Allsports Predictions on target with NHL Playoffs, round One in the Books

So the first round of the NHL playoffs are in the books and over with. If you search sports on the web for hockey you will be able to see if your favorite team made it through to the second round. Allsports did a much better job of predicting the outcomes of the different series this year, than last. Check the post I did back on April 15 2009 titled, ” Tiss the Season for Allsports and the NHL Playoffs“.

Allsports finished six for eight in the first round and the Chicago, Calgary series was a bit of a push. I wanted Calgary to win because they’re a Canadian team, but knew Chicago was a good strong team. I guess what I am trying to say is that the only series I outright blew was San Jose beating Anaheim. But more on the later.

The Black Hawks handed the Calgary Flames their collective behinds in the last game. Calgary seemed to be a step behind all night and Chicago cruised to a 5-1 win at home. Dion Phaneuf left the game in the second period and did not return. The Flames are banged up and if Phaneuf is lost Calgary will be stretched pretty thin. They have been without aguably their best defenceman, Robin Regehr for the whole series and Craig Conroy and Daymond Langkow are playing in the middle but not100%. It could be just too much for the Flames to overcome and it was. Chicago won game six in Calgary by a score of 4-1. Nikolai Khabibulin made 43 saves for the win. He’s 8-3 in the playoffs against the Flames, including beating them in the 2004 Stanley Cup final when he played for Tampa Bay. Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 12 shots in the loss. but could not really be faulted on the Chicago goals.

The Black Hawks and the Washington Capitals are similar in the way they became competitive. There were so many lean years for both clubs that they were consistently getting high picks in the draft. To that end both teams stock piled some very good young talent, which is starting to bear fruit. The scouting staff of both franchises deserve a lot of credit. A high pick does not necessarily turn into a good NHL player. Just ask the Leafs, lol.

The Devils were up 3-2 in the series going back to  Raleigh for game six. The Devils were in that position thanks to Martin Brodeur’s 44 save shutout performance in the previous game. That gave him 23 for his career and another record from Patrick Roy who had 22. Ward was very strong in the game as well stopping 41 of 42 shots. Game six was the most lopsided game of the series as the Canes won 4-0, forcing game seven back in Jersey. The Devils were thoroughly out played and even another strong game by Brodeur could not save them. Eric Staal had two goals in the game, this should worry the Devils because they don’t have an answer for Staal when he is going. This series has had it all, close games, last second goals, outstanding goaltending and game seven was no exception. They were like two heavyweight boxers knocking each other to the canvass, only to get back up and go back at it. The Devils were leading 3-2 with about one and a half minutes left in the game. No problem, Jersey will just close it out right? Wrong, not in the new NHL where the lead is not safe. The Canes scored to tie it up and then with 30 seconds to play Staal struck again, putting a wrist shot off the far post on Brodeur, the crowd and the announcers were stunned. Game, match and series to the Canes.

Tortorella lost his composure in game 5 and then the Capitals chased Henrik Lunqvist from the net for the second straight game letting in 9 goals on 35 shots. The Caps won game 6, 5-3 and Tortorella watched the game from the press box. Assistant coach Jim (have another donut) Schoenfeld ran the bench. There were many security issues in Washington for game 5 but the bottom line is Tortorella can’t react to the crap from the fans, ignore them and get security to eject the jerks. It is very hard for the team and a loose cannon like Avery to stay composed when the coach has lost his. Anyway in game 7 the Rangers were playing a very good game and the Capitals were sleep walking through the first two periods, with the score tied1-1. They woke up for the third period and played much better. The Rangers were looking like they may weather the storm in the period but with about 5 minutes to go, veteran Sergei Fedorov skated down the wing, stopped and fired a rocket wrist shot, high on the short side over Lundqvists shoulder. The Caps held on to win the game 2-1 and advance to host the Pittsburgh Penguins, with the series starting Friday May 1st.

Marc Andrea Fleury took a page out of Luongo’s book the other night making 45 saves, stealing the game as Pittsburgh beat the Flyers 3-1 and also took a 3-1 series lead. Pittsburgh can close it out tonight at home but something tells me Richards, Carter and company are not quite done yet. The Flyer’s did fight back to take game 5 in Pittsburgh but the Penguins best players were their best players in game six and they closed out the Flyers by a score of 5-3 in Philly to take the series four games to two.

The Blue Jackets fought valantly in game four at home and matched the Wings goal for goal but with two minutes left in the game and the score tied 5-5, the Jackets took a penalty for too many men. The Red Wings saw their chance and Johan Franzen scored the winner on the power play with about 47 seconds remaining in the game. The Wings won the series 4-0 and swept the Jackets.

The Sharks showed some interest at home in game five winning the game 3-2 in overtime. They did this in spite of  Evgeni Nabokov, who to be frank has not given the Sharks playoff goaltending. The Sharks came out fighting in game six at the Duck pond but it was too little too late and they fell to the Ducks 4-1. Another disappointing and early exit for the Sharks. They outshot the Ducks in every game but Jonas Hiller, who recorded two shutouts in the series, out played Nabokov in every game.

Here are Allsports predictions for the Second round of the NHL Playoffs

Boston is just too big and strong, with a very deep line up. I think Carolina may win two games because of the strong play of Cam Ward. Boston in six games.

This should be a great series with some of the leagues best players in it. Ovechkin, Crosby, Malkin, Fleury. In the end Pittsburgh will use their experience from last year and take this one in seven games. Look for Crosby to have a big series against his rival Ovechkin.

The Ducks should soften Detroit up a bit in this series but the Red Wings rarely make mistakes to hurt themselves. Osgood looked pretty good in the first round and has found his playoff form. The Ducks have good elite players to match Detroit but I think in the end the Wings team play and depth will come through. Anaheim will have to stay out of the penalty box or the Wings power play will kill them. Detroit in six.

The Black Hawks have some great young players and they took care of a banged up Calgary team. Nikolai Khabibulin has played great but Roberto Luongo has been amazing. Vancouver is healthy, well rested and has the skill players to match Chicago. Vancouver has size and depth too and were the leagues best team in the second half of the season. Vancouver in six games.

`No Guts No Glory`

Walt Webb

Tweet This Post