5
(3)Canucks over the (6)Flames in 6
(5)Avalanche over the (4)Stars in 7

Conference Semifinals
(1)Wings over the (5)Avalanche in 7
(3)Canucks over the (2)Sharks in 7

Conference Finals
(1)Wings over the (3)Canucks in 6

STANLEY CUP FINALS
(1)Wings over the (6)Devils in 6

Go Wings!
 

Scott Merryfield

Senior HTF Member
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Mich. & S. Carolina
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Scott Merryfield
Eastern Conference

Lightning over Islanders
Canadiens over Bruins (Go Habs!)
Devils over Flyers (still no goaltending in Philly)
Leafs over Sens (Ottawa can't win in the playoffs)

Western Conference

Wings over Predators (no contest)
Sharks over Blues (the better goaltender wins)
Flames over Canucks (hot young goalie carries Calgary to upset)
Stars over Avs (Colorado is really struggling)

This Canadiens fan living in Red Wing country predicts that Detroit wins it all. The goaltending in the Western Conference is not what it used to be, and Detroit has the most solid team at the other spots.

The Eastern Conference is too close to call (anyone except Montreal or New York could win it), but I'll go with the Leafs for an Original Six Cup Finals.

Did I already say Go Habs!?
 

Richard Travale

Senior HTF Member
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The Island, Canada
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Rich Travale
East

(1) Islanders will upset the Lightning
(2) Canadiens over Bruins
(3) Devils over Flyers
(4) Senators will finally beat the Maple Laffs in post season play.

West
(1) Red Wings over Predators but the young Preds will get a taste of the post season and be wanting more next year.
(2) Sharks over Blues
(3) Flames have had a good year but they will not beat the streaking Canucks.
(4) Dallas will take advantage of David A and win the series.

Go Habs Go!
 

Steeve Bergeron

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Steeve Bergeron
East:
Tampa Bay over NY Islanders
Montreal over Boston
New Jersey over Philadelphia
Toronto over Ottawa

West:
Detroit over Nashville
San Jose over St. Louis
Calgary over Vancouver
Dallas over Colorado

Indeed!
 

Casey Trowbridg

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Apr 22, 2003
Messages
9,209

Given that I loathe Detroit I'd love to make this pick, and honestly I've heard some of the ESPN guys talk up Nashville as being a tough out in the playoffs, but I just can't. I will however pick against Detroit at the first sign of it being reasonable which is probably round 2.
 

Christ Reynolds

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May 6, 2002
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Real Name
CJ
i think many people are giving boston too much credit. ive seen almost all of their home games, and they have major weaknesses. hal gill is absolutely AWFUL. thornton, while a decent passer, can be counted on to take a bad penalty in the last few minutes of a game, especially if (god forbid) someone takes the body on him. he has a terrible attitude. boston has trouble against teams with speed, so the montreal series should be an interesting one. and go red wings.

CJ
 

Topher

Stunt Coordinator
Joined
Jun 11, 2003
Messages
216
The Leafs are taking it all this year guys! I can feel it! Wait... maybe I felt it the last 3 years too.... hmmm, well they will THIS time!!! :D
 

Scott Merryfield

Senior HTF Member
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Dec 16, 1998
Messages
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Mich. & S. Carolina
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Scott Merryfield

Considering that more people in this thread are picking the #7 seed Canadiens to beat the #2 seed Bruins, I'm not sure where you think that Boston is getting too much credit.
 

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