2009 NHL Playoff Predictions: Will the Red Wings Repeat?

(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Before the NHL Playoffs get into full swing, I thought I would run through the matchups and make some picks. I'll admit, I do have a slight bias as I am a Red Wings fan, but I'll do my best to be objective with my picks.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Round One

(8) Montreal Canadiens vs. (1) Boston Bruins

The Bruins plowed through the East in the regular season, won the season series 5-1, and after winning a battle in Game One, came back in Game Two to take a commanding 2-0 lead in this series. I would love for this to turn into a long series, but I have a feeling that the Bruins may have already taken the Canadiens' best shot in Game One and will consequently cruise through this series.

Bruins in four

(7) New York Rangers vs. (2) Washington Capitals

The Caps won the season series 3-1 and obviously were the second best team in the East, beating out the Devils in the last week of the season. They also have the best player in the game in Alex Ovechkin, along with a slew of other talented players featuring a power play with an absurd amount of firepower.

That being said, they have been outplayed in almost every facet of the game and find themselves down 0-2 and playing in the Garden for Game Three. I have to think the Caps will pull it together, that Ovechkin will find the back of the net with one of his 13 shots, that the Rangers won't be able to keep up this level of play...but they are in quite a hole.

Because I picked the Caps to make a run this year, I will stay with them, but if they don't come out with some serious fire in Game Three, then it will be on to round two for the Rangers.

Capitals in seven

(6) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (3) New Jersey Devils

I'm not going to lie, I like the Devils in this one. More specifically, I like Marty Brodeur in this one. There's no need to explain that Brodeur is one of the best goalies in NHL history—his 557 wins show that—but this year he is also rested as a result of his injury earlier this season and has been excellent in the playoffs (three Cups in four trips since 1995).

In addition to Brodeur, the rest of the team is not bad either, as they were among the top four teams in the East all year, even as Brodeur was out of the lineup, and they have plenty of veteran experience, including Brendan Shanahan, for a playoff run. The Canes are a solid team and actually won the season series against New Jersey, but I just can't see them winning this series.

Devils in six

(5) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (4) Pittsburgh Penguins

This didn't set up as a very good series from the get-go, and the Pens' domination of the first two games has done nothing to change that. I see the Flyers putting up a better fight at home, especially against their bitter rivals from across the state.

That being said, I think that, with the way Sidney Crosby has been playing (especially since Chris Kunitz and Bill Guerin came over midseason) and with the fact that they also have the NHL's leading scorer in Evgeni Malkin, I just can't see them losing this one, although I do see a possibility for some interesting extracurriculars later in the series.

Penguins in four

Round Two

(4) Penguins vs. (1) Bruins

This is one of the series I am looking forward to this year, and I'm not quite sure who I like in this one. You've got the big, bullying Bruins against the quick, immensely skilled Penguins in a great Eastern Semi matchup.

As much as I like the Penguins, and even though the Bruins have been known to choke in the playoffs, I just see the Bruins beating up Malkin and Crosby while Tim Thomas shuts them down (to an extent), leading to a Boston win. This should be a long and entertaining series that is just about a toss-up, but...

Bruins in seven

(3) Devils vs. (2) Capitals

This is yet another great second round matchup, pitting the game's best goal scorer against the best goalie, and as in every sport, defense wins in the playoffs. Therefore, I look for Martin Brodeur and the Devils to advance to the conference finals with a win over Ovechkin and the Caps.

Both teams will be coming off of hard-fought series in round one, and both have solid all-around teams, but I think the goaltending of Marty, along with the Devils' postseason experience, puts them over the hump.

Devils in six

Eastern Finals

(3) Devils vs. (1) Bruins

In the Eastern finals we have another good matchup featuring teams that split the regular season series 2-2. I love the Bruins' style of play and think they have a great collection of talent this year, but on the other hand they have not done well in the playoffs recently.

Also working against them is Martin Brodeur. Not to keep repeating myself, but he is a beast, and I just have a hard time seeing the Bruins (yes, the same Bruins that were second in the league in scoring) putting the puck past Marty enough to advance. At the other end of the ice, Tim Thomas has been amazing, but he just isn't Brodeur.

This is a long, hard-fought, low-scoring series, but I see the Devils squeaking by and into the Finals...just barely.

Devils in seven

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