NHL Playoffs 2011: First Round Predictions

The regular season is finally done, and while it went down to the wire (The Blackhawks and Rangers can thank the Wild and Lightning respectively for putting them in after they couldn't do it themselves), we are now set to start the real season. The matchups are:

Western Conference:

Vancouver Canucks (1) vs Chicago Blackhawks (8)

San Jose Sharks (2) vs LA Kings (7)

Detroit Red Wings (3) vs Phoenix Coyotes (6)

Anaheim Ducks (4) vs Nashville Predators (5)

Eastern Conference:

Washington Capitals (1) vs New York Rangers (8)

Philadelphia Flyers (2) vs Buffalo Sabres (7)

Boston Bruins (3) vs Montreal Canadiens (6)

Pittsburgh Penguins (4) vs Tampa Bay Lightning (5)

And now for my predictions...

Vancouver Canucks (1) vs Chicago Blackhawks (8)

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NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 29: Christian Ehrhoff #5 and Henrik Sedin #33 of the Vancouver Canucks congratulate teammate Alexandre Burrows #14 on scoring a goal against the Nashville Predators on March 29, 2011 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

For the third time in three years, the Blackhawks and Canucks meet in the postseason. But this time, the Canucks are the favorites, after posting one of the most dominant regular seasons in the modern era of the NHL.

Chicago on the other hand failed to earn a berth by their own merit, falling to the Red Wings on the final day of the season. But they got a little boost later in the day from the Minnesota Wild, who stopped Dallas from claiming the eighth seed in the West.

This will be a battle of skill on skill, as neither team is overly physical, and should be the one of the most entertaining matchups in the first round.

Prediction: Canucks in six

Note: As I'm obviously a Canucks fan, expect a more detailed preview of this series, coming soon.

San Jose Sharks (2) vs LA Kings (7)

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LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 24: Dustin Brown #23 of the Los Angeles Kings reacts after scoring against goaltender Antti Niemi #31 of the San Jose Sharks in the third period during the NHL game at Staples Center on March 24, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. T

This one is a bit harder to pick. The Kings are decimated by injuries, losing both Williams and Kopitar, two of their top forwards. On the other hand, the Sharks hardly have the pedigree of a playoff winner, to put it mildly, and haven't replaced the experience of Rob Blake on the back end.

This Battle of California will end in an upset, as the Kings grind out a victory. Led by tough players like Brown and Doughty, who got a taste of the postseason last year, and veterans like Mitchell, Scuderi, Penner and Smyth, the Kings aren't ready to quit on their season regardless of the injury situation.

Prediction: Kings in six

Detroit Red Wings (3) vs Phoenix Coyotes (6)

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DETROIT, MI - MARCH 30: Mike Modano #90 of the Detroit Red Wings looks on the St. Louis Blues at Joe Louis Arena on March 30, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

This is the easiest prediction in the West. As tough as Phoenix has been the last two years, and as good as Bryzgalov has been, you don't bet against the Red Wings in the playoffs. Ever.

Expect a surge in production out of Modano, as he finally gets to play in the spring for the first time in ages, and for his home team to boot.

Prediction: Detroit in six

Anaheim Ducks (4) vs Nashville Predators (5)

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NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 24: Corey Perry #10 of the Anaheim Ducks watches a puck shot by teammate Teemu Selanne #8 get past Pekka Rinne #35 of the Nashville Predators for a goal on March 24, 2011 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by F

Anaheim has been on fire lately, led by the heroics of Cory Perry (my pick for the Hart, and that is coming from a Canucks fan). The Ducks are big, led by their titanic first line of Perry, Getzlaf and Ryan. And they have secondary scoring in the form of the ageless Finnish Flash, Teemu Selanne. While their back end isn't the same as the Neidermayer/Pronger years, it is respectable. Hiller's health in net is a question mark however.

Nashville is a scrappy team, and they have a goalie who could win the Vezina in Pekka Rinne, plus an all star defence led by Shea Weber. But while they defend like no one else in the West, they can't score enough for the playoffs.

In the battle of offence vs defence, the Rocket Richard winner vs a potential Vezina winner, expect the big bodies of the Ducks to bury the Predators.

Prediction: Ducks in 5

Washington Capitals (1) vs New York Rangers (8)

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NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 12: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals trades punches during the second period against Brandon Dubinsky #17 of the New York Rangers on December 12, 2010 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Ge

Washington got beaten last year, badly, as they dropped a 3-1 series lead to Montreal. And Alex the Great showed himself to be Alex the Predictable, as Ovechkin tried the same move over and over again (cross the blue line, curl towards the middle of the ice, get a shot off from the perimeter) only to be stuffed by Hal Gill and the Montreal defence every time he crossed the blue line.

Has Alex the Great learned enough from that debacle to lead his team to the Stanley Cup? I don't know about that, but he appears to have learned enough to lead his team to victory over the hapless New York Rangers.

The Rangers are missing top players in Ryan Callahan (broken leg) and Marian Gaborik (lack of desire). Okay, Gaborik is actually on the ice, but his heart clearly isn't in playing any sort of defence, as shown by his recent benching in the midst of a game the Rangers needed to win in order to make the playoffs. And that kind of half-assed play doesn't cut it in the playoffs either.

Unless Gaborik can outscore Ovechkin, Semin and Backstrom, or Henrik Lundqvist can record four more shutouts, this will be a quick series.

Prediction: Capitals in five

Philadelphia Flyers (2) vs Buffalo Sabres (7)

Rick Stewart/Getty Images

BUFFALO, NY - APRIL 08: Chris Butler #34 of the Buffalo Sabres collides with Kris Versteeg #10 of the Philadelphia Flyers at HSBC Arena on April 8, 2011 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

This one is almost as simple to predict as the Red Wings/Coyotes series.

Buffalo has the better goaltender in Ryan Miller, who has shown he can play in big games, while the Flyers have some questions marks in net.

But the Flyers are simply better at every other position on the ice, from the first line to the third defence pairing. Even if Pronger isn't ready to go with his broken hand, this should be an easy win for the Flyers.

Prediction: Flyers in five

Boston Bruins (3) vs Montreal Canadiens (6)

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BOSTON, MA - MARCH 24: Paul Mara #22 of the Montreal Canadiens AND Mark Recchi #28 of the Boston Bruins get in a shoving match as Carey Price #31 stops a shot on March 24, 2011 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

I'd like to predict a Canadiens win. But I can't.

The Canadiens won the regular season series against the Bruins, and this should be one of the better first-round matchups down to the sheer hatred between these two Original Six clubs.

Carey Price proved his critics wrong and had a wonderful season. But he isn't the equal of the man tending the other net, as Thomas should be the Vezina Trophy winner for the kind of season he has put together.

And on the rest of the ice, the Bruins tower over the Canadiens physically. I don't think the Canadiens can handle a playoff series against the Bruins, who are eager for redemption after their early exit last year.

Still, all in all, this one should be entertaining.

Prediction: Bruins in seven

Pittsburgh Penguins (4) vs Tampa Bay Lightning (5)

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TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 25: Steven Stamkos #91 and Martin St. Louis #26 of the Tampa Bay Lightning look on against the Toronto Maple Leafs at St. Pete Times Forum on January 25, 2011 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

If everyone was healthy on both teams, this would be an easy pick. But as we all know, Crosby and Malkin are not healthy. Malkin is done for the year, and Crosby might suit up at some time in the playoffs, but that is doubtful.

The Lightning have the ability to be an offensive juggernaught if Stamkos can find another gear and remember how to score again. Aside from Stamkos, the Lightning have St Louis, Lecavalier, Gagne, Malone and Roloson as players that have either won a Stanley Cup or been to the finals. Some of those guys have Olympic medals too. They know how to win.

In net, Fleury has had an awesome year, holding his team in it despite injuries. But Roloson has done a good job since coming to the Lightning, and we all remember the run he went on in Edmonton a few years ago. The best the Penguins can hope for is a draw in net between the two goalies, unless Roloson suddenly falls apart. And with the goal support he will be getting, that isn't likely.

Unless Crosby miraculously suits up for Game 1 and carries the team on his back, the Lightning have more than enough firepower to overwhelm the crippled Penguins.

Prediction: Lightning in six