black label

Gustafson got paid off.

Fibonacci

Meh, I'll believe it if/when it happens. Fat lady hasn't sung yet yummy cakes.

Yumcha

You mean you think he'll return for another season with the Wings next year...?

Fibonacci

Domcha's boy illach has a way with persuasion and Dats doesn't strike me as a guy who'd stiff the team for no avail. Point being, its not official yet.

black label

You realize he's Russian right?

e30cabrio

iTrader: (6)

Looks like the Rangers are going to Pittsburgh.

Yumcha

That should be a good series.

Still, I prefer Flyers/Caps against the Pens just because of the history of their rivalries...we'll see if that materializes.

e30cabrio

iTrader: (6)

If the Rangers play like they have been lately it will be a mercifully short series.

black label

All I have to say is, go Florida kitties, that's my team the rest of the year, plus I sent Bobby Lou Strombone a brand spanking new compressor with both presta and schrader valve adapters

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

Keep me updated Mr. Twitter... /sarcasm

Yumcha

The East is hard to pick. I'll have to give it some thought but I like what I've seen of the Miami Blackhawks, Pens, and Caps...with apologies to the Isles, Rangers, and Flyers. Wings are just happy to be in the dance.

The Isles "tanked" their game to get the match-up against Miami...well, we'll see if that back-fires.



Out west, it's a bit easier and maybe because I see more games. But, Hawks will move past Blues in 6. Ducks will take out the Preds easily. Yeehaw Stars will beat the North Stars. And Sharks will exorcise their demons and move past the never-wrong-Kings.

I anticipate a Part 2 of the Ducks/Hawks Western Conference.

Should be entertaining!

Yumcha

I had originally pegged the Bolts to represent the East but with all those injuries, I think they aren't getting past the 2nd round.

black label

A broad prediction.... 1st round will be entertaining with several series going 6+ games, no sweeps. The second round will be lame short series with a couple series only lasting 4 games.

Divisional playoffs are lame.

e30cabrio

iTrader: (6)

No games tonight Sid will whine for no apparent reason.

/banter

Yumcha

There is no more chaotic 1st round in sports than the NHL. Usually is quite topsy-turvy.

black label

There has been a trend that started with the new alignment and new playoff format. Strong teams are forced out because they had to play other strong teams while weak teams make it to the second round due to weak match ups under the new format.

Pittsburgh had 104 points, NYR had 101, one of them won't make the 2nd round.

Detroit had 93 points, Tampa had 97, one of them will make the 2nd round.

Florida won their division with 103 points, their "reward" is to play the isles who had 100 points. The number 1 wildcard has more points than the teams who placed 2 and 3 on the Atlantic.

Divisional playoffs just suck and quite honestly are bad for playoff excitement.

Yumcha

I get your point on how it messes things up for teams that performed well and does not really reward their regular season success.

Personally, I enjoy divisional playoffs (at least for the Central) because it does bring back memories of the old "Chuck Norris" playoffs. Brings back some awesome rivalries and just makes them even more intense.

St. Louis against Chicago again? Awesome. Could not have asked for more. I would've been fine if it was Minny too.

black label

^^^
Well we have 2 underdogs playing to see which underdog gets to the second round while 2 top performers are playing to see who gets screwed under the new format.

For an underdog to move to the second round they should have to beat a top contender and earn it. Now they just need to be the less crappy of the 2 crappiest teams to make the playoffs and boom 2nd round here they come.

black label

So back to my original prediction. The rags and goons have an exciting series as do the wings and bolts. Whoever wins in NY vs. Pitt goes on to sweep whoever wins in the wings bolts series.

Because divisional playoffs are lame and fundamentally flawed.

Yumcha

Well, the Bolts have a problem because their roster is full of injuries.

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

Have to agree with BL, the wild card situation in the divisional round is f'ing stupid, makes no sense at all.

e30cabrio

iTrader: (6)

adios sen coaching staff!

TacoBello

by my count, Ottawa will have 823 new coaches, during the last 5 years. Yup, I'm sure they'll be cup contenders next year, by switching coaching staff again...

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

:gheywave:

Fibonacci

Still here unlike moogelino and domcha

:gheyfight:

e30cabrio

iTrader: (6)

Dom(n) is gone too?

black label

I yumcha'd him, he's never coming back. It was a perma-yumcha

Fibonacci

Chris Botti in Boston, backed by the Boston Pops best concert DVD evar.

Took the wifey for our anniversary last summer to see him live at Roy Thomson Hall backed by the TSO, almost as good.

e30cabrio

iTrader: (6)

ouch

Fibonacci

I nominate taco for new of the year. With proper training and an improvement in e-ettiquette, perhaps he can someday join the stable of ~cha's.

Young taco first needs to learn the fine art of restraint on the salt and judiciously, black label has black belt in this dark art and is master.

e30cabrio

iTrader: (6)

2nd or whatevah.

Fibonacci

'tis the most wonderful time of the year...

Yumcha

Blues.

Fibonacci

Where's yummy cakes annual fearless Toe Blake predictions?

I'm glad you're taking the bolts over Detroit. Because usually you are wrong *insert ghey laugh here*

Yumcha

Thought I sorta did...?

I mean, not all of them...I glazed over it, I suppose.

Yumcha

Hawks in 6
Sharks in 7
Stars in 5
Ducks in 6

Bolts in 6
Pens in 7
Caps in 6
Panthers in 6

imj0257

iTrader: (1)

Blues in 6
Kings in 7
Stars in 4
Ducks in 6

Wings in 7
Pens in 5
Flyers in 7 (you heard it here first)
Panthers in 6

black label

With the crapitals in the playoffs we might get a guest appearance from the most interesting ghey bunny in the world. He doesn't always post in hockey talk but when he does, the crapitals made it to the 2nd round.

underdog

Yup, its all about the coaches!! Unlike some teams that think they can become
contenders by snapping up 823 first round picks.

kurtatx

That hawks defense can sure put the puck in the back of the net.