Richard's Playoff Preview & Predictions

With the regular season now a thing of the past and the Canucks hitting the links, it's time to look ahead and see what the forthcoming weeks will bring us in terms of the NHL's post-season. My Habs are in for a tough fight against Carolina, reprising their old rivalry from the 2002-03 season and the even older battles against the old Hartford Whalers. I wish I knew as much about the West as I usually do, but I'm on the East Coast this year and thus I'm in bed when teams like San Jose are playing their games. Such is life, it's a good thing for SportsCentre eh? All right, here we go:

Eastern Conference
Ottawa v. Tampa Bay
It's never easy to go against the defending Champions, but they've been poor in goal all season long and if there were one more game to be played, it would have been Atlanta instead of them in the 8th spot. Ottawa's limped into the playoffs, having a few struggles at the end of the season, and they'll be missing Hasek for as long as that adductor muscle gives him mobility problems. That said, they were the class of the East for most of the season, and that top line of Heatley, Alfreddson, and Spezza is dynamite. I pick the Senators in 5.

Montreal v. Carolina
This is the one series where my heart will probably arrive at a different conclusion than what my brain fears will happen. The 'Canes owned the Habs this season, beating them convincingly in all four match-ups. One key difference: it was Jose Theodore in goal then, it'll be either David Aebischer or the fan-favourite Cristobal Huet now. The team has really rallied around #39, with the notable exception of their complete collapse late in the third period last night. That type of meltdown is unacceptable at this time of the season, and the 'Canes are a much more gifted team offensively. They'll be looking to exploit weaknesses and rely on Gerber to carry them through. It'll be a helluva series, I hope, and I'm gonna pick the Habs to escape in 7.

New Jersey v. New York Rangers
Up until last night, everybody thought it would be the Rangers with home-ice in this series. That's not the case, as the Devils took their 11th straight victory to carry them to the division crown. They're peaking at just the right time, Marty Brodeur has been sensational as always, and with him in goal the Devils are always a threat. The Rangers have enjoyed a rebirth this season, none moreso than Jaromir Jagr. I don't like the guy, but he's been incredible all season long and has really picked up his game to the level where he should always have been. Probably the toughest series to pick, I'll take the Devils in 6.

Buffalo v. Philadelphia
Buffalo has been red-hot lately, and the Flyers are no slouch either. In the new NHL, speed kills, and the Sabres have plenty of it. The Flyers defence does not, and that could be a major factor. Goaltending will also be key; the Flyers are having their usual problems in net, while Buffalo has two good goaltenders who are hitting hot streaks. After going 80 games without a shutout, the Sabres blanked their last two opponents. It's a good time to get hot, and I think that having the home ice and the additional speed will help Buffalo take this one in 6.

Western Conference
Detroit v. Edmonton
I like the Oilers a lot; they've got a lot of spirit and they busted their butts to make it into the playoffs, only to get the "honour" of playing Detroit. The Wings may have had an easy division to rack up the points, but they still had to win those games, and they did just that. Goaltending is a bit of a question mark for both teams, as neither has A+ level netminders to backstop the team. That's not a knock on the Legace-Osgood combo, or on Roloson, but those factors could result in a high-scoring series. If that's the case, this one will be very exciting to watch. I'm going to have to go with the Wings in 5.

Dallas v. Colorado
Another great match-up here, and with great goaltending to boot. This series features two guys that were at the Team Canada oreintation camp, Marty Turco and my old pal Jose Theodore. Theo's had a rough season and that's carried over somewhat, based on his record, to Colorado. Turco's been solid all year long, so there's no question mark there. If Theo can get it together, he gives the Avs a chance, but if not, it could be lights out fairly quickly. I'm taking Dallas in 6.

Calgary v. Anaheim
The Flames go as far as Kiprusoff can carry them. He got them within a goal of the Cup in 2004 (and I still think that Gelinas scored in OT in Game 6), and I've got no doubt he can do it again. Anaheim has been spurred by the rebirth of Selanne and had some good success against the Flames, keeping them under 3 goals in every match this season in splitting the season series. The thing is, in the two Ducks' losses, they were shut out and scored once, respectively. Don't look for a lot of offense here, but expect a very hard-hitting and punishing series, and I pick the Flames to advance in 5 games.

San Jose v. Nashville
Nashville will be in this series without their #1 goaltender and that will be a major factor against the combination of Joe Thornton and Jonathan Cheechoo, who devastated the West all season long and propelling the Sharks from a miserable start to a solid playoff position. They've been one of the hottest teams in the league, and are solid all through the line-up. I don't think that the Predators are in a good state of mind, having lost Vokoun at such a critical juncture and having to rely on the unproven Chris Mason. The Sharks will take this series in 5.