Eastern Conference Predictions

(1) Washington Capitals -650
(8) Montreal Canadiens +425

Winner: Washington Capitals in 5.

(2) New Jersey Devils -235
(7) Philadelphia Flyers +195

Winner: New Jersey Devils in 6.

(3) Buffalo Sabres -170
(6) Boston Bruins +150

Winner: Boston Bruins in 6.

(4) Pittsburgh Penguins -280
(5) Ottawa Senators +240

Winner: Pittsburgh Penguins in 6.

Western Conference Predictions

(1) San Jose Sharks -450
(8) Colorado Avalanche +325

Winner: San Jose Sharks in 4.

(2) Chicago Blackhawks -450
(7) Nashville Predators +325

Winner: Chicago Blackhawks in 6.

(3) Vancouver Canucks -245
(6) Los Angeles Kings +205

Winner: Vancouver Canucks in 5.

(4) Phoenix Coyotes +165
(5) Detroit Red Wings -190

Winner: Detroit Red Wings in 7.

If you like hockey betting then I would suggest signing up at Bookmaker.com.  They will have NHL playoff first round odds for every series so you can place as many bets as you’d like!

Who will finish the season with the most goals?  Right now it’s between Crosby (45), Ovechkin (44) & Stamkos (42).

If Ovechkin didn’t keep getting suspended this year he’d probably already have close to 50 goals, but his hard hitting, (some may say reckless) style has kept him out of a few games this year.  Ovechkin has missed 10 games this year, but he is still only one goal behind Crosby.  If Ovy can play the final 11 games for the Capitals then I’m going to give the benefit of the doubt to Ovechkin and say he is most likely to win the Maurice.

I think it would be hilarious if Crosby scored more goals than Ovechkin this year and won the Maurice, while Ovechkin got way more assists than Crosby and won the Art Ross.  That kind of roll reversal would be funny to me, but I don’t anticipate it happening.

Art Ross Trophy Winner

This is basically a two horse race at the moment: Ovechkin (96), H. Sedin (94).  Those two games missed by Ovechkin recently allowed Sedin to gain 3 points to be within 2 with each player having 11 games remaining.  As much as I would like to see Henrik take this trophy and put a dent in the “big 3″ of Ovechkin, Crosby and Malkin, I can’t see it happening.  The Capitals are just too explosive.  They will score and Ovy will get points.  I’m not saying they will score because of Ovy, but they will score a lot and he will inevitably get points.  I don’t think Ovechkin is as good as most people think though and I believe the Capitals would actually be better off in the playoffs without him.  That being said Backstrom to me is one of the best in the game today and Ovechkin will benefit from playing with him.

Presidents Trophy Winner

This trophy is pretty much already awarded.  Just give it to the Washington Capitals and Alex Ovechkin right now.  If he sweeps all of these awards it would be pretty remarkable.  Good thing he didn’t win the gold medal at the Olympics!

Stanley Cup Winner

I might as well make a Stanley Cup prediction in this post as well.  Right now I’m going to say the Chicago Blackhawks, but this could quickly change by the end of the year.  Some of you might be saying, “why not Washington?”.  Well to be honest I don’t think Ovechkin is a good playoff ingredient for that team.  Last year he would try to do everything himself and that’s just not the way to win playoff games.  If Ovechkin and the Capitals continue to play a team based offensive game like they have been all season and it doesn’t turn into the Ovechkin show then I think the Capitals have a legit chance of doing something great this season.

You can check out the odds for all of these predictions at many sports betting sites online.  If you do wager, be sure to go with my picks if you want to win money !

Eastern Conference

The Shoe-ins

Washington Capitals, New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins, Buffalo Sabres.
These teams would have to blow up and really drop to not end up in the post season.

The Last Four

Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers.

Ottawa has come on strong in the last few games and really seperated themselves from the pack in terms of qualifying for the playoffs.  Similarly the Flyers have remembered how to win and I would be very surprised if this preseason “cup contender” fails to make the playoffs in such a weak conference.  This same mentality is used for the Bruins who have been dropping of late, but I expect them to find their game and get some W’s in the win column soon.  My surprise pick here may be the Florida Panthers.  I basically used process of elimination to come to this pick and the play of Tomas Vokoun definitely helped.

I don’t feel the Canadiens are a good enough team to make the playoffs this year.  The return of Markov definitely helped them, but their lack of offense and lack of solid star power should keep them out of the playoffs.  Camalleri, Plekanec and Markov have to really step up and lead this team if they have any chance in my eyes.  The Rangers are similar in that they have no scoring.  It seems like Gaborik is in on 75% of the teams goals and they need some secondary scoring to start winning games again.  The Islanders have a chance, but for a team that was predicted to come last in the league I am really surprised they are in the hunt and will be extremely surprised if they make it.

Western Conference

Shoe-Ins

Chicago Blackhawks, San Jose Sharks

There are only two shoe-ins in the West and these teams are dominant.  We’ll have to see how they fare in the playoffs.

Remaining Six

Vancouver Canucks, Colorado Avalanche, Phoenix Coyotes, Detroit Red Wings, LA Kings, Minnesota Wild.

The Canucks are a great team, it just took them a while to get going this year.  They will be a Stanley Cup contender.  The Avs and Coyotes have taken the league by surprise this year and I am hopeful that both teams can keep it together and put up enough wins to make the playoffs.  Anderson and Bryzgalov have been great and if they can each keep up their stellar play the playoffs should be in the picture.  The Wings are starting to turn their year around as they continue to get healthier.  If you told me at the beginning of the year the Red Wings wouldn’t make the playoffs I would have laughed at you, and I still think I would laugh.  They are just too good to not even make the postseason.  Finally, my last two slots go to the Kings and the Wild.  The Kings are a great young team and I believe that they can hold on to one of those playoff teams with a big W streak at some point before the 82 game mark.  The Wild are my favourite Western team so there may be some bias in this prediction, but I really like their team and I think they have the character to put up a strong end to the season and slip in.

You can check out the NHL futures odds at NHL Betting Tips to see if you can make some big cash off of your favourite teams.  The basketball season is also coming to a close so I’d suggest checking out the NBA odds for the playoffs or the NBA betting lines for each game to see who has the best chance to take down the NBA championships this season.

Koivu has been improving ever since he entered the NHL leading up to his 67 point performance last season over 79 games.  This season he already has 16 points in 17 games, which means he is on pace for 77 points.  Not to mention he has been doing this on a struggling Minnesota Wild team that is 5th worst in the league in goals per game.  The Wild are starting to pick up their game and perform closer to their potential, which is battling for the final playoff spot in the West.  When the team gets going, you can expet Koivu to at least match his current production if not increase it.

Mikko plays in all situations for the Wild and averages around 19 minutes a game, which is a very good amount for a forward in the NHL.  He is on the first powerplay unit and will be played in all key situations when the team needs goals.  Koivu was recently named the captain of the team and so far he has handled this responsibility extremely well and his production and the teams improvement are both proof of this.

I consider Mikko one of the top 10 centers in the game and I’m sure he will be a force for Finland at the Olympics this winter.  Finland doesn’t have great odds when it comes to winter olympics betting, but they definitely have a shot with Koivu leading them.  You can bet on Finland or any other team at BetCRIS.  Just make sure you use a BetCRIS bonus code when signing up in order to receive the best initial deposit bonus available.

I feel that this condition really puts the bet in my favour.  Havlat has been a point a game guy with both the Senators and the Blackhawks and in Minnesota he will be looked to for even more offense as the go to guy.  Havlat was only playing around 15 minutes a game in Chicago because they were such a deep team that liked to run through their lines, but in Minnesota the depth isn’t there quite the same.  Havlat will be relied on to carry most of the offensive load and I for one feel he is up to the challenge.

By taking out the injury risk factor, that as we all know is a big risk when it comes to Havlat, it seems to me he has the skill and the role to put up huge numbers this season.  Coach Todd Richards has been preaching about offense and playing an attacking style.  So far the Wild haven’t been able to fully forget their defensive culture and embrace Richards plans, but this should happen in the near future and I think Havlat will be one of the main beneficiaries.

If you have Havlat in your hockey pool this season, congratulations because he is going to put up some big numbers.

The Contenders

1. Pittsburgh Penguins

I see no reason why the Penguins won’t follow up on last year’s Stanley Cup win with another very good regular season. Crosby and Malkin will be as good as ever, if not better. As well, though Fleury has taken a fair bit of criticism in the past, I think that the Cup win really cemented some of the confidence that he’s been building, and I’d expect an excellent campaign out of him. The Penguin’s defense, led by Sergei Gonchar and Brooks Orpik, isn’t exceptionally good, but it’ll get the job done. Crosby and Malkin are too competitive to be complacent after their Cup win, and they’ll help the team avoid the typical ‘Cup hangover’.

2. Washington Capitals

The Capitals are full of young talent that’s only getting better, and they will seriously challenge the Penguins for the Eastern Conference Title this year. Expect another amazing year from Ovechkin, and if his supporting cast steps up and Varlamov proves to be a solid NHL netminder, this team has a good shot at the Cup. Certainly, big years are needed and expected from Mike Green and Alexander Semin, and that should give the Capitals one of the most explosive offenses in the league.

3. Boston Bruins

The best defensive team in the league last year, the Bruins should excel at the defensive end again this year. As well, though Tim Thomas may regress slightly from his Vezina form of last year, he still figures to be one of the NHL’s best goalies. The Bruins won’t score a ton of goals, but the forward corps, led by Marc Savard, Milan Lucic and David Krejci, will be good enough for the stingy Bruins to stay among the league’s elite teams.

4. Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers, full of good young talent including Mike Richards and Jeff Carter, should be among the East’s best teams. However, they’ll be caught behind the Penguins in the Atlantic and will thus have to settle for 4^th in the East. Chris Pronger will shore up a solid defense and provide leadership, pushing the Flyers into the mix for the East Crown. However, the Flyers will be relying on Ray Emery in net, and that’s always a risky proposition. Until they solidify their goaltending situation, the Flyers will have difficulties matching up with the beasts of the East – Boston, Pittsburgh and Washington.

The Pretenders

5. New Jersey Devils

I was torn over what to do with the Devils. Every year they are expected to crumble in the face of off-season losses, yet they always manage to contend in the Eastern Conference, though playoff success has eluded them for the past few years. Without some major changes, the end is nearing for this Devils team, as successful as it has been for the past decade. Nonetheless, they’ll play excellent defensive hockey in front of Brodeur this year, and they’ll manage to make the playoffs, though they won’t be putting pressure on the East’s elite.

6. Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes, after last year’s surprising run to the Eastern Finals, will be good again this year. Led by Eric Staal and backed by Cam Ward, expect the ‘Canes to put together a solid, if unspectacular, season. Unfortunately, they’re simply not quite as good as the Penguins, Bruins and Capitals, and they’re going to have a hard time duplicating last year’s playoff success.

7. Toronto Maple Leafs

Brian Burke has his fingerprints all over this team, and the resulting ‘Bay Street Bullies’ are an odd team. Though they lack star power up front, they still managed to finish 10^th in the NHL in scoring last year, and Phil Kessel will only make this forward unit better. The worst defensive team in the league last year, they figure to be far better in 09/10 with the additions of Beauchemin and Komisarek, in particular. Goaltending will make or break this team – Vesa Toskala was awful last year, and if he’s in better form this year, backed up by Jonas Gustavsson, then the Leafs should have some success. I think the tandem will be respectable, and the Leafs should squeak into the playoffs. However, this is still a mediocre hockey team that has a long way to go before any Cup parades should be planned.

8. Montreal Canadiens

The Habs look rather different from the team swept out of the first round by the Bruins last year. Though they’ll miss Kovalev, Mike Cammalleri will be a more-than-adequate, if less flashy, replacement. Scott Gomez is a risky acquisition, and I would be very surprised if he lived up to his rather large contract. Offense wasn’t an issue last year though, and it won’t be this year. Komisarek will be missed, and aside from Andre Markov, the team’s defense will not be its strongest point. Carey Price should be solid, which will reinforce the team’s weak defense. The Habs are flawed, but they should make the playoffs, though a deep run is not in the cards.

9. Ottawa Senators

The Sens are a difficult team to figure out. Losing Dany Heatley will hurt, but Bryan Murray, considering the circumstances, did net a decent return in exchange for the disgruntled star. Jonathan Cheechoo was a throw-in in the deal; It is Milan Michalek who the Sens really wanted, and rightfully so. Young and skilled, Michalek should be a big asset to the team for years to come. The Sens’ offense should be far more balanced than it has in the past decade, making it for more difficult on opposing teams to shut them down. If Pascal Leclaire is the solid goalie the Sens have long been looking for, then expect the Senators to be back in the playoffs this year. Though I have them barely missing the playoffs, they could easily finish as high as 5^th in the conference.

10. Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres did little this offseason, and will in all likelihood miss the playoffs like they did last year. There’s a shortage of talent up front here, even if first line centre Tim Connolly is healthy. Thomas Vanek will have to be brilliant offensively to keep the team afloat. Ryan Miller should be solid in net, as always. Losing Jaroslav Spacek to the Canadiens, though, will hurt the weak Sabres’ D. The Sabres will be in playoff contention, but will probably end up watching the playoff dance.

11. New York Rangers

The Rangers will be solid this year, but without a healthy Marian Gaborik this team is short on skill, and will probably miss the playoffs. When healthy, Gaborik is one of the game’s premier scorers. However, staying healthy has been a huge issue for the star, and I would be very surprised to see him play more than 70 games. The Rangers were awful last year offensively, and that doesn’t figure to change this year, even if they play aggressive John Tortorella-style hockey. Henrik Lundqvist will be good, as always, but even he can only do so much.

12. Florida Panthers

After almost squeaking into the playoffs last year, the Panthers seem due to disappoint this year. Despite the best efforts of sophomore coach Peter DeBoer, I just don’t see enough talent on this roster for them to stay ahead of the teams above and earn a playoff spot. They won’t be awful like the teams below them, but the playoffs are a stretch, barring significant improvement from players such as Nathan Horton and Stephen Weiss, both of whom were once though to be premier prospects but have failed to live up to expectations.

The Hopeless

13. Tampa Bay Lightning

Some are predicting a playoff berth is in order for the Lightning this year, but I don’t see it happening. Bringing in Ohlund from Vancouver was a good move, and Victor Hedman should be able to step in and be a capable player from the start, which will bolster their blueline. They’ve got plenty of talent up front in Vinny Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis and the emerging Steven Stamkos. Nonetheless, I’m not sold on Mike Smith as a solid NHL number one goalie, and I lack faith in the abilities of Rich Tocchet. I’d be surprised if the Lightning put it all together like many predict they will. I expect that they’ll be a mess and end up near the East’s basement again.

14. New York Islanders

I have no idea what GM Garth Snow is doing with this team. Backing up Rick DiPietro with one of either Martin Biron or Dwayne Roloson might not have been a bad idea, but bringing both in is a rather strange move. Tavares will bolster a weak Isles’ offense, but he won’t be enough. Goals will be at a premium in Long Island this year. There’s little to be excited about defensively, too. On the whole, this simply isn’t a particularly talented roster, and the Isles have a long way to go before they can even think about the playoffs.

15. Atlanta Thrashers

The Thrashers have never won a playoff game. Don’t expect that to change this year. It’ll be a messy, messy year in Atlanta, and look for Ilya Kovalchuk’s imprending free agency to overshadow whatever the Thrashers are doing on the ice. That might not be a bad thing, though, as the Thrashers will be brutal this year. Former Leafs Pavel Kubina and Nik Antropov are solid additions, and underrated Bryan Little should have another good year. Kovalchuk should produce huge numbers, as he’s playing for a new contract, and he’ll be an explosive offensive force, as always. Nonetheless, there’s a lack of depth on the roster, and a big hole in net. Kari Lehtonen simply hasn’t proven himself to be a particularly good goaltender, and I’d be surprised if he suddenly put it together this year. He’s got a young defense in front of him, too, and that means that a lot of pucks are going to end up in Atlanta’s net. Expect another bad year for the Thrashers, on and off the ice.

West

The Contenders

1. Detroit Red Wings

The Wings will miss Hossa and Hudler, but this team is still far too talented to slip much. Zetterberg and Datsyuk are two of the league’s best offensive players, they still have Lidstrom and Rafalski on the blueline, and Osgood will be strong in the crease. The Wings’ core is one of the best in the league, and there’s no reason to think that they won’t be once again competing for the President’s Trophy.

2. San Jose Sharks

Heatley and Thornton will be phenomenal together. Heatley should be a 50 goal scorer again, and Thornton should get back to scoring 100+ points. Though perhaps not the best leader, Patrick Marleau will still provide lots of secondary scoring, and the Sharks will be an offensive powerhouse. The ageless Rob Blake and Dan Boyle lead a capable Sharks defensive corps, and Evgeni Nabokov should be solid in net. The Sharks are no strangers to regular season success, but the playoffs are a different story. Questions about tenacity and leadership will continue to plague the team, but they’ll post a solid regular season record, though it remains to be seen whether the team can win when it counts.

3. Vancouver Canucks

The Flames will challenge the Canucks for the Northwest Division lead, but I expect the ‘Nucks to pull it out. Captain Roberto Luongo should bounce back from the shelling he took in Vancouver’s season-ending loss to the Blackhawks in the 2^nd round last year. In front of him is a solid if unspectacular defense, only made better by the addition of Mathieu Schneider. Up front they lack the star power of other contenders, but the Sedin twins lead a solid contingent of forwards that will get the job done. The Canucks are one of the West’s best teams, but I think that they still need to add one elite player to put them over the top.

4. Chicago Blackhawks

The Blackhawks are young and extremely talented. Adding Hossa to an already excellent offense makes them one of the league’s best offensive teams, and they’ll score a ton of goals. The team’s defense is also among the league’s best, led by criminally underrated Duncan Keith, who has Brian Campbell, Brent Seabrook and Cam Barker with him on the blueline. The only question mark facing the ‘Hawks is in the crease. Is Cristobal Huet good enough to be Chicago’s unquestioned number one goalie? I don’t think so. Expect the Hawks to be extremely good, but the lack of a proven goaltender prevents the team from being a favourite to win the Cup.

5. Calgary Flames

Led by one of hockey’s best, Jarome Iginla, the Flames figure to be among the West’s best teams. The loss of Mike Cammalleri will hurt on offense, but the team does have enough scoring to get by. Olli Jokinen needs to step up and get back to being a point-per-game player for the Flames to really be a threat. Adding Jay Bouwmeester gives the Flames one of the league’s best defenses, and that can only help Kiprusoff. The Flames will be extremely stingy. All this adds up to an excellent season, and I think the Flames will also make noise in the playoffs this year.

The Pretenders

6. Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks took an excellent San Jose squad out of the playoff picture last year, and their tough style of play will once again lead to success this year. Getzlaf, Perry and Teemu Selanne lead a solid offense. The loss of Chris Pronger leaves a big hole on the Ducks blueline, but the addition of Ryan Whitney will certainly help fill that hole, and the team will still be good defensively.The goaltending situation is a little dicey in Anaheim – who will be the team’s #1, Jonas Hiller or Jean-Sebastian Giguere? Hiller was the better goalie last year, and was excellent in the playoffs. I’d expect the two to split the load until one or the other asserts himself as the clearcut number one, at which point the other will probably be traded, as there’s always a market for good goalies.

7. Minnesota Wild

This isn’t the most talented roster in the world, but the Wild play a damn good team game and will most likely sneak into the playoffs in a tight race. Havlat will give the team a boost on offense, though the team still won’t score a ton of goals. Nonetheless, their solid defense and goaltending will keep them in most games, which means that the offense doesn’t have to be spectacular. They won’t be competing for the West title, but a playoff appearance is likely.

8. Los Angeles Kings

The Kings, after a long, long stretch of terrible hockey, appear poised to finally begin contending again. The addition of solid veterans like playoff hero Rob Scuderi and ‘Captain Canada’ Ryan Smyth will strengthen a roster filled with young talent. Anze Kopitar, Alexander Frolov and Dustin Brown will lead an explosive Kings offense. Questions remain about the team’s overall defensive ability, and the team is relying on Jonathan Bernier to emerge as a bonafide NHL #1 goalie. I think it should all come together for the Kings, and they should find themselves playing playoff hockey for the first time in six seasons.

9. St. Louis Blues

After a surprising playoff appearance last year, the Blues will compete for a playoff spot again this year. I think they’ll miss out, but it’ll be tight. The offense should be good, led by Paul Kariya, Brad Boyes and Patrik Berglund. Defense and goaltending should also be decent, buoyed by the return of Erik Johnson. Chris Mason has to be as good as he was last year to keep the Blues in the race out west. Ultimately, I think they’ll just fall short of the playoffs, but it will be close.

10. Edmonton Oilers

Pat Quinn is back in the NHL, and he’s leading an Oilers team that hasn’t made the playoffs since their Finals appearance in 05/06. Fans are hungry in Edmonton, but I think the playoff drought will continue for another year. The offense is young and deep, but there’s a lack of first line talent. Defense is a bit of a weakness, though Khabibulin will be solid in net. Unfortunately for the Oilers, I just don’t see room for them in the playoffs.

11. Columbus Blue Jackets

Steve Mason’s amazing rookie season led the Blue Jackets to their first ever playoff berth last year, but I’m not sure that they’ll be in the playoff dance again this year. Rick Nash is in Columbus long term, and he’ll lead a capable offense again this year. The defense isn’t great, but as long as Mason is strong in net again, the Blue Jackets will be decent. Still, though, I don’t see the Blue Jackets growing playoff beards again this year.

12. Dallas Stars

The Stars have slowly slipped out of the West’s elite, and they missed the playoffs last year. I see that slide continuing this season, and I don’t think the Stars will be competing for a playoff spot. The team still has talent up front in Brendan Morrow, Brad Richards and Mike Ribeiro. The defense is unproven and looks weak, though, which means that Marty Turco will have to be at his best as a lot of rubber comes his way.

13. Nashville Predators

Nashville will boast an excellent defense this year, led by Shea Weber, but the rest of the team looks shaky. The offense will be relying on aging veterans such as Jason Arnott and Steve Sullivan, and scoring goals won’t be easy for this team. Pekka Rinne and Dan Ellis will be between the pipes for Nashville, and though Rinne wasn’t bad last year for the Preds, I’m not sure that he’ll be good enough to keep the team in contention for a playoff spot this year.

The Hopeless

14. Colorado Avalanche

After a long stretch of success under captain Joe Sakic, things finally gave last year, and the Avs are now rebuilding. They have some good young players that provide hope for the future, but this season will be a rough one in Denver. Throughout the lineup there’s a shortage of skill, and the Avs simply won’t be able to compete most nights. Goaltending is also a major issue – Peter Budaj has been able to get the job done the past few years, but he’s no Patrick Roy. It’ll be a long year for the Avalanche and their fans, and there’s little hope for the near future.

15. Phoenix Coyotes

The Coyotes are a mess, on and off the ice. They’re without a coach after Wayne Gretzky’s departure, fans in Phoenix don’t seem to care about the team, as they figure that it’s only a matter of time before the Coyotes end up in Hamilton. Of course, though, the only man who has expressed interest in buying the team, Jim Balsillie, is considered a villain among NHL owners and the NHL is hellbent on ensuring that he doesn’t end up owning the team. On the ice the situation isn’t much better. After captain Shane Doan, the Coyotes are extremely thin up front, and also weak on defense. Ilja Bryzgalov provides some stability in goal, and should still post good numbers this year, though he won’t be rewarded with many wins. This is going to be an ugly year for the Coyotes, though there may not be many people in the Jobing.com Arena to watch the Coyotes lose.

Individual Awards

Hart – Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

This is Ovechkin’s trophy to lose. Though Malkin and Crosby are serious competition for the award, the fact that they both play for a loaded Penguins squad will always hurt their chances for the Hart. Though the Capitals are a deeper team than they’ve been in the past, there is still little doubt that they are Ovechkin’s team. I expect 60 goals and 60 assists from him this season, and that will be enough for Ovechkin to hold on to the Hart for another year.

Vezina – Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils

Though Brodeur is 37, I think he still has at least one more elite season left in him. Given that New Jersey lost several key players this offseason, Brodeur will be more important to the team than ever. Brodeur will keep the New Jersey Devils in the Eastern conference’s upper echelon, and he’ll take home a 5^th Vezina for his efforts.

Norris – Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings

Though he’ll face stiff competition from Mike Green, Duncan Keith and Zdeno Chara, Lidstrom is still the most complete defenseman in the league. Green will be an offensive force with the Capitals, but isn’t solid enough in his own zone to win the Norris. Keith will continue to improve after a breakout season last year, but still isn’t quite as good as Lidstrom. Chara will continue to lead a very stingy Bruins team, but I don’t expect the Bruins to be as good as they were last year, and that will affect his standing with voters. Though Lidstrom, like Brodeur, is nearing the end of an illustrious career, he’s still the NHL’s best blueliner, and he’ll take home his 7^th Norris trophy this year as a result.

Selke – Mike Richards, Philadelphia Flyers

Richards is an amazingly complete player. He plays hard at both ends of the ice and makes life difficult for opposing forwards. Though not as flashy as Pavel Datsyuk, Richards’ solid defensive play should go over well with Selke voters.

Calder – John Tavares, New York Islanders

Though Tavares won’t be an instant superstar in the mold of Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby, I do expect a very solid rookie season from him. He’ll get lots of ice time on a bad Islanders team, and I’d expect him to pot 30 goals to go with 40 helpers, which should be more than enough to make him the NHL’s top rookie.

Jack Adams -  Pat Quinn, Edmonton Oilers

Though I don’t have the Oilers making the playoffs in a tough Western conference, I do think that Pat Quinn will improve this young team. Expect the Oilers to be a much better offensive team under Quinn. After finishing last season 18^th in goals scored, the Oilers should be in the top third of the league this year, though defensive play will still be a weakness.

Me and Einz had varying opinions and eventually a bet was made.  I took Tavares to get more points this year.

I feel that although Tavares may not be as NHL ready as Stamkos he will be getting more minutes and most importantly more powerplay minutes than the Lightning #1 pick of 2008.  Tavares will likely be playing close to 20 minutes a game from day 1 and will be The Guy on Long Island.  Compare this to Stamkos playing third fiddle to Lecavalier and St. Louis and you can see my point of view on why Tavares will come out on top of this race.

It all comes down to minutes.  If Tavares is getting an extra five mintues a game, he should be able to turn those minutes into a more productive season, even if the Islanders score far less than the Lightning.

Either way, it will be interesting to see how both players fair this season with the spotlight shining on them once again.

Detroit has been amazing at home dominating the 3 games with a combined 11-2 score. I don’t expect game 7 to be any different. Look for Detroit to come out strong with Datsyuk and Zetterberg leading the offense. Datsyuk had an awesome game 5 and 6 and will light it up in game 7. Osgood will be ready and he is a clutch goalie. If he wins this game you have to consider giving him the Conn Smythe.

For Pittsburgh to have a chance Malkin and Crosby need to get going again. The pair have been held pointless in the last two games and if this happens again the Wings will win easily. Fleury had a good game, now look for a bad game. He is just not clutch. Two silver medals for Team Canada at the World Juniors will tell you that.

Look for Detroit to win game 7 by a final score of 4-1 and Osgood to win the Conn Smythe trophy which he deserves.

Penguins +135
Red Wings -155

The Red Wings are given a slight edge in this series by the bookies, but in my opinion their edge is actually much higher.  The Wings stormed through the Hawks, even without Datsyuk and Lidstrom for a few games in the series.  (Given Havlat and Khabibulin were also out and those 2 are huge parts of the Hawks team).  A few Red Wings including Datsyuk, Holmstrom and even arguably Hossa are still waiting to play their best hockey and when better to play it than the Stanley Cup Finals.  Look for Zetterberg to have another great series, as well as “The Mule” Franzen.

Pittsburgh is currently firing on all cylinders riding a 5 game winning streak into the finals and having both Crosby and Malkin finding their A games at the same time.  A good reason for this might be that they were playing defensively challenged teams Washington and Carolina, and an injured Cam Ward.  But you still have to give them credit, especially Malkin, for realy bringing it when it matters.  In my hockey opinion this level of offense isn’t going to continue for them against Detroit.  The Wings aren’t even that great a defensive team, but they will be able to shut down at least one line as long as Lidstrom is healthy.  If the Penguins are going to win they will need an amazing performance from Fleury and both Crosby and Malkin to be firing on all cylinders for the duration of the finals.  The Pens definitely have a better chance than last year, but they are just not good enough to dethrone the champs.

Bet on the Detroit Red Wings in this series.

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Well the Wings barely snuck out of this series, but what a series this was.  Starting right off the bat with controversey in game one with the Hudler hit, and then the triple overtime in game two.  Moving to Anaheim we saw the disallowed goal, and then the Wings come back and chase Hiller out of the net in game 5. Game six saw the Ducks rebound and prevent the Wings from finishing another series out on the road.  Game 7 was the best game seven of these playoff we saw hits, goals, saves, and of course octapi.  With the Wings taking this series they move on to the conferance finals to meet Chicago.

The Wings won this series because of many things.  Firstly Osgood still showed us why he is one of the best playoff goaltenders of all time besting Patrick Roy in goals against average (2.11 Vs. 2.30 in the playoffs), but also following that up with three Stanley Cup Rings.  Beyond the crease Rafalski returned for game 6 and 7 quickly returning to form and moving alongside his usual partner of Lindstrom, thus keeping the other two tandums in tact (Stuart and Kronwall, Lebda and Ericsson).  The Defense played well but Lindstrom couldnt find the offensive production he had in game one, and Rafalski needs to get back on the scoreboard.  Offensively the Wings were terrific all lines were contributing, on both ends of the ice.  Babcock did shuffle the lines successfully to win game 4 moving Franzen with Filpulla and Hossa, while reuniting Datsyuk, Holmstrom and Zetterberg.  This trio didnt stay together long as Holmstrom quickley made his way into the dog house.  Babcock will keep shuffling Holmstrom around till he starts producing.

The Ducks lost for one reason they couldnt find secondary scoring beyond the first line.  Carlyle did shuffle up Getzlaf, Ryan, and Perry but never kep them apart for long.  Selanne did contribute but that was it.  The Ducks were not rolling four lines as well as the Wings were and this tired them out after that long game 2.  The Ducks weren’t the disciplined team that they needed to be taking stupid penalties throughout the whole series, but luckily the Wings powerplay took a drop without Rafalski in the lineup.  While Hiller shone greatly in this series, he lost his confidence and edge in games 4 and 5 getting chased and letting in nine goals.

Moving on for this Ducks team is this the last game for Selanne, and Niedermayer two future hall of famers?  What happens to Giguere after the emergence of Hiller. What is Anaheim going to do to adress their secondary scoring problems?

Detroit and Chicago

This will be another great series.  Detroit beat Chicago in the season series 4-2 including a great Winter Classic showdown.  Both these teams will be energized and ready to play sunday, this two day break, along with the minimal travel time between Chicago and Detroit will keep this a fast paced, high goal scoring series.

Detroit will win because of experiance and depth plain and simple They’ve been here the last two years and seem better this year then they were last year. All four lines for Detroit are firing, and Detroit still has some players in teh reserve if needed in Maltby, Mcarthy, and Meech.  Homer and Datsyuk will have to come up big this series, they need to revitalize their first line specially against the Keith Seabrook tandum.  The Franzen line will be against Campbell Hjalmarsson which will be tough but Campbell has lost some of his edge in the playoffs, and they haven’t faced players the likes of Hossa and Franzen yet so that will be an interesting battle.

Chicago  Will need to keep firing, and they have a chance if their secondary scoring comes up big like it did in round two, this is what Anaheim lacked to win.  Khabibulin hasent played as spectacular as Hiller has, but wiht cup experiance he has it in him, so we will see how he performs.  Kane, Toews, and Havlat haven’t faced a great defensive squad like the Wings so that will be the Hawks biggest test

Prediction

I think Detroit takes this in 6, the young Chicago team hasn’t played at this level yet it will be interesting to see how they react

Eastern Conference Finals

Hurricanes +175
Penguins – 205

Personally I think this series could go either way.   I would probably give the Pens a small edge, but not as big an edge as these odds are implying they have.  There just seems to be something special about the Hurricanes this year and the big brothers usually win their fights.  Look for Cam Ward to stand on his head and this series to go at least 6 games.   Both of these teams won their second round match ups in 7 and I wouldn’t be surprised to see this series go the distance as well.  If that is the case it’s anyones guess who would take it, so go with the underdogs and the good return on your bet because the Canes just don’t seem like they will lay down at this point.

Bet on Carolina

Western Conference Finals

Blackhawks +195
Red Wings -235

This is another series that I think could go either way.  The odds are extremely one sided and I can’t see any reason for this.  The Blackhawks have had a much tougher road the Conference Finals and will be the first team that will actually test Osgood in net.  The young Blackhawks team has shown a lot of character thus far in the playoffs and they are now my pick to win the cup.  Watch for Havlat to pick it up this series and Kane and Toews to continue their solid play from game 6 of the previous series.  The Wings do have more weapons than either the Flames or the Nucks did, so a lot of pressure will fall on Brian Campbell and Hjalmarsson to shut down the extremely strong second line of the Wings.  We know Keith and Seabrook will do their part on whichever line Quennville feels is most dangerous so it will come down to Campbell and Hjalmarsson having a solid series.  If these two step up and Khabibulin plays a little better than he has so far in the playoffs the Blackhawks will continue on their way to the finals.  I think the series could go either way and for this reason again you should be on the team with the best return on the investment, which in this case is the Blackhawks.

Bet on Chicago.

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These are my hockey betting opinions.  Use them wisely!

This is the series everyone wants to see.  The classic showdown Crosby and Malkin against Ovechkin.  This series will most likely silence the critics, and ultimately pick who is the better player.  Also this series might play heavily into the Hart Trophy voting

Washington came back from a 3-1 deficit in round one to wrap up the series in 7 games.  Although this may seem as a feat it is not much.  The Rangers got lucky to push Washington that far.  In this series we need to see Ovechkin, Semin, Backstrom, and Green all play better.  Other then Ovechkins wonderful goal these 4 weren’t the difference makers they need to be to win this series.  Varlemov has to keep up his stellar play in this round, because the Caps got no other options in goal.

Crosby and Malkin have been firing on all cylinders, and are leading their team going into this second round.  Jordan Stall and Gonchar need to up the ante here.  Staal got a new contract but he needs to play like hes earned that new contract.  Also Gonchar was not playing as good as he can, while Letang was playing better then expected.  It seems Washington has the edge in goal, but don’t count out Fleury he has been here before and Varlemov hasent faced a real offence yet.

Prediction is Pens in 6 I think Varlemov will cave under the Pens offence, and Fleury will pick up his game

Boston Vs. Carolina

Little to say here I think Boston is the clear favorite,  Carolina spoiled New Jerseys party last round.  This in my opinion was a little bit of a fluke but Staal and Whitney arent enough to take down the Boston’s depth Chart.

Boston in 5

Boston(1) vs. Carolina(6)

A maybe too well rested Boston squad faces off against Carolina, a team who should most probably be weary after knocking off the Devils in what I thought was a bit more than a slight upset. There are only two main hypotheses that come to mind in this case. Boston will take some time to get back into the rhythm of things while Carolina will struggle to keep up the pace as the series lengthens. On that fact alone, I’d have to give the series to Boston, but seeing as how it’s the eastern conference leading Bruins up against the Canes, I can’t see this going any farther than 5 games.

Prediction: Boston in 5

Washington(2) vs. Pittsburgh(4)

As much as I enjoyed the Washington comeback in the previous round, I doubt that run will continue into the second round. Pittsburgh simply won’t provide the Capitals with the same comeback opportunities that a weak Rangers team did in round one. The only way I could see the Capitals making it to the next round is with outstanding backing by Varlamov to counter a strong Penguins offense, which seems unlikely as they go further into the playoffs considering his lack of experience.

Prediction: Pittsburgh in 6

Detroit(2) vs. Anaheim(8)

I’m not saying that Anaheim’s victory in the first round was anything less than what it was, but I’m sure San Jose would have found a way to lose against any team they played. This seemed like a fairly straight-forward prediction in Detroit. Between the play-off experience and steady goaltending Detroit should be able to pull through without too many problems. That being said, I do expect a Detroit hick-up sometime this series. It just seems to happen almost every year. So with that and Hiller possibly stealing a game or two, I expect this series to make it to 6 games.

Prediction: Detroit in 6

Vancouver(3) vs. Chicago(4)

Hmmm…So here’s the tough decision. Do I go with a tough, emotional Canucks team who have a strong defensive presence centered around arguably, the best goaltender currently in the game, or do I go with a young, up and coming Hawks team with a lot of talent, who is quickly making a name for themselves this playoff season. For me this comes down directly between Chicago’s pipes. Will we see the “Bulin Wall”? I don’t think we will and that’s why I ultimately have to go with Vancouver. Either way, I think this is bound to be an exciting series which will most likely flip-flop in terms of wins.

Prediction: Vancouver in 7

The Blackhawks vs Canucks series that starts tonight is supposed to be a close one.  The odds are as follows:

Blackhawks +120
Canucks -140

Bet the Blackhawks here.  The Hawks have at least a 50% chance to win the series, so get your money in with the good odds and hope for the best.

Not surprisingly, the Ducks vs Red Wings series has the biggest spread.

Ducks +250
Red Wings -300

Don’t bet on this series. The odds are pretty dead on in my opinion and it would be negative expected value to bet on either team with those odds.

The Bruins vs Canes series is a much small spread on Bookmaker.com than I was expecting.

Hurricanes +185
Bruins -215

Bet the Bruins in this series. In my opinion this series is the most one sided and since it’s not the most one sided in terms of the betting you should take advantage and bet on the Bruins.  I would be very surprised if the Bruins don’t win and I think you are getting a very good return on this almost sure bet.

Of course the closest series price is the Crosby vs Ovechkin show.

Penguins +100
Capitals -120

Bet the Penguins in this series. I am very surprised that the Pens are labeled as the underdog by the sports books.  Most people I have talked to say the Pens are sure to win.  I’d give the Pens about 60% to win and this percentage makes taking the Penguins here a good bet.

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I am highly biased in favor of the Wings, but I will do my best to be neutral in this one.  Anaheim’s got a hot goalie going into this round.  Hiller has played well agaisnt a powerful Sharks offence, the questions is can he keep this up against the Wings.  While the Sharks were a deep team, the Wings are deeper.  As brought out on Tsn last night Hudler and Holmstrom are two of the highest scoring players for their amount of ice time (16 Mins).  In the first round the elite players from the wings Datsyuk (2Pts), Zetterberg (4Pts), and Hossa (4Pts) barely shown what they could accomplish, watch for an emergence in this round.  On the back end Stuart and Kronwall have been playing like first tandum defensemen, while Lindstrom and Rafalski need to step it up.  The wild card in all this is Osgood, can he keep up the play that he has shown against Columbus or not.

Anaheim has spoiled Detroits playoff party in the past to avoid this , the ducks the trio of Getzlaf, Ryan, and Perry have been on fire and are going to have to be contained by the Wings.  Home ice advantage is key as Babcock can put Selke winner and nominee Datsyuk against the top line or go with Selke Nominee Zetterberg’s line.  Either way the Ducks will have to rely heavily on the presence of Pronger (If he could play disciplined) and Niedermayer.  It is also unfair to underestimate the importance of Beauchemain, and Whitney in this series.  Whitney was aquired for Kunitz at the trade deadline and needs to step up his game to show he was worth it.

Prediction Wings in 6. The Wings look too good and are too dominant to lose this series, I took them all the way to the cup so we will see how this plays out.

Chicago Vs. Vancouver

Lets not forget the history these two teams have.  A end of the season brawl in march  between these two teams saw over 80 minutes of penalties given out in one minute.  Leading the way was a good tilt between Bieksa and Eager.

People say that their is no fighting in the playoffs, well this year they are wrong.  This year the playoffs have had everything and don’t expect that to stop tonight when the puck drops in this series.

Vancover’s Luongo has had a stellar series against the Blues, but this series looks to be tougher with all of Chicagos line’s firing it will be a close goaltending battle between him and the Bulin Wall.  The Wall has the experiance and a ring so don’t put him behind Luongo in this series.  The forwards from the Canucks got off the first round easy.  The Sedins haven’t stepped up to this level yet so they need to be even better this round, also where have Sundin and Demitra been.  Sundin was  brought in halfway through the season and hasn’t done much, Demitra started off the season hot but has slowed down.  These two need to pick it up to win this round.  Seabrook and Keith have been the best defensive paring in these playoffs, Bieksa, Ohlund, and Salo will have to work hard to shut down all of the Blackhawks lines

I give the edge to Chicago in this one they will take it in 6. This series will be the most physical of the second round, expect fireworks

Eastern Conferance preview tommorow

Wings in 7. Yes the ducks did just knock off this season’s arguable favourite for the cup, but let’s be real, how many years in a row has SJ been favoured? They have managed to disappoint every year which is why I am not surprised that they are already gone. The reason I am giving the Ducks enough respect to last until game 7 is because of their young tender Jonas Hiller. He managed to keep the Sharks, a team with 257 goals in 82 games during the reg season, down to 10 goals in 6 playoff games with a GAA of 1.64 and a sv% of .957. Although these numbers are impressive, we also witnessed the Red Wings put 18 goals in the net in only 4 games, and every goal went past probable rookie of the year and potential Vezina winner Steve Mason. This series may very well be over before game 7, but Anaheim has a very tough and young core that could potentially do some damage away from Jos Louis arena.

Vancouver vs. Chicago

Canucks in 6. This series is shaping up to be your classic gaoltender’s duel. On one side you have a goalie with a stanley cup in Khabibulin who seems to give his team a chance to win every night. On the other side you have arguably the league’s best goaltender in Luongo who also has the best GAA and sv% this postseason. Both these goalies could very well win this series for their respective teams, so i think the determining factor in the series will be the Canuck’s very tough defensive core matching up against the inexperienced and young offense of the ‘Hawks.

Boston vs. Carolina

Bruins in 5. This series is a strange one that is difficult for me to make any predictions on. I just cannot see how the Canes keep winning, I think that the stanley cup run they made back in 05/06 is the reason they keep surprising me. Their best player by far is Eric Staal, and Cam Ward has been solid in net as he has proven he can be in the past. After Staal and Ray Whitney there is a large drop-off in skilled offensive players. you could make cases for both Brind’Amour and Samsonov, but both seem to have reached their peak years ago. The Bruins have the perfect mix of veterans and skilled young’ns between Savard, Recchi, and Ryder, Krejci, Lucic, and Kessel. They also have a goalie that has proven through this season that he can be just as good if not better than Ward in Tim Thomas.

Washington vs. Pittsburgh

Pens in 7. The pens could easily end this series quickly, but i think it is more of a hope than an actual prediction for a game 7. This series has been a long time in the making, Sid the Kid vs. Alexander the Great. Who wouldn’t want this series to go to 7? Personally i am a big Ovechkin fan so I am rooting for the Caps, but i don’t see how they could beat the Pens. Pens win the tender battle hands down, and I won’t change my mind until Varlamov can prove himself. Fleury has been slightly unstable in the past, but for the most part has proven himself, including proving that he can bring the Pens to the cup finals. There is no reason why Fleury should fall apart when facing the Caps offense, he has faced offenses that are just as good if not better than the Caps in Philly this year and the Sens last year without giving in. If the Caps hope to surpass the Pens, they will need solid goaltending once again from Varlamov and they will need the core of their firepower, Ovi, Semin, Kozlov, Laich etc. to keep producing, and maybe even take it one step further.

Stanley Cup Winners: Detroit Red Wings. There are my predictions.

Anyways here’s my predictions for the first round:

Detroit(2) vs Anaheim(8)

Alright, now this is going to be my upset for this round. Everyone is counting Anaheim out, so I’m going to take the underdog. Anaheims top line looked incredible against the sharks. Ryan, Perry, and Getzlaf do so many things right at both ends of the ice. In the offensive zone, they are going to have to tire out that Detroit defence that has’t looked as promising this year. They need to cycle it and keep the puck down low, and crash the net hard when they get opportunities. Osgood is by far the worst goalie left in these playoffs (he won his cups infront of an always amazing detroit team). As for Detroit, they just need to keep doing what they do. Try to keep puck possession and get screens infront of Hiller. Hiller is the real deal, and they are going to have to get some quality chances to score, he’s not letting any softies by. And with that I think if Anaheim gets they’re big line rolling, and gets a couple bounces their way, there is no reason why they can’t win this series.

Ducks in 7

Vancouver(3) vs Chicago(4)

A hot St. Louis team came into Vancouver thinking they had a chance. Luongo and the Canucks shut that thought down pretty quick. The hottest team the second half of the year was dominated by a bigger, better squad. The Nucks are all you can ask for in a team, they have speed, skill,grit,size and they all play with emotion. Did I mention Luongo? Vancouver needs to get their physical game right where it was in the first series. They need to be hammering guys like Toews, Kane, Sharp, and yes, Havlat! Havlat is probably the biggest threat to the Nucks. Shut him down and they will be fine. That hard hitting defence of Vancouver needs to be all over these guys. If the  Hawks want this series, they are going to need more of the production they have been getting from their defence. Barker has been incredible on the PP. He needs to keep it up.  Campbell is going to have to produce. The Chicago forwards are going to be in tough against the big Vancouver defence, and if Chicago doesn’t get some points from their D, they aren’t going to have a shot at this series. Chicago will steal a couple with their PP, but Van is going to take the series.

Nucks in 6

Boston(1) vs Carolina(6)

Carolina just wrapped up a nice series with the Devils. Probably my favorite series. The Canes pulled through, like I thought they would. As for the 2nd round, I think their little run has come to an end. Really the only thing keeping the Canes alive is the Staal/ Whitney line, and lets not forget Cam Ward. But you need more than 3 players to make it far in the playoffs. The Bruins just have too much firepore along with a great defence, and again, lets not forget Tim Thomas (Vezina candidate). Chara and friends will need to shut down that first line of Carolina, and they will be fine. Expect Lucic to have a big physical impact like always. With that Bruin offence, I see this series ending quickly. Bruins will be almost perfect!

Bruins in 5

Washington(2) vs Pittsburgh(4)

This is the series everyone was waiting for. Well here it is. Just about the 2 best powerplays (on paper) in the league. Washington had a lot of trouble with NYR in the first round, and I’m really not sure why? Theodore definetly blew a game, but other than that, they just had trouble beating Lundqvist. Even though Ovechkin finished with 7 points, he was not spectacular by any means. 2 of his goals were meaningless, as the scores were already 4-1 and 3-0. He did not come in the clutch. Ovechkin needs more discipline. He needs to get pucks deep instead of trying to bolt through the whole team himself(Yes that one goal against NYR was amazing but cmon).  He will need to be much better if they want a chance at beating Pit. As for the rookie goalie Simeon Varlamov, he is going to get tested much more against the highly skilled Pittsburgh offence. He will need to be on his game. The Penguins will need to keep getting contributions from the big 2. Aside from that, the team needs to play a good defensive game. With highly skilled guys like Ovy, Semin and Backstrom.. the Pit D are going to have their hands full. The forwards are going to have to be coming back hard to prevent odd man rushes. This is going to be the most exciting series because of the rivalries Crosby, Malkin, Ovechkin, Semin had during the regular season. Definitly expect big ovy to be taking some runs at Crosby. This is going to go back and forth all series. Ovechkin will need to bring that high level on energy he has, but try not to get too hyped up. Sometimes he makes bad decisions when he’s on his tear. Look for Crosby to be the same composed, and highly competitive individual. On another note, it’s going to be interesting to see who outperforms who in the Gonchar/Green offensive-d man rivalry. I’m going to say with his experience, Gonchar, and with that, I think the Penguins will take it in 6.

Pens in 6

Alright well this should be an entertaining second round, so grab your beers and make your bets.

Cheers, Einz

Canucks (3) vs Blackhawks (4)

Me and Einz just made a bet on this series last night.  I have the Hawks in 6 and he has the Canucks in 6.  Bet gets doubled if the game guess is correct.

I may be slightly biased in this choice because the Blackhawks are my favourite team in the playoffs and Martin Havlat is my favourite player, but I truly believe that the Hawks will pull it out.  They are a solid team throughout.  When you look at the fact that Pahlsson and Byfuglien led the forwards in time on ice in the close out game against Calgary you see just how deep the Blackhawks are.  The question mark is of course goaltending.  Can the Hawks find a way to score on Luongo.  I think the answer is yes.  If Khabibulin can play a solid series the Hawks will win.

Blackhawks in 6

Red Wings (2) vs Ducks (8)

I took the Ducks over the Sharks in the first round, but I can’t see a repeat performance in the books.  I have a lot more respect for the Red Wings team and I feel they will easily be able to dispatch the Ducks.  Hiller isn’t going to be able to shut down all the Red Wing weapons.  The Ducks do have the edge in goal, but I feel that is their only edge and it’s not a big enough one to make a real difference in the series.  The Wings will just keep coming at Hiller hard and with more purpose in their shots than the ones he was facing against San Jose.

Red Wings in 5

Bruins (1) vs Hurricanes (6)

Carolina put together a great last minute in their series against New Jersey, scoring the tieing and winning goals a few minutes apart.  They will need to play like that all game everygame to beat Boston.  The Bruins are just heads and shoulders above everyone else in the East this year.  The WhatIf Sports simulation had the Bruins with an over 75% chance to make the conference finals.  I have to agree.  Ward may steal a game or two for the Canes, but it won’t be enough.

Bruins in 6

Capitals (2) vs Penguins (4)

The Capitals put together a valiant effort last round becoming the first team since the 2004 Montreal Canadiens to come back and win a series after being down 3-1.  Ok, let’s get serious, it wasn’t that impressive because the New York Rangers were not a solid team.  The Capitals did not look good in game 7 and Ovechkin has not been playing well at all.  The over the blueline shots Ovechkin is taking and trying to score on a 1 on 4 instead of just dumping the puck in is hurting the Capitals and unlike the Rangers, the Penguins actually have the firepower to make Ovechkin and the Caps play.  No doubt this will be the most exciting serious with the Ovechkin/Semin vs Malkin/Crosby rivalry sure to heat up.

Penguins in 7

So there are my predictions.  Also known as my hockey opinions.  Place your bets for the series’ at Bookmaker.com.  Use Bookmaker.com bonus code ‘BMBONUS’ when signing up to get a 100% matching bonus.