Yesterday was the premiere of the greatest reality series on TV, the NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs. 16 teams began their search for the most coveted trophy in sports and this season it could be wide open with no heavy favourite in sight. Here's how I believe the first round will end up:


EASTERN CONFERENCE

Montreal vs Boston

Boston has always had trouble with Montreal in the playoffs, even in their glory days with Orr and Esposito, and this year should be no different.

Montreal in 5


Pittsburgh vs Ottawa

Pittsburgh wins Game 1 4-0.

Another series that doesn't figure to be very close. Ottawa was lucky to even make the playoffs after a blazing 15-2 start to the season which went quickly downhill from there. Injuries to key players like Alfredsson, Fisher, and now Volchenkov doesn't leave them with much hope. The Penguins look ready to go further this time around after being happy to just make the playoffs last season. Could a Crosby vs Ovechkin showdown be imminent? Stay tuned.

Pittsburgh in 6, hopefully sooner.


NYRangers vs New Jersey

Rangers win Game 1 4-1

The series most likely to go the distance, highlighted by a classic goalie duel between Henrik Lundqvist and Martin Brodeur. Neither team scores very much but you don't need a lot of offence with those guys guarding the nets. Given a choice, I will take Brodeur every time.

New Jersey in 7


Washington vs Philadelphia

It's Alexander The Great taking on The City Of Brotherly Hate. Washington's Alexander Ovechkin, the NHL's most exciting and dynamic performer this side of Pittsburgh, will make his playoff debut tomorrow night and he should be all fired up. The Flyers will try to stop him in their typical physical, roughhouse fashion but I don't believe it will make that much difference. This will be a close series and should be very exciting to watch.

Washington in 6


WESTERN CONFERENCE

San Jose vs Calgary

Calgary wins Game 1 3-2

The Sharks are seen by many experts as potential champs but first they have to get by a Calgary team that is expected to hit everything in sight and grind their way to victory. It's not pretty but it can be effective. I still expect San Jose to win, but they might not have anything left for the next round.

San Jose in 7


Detroit vs Nashville

Don't blink or you'll miss this series. It won't even be close.

Detroit in 4


Colorado vs Minnesota

Colorado wins Game 1 in overtime 3-2

I'd love to see Colorado win this series, if only to spare us from the sleep-inducing Minnesota Wild, but I don't think they will make it. Injuries have killed them all season and inconsistent goaltending has hurt them as well. Meanwhile, Minnesota coach Jacques Lemaire has his team healthy and well-prepared and will try to drag out this series as long as possible to wear down his less-than-healthy opponents.

Minnesota in 6, possibly 7

Anaheim vs Dallas

A tough series to predict featuring two well coached and evenly matched teams. The winner of this series could go a long way.

Dallas in 7


And now for the big one.....


The 2008 Stanley Cup champions will be..........


The Dallas Stars!

Yesterday was the premiere of the greatest reality series on TV, the NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs. 16 teams began their search for the most coveted trophy in sports and this season it could be wide open with no heavy favourite in sight. Here's how I believe the first round will end up:


EASTERN CONFERENCE

Montreal vs Boston

Boston has always had trouble with Montreal in the playoffs, even in their glory days with Orr and Esposito, and this year should be no different.

Montreal in 5


Pittsburgh vs Ottawa

Pittsburgh wins Game 1 4-0.

Another series that doesn't figure to be very close. Ottawa was lucky to even make the playoffs after a blazing 15-2 start to the season which went quickly downhill from there. Injuries to key players like Alfredsson, Fisher, and now Volchenkov doesn't leave them with much hope. The Penguins look ready to go further this time around after being happy to just make the playoffs last season. Could a Crosby vs Ovechkin showdown be imminent? Stay tuned.

Pittsburgh in 6, hopefully sooner.


NYRangers vs New Jersey

Rangers win Game 1 4-1

The series most likely to go the distance, highlighted by a classic goalie duel between Henrik Lundqvist and Martin Brodeur. Neither team scores very much but you don't need a lot of offence with those guys guarding the nets. Given a choice, I will take Brodeur every time.

New Jersey in 7


Washington vs Philadelphia

It's Alexander The Great taking on The City Of Brotherly Hate. Washington's Alexander Ovechkin, the NHL's most exciting and dynamic performer this side of Pittsburgh, will make his playoff debut tomorrow night and he should be all fired up. The Flyers will try to stop him in their typical physical, roughhouse fashion but I don't believe it will make that much difference. This will be a close series and should be very exciting to watch.

Washington in 6


WESTERN CONFERENCE

San Jose vs Calgary

Calgary wins Game 1 3-2

The Sharks are seen by many experts as potential champs but first they have to get by a Calgary team that is expected to hit everything in sight and grind their way to victory. It's not pretty but it can be effective. I still expect San Jose to win, but they might not have anything left for the next round.

San Jose in 7


Detroit vs Nashville

Don't blink or you'll miss this series. It won't even be close.

Detroit in 4


Colorado vs Minnesota

Colorado wins Game 1 in overtime 3-2

I'd love to see Colorado win this series, if only to spare us from the sleep-inducing Minnesota Wild, but I don't think they will make it. Injuries have killed them all season and inconsistent goaltending has hurt them as well. Meanwhile, Minnesota coach Jacques Lemaire has his team healthy and well-prepared and will try to drag out this series as long as possible to wear down his less-than-healthy opponents.

Minnesota in 6, possibly 7

Anaheim vs Dallas

A tough series to predict featuring two well coached and evenly matched teams. The winner of this series could go a long way.

Dallas in 7


And now for the big one.....


The 2008 Stanley Cup champions will be..........


The Dallas Stars!




I hope you are right about Washington

Why oh WHY did SJ have to get matched up against the Flames. I've got a bad feeling about this.

The NHL...Who gives a damn?

The NHL...Who gives a damn?


Now there's a real American for you! :lol:

Now there's a real American for you! :lol:

Not only that, but from where I live our sports teams suck.

I don't have as much interest in these playoffs with Atlanta and Vancouver not making them.

I think a Penguins vs. Sharks final would be very entertaining.

Pittsburgh's defense against Ottawa really surprised me. They are on a good roll. I see a Penguins vs. Rangers conference final.

Nashville is giving Detroit all they can handle. They seem capable of the upset with Detroit's shaky goaltending. If Nashville upsets Detroit, we all know how the Sharks own the Predators.

Dallas started out well against the Ducks.. but the champs aren't dead yet. I see it going 7 and the Ducks advancing.

Go Habs Go!

----Second Round Predictions----

First Round Series Record: 5-3


EASTERN CONFERENCE

Montreal vs Philadelphia

Montreal may not be the best team left but they are sure the luckiest. For the second time in the playoffs, they will be facing a team that couldn't beat them during the regular season, and that should help their ever growing confidence. However, as they learned from Boston, you can't be overconfident or else you'll get your butt kicked. That's not likely to happen until the next series, and then I'll be very happy!

Montreal in 6


Pittsburgh vs NYRangers

The "Crosby Show" opens on Broadway this week and it's sure to be a smash hit, literally and figuratively. Sidney Crosby proved in the last round against Ottawa that not only is he one of the most skilled players in the game today, but he can also play a physical game and dish out his share of hits. In this series, he will get plenty of attention---and lots of aggravation---from the NHL's Superpest Sean Avery, who has become such a distracting and powerful figure that the NHL had to create a new rule on the spot just for him so he couldn't bother the opposing goalies. That shouldn't detract him from doing his job but it may be too much for him in the end. The Penguins have developed a great supporting cast around Crosby, including potential MVP Evgeny Malkin, Jordan Staal, Marian Hossa, Sergei Gonchar, Petr Sykora, and Ryan Malone. All the Rangers have are Jaromir Jagr, Brendan Shanahan, Avery, a top goalie in Henrik Lundqvist, and not much else. This will be a tough series for both teams but, alas, it will also be a short one.

Pittsburgh in 5


WESTERN CONFERENCE


Detroit vs Colorado

This was the NHL's most heated rivalry during the mid-90s---think Yankees vs Red Sox under WWE rules---where even the goalies hated each other! Some players from both teams are still around from those glory years but age and maturity will likely prevent them from reenacting the hostilities that prevailed back then. Still, expect this to be an exciting, long, and extremely gruelling series. I figure that should give the Red Wings the advantage in the end, but you never know.

Detroit in 7


Dallas vs San Jose

Another tough series to predict featuring two of the NHL's most exciting teams. I'm willing to go out on a limb and say that the winner will eventually win the Stanley Cup! In the first round, I predicted that Dallas will be the new champions and I'll stick to that choice here.

Dallas in 7

----Second Round Predictions----

First Round Series Record: 5-3


EASTERN CONFERENCE

Montreal vs Philadelphia

Montreal may not be the best team left but they are sure the luckiest. For the second time in the playoffs, they will be facing a team that couldn't beat them during the regular season, and that should help their ever growing confidence. However, as they learned from Boston, you can't be overconfident or else you'll get your butt kicked. That's not likely to happen until the next series, and then I'll be very happy!

Montreal in 6


Pittsburgh vs NYRangers

The "Crosby Show" opens on Broadway this week and it's sure to be a smash hit, literally and figuratively. Sidney Crosby proved in the last round against Ottawa that not only is he one of the most skilled players in the game today, but he can also play a physical game and dish out his share of hits. In this series, he will get plenty of attention---and lots of aggravation---from the NHL's Superpest Sean Avery, who has become such a distracting and powerful figure that the NHL had to create a new rule on the spot just for him so he couldn't bother the opposing goalies. That shouldn't detract him from doing his job but it may be too much for him in the end. The Penguins have developed a great supporting cast around Crosby, including potential MVP Evgeny Malkin, Jordan Staal, Marian Hossa, Sergei Gonchar, Petr Sykora, and Ryan Malone. All the Rangers have are Jaromir Jagr, Brendan Shanahan, Avery, a top goalie in Henrik Lundqvist, and not much else. This will be a tough series for both teams but, alas, it will also be a short one.

Pittsburgh in 5


WESTERN CONFERENCE


Detroit vs Colorado

This was the NHL's most heated rivalry during the mid-90s---think Yankees vs Red Sox under WWE rules---where even the goalies hated each other! Some players from both teams are still around from those glory years but age and maturity will likely prevent them from reenacting the hostilities that prevailed back then. Still, expect this to be an exciting, long, and extremely gruelling series. I figure that should give the Red Wings the advantage in the end, but you never know.

Detroit in 7


Dallas vs San Jose

Another tough series to predict featuring two of the NHL's most exciting teams. I'm willing to go out on a limb and say that the winner will eventually win the Stanley Cup! In the first round, I predicted that Dallas will be the new champions and I'll stick to that choice here.

Dallas in 7


You were wrong about the Flyers

I was very surprised how the Flyers played in the first round. Tough loss for them tonight. If they had won this game, they might have won the series. Montreal will advance. Price will be better than Biron and the Flyers have too many injuries.

Montreal over Philadelphia in 6
Pittsburgh over New York Rangers in 7

Detroit over Colorado in 7 (but Colorado could win if Forsberg was healthy)
San Jose over Dalls in 6

I was very surprised how the Flyers played in the first round. Tough loss for them tonight. If they had won this game, they might have won the series. Montreal will advance. Price will be better than Biron and the Flyers have too many injuries.

Montreal over Philadelphia in 6
Pittsburgh over New York Rangers in 7

Detroit over Colorado in 7 (but Colorado could win if Forsberg was healthy)
San Jose over Dalls in 6


They were healthy enough to win game 7 in Washington so I don't want to hear anything about injuries stopping the Flyers from advancing to round 3

They were pretty lucky to win against Washington. 2 of the games were in OT. Montreal has too much speed. Losing Knuble will hurt them.

GO PENGUINS! lol i hope they win <3