Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions: Conference Quarterfinals

It's time to wave out those playoff towels and get crazy—cup crazy, that is.

The Stanley Cup playoffs start this Wednesday, and in this monster preview of first-round picks, you'll also see my pick of who could be a Cinderella team, and which of the favourites to win the cup that could have an early exit.

Eastern Conference

No. 1 Washington Capitals vs. No. 8 Montreal Canadiens

The Habs had the same seed in the opening round last year and didn’t win a single game in their series against the Bruins. This year they’ll be facing a much tougher opponent in Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals. I don’t think the Canadiens will put much of a fight here.

Capitals in 4.

No. 2 New Jersey Devils vs. No. 7 Philadelphia Flyers

The Devils have newly-acquired forward Ilya Kovalchuk, who scored 27 points in 27 games since the trade with Atlanta, plus their leading scorer Zach Parise, and as always, goalie Martin Brodeur. The Flyers have gone through a string of goalkeepers throughout the season, and their top players don’t match-up to the Devils.

Devils in 6.

No. 3 Buffalo Sabres vs. No. 6 Boston Bruins

Wanna have some fun? Take two goalies that both represented Team USA at the Olympics and put them in a round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Ryan Miller of the Sabres and Tim Thomas of the Bruins (or Tukka Rask) will go save-for-save in this one. In all honesty, this series is a wildcard.

Sabres in 7.

No. 4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. 5 Ottawa Senators

Kind of even here, as both teams went 2-2-0 versus each other during the regular season, but Pittsburgh is the defending cup champs, has all the stars, and a goalie with a more recognizable name. I don’t believe the Penguins journey to defend Lord Stanley will be over this early.

Penguins in 5.

Western Conference

No. 1 San Jose Sharks vs. No. 8 Colorado Avalanche

It’s the best team in the west versus a team that failed to make the playoffs by a wide margin last year. The Sharks would love to erase the memory of having been eliminated in the first round by Anaheim last year. Top scorers such as Heatley, Thornton, and Marleau may seem to be too hot to handle for the young Avalanche.

Sharks in 5.

No. 2 Chicago Blackhawks vs. No. 7 Nashville Predators

The Hawks surprisingly beat out Detroit to win the Central Division, and they’ll face their divisional foe, the Predators, in this opening round. The Hawks have plenty of household names, while the Preds have no one that stands out. Same situation as Sharks/Avalanche series.

Hawks in 4.

No. 3 Vancouver Canucks vs. No. 6 Los Angeles Kings

L.A. is back in the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

While they have Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty, the Canucks have the Sedin twins, Ryan Kesler, and goalie Roberto Luongo. While Luongo of the Canucks and Jonathan Quick of the Kings seem pretty level, (GAA of 2.57 for Luongo, and 2.54 for Quick in astonishing 72 games played) most of you would want Luongo on your club.

Canucks in 6.

No. 4 Phoenix Coyotes vs. No. 5 Detroit Red Wings

While many predicated the financially slumping Coyotes would fail to make the postseason, they surprised us all by giving the Sharks a run for their money in the Pacific Division. But I believe Phoenix lacks the experience and talent to get past the defending Western Conference champions.

Red Wings in 5. 

Potential Cinderella Teams

Western Conference: Los Angeles Kings

You may be surprised by my pick. It’s not Detroit. It’s not Phoenix.

It’s L.A.

The Kings haven’t made the postseason in six seasons, and most of their players have little or no playoff experience, but in their playoff preview The Hockey News wrote that the Olympic experiences of some of their players, including Drew Doughty, Dustin Brown, and Jack Johnson may offset that. And with Kopitar scoring 81 points, a career best during the regular season, and Doughty finishing with 59—third best in the league among defensemen— they could outnumber any team that lacked scoring during the season.

Eastern Conference: Boston Bruins

The Bruins finished first in the east last year, but were eliminated in the conference semifinals by Carolina.

This year, the Bruins are in a lot more difficult real estate, being the sixth-seeded team instead of the first. Marc Savard, their key scorer, is likely gone for the playoffs thanks to a dirty hit by Matt Cooke of Pittsburgh.

But Boston shouldn’t get bent out of shape. They still have dominant goaltending, featuring Tukka Rask, and Tim Thomas. If one goes down, the other can back him up. If they can stall the scorers of better teams, then they can claw their way to the Stanley Cup finals. 

The X-Factor

Western Conference: San Jose Sharks

The Sharks have been serious contenders the past few years but have had little to show for it. Last year, they had the best record in the NHL regular season but were put out in the first round by the Anaheim Ducks. The year before, they were the second best team in the west, but were eliminated by the Dallas Stars in the conference semifinals.

There are numerous occasions where the Sharks should have made it to the conference finals or even the Stanley Cup finals.

With history not on their side, the Sharks may have more pressure to win it all this year. Will the pressure get to them? We’ll find out this spring.

Eastern Conference: New Jersey Devils

For the past two seasons, the Devils have had home ice advantage for the first round of the playoffs, but have been sent home right there. Last year they were eliminated by  Carolina in seven games, allowing two late goals in the seventh game to lose 4-3.

They have the second seed in the west this year, but in the first round face the Philadelphia Flyers, a team who was 4-1-0 vs. the Devils during the regular season. If the Devils want to go far this postseason, it will be an uphill battle.