2007 NHL Playoffs: Second Round preview and picks
After going 6-2 with my predictions in round 1, I'm ready to give my predictions for round 2 of the NHL playoffs.
Eastern Conference:
#1 Buffalo Sabres (53-22-7) vs. #6 NY Rangers (42-30-10); Season series: 4-0 Buffalo
On paper this series looks very lopsided. However, one thing to note is that Buffalo and NY finished their season series before Christmas and the Rangers got hot after the calendar turned to 2007. In goal, it's going to be very even with both goalies having the ability to stop the puck. On the defence, you have to give the edge to the younger and more mobile Sabres. Up front, the Rangers can hurt you with two lines, three maybe. The Sabres meanwhile can roll all four lines and that's dangerous in a long series. On special teams, it's no contest with the Sabres sending out ever dangerous puck-moving and the Rangers only having really one dangerous five-man unit.
Rangers will win if: they shut down the speedy line of Afinogenov, Briere and Connolly/Drury. Also, the Rangers must carry the momentum of a round 1 sweep of the Thrashers into Buffalo, NY. Finally, the Rangers must stay out of the penalty box.
Sabres will win if: they continue to be the highest scoring home team. Their best players must be just that: their best players. Miller needs to continue to prove to management that they did the right thing in trading back-up Biron. It's crucial that the Sabres utilize their dangerous speed game against the Ranger's bigger and slower D-men.
My pick: Sabres in 6
#2 NJ Devils (49-24-9) vs. #4 Ottawa Senators (48-25-9); season series: 3-1 New Jersey
In goal, the Devils will have the edge against any team as long as Brodeur is healthy. Brodeur has been the world #1 goalie for years and if this game comes down to a battle of the goalies, the Devils will take the series as Ray Emery is just a first-year starter. On defense, you have to go with the Devils trap style that will frustrate a team like Ottawa who play a more open, run-and-gun style. Up front, you have to give the Sens the edge to more depth.
Devils will win if: Martin Brodeur plays like Martin Brodeur, the forwards spot him a lead and the Devils play the trap to perfection and stay out of the penalty box.
Senators will win if: Heatley, Spezza and Alfredsson light it up, Volchenkov and Phillips shut down Elias, Gomez, and Gionta and Emery stands on his head.
My pick: Senators in seven.
Western Conference:
#1 Detroit Red Wings (50-19-13) vs. #5 San Jose Sharks (51-26-5); season series: 3-1 Sharks
This series is going to be about health and durability. Perhaps the biggest question mark is in net where the Wings will be praying that the 42-year-old Dominik Hasek's groin holds up to what is bound to be a bigger test than the Flames mustered. He'll have to deal with three solid lines that will be shooting every chance they get. At the other end of the rink is Evgeni Nabakov who will be looking to avenge 2002, when they lost to the Wings in round 1. The back-ups are both inconsistent at best. On defense, the Wings feature two norris trophy candidates in Chelios and Lidstrom and the Sharks counter with a mix of veterns and youngsters who will give the Wings fits, give the edge to the Wings. Up front, the play will be dead even with both teams solid up front.
The Wings will win if: Hasek stays healthy and continues his fine play from round one. Also, Datsyuk and Zetteberg must provide a solid one-two punch. Bertuzzi must not be a floater in this series and must contribute.
The Sharks will win if: Thorton and Marleau come through, the Sharks stay out of the penalty box and the Sharks shut down Calder, Zetteberg, Datsyuk, Bertuzzi. Also, they must wear down Chelios.
My pick: Wings in 6
#2 Anaheim Ducks (48-20-14) vs. #3 Vancouver Canucks (49-26-7); season series: 3-1 Ducks
Again, on paper this looks like a mismatch with the Ducks having two Norris winners in Scott Neidermeyer and Chris Pronger controlling their blueline. Up front, the Ducks have a lot of speed with Selanne, Getzlaf and Perry and McDonald. Stop those four and the Canucks might just have a shot at this thing. Sami Salo's injury suffered in game seven is a concern as the Canucks would miss his booming slap shot on the PP and ability to defend on the PK. In goal, the canucks have world #2 goalie Luongo who should prevail if it comes down to a batlle of the goalies.
Ducks will win if: they burn the Canucks with their speed, draw a lot of penalties, and Pronger and Neidermeyer shut down the Sedins, Naslund, Pyatt.
Canucks will win if: they stay healthy, particularly in goal and on defense. They MUST stay out of the penalty box and take advantage of their PP chances. Also, in order to be successful, they must expose the flightless Ducks slight weakness in goal by getting traffic infrom of Giguere/Bryzgalov and going hard to the net for rebounds. A final thing they must do is shut down Selanne, Rob Neidermeyer, Getzlaf and Perry. I truly believe this team can pull it off because Luongo is determined to go deep in the playoffs.
My pick: Canucks in six.
Eastern Conference:
#1 Buffalo Sabres (53-22-7) vs. #6 NY Rangers (42-30-10); Season series: 4-0 Buffalo
On paper this series looks very lopsided. However, one thing to note is that Buffalo and NY finished their season series before Christmas and the Rangers got hot after the calendar turned to 2007. In goal, it's going to be very even with both goalies having the ability to stop the puck. On the defence, you have to give the edge to the younger and more mobile Sabres. Up front, the Rangers can hurt you with two lines, three maybe. The Sabres meanwhile can roll all four lines and that's dangerous in a long series. On special teams, it's no contest with the Sabres sending out ever dangerous puck-moving and the Rangers only having really one dangerous five-man unit.
Rangers will win if: they shut down the speedy line of Afinogenov, Briere and Connolly/Drury. Also, the Rangers must carry the momentum of a round 1 sweep of the Thrashers into Buffalo, NY. Finally, the Rangers must stay out of the penalty box.
Sabres will win if: they continue to be the highest scoring home team. Their best players must be just that: their best players. Miller needs to continue to prove to management that they did the right thing in trading back-up Biron. It's crucial that the Sabres utilize their dangerous speed game against the Ranger's bigger and slower D-men.
My pick: Sabres in 6
#2 NJ Devils (49-24-9) vs. #4 Ottawa Senators (48-25-9); season series: 3-1 New Jersey
In goal, the Devils will have the edge against any team as long as Brodeur is healthy. Brodeur has been the world #1 goalie for years and if this game comes down to a battle of the goalies, the Devils will take the series as Ray Emery is just a first-year starter. On defense, you have to go with the Devils trap style that will frustrate a team like Ottawa who play a more open, run-and-gun style. Up front, you have to give the Sens the edge to more depth.
Devils will win if: Martin Brodeur plays like Martin Brodeur, the forwards spot him a lead and the Devils play the trap to perfection and stay out of the penalty box.
Senators will win if: Heatley, Spezza and Alfredsson light it up, Volchenkov and Phillips shut down Elias, Gomez, and Gionta and Emery stands on his head.
My pick: Senators in seven.
Western Conference:
#1 Detroit Red Wings (50-19-13) vs. #5 San Jose Sharks (51-26-5); season series: 3-1 Sharks
This series is going to be about health and durability. Perhaps the biggest question mark is in net where the Wings will be praying that the 42-year-old Dominik Hasek's groin holds up to what is bound to be a bigger test than the Flames mustered. He'll have to deal with three solid lines that will be shooting every chance they get. At the other end of the rink is Evgeni Nabakov who will be looking to avenge 2002, when they lost to the Wings in round 1. The back-ups are both inconsistent at best. On defense, the Wings feature two norris trophy candidates in Chelios and Lidstrom and the Sharks counter with a mix of veterns and youngsters who will give the Wings fits, give the edge to the Wings. Up front, the play will be dead even with both teams solid up front.
The Wings will win if: Hasek stays healthy and continues his fine play from round one. Also, Datsyuk and Zetteberg must provide a solid one-two punch. Bertuzzi must not be a floater in this series and must contribute.
The Sharks will win if: Thorton and Marleau come through, the Sharks stay out of the penalty box and the Sharks shut down Calder, Zetteberg, Datsyuk, Bertuzzi. Also, they must wear down Chelios.
My pick: Wings in 6
#2 Anaheim Ducks (48-20-14) vs. #3 Vancouver Canucks (49-26-7); season series: 3-1 Ducks
Again, on paper this looks like a mismatch with the Ducks having two Norris winners in Scott Neidermeyer and Chris Pronger controlling their blueline. Up front, the Ducks have a lot of speed with Selanne, Getzlaf and Perry and McDonald. Stop those four and the Canucks might just have a shot at this thing. Sami Salo's injury suffered in game seven is a concern as the Canucks would miss his booming slap shot on the PP and ability to defend on the PK. In goal, the canucks have world #2 goalie Luongo who should prevail if it comes down to a batlle of the goalies.
Ducks will win if: they burn the Canucks with their speed, draw a lot of penalties, and Pronger and Neidermeyer shut down the Sedins, Naslund, Pyatt.
Canucks will win if: they stay healthy, particularly in goal and on defense. They MUST stay out of the penalty box and take advantage of their PP chances. Also, in order to be successful, they must expose the flightless Ducks slight weakness in goal by getting traffic infrom of Giguere/Bryzgalov and going hard to the net for rebounds. A final thing they must do is shut down Selanne, Rob Neidermeyer, Getzlaf and Perry. I truly believe this team can pull it off because Luongo is determined to go deep in the playoffs.
My pick: Canucks in six.
posted by opinionator777 at 4:04 PM
1 Comments:
The Canucks looked good in Game 2, but I don't know if they'll pull of the series. We'll see!
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