NHL Playoff Predictions: East Finals

Carolina Hurricanes Vs. Bufallo Sabres

forwards The Carolina Hurricanes received a huge blow to their chances with word today that Eric Cole has been lost for the playoffs due to the scary neck injury he suffered towards the end of the regular season. Eric Staal, Rod Brind'amour, Corey Stillman and Doug Weight must pick up the slack and continue to lead their team offensively.
The Sabres meanwhile are led by Jochen Hetch, Daniel Briere, and Maxim Afinogenov. The Sabres are also hurting on the injury front with the loss of Tim Connoly for an indefinite period of time with a suspected concussion. JP Dumont, Chris Drury and Mike Grier are providing much needed leadership to this young team. I really like this team's speed in transition

Edge: Sabres

Defensemen
The Hurricanes made a great pick-up by signing Mike Commodore in the off-season. Veteran Bret Hedican has been in this situation before as a member of the Vancouver Canucks. Oleg Tverdovsky made it as far as the Finals as a member of the Mighty Ducks last year. Also Glen Wesely and Aaron Ward were on the Carolina Hurricanes team that went to the Finals in '02.

The Sabres are really hurting on defense as 3 of their top six are currently out with injuries, including Henrik Talinder, whose out for the remainder of the playoffs with a broken arm, and veteran Teppo Numminen. Jay Mckee and Brian Campbell will have to eat up a lot of quality minutes if the Sabres expect to be successful in this round.

Edge: Hurricanes

Goaltenders
Cam Ward has really benefited from an entire year in the AHL during the lockout year. He took over for the ineffective Martin Gerber and to this point he has been more than adequate in helping the Hurricanes defeat the Devils and Canadiens

The Sabres are blessed with having two goalies who are solid Starters in Ryan Miller and Martin Biron. Miller has been the starter throughout the playoffs and he has done nothing to think he will lose his job in the off-season when the two goalies contracts are up.

Edge: Sabres

Special Teams
The Hurricanes are led by Veteran Bret Hedican QB'ing the PP. Glen Wesley is also not afraid to shoot the puck. Eric Staal has a howitzer of a shot and can also tip home a point shot. However, the Sabres have been known to score shorthanded. On the PK Ward and back-up Gerber, should Ward Fail will have to be solid as the last line of defense. If the Hurricanes expect to move on, they will have to stay out of the penalty box
The Sabres are currently dessimated on defense with three of their top players either out with injury or hurting. Therefore on the PP, the Sabres may have to set up the likes of Briere and Dumont while being wary of the Hurricanes taking advantage of their inexperienced pointmen for a Shorthanded chance. On the PK, Miller must continue to be strong in net. Their penalty killers have been effective thus far at keeping the shots to the outside and letting the goalie see the shots.

edge: even

prediction: Hurricanes in 7

NHL Playoff Predictions: Western Final

Edmonton Oilers VS. Anaheim Mighty Ducks

forwards
The Edmonton Oilers have a tenacious and hard-working group of forwards led by sniper Sergei Samsanov, Ryan Smyth and Fernado Pisani. These three are supported by Shawn Horcoff and Rafi Torres. Even Mike Peca, who has been a bargain for the Oilers, has scoring ability. Peca's role, however is to get under the skin of the likes of Teemu Selanne and Andy Mcdonald. It will be key that the Oilers score early and ofen if they want to prevail to the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Anaheim Mighty Ducks are making GM Brian Burke look like a genius for getting rid of Sergei Federov and Peter Sykora. Teemu Selanne looks ten years younger following his comeback season from major knee surgery. Andy Mcdonald can blow by the opposition and is not afraid to go to the front of the net. Rob Neidermeyer has been his usual nightmarish self for the 'keepers. These three players must carry this team on their backs and taje over the series if the Ducks stand any chance of advancing.

Edge: Oilers

defense
Chris Pronger was a wonderful pick-up by the Oilers before the season started. He has been a thorn in the side of the likes of Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetteberg, Joe Thorton and Jonathon Cheechoo. Also, Captain Jason Smith has led by example and blocked many shots. The Oilers are doing a great job of keeping the shots to the outside and letting goaltender Dwayne Roloson see the shots. They will need to continue to do so in order to prevail this series.


The Mighty Ducks are led by stalwart D-man Scott Neidermeyer and partner Jason Marshall, Again this team has done an adequate job of blocking shots and clearing the zone. However, the oilers are the fastest team the Mighty Ducks have faced so far and I'm just not sure they can handle the speed and skill of these pesky Oilers


edge: Oilers

Goaltending
Rolly the goalie has been perhaps the most consistent goalie this playoffs. He has made the save when he has had to. The only question is whether he can do a better job of controlling the rebound. There have been a few occassions when the puck has appeared to be a pinball machine puck. That is, it's bounced off Roloson's pads and just out of the reach of an opposing forward.

Ilya Bryzgalov has taken the opportunity presented to him and run with it. He took over for an ineffective J.S. Giguere after Game 2 of round 1 and has been very effective. However, his inexperience might come into play this series. So far, Bryzgalov has looked good in controlling rebounds and making some very difficult saves. He will have to keep his team in games if the Mighty Ducks want to advance.

Edge: even

Special Teams
The Edmonton Oiler must set up the big shot of Chris Pronger and Jaroslav Spacek. On the PK, the killers have done a fabulous job thus far of blocking shots and clearing the zone. Roloson makes the save when the shots come through most of the time.

The Mighty Ducks should use their speed to move the puck around and get the Oilers' D-men running around in their own zone. On the PK, in order to be successful, the Ducks must prevent Pronger, Staios and Spacek from unloading a heavy shot on Bryzgalov.

Edge: Oilers

Prediction: Oilers in 5

NHL Playoff Predictions Round 2 Part II

Carolina Hurricanes Vs. New Jersey Devils

Forwards
The Carolina Hurricanes have a nice mix of speedy young players and wise older veterans including Trade Dealine acquisition Doug Weight from the St. Louis Blues fire sale. Eric Staal has been a monster for the Hurricanes giving the opposition fits trying to contain him. Losing Eric Cole to a serious and scary neck injury appears to have had a minimal effect on the team play thus far. This mix of forwards can strike early and often.

The New Jersey Devils have a fantastic top line featuring the "Killer G's" Bryan Gionta and Scott Gomez. These two forwards have been phenomenal throughout the 1st round of the playoffs and they are supported by Patrick Elias whose making a comeback from knee surgery. Unfortunately after the top line the skills and production teeters off considerably.

Edge: Hurricanes.

Defence
Mike Commodore, who played on the Stanley Cup runner-up Calgary Flames in '04 is the 'Canes top d-man, followed closely be Glen Wesley and veteran Bret Hedican. Night in and night out these 3 stalwarts are paired against the oppositions top lines and special teams. The other 3 d-men are less experienced and make the game closer.

The Devils play a defensive system that's geared around letting goalie Martin Brodeur see the puck and generally keeping the play out of their end of the ice, especially when they have the lead. Half of the d-men on this eam are veterans of the Devils for years (Colin White, Richard Matvichuk and Paul Martin). Thus they buy into the system and have helped the newer guys along.

Edge: Devils

Goaltending
Rookie goalie Cam Ward has been living his dream and taking advatage of his opportunity to start for the Hurricanes at the same time. He will have to continue to be sharp in this series as the Devils are really difficult to come back against. Backing up Ward is veteran Martin Gerber who previously backed up J.S. Giguere during his phenomenol run in '04. Gerber is reliable when called upon.

Marin Brodeur is perhaps the best if not, one of the best goalies in the world. The veteran 'keeper is cool under pressure and it usually takes a pretty good shot to beat him. Although he had a rough night in Game 1, look for him to bounce back in game 2. In the unlikely event that Brodeur should go down with an injury the Devils would be forced to play unknown back-up Scott Clemmensen. Clemmensen has had less than a period of playoff experience (when Brodeur was pulled early in the 3rd period of Game 1) and it's unknown how reliable a 'keeper he is

Edge: Devils

Special Teams
The Hurricanes have a real sharpshooter in Eric Staal, supported by veteran center Doug Weight. QB'ing this PP is Mike Commodore who hhas an accurate shot. Glen Wesley also controls the Blueline. On the PK Doug Weight can set up Eric Staal for a SH chance and neither is afraid to take one for the team.


Martin Brodeur determines how well the PK performs, thus the team is focused around keeping shots to the outside and keeping the pesky forwards out of Brodeurs line of sight. On the PP Patrick Elias and the Killer G's (Gionta and Gomez) are a formidable trio who can tip the point shot and set up down low.


Prediction: Hurricanes in 5

NHL Playoffs: Round 2 predictions

Hey all you hockey fans out there. I'm going to post four separate postings here focusing on each of the four remaining playoff series (the eight teams left standing). I'll start with Colorado Avalanche-Anaheim Mighty Ducks

Forwards
Both of these teams have forwards that can strike at any time. The Avalanche are led by Captain and determined player Joe Sakic. His supporting cast include the likes of previous Scoring title player Milan Hejduk, Alex Tanguay and Andrew Brunette. For the Avs to win this series, all this players will have to be at the top of their games.
The Mighty Ducks are led by the rejuvinated Teemu Selanne. Selanne was unsure how effective he could be on his newly repaired knee, but the lockout appears to have done wonders to the former rookie phenom who holds the record for most goals in a rookie season with 76. Selanne appears to have regained the passion for the game and his deadly speed which he uses to create scoring chances. Supporting Selanne are Rob Niedermeyer, Jeff Friesen, and veteran Duck Andy McDonald. Rookie phenoms Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry have had strong playoffs and have looked dangerous at times.
edge: Mighty Ducks


Defence
The Avalanche are led by stalwart D-men Rob Blake and Patrice Breisbrois. Both of these men are more than capable of keeping opposing forwards away from Theodore's line of sight and blocking the key shot. It will be key for the avs to let their goalie see every shot and to keep them to the outside
Brian Burke is a genius for signing the always tough to play against Scott Niedermeyer. This defenceman can be a game saver if his team is ahead by one and needs a key block at the end of a tough game. Jason Marshall was another key offseason acquisition. Both of these D-men and the other four d-men will have to be at the top of their games.
Edge: even

Goaltending
This will be the deciding factor to determine who goes to the Western Conference Finals qand who goes golfing. That said the Avalanche have a real wildcard in net and an unpredictable rookie in Rob Budau as a back-up. Theodore had a subpar season and only came back from a broken heel to play a handful of games as a tune-up for the playoffs. The equipment crack-down the league had a huge impact on Theodore who never really seemed to get comfortable with the new standards.
The Mighty Ducks are in the exact opposite position. They have a hot rookie starting (Ilya Bryzgalov) and a back-up veteran (J.S. Giguere) who has struggled in the opening 2 games of the playoffs against the Flames and was eventually replaced by Bryzgalov. He has since run with the Vote of confidence and has been outstanding earning 2 straight shutouts.
Edge: Mighty Ducks

Special Teams Colorado has a dangerous man in Rob Blake QB'ing their PP. Blake can shoot the puck hard and shoot it accurately. The Avs can strike at any moment and giving them PP chances is a bad idea. However, this team made a bad choice, albeit a necessary one, in letting Peter Forsberg go to Philadelphia.
The Mighty Ducks are dangerous on the PP as they can move the puck around very effectively and they have a real sharp shooter in Selanne. Scott Niedermeyer has a hard, accurate shot thats dangerous.

Prediction: Mighty Ducks in 5

eagle webcam update

Sad news. I was just on the live webcam site I mentioned in my first blog and both eggs that were in the nest appeared to have been infertile as the nest is now empty of any eggs. Stay tuned to the website as the gentlmen who started this webcam is in the process of attempting to locate another possible suitable eagle's nest with eggs. For now, there is a brand new live webcam of grizzly bears.

Why the Calgary Flames lost

the NHL playoffs are now down to 2 Canadian teams. There are 5 main reasons the Flames are booking their tee times tonight: lack of scoring; inability to stay out of the penalty box; the goaltending; the speed factor and physical play.

I don't care what era of hockey one refers to, you can't win if you don't score. Throughout the regular season, the Flames were one of the bottom feeders interms of goals for. If you wantto break it down further, the Mighty Ducks had triple the number of goals from their defencemen than the Flames received from theirs. It wasn't so much the lack of scoring as the Mighty Ducks only scored 1 more goal than Calgary in all games combined. However, the Calgary power play was unable to click when it counted most. They also didn't fore nearly enough shots the Ducks way (3 in the Second period of game 7, the 1st not coming until the 13 minute mark).

Anaheim has a number of very capable goal scorers on their roster (Scott and Rob Nedermeier; Teemu Selanne). If you want to defeat a team like that, one must limit the number of scoring opportunities (power play chances). The Flames were outshot in every gsame but one. One cannot score unless they have control of the puck. Overall, the Flames did not appear to get the message that in the new NHL penalties will be called. By giving up many power play chances, the flames were wearing out their players and the ones who were left sitting on the bench were getting cold and stiff from not playing.

Mikka Kiprosuff cannot be clames for the Flames early exit, as he kept the Flames in the series as long as he could. However, many of the Goals scored by Anaheim were stick side. If Kipper had been a little better on his stick side the serioes might have turned out differently. I also believe that Kiprosuff is inconsistent as Cloutier can be in the playoffs.

I watched a bit of this series and from what I saw the Flames appeared to be spending more time chasing the Ducks rather than the other way around. Darren McCarty especially appeared to be standing still on some plays.

The final factor that played into the Flames golfing was the lack of physical play. Teemu Selanne was not contained by any of the defenders. If the Flames had used physical play a bit more, they might have worn the Mighty Duck defenders down and thus been able to penetrate the Duck blueline to create a quality scoring chance. Furthermore, the Flames really struggled with the break-out pass, particularly in the crucial games seven. The second period was really the one the killed this team, as the flames were only able to produce 2 shots.