NHL Playoff Preview: Who Will Win the Stanley Cup This Year?

The playoff match ups are set, and everyone is waiting for the first game. Interesting match ups and rematches of past series highlight this year's playoffs. Who will move on from the first round and past that? What will be the Stanley Cup Finals match up? All that will be answered and more with my 2009 playoff preview. 

Western Conference

First Round

No. 1 San Jose Sharks over No. 8 Anaheim Ducks, 4-2

San Jose is on a role this season, winning the presidents' trophy for the best record in the NHL. In this series, they face a mediocre Anaheim team. Although the Ducks haven't been having a very good season, they have a very good team with an even mix of speedy young players and smart veterans with loads of leadership. This should be an interesting match up, but San Jose moves on. 

No. 2 Detroit Red Wings over No. 7 Columbus Blue Jackets, 4-1

All-star forward Rick Nash and surprising goalie Chris Mason have carried the Jackets into the post-season for the first time in franchise history. The problem with them is that every single game they're a one-man show. Detroit has an extremely experienced and talented offense and defense, combining players like Zetterburg, Dastyuk, and Lidstrom to secure victory. Without Hossa, the Wings hold off Columbus in 5 games. 

No. 3 Vancouver Canucks over No. 6 St. Louis Blues, 4-1

The Blues had a key win in their last chance to avoid playing San Jose and Detroit. They did just that, and now they get to play a club that was shaky all year, Vancouver. The Canucks had, as I mentioned, a sub-par year. However, they pulled it together at the end, winning their division and getting a third seed in the West, way better than expected. Vancouver's offense is led by Sundin and the Sedins. The three will get it done on the offensive side, while Luongo man-handles the Blue's horrible offense, winning it in 5. 

No. 5 Calgary Flames over No. 4 Chicago Blackhawks, 4-3

Calgary had a key addition at the end of the year, adding more star power to their team with Oli Jolkenin. To support him on the Offense, Iginla and Bertuzzi provide open targets, leadership, and some hard slap shots. Chicago, with Kane and Toews on offense, will still have a hard time getting the puck past Phaneuf and Kiprusoff. Huet shaky between the pipes, Calgary will upset Chicago in a nail-biting 7-game series. 

Second Round

No. 1 San Jose Sharks over No. 5 Calgary Flames, 4-2

The Sharks blew past St. Louis in the first round, giving them a mental advantage over Calgary who barely beat Chicago. Iginla will make his presence known in this series, being the only real leader on the team that knows what playing teams like this is like. But Thornton and Cheechoo will be too much for Phaneuf, Kiprusoff, and the rest of the Calgary Defense. 

No. 2 Detroit Red Wings over No. 3 Vancouver Canucks, 4-1 

Detroit didn't have much of a challenge in the first round, but Vancouver did. That could be a problem for either one. But Detroit has had the problem of having a long break before, and that never stopped their offense from putting up incredible points again. Luongo and the Canucks will put up a good fight, but it won't be enough. 

Western Championship

No. 1 San Jose Sharks over No. 2 Detroit Red Wings, 4-3

A matchup for the ages. A San Jose team eager for more victory faces a Detroit team trying to repeat as champions for the second time in history. The key matchups in this is with the big men, Thornton and Holmstrom, the speedy guys, Michalek and Zetterburg, and the all-around players, Dastyuk and Cheechoo. But for victory for either team, goal tending will be key. 

Eastern Conference

First Round

No. 1 Boston Bruins over No. 8 Montreal Canadiens, 4-2

Montreal may have barely made the playoffs, but they always have fire power in the first round. A rivalry series will fire them up even more. Savard and Koivu will be the main goal scorers, but I think Price will finally get his thunder back in goal, and step up to help his club win. But will it be enough?

No. 2 Washington Capitals over No. 7 New York Rangers, 4-3

Washington will show off it's stars big time in this series—Ovechkin, Semin, and Green will be showing up big. But Theodore hasn't been in the playoffs for a while, and he might just crack. Naslund and Drury know how to take advantage of that, and will do just that, shocking the world...to a point. 

No.6 Carolina Hurricanes over No. 3 New Jersey Devils, 4-3

Carolina entered the playoffs on an extremely hot streak. Whether it's Ward and Gerber on defense or Staal and Brinda'mour on offense, Carolina is always getting it done. The Devils were hot all year, but played poorly at the end of the year. Elias and Broduer were breaking records, and Langenbrudder and Parisi were putting up incredible points. Accompanied by new acquisitions Roloston and Shannahan, the Devils will fall in the first round in a shocking battle took to 7 games. 

No. 5 Pittsburgh Penguins over No.4 Philadelphia Flyers, 4-3

For Pittsburgh, this is just what they wanted. A rematch of last year's Eastern Championship, where they prevailed, is a perfect situation for the high-flying Pens. Malkin and Crosby have led them back to the playoffs and into the #5 seed, and won't stop winning there. Philadelphia's Briere has never really shown up for Philly, posing a problem for them in the first round. Pittsburgh finds all the loose bolts and weaknesses of the Flyers and take them down in 7. 

Second Round

No.1 Boston Bruins over No. 6 Carolina Hurricanes, 4-1

Carolina is on top of the world after upsetting the Devils, but are brought back to earth by the Bruins. Savard and Chara know how to pressure a sub-par goalie to the point of breaking, and will do just that in this series. A shaky Gerber falls apart  and leaves the door open for the Bruins, who take it right away, rolling over the Hurricanes in 5. 

No. 2 Washington Capitals over No.5 Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-3

A raging rivalry between young stars Ovechkin and Crosby highlights this series between two evenly matched teams. Green and Gonchar match up on D, Malkin and Semin the other offensive battle, and Fluery and Theodore compete for the spotlight. Theodore makes tremendous saves and keeps Washington in every game, while Fluery lets in a few costly goals on the other end, leading to a few easy victories for the Caps. Emotions rising, Crosby takes the spotlight for a short while, proving to be not enough for the raging Capitals in the long run. 

Eastern Championship

No. 2 Washington Capitals over No.1 Boston Bruins, 4-2

Ovechkin, coming off an incredible series, cools down a little in the East Championship. With Washington in it for only the second time in history, D Green shows he belonged on the All-Star team by not allowing a single break away. Boston's Chara does the same, while Savard mimics Ovechkin's heroics. But, Washington goes to the Stanley Cup Finals for, again, only the second time in history. 

Stanley Cup Championship

No.2 Washington Capitals over No.1 San Jose Sharks, 4-3

San Jose was impressive in it's first three rounds, taking down Anaheim, Calgary, and Detroit on it's way to a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals. But now, they face another second seed, this time from the East. Washington lets its stars shine again, Ovechkin and Green adding up to a perfectly balanced Offense-Defense. Ovechkin has an incredible series, getting at least two goals in each game while he plows his way further and further towards a title. Thornton and the gang aren't enough to stop him, and the Caps take home their first ever Stanley Cup. 

STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS: East No. 2 Washington Capitals

Most Valuable Player (MVP): LW #8 Alexander Ovechkin