2011 NHL Playoffs: Ranking the First Round Series by Degree of Hatred
Hate. It's a strong word, that as children we are told not to use. And in most settings we shouldn't.
Hate is damaging when its used to justify prejudice or to belittle a peer.
When it comes to the Stanley Cup Playoffs however, hate is one of the reasons we watch.
NHL Hockey is an intense sport played on the edge. When you add the increased pressure of the world's greatest tournament, that edge turns to hatred pretty quickly.
More than any other major sport, the Stanley Cup Playoffs bring out teams hatred for each other. In other sports this hatred that is normally reserved for over-emotional fans, but in the NHL, often the players on the ice feel it just as much.
On the eve of the 2011 playoffs we thought it would be fun to rank the opening round series based on the level of hatred the teams have for each other.
The playoffs have a way of creating new rivalries as well as stoke the flames of existing ones.
With that in mind we will rank the series based on a combination of existing rage and the potential for sparks to ignite.
And just for fun we'll throw some quick and dirty, yet fearless predictions in as well.
8. New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals
1 of 8
The top seeded Capitals take on the New York Rangers in a pretty big, marquee match up. You have one of the league's best players in Alexander Ovechkin playing on the world's biggest stage in New York.
There is a lot of pressure on both teams here, pressure which may help ratchet up the hate factor. Washington is facing pressure to avoid repeating their first round flop from a year ago while the Rangers face the day-to-day pressure of playing in New York.
Historically these teams do not have a particularly hateful history. There haven't been big flare-ups, they don't have a playoff history so it seems that the hatred is pretty low here. Although it should be noted that Ovechkin did drop the gloves in a game against the Rangers earlier in the season.
So, what is the potential for hatred in this series?
It's fairly low, but there are some factors that might bring it out.
If the Rangers defense harasses the Capitals enough and extends the series to the point where they might win it you could see some hatred form. Nothing makes hockey teams hate each other more then having to play seven games against each other in two weeks.
The level of hate would be heightened if we knew for sure that Ranger's winger Sean Avery was going to be a regular part of New York's rotation. Avery is a first class pest and has a history of bringing out the worst in his opponents.
Fearless Prediction:
The Capitals need to be careful here, the Rangers play tough and could pose a threat. However, the Capitals will have learned enough from last year and squeak out a tough six game series.
Caps in six!
7. Buffalo Sabres vs. Philadelphia Flyers
2 of 8
Last year's Cup runner-ups, the Flyers, take on the Buffalo Sabres in 2-7 match up that doesn't feature a lot of animosity.
On paper the Flyers seem to have a much better team, with one exception. The Sabres have the edge in goal with all-world Ryan Miller, while Philadelphia will send out rookie Sergei Bobrovsky.
This will be a big test for the young goalie, but luckily he has a stellar team in front of him.
Again, like the previous series, there is not a rough history between these two teams.
The potential is there however. The Flyers, who still carry the Broadstreet Bully swagger with them, have been known to draw the ire of every team and fan base they come across.
When you have someone like Chris Pronger (who hopefully will be healthy) patrolling the ice for you, a guy who relishes causing trouble, hatred is never that far away. Pronger has a history of getting into team's heads and if the Sabres let him in there could be fireworks.
Fearless Prediction:
Bobrovsky will play well and the Flyers will out man the Sabres and take this series in relatively easy fashion.
Flyers in five.
6. Anaheim Ducks vs. Nashville Predators
3 of 8
Both Anaheim and Nashville come into the playoffs red hot. While that might lead to a great series, is it enough to bring hatred with it?
Not really.
Again, these teams don't have a big history against each other, but there is a good chance that this series will birth a new hate-filled rivalry.
First off, it will be a good series. Both these teams have been playing well and should push each other to a seven gamer.
Secondly, it's pretty easy to learn to hate the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks are a physical team and with a pest like Bobby Ryan and the evil mustache of George Parros there is plenty of after whistle action waiting to happen in this series.
As the series moves along, the Predators will hate the Ducks, everyone does, and that will make this a great series to watch. You might also want to circle next season's rematches.
Fearless Prediction
The Ducks have more offensive firepower, but Predator goal tender Pekka Rinne has been great all year and will lead Nashville out of the first round.
Preds in seven.
.png?w=256 "NHL Mock Draft")
.jpg?w=256 "Kucherov Landing Spots")
.png?w=256)
5. Phoenix Coyotes vs. Detroit Red Wings
4 of 8
The Detroit Red Wings are one of the iconic franchises in all of sports. They boast a litany of hall of famers and Stanley Cups.
The Phoenix Coyotes are, well...the Coyotes.
These teams have drastically different histories and have never really butted heads much, even in the Coyote's Winnipeg Jets days. So you wouldn't think that this series would rank high on the hate meter.
But, these two teams played a pretty good seven game series last year which Detroit won, ending what had been a promising Phoenix surprise season.
No doubt Phoenix hasn't forgotten that, and let's face it, Detroit is easy to hate.
One has to wonder how long Phoenix will put up with Thomas Holmstron's rear end in goalie Ilya Bryzgalov's face.
The Coyote's Ed Jovanovski is never one to shy away from extra curricular activities either. This should be an entertaining series from the hate perspective, and on the ice as well.
Fearless Prediction
The Wings have stumbled a bit down the stretch. They ended up losing the second seed to San Jose and they have had some shaky goaltending at times this year.
To be fearless you have to call for some upsets, and we are calling for one here.
'Yotes in six
4. Tamp Bay Lightning vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
5 of 8
In one of the more anticipated first round matchups the high flying Lightning take on the Crosby-less Penguins.
Again, there hasn't been much of a hate filled history here but the potential for hate is ripe.
Even with Matt Cooke out serving his suspension the Penguins are one of the tougher (or dirty, depending on your perspective) teams in the league.
They won't shy away from throwing their weight around and possibly their fists. This series should go down to the wire and by the last few games these teams should hate each other with a bright orange burning fire.
The Penguins boasted five players with over a hundred minutes in penalties, and those weren't all holding the stick penalties either, so they have the bodies to rough it up. The Lightning don't have the bruisers the Penguins do, but they won't back down.
This is a rivalry waiting to be born. The Lightning are up and coming powers in the East and the Penguins will be Eastern favorites as long as Crosby is in their fold. This playoff series is your chance to get in on the ground floor of some hate.
Fearless Prediction
This will be a great series that could go either way. The Lightning have the offensive edge while the Penguins have the edge in goal tending. Pittsburgh has managed to stay strong with two of their star players out but that run will end here.
Lightning in seven
3. Los Angeles Kings vs. San Jose Sharks
6 of 8
The first battle for California begins Thursday in the Shark Tank. This is the first time San Jose and Los Angeles have met in the playoffs.
Being division rivals helps in the hate factor. These teams have already battled it out, already know which number they have marked for that extra check and are already sick of each other.
Added into that is the long standing LA-Bay Area sports feud that will surely have the Shark Tank crowd chanting "Beat LA" all game long.
The Kings have made the playoffs in back to back years and have shown that they have some guys who can get under your skin.
Drew Doughty, Wayne Simmonds and Willie Mitchell, while not goons, sure know how to play just over that edge and get on the oppositions nerves and under their skin.
The Sharks aren't slouches in this area either. Guys like Ryane Clowe, Ben Eager and Jamal Meyer are as tough as they come and will be very familiar to the LA players at the end of this series.
Fearless Prediction
The Kings will struggle scoring enough goals, without star Anze Kopitar, to stay with San Jose. This one could get ugly both in the scoreboard and in the penalty boxes.
Sharks in Six.
2. Chicago Blackhawks vs. Vancouver Canucks
7 of 8
Of course the Canucks and Blackhawks had to find each other in the playoffs again. It had to happen. What has turned out to be one of the best rivalries in the NHL is back for its third straight year.
These teams will already have the hate brewing for each other before the first puck is dropped. This hatred goes back to a late season game in 2009 that was fight filled and resulted in a lot of chirping in the press.
The heat got turned up more when the teams met that year in the second round of the playoffs, with Chicago prevailing.
Last year they met again, and again there was more trash talking on and off the ice. Chicago got under the Canucks skin and caused them to lose their cool and get out of their game and eventually they bowed out somewhat weakly as the 'Hawks went on to hoist the Cup.
This year's match up has lost a little bit of the hate as some of Vancouver's main targets of ire (Andrew Ladd, Ben Eager, Dustin Byfuglien) aren't there. Add to that the Canucks attempt to play more Zen-like this season the hate isn't enough to get this series the top ranking.
Still, this is a great rivalry with teams that genuinely don't like each other. This one is not to be missed.
Fearless Prediction
A lot has been made about the supposed mental edge the 'Hawks have here. This is overblown, and in the two previous series the better team won.
This year that trend will continue. Vancouver is the better team this time and will win surprisingly easy.
Canucks in five.
1. Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins
8 of 8
Coming in, hands down, at number one is a classic, original-six match up between Montreal and Boston. This is hockey, pure and simple.
These two franchises have hated each other since the days of goalies without masks. This is a rivalry where the fans hate each other as much as the teams. Set your Tivo, call in sick to work, make sure you watch this series.
Being long term rivals has helped stir this pot, as well as being division rivals. This year the heat got turned up even more.
Briefly, the trouble all started with Montreal's Max Pacioretty scored an overtime winner and while celebrating gave Bruins star Zdeno Chara a little stick action. This didn't sit well with Chara, or the Bruins.
The next match up between these two teams was both ugly and beautiful at the same time. The game was back and forth and there were fights. Big time fights that included line-brawls and goalies Tim Thomas and Carey Price squaring off at center ice.
The third time they hooked up Chara ran Pacioretty into the boards, catching the Canadiens's winger's head on the glass, witch left him motionless on the ice.
This incident turned the hockey world upside down. There was a great debate about Chara's intent. Was this purely a coincidental accident or was Chara exacting some revenge. When Pacioretty recovered quicker then expected a few Bruins players questioned the seriousness of the injury and even accused Montreal of exaggerating how hurt he was.
This was the back drop for a late season tilt with the division on the line. Boston smoked the Canadiens that day and Montreal failed to send any physical messages.
All of this bad blood is sweeping these two storied franchises into an exciting first round playoff series starting Wednesday. This is much watch television.
Fearless Prediction
Montreal made a magical run in last year's playoffs which almost got them into the finals. Boston chocked away a three game lead against the Flyers and are looking to erase that horrible memory.
The Canadiens looked pretty gutless in the last meeting between these two teams and that may carry into this series.
B's in six.
.png?w=480 "NHL Mock Draft")
.jpg?w=480 "Kucherov Landing Spots")
.png?w=480)
.png?w=600 "B/R NHL Staff Second-Round Predictions 🏒")
