Fuck. There's something wrong with me.

I just think the Ducks are too deep firepower-wise for the Preds to take away all of their weapons...Getzlaf, Perry, Ryan, Selanne, and Visnovsky are all Grade A threats, and after them you have a slew of Jason Blakes and Brian McMillans and Cam Fowlers and so on adn so forth...

But I really think the biggest thing the Ducks have going for them is they have a momentum second to none going into the playoffs--RED HOT coming off back-to-back thumpings of rival LA, and winning something like 12 of their last 16 or something, not to mention home ice--won't say it'll be easy, but I think all that considered, the Ducks will oust the Preds, but in any case, it'll be a good series :)

Western Conference:

Canucks over Blackhawks in 5 - Canucks too dominant with the Sedins and Kesler, Blackhawks were lucky to even make the playoffs.

Sharks over Kings in 7 - Sharks always choke in the playoffs, but due to injuries to Kopitar and Williams Sharks will escape, but just barely.

Coyotes over Redwings in 7 - This will be a good series. Redwings have plenty of playoff experience, but I like the stingy defense/goal tending of Phoenix in this one.

Predators over Ducks in 6 - Again, defense/goaltending will win. Ducks are huge and physical, but Hiller's health is suspect while Rinne is one of the best in the league.

Western Semis:
Canucks over Coyotes in 6 - As good as the Coyote defense is, Canucks will overpower them. Coyotes will make it interesting though.
Predators over Sharks in 7 - Sharks choke again. Predators defense too stingy for Marleau, Couture, Heatley and company.

Western Final
Canucks over Predators in 5 - tough series with Coyotes prepares Canucks for quick victory over Predators

Eastern Conference:
Capitals over Rangers in 4. Simply put, the Rangers are terrible. The Hurricanes are a better team that sadly didn't make it. One of the Rangers top scorers is injured (Callahan), and I highly doubt the Capitals will choke away another 1st round.

Flyers over Sabres in 6 - Bad guys win. But Sabres won't make it easy. Miller is a great goaltender. Flyers give up a lot of goals for a team of their caliber.

Bruins over Canadiens in 7 - This one is going to a brawl. Bruins will be too physical (thuggish) for the Canadiens though and make up for their choke job last season.

Lightning over Penguins in 6 - Penguins two stars are injured. Lightning have a capable offense and decent goaltending. I think the Lightning could make a run.

Semifinals: Lightning over Capitals in 6 - Like the Sharks, I don't trust the Capitals in the playoffs until they give me a reason to. Lightning have a balanced team with lots of experience. They'll take it as Capitals find themselves behind early.

Flyers over Bruins in 5 - Thugs vs thugs. Flyers are a better overall team. They should be able to handle the Bruins easily.

Final - Lightning over Flyers in 7 - Upset of the playoffs, I think. Lightning have a lot of players who have played on Stanley cup or olympic medal winning teams - Gagne, Malone, Roloson, among others. I don't trust the mix-mash of goalies the Flyers have, and Pronger isn't 100%.

Stanley Cup Winner - Canucks over Lightning in 6
Canucks don't choke here and roll over the competition to take the Cup.











2. Sharks vs. 7. Kings (Sharks in 5, I do NOT have confidence in the Kings' attack given its recent drought)

3. Red Wings vs. 6. Coyotes (Wings in 4, the Yotes are swept--swept away for good, back to Winnipeg...)

4. Ducks vs. 5. Predators (Ducks in 6, the Preds have tested the Ducks at times during the yhear, but Anaheim just has too much firepower)"

Yeah, I'm going to say Preds over Ducks too, sorry Obi. And really, being primarily a Sabres fan, well, there's not much that can pain us worse than BRETT HULL CHEATING US OUT OF A STAN...er, I mean, I'll take my medications, yes, thank you nurse.

GAH! SD, you too...

We'll show ya, we'll show all of you! (Yeah, watch them get swept now that I've said that...well, could be worse...I could be a MAPLE LEAFS FAN, oh boy, that must be the worst! Bottom of the barrel, Maple Leafs! Just an utter embarassment, really...I'd be embarassed if I were a fan...or associated with the team in any way...)

At least its impossible to be called a band-wagoner.
There are things happening for my Leafs, at least they're moving in the right direction.

Sorry to see that the Canes couldn't pull it off at the end to make it. Though it's their own fault for not stepping it up all year long. Love the Yotes too, but there is no way they get past the Wings. Two years in a row?? Come on!

Western
Canucks over Hawks.
Sharks over Kings (though would like to see Kings advance)
Wings over Yotes.... (sorry Yotes)
Preds over Ducks.... never was a Duck fan, and I think Preds have the better D & Goalie

Canucks over Preds
Wings over Sharks

Canucks come out of the west.

Caps over Rangers, only because the Rangers shouldn't be here
Flyers over Sabers (only cause Miller is not 100%, otherwise flip it)
Bruins over Habs
Lightning over Pens (Crosby out is the killer here)

Lightning over Caps (lets face it, Washington has to fold)
Bruins over Flyers (not sold on Philly)

Bruins out of the East.

Canucks win it over the Bruins for the Cup.

If my Ducks win I want a full apology from ALL of you! :p

If your crappy Ducks win, I'll retire from webdiplomacy =P

Maple Leafs out of the playoffs yet again... and they were so close this year!

No actually, they were really close. Next year we'll get them.

Pens have been playing and winning without the kid. Lightning shouldn't be a problem unless Fleurry goes back to being a mess instead of the unstoppable force he usually is. If they don't get Sid back by round two, though, they are done for. If Sid returns and is top form, look for a deep run...

Crosby should not return. He's too much of a generational player to lose this early. If Pittsburgh is smart, they'll sit him until the summer.

No surprises at all in the boring West. Teams will advance in order of seeding, with Vancouver advancing to the final and winning their first Stanley Cup.

All kinds of surprises in the super cool East. Was def NYR. Buf def Phi. Mon def Bos. TB def Pit., then Was def Buf, Mon def TB, and Montreal defeating Wash to advance to the finals. Hal Gill OWNS Ovie.

I fucking HATE the Habs too.

Oh, and obi, 13 cups to 1.

Suck on THAT, bitch.

"Oh, and obi, 13 cups to 1."

Were you even alive the last time the Leafs won a cup?

any of you have memorial cup picks? or calder cup?

Yes.

I fucked your mother up the ass to celebrate.

Most of those 'titles' were won in an era when the NHL had, what, 5 teams? Congrats for being old and winning by default.

Actually the NHL was a six team(read : not watered down) league originally. Hence the term "Original Six".

Congrats on being young and displaying your ignorance.

Calder - Jeff Skinner
MVP - Daniel Sedin

Except the 'original six' weren't the real original six. The first season of the NHL the Leafs "won" the cup, the league only had 3 teams by the end of the season.

Congrats, you can use wikipedia.

The original six are all still older than all the other teams in the league now.

@putin: calder cup is the ahl playoffs, memorial cup is ohl.

You bore me, Putin33.

@Frank: I went to Norfolk games when I moved down here, so I usually like to see them win. I've never followed the OHL, went to a few St. Mike's games as a kid, but then we both moved.

"The original six are all still older than all the other teams in the league now."

Meaning they had less competition to rack up all those title wins they brag about.

@ Frank

Oh, thought you meant the rookie of the year trophy. My bad.

Thanks for clearing that up.

1967 to 2007.

My Ducks have a drought of just four years, maple (and in about 18 years have made the playoffs now 8 times or so, so 1/2, with two Cups played for and one won) and the LEAFS...40+ years and counting...with no end in sight...