Guess we can keep the Canes talk confined to the official thread, but the rest goes here.

Shall we have a pool or something? I would be glad to keep track of it.

Quarterfinals:

Eastern Conference
(1) Ottawa vs. (8) Tampa Bay
(2) Carolina vs. (7) Montreal
(3) New Jersey vs. (6) NY Rangers
(4) Buffalo vs. (5) Philadelphia

Western Conference

(1) Detroit vs. (8) Edmonton
(2) Dallas vs. (7) Colorado
(3) Calgary vs. (6) Anaheim
(4) Nashville vs. (5) San Jose

4/18/2006 10:01:10 PM

i was thinking there should be a thread for round 1, 2, 3 ect

4/18/2006 10:06:45 PM

Flyers vs. Dallas. Flyers win.

4/18/2006 10:28:09 PM

Go sharks. continue that southern winning tradition

4/18/2006 10:35:36 PM

winner will be

(1) Ottawa
(2) Carolina
(6) NY Rangers
(4) Buffalo

4/18/2006 10:38:50 PM

this sucks for the rangers. devils are hot right now and the rangers haven't been playing well. i have round 2 tix for the rangers, so i'm hoping they make it. there are still a few tix left for the first round at the meadowlands... though msg is sold out.

4/18/2006 10:50:54 PM

Barry Melrose and TSN picked the Canes to go to the Stanley Cup finals...so the Canes're jinxed already.

^ That would be an awesome series to attend with them being right on top of each other.

[Edited on April 18, 2006 at 11:07 PM. Reason : .]

4/18/2006 11:05:56 PM

the rangers lost at madison square garden
my first time in there

-ZiP!-

4/19/2006 12:32:25 AM

the winner of it all will be

DET

4/19/2006 12:40:07 AM

Looks like this is the TV schedule for this weekend:

Friday
Edmonton at Detroit, 7 PM, OLN
Anaheim at Calgary, 10 PM, OLN

Saturday
NY Rangers at New Jersey *or* Colorado at Dallas, 3 PM, NBC
Philadelphia at Buffalo, 7 PM, OLN

Sunday
Edmonton at Detroit *or* San Jose at Nashville, 1 PM, NBC
Tampa Bay at Ottawa, 6 PM, OLN
Anaheim at Calgary, 9 PM, OLN

4/19/2006 1:52:09 AM

Dammit, this sucks.

Ah, the days of lugging two TVs into one dorm room to watch two games at once.

Anaheim scoring when a Detroit winger (Dandenault?) thought there was going to be a whistle...Cechmanek bending to pick up his glove and ignoring the puck flying into the net behind him...good times.

4/19/2006 1:57:25 AM

^ was that when he was with the Flyers or LA?

4/19/2006 8:29:26 AM

Quote :

"Looks like this is the TV schedule for this weekend: Friday Edmonton at Detroit, 7 PM, OLN Anaheim at Calgary, 10 PM, OLN Saturday NY Rangers at New Jersey *or* Colorado at Dallas, 3 PM, NBC Philadelphia at Buffalo, 7 PM, OLN Sunday Edmonton at Detroit *or* San Jose at Nashville, 1 PM, NBC Tampa Bay at Ottawa, 6 PM, OLN Anaheim at Calgary, 9 PM, OLN "

when do the canes play?

4/19/2006 8:49:01 AM

Saturday @ 7pm...

4/19/2006 9:03:00 AM

from espn.com

Game 1: Sat. 4/22 - 7:00 PM ET
Game 2: Mon. 4/24 - 7:00 PM ET
Game 3: Wed. 4/26 - 7:00 PM ET
Game 4: Fri. 4/28 - 7:00 PM ET
Game 5: Sun. 4/30 - TBD - If necessary
Game 6: Tue. 5/2 - TBD - If necessary
Game 7: Thu. 5/4 - TBD - If necessary

4/19/2006 9:04:54 AM

^^^^ Flyers vs. Leafs

4/19/2006 9:36:38 AM

Here are my "unbiased" picks:

EAST
Round 1
Tampa Bay beats Ottawa
Carolina beats Montreal
New Jersey beats NY Rangers
Buffalo beats Philadelphia

Round 2
Carolina beats Tampa Bay
New Jersey beats Buffalo

Round 3
New Jersey beats Carolina

WEST
Round 1
Detroit beats Edmonton
Dallas beats Colorado
Anaheim beats Calgary
San Jose beats Nashville

Round 2
Detroit beats Anaheim
San Jose beats Dallas

Round 3
Detroit beats San Jose

FINALS
New Jersey beats Detroit

I hate the fucking Devils, so maybe if I pick them it will jinx them.

4/19/2006 10:33:07 AM

Here is a free bracket game for the NHL playoffs: http://www.fantasysportsnetwork.com/Hockey/Games/GameDetails.aspx?dContestID=6

League: TWW
Password: tww

4/19/2006 2:44:23 PM

i'm in

4/19/2006 6:05:18 PM

what channel will the canes game be on?

4/19/2006 8:53:32 PM

FSN South for the first round

4/19/2006 8:56:42 PM

Capitals will win it all in 18. I'm sure of it. Willsie with the Conn Smythe

4/20/2006 12:35:18 AM

Oates will score a hat trick in all 4 games as they sweep the Nordiques in the first round

4/20/2006 12:36:50 AM

Hull with 8 goals in the first round as the Whalers take it all.

What? The WHL doesn't have a cup?



Whoops. Kansas City Penguins shall win it win Mario comes back as their coach, owner, GM, captain, center, and official bitch of Sydney Crosby.

4/20/2006 12:43:08 AM

kind of going off topic of this thread but the last post reminded me of something. Whatever happened to the "new" WHL that Bobby Hull was supposed to be starting. Did the whole NHL coming back scrap that plan?

4/20/2006 12:56:08 AM

You've got to love ESPN's hockey coverage: http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/polling?event_id=2139

1) Who do you think should win the Hart Trophy (MVP)?

Daniel Alfredsson, Senators
Jaromir Jagr, Rangers
Mikka Kiprusoff, Flames
Marek Svatos, Avalanche
Joe Thornton, Sharks

I voted for Svatos, as did 50% of the people who have voted so far.

4/20/2006 12:08:10 PM

It's either Jagr or Jumbo Joe...though I honestly think Joe should get his own trophy from the residents of Moose Factory.

4/20/2006 1:37:14 PM

Fearless Prediction: Edmonton 4, Detroit 2

(Note: I picked NC State to beat Texas.)

4/21/2006 3:13:46 PM

4/21/2006 7:00:01 PM

^^ I have Rolie stealing at least one game. It's all good.

High-quality slash from Roloson.

[Edited on April 21, 2006 at 7:18 PM. Reason : f]

4/21/2006 7:02:16 PM

OLN's new graphics look good, but the scoreboard is way too big.

4/21/2006 7:24:20 PM

LETS GO CAPS!

THERE'S ALWAYS NEXT YEAR!!!!

4/21/2006 7:31:35 PM

please tell me WHY svatos is a Hart nominee but not Brindy or Staal?

4/21/2006 8:02:22 PM

He's not. The people at ESPN are completely incompetent. I can only assume that they meant to put Ovechkin, but put Svatos instead.

4/21/2006 8:06:40 PM

wow, how 'bout them oilers?

they aren't looking bad, but there's no way they can keep up the luck through 4 games, is my prediction

4/21/2006 8:45:26 PM

ouch...back to back goals for ottawa, 2-1

4/21/2006 9:21:11 PM

3-1 now

4/21/2006 9:23:32 PM

And the first squid is out in Detroit

4/21/2006 9:27:27 PM

gg sens

fucking ouch for detroit though...

[Edited on April 21, 2006 at 9:38 PM. Reason : 234l]

4/21/2006 9:36:27 PM

What the fuck the feed just went out with a minute to go in regulation

4/21/2006 9:40:53 PM

Big news out of Calgary: Giguere out with a lower body injury, Brizgalov starts for the Ducks.

4/21/2006 9:46:35 PM

Ta-da.

First Round Predictions:

West Conference:

Detroit (1) vs. Edmonton (8 )

Detroit, while being in the easiest division in the NHL, will win this series in 5 games. Edmonton's chemistry has yet to really click with their new additions, excluding Samsonov who has done well since coming over from Boston. Add in Roloson's shaky start with the Oilers, and the Wings should walk away from this series fairly quickly.

Detroit in 5

Dallas (2) vs. Colorodo (7)

The Dallas Stars are the sleeper-hit of the NHL this season. They've got the 2nd best record in the west, and have clicked on almost all cylinders all year. If the Stars veterans (Guerin / Modano mainly) can regain just a hint of their former greatness, and the rest of the boys play their game, Dallas should win this. Colorodo however has been mediocre all season. They are not the powerhouse that they once were. Add in the fact that Jose Theodore is their main hope... it's not lookin good for the Avs.

Dallas in 5

Calgary (3) vs. Anaheim (6)

Man, this should be an interesting one. Kiprusof has been amazing between the pipes for Calgary... but Giguere hasn't exactly done bad himself over in Anaheim. Look to the been-there-before Playoff experience of Calgary to be the one that wins this for them. While Anaheim has looked much better in the second half of the season, I don't see their rookies bringing it together to win a round just yet. Look for them next season though. Bryzgalov is looking good and will be a potential #1 starter sooner than later, and the Ducks will be around to stay.

Calgary in 7

Nashville (4) vs. San Jose (5)

Can you get any more interesting than this matchup? Two hot young teams are looking to go past the first round. For Nashville, it'd be there first second-round appearance ever, whereas the Sharks could repeat their performance by getting to the Western Conference Finals this year. Both teams are facing interesting goal-tending situations, as Vokoun is gone thanks to a blood disorder, leaving Chris Mason to carry Nashville's Cup-Hopes on his shoulders, and Evgeni Nabokov has been replaced by Toskala as the starter. Paul Kariya can be explosive at times... but how are you going to stop Johnathan Cheechoo and Joe Thornton? Quite possibly the most dangerous line-mates in hockey right now, they lead the first line (which in most cases is the main line to worry about). But what about Patrick Marleau? He's leading up the second line, and has looked great on the powerplay notching 80+ points this season. (Yes, I copy and pasted this from my other post)

San Jose in 7.

==================

East Conference:

Ottawa (1) vs. Tampa Bay (8 )

Man should THIS be an interesting game. Both teams are built for quick, agressive offense. Unfortunately, goal-tending is once again the big question mark in this matchup. Will it be Burke or Grahame for Tampa? Will Hasek be back for the Sens, or will the rookie Emery step up as he's done for the end of the regular season, and face the Bolts quick forwards? My idea is that Ottawa won't really need to worry about their goaltending, as the defense of the Senators is MUCH better than the Lightning. Zdeno Chara, Wade Redden... against whom? It'll be a close one, but Ottawa will walk away the winners here.

Ottawa in 7

Carolina (2) vs. Montreal (7)

Woooooo Carolina Hurricanes! That loss to the Sabres is quite possibly one of the best things that could have happened to the boys from Carolina, as far as the playoffs go. Montreal has gotten OWNED by the Canes all year long. The Habs, while Huet has been stellar in goal, and Aebischer has looked decent, do have unproven playoff goaltending. I don't think that the pressure will be a factor for Huet, but when you've got a third line of Doug Weight, Ray Whitney, and Mark Recchi coming at you, and the first two lines have equally if not better talent on them? C'mon. As long as the chemistry with the Canes turns it on, Carolina should walk out of this one with bells on, ready for Ottawa.

Carolina in 5

New Jersey (3) vs. NY Rangers (6)

So the Rangers, who have been in charge of the Atlantic Division the entire year... up until the last 2 minutes of New Jersey's last game, suddenly find themselves in the 6th seed, getting ready to take on the very team that took that crown away from them. Jersey is playing the best hockey they've played in decades, especially considering that this is the team that invented the trap defense, and they're in the new NHL. Gionta and Gomez, add in Elias, and oh yeah... the only playoff-proven goaltender (and best active goaltender out there) Martin Brodeur. I think the Devils will win this one, but it will be interesting to see.

New Jersey in 6

Buffalo (4) vs. Philly (5)

The Sabres are built for speed. Philly is built for size and brute strength. They've got a couple quick guys too though. (Gagne). This one could go either way. If Forsberg is healthy, and Esche wakes up and plays the way that he is capable, then they will make this series very interesting. The tandem of Biron and Miller though gives Buffalo an advantage. While Nittymaki has played great in the regular season for a rookie, I'm not sure that he will be able to handle the pressure of the playoffs. I think that the Sabres will out-work the boys from the city of brotherly love, and that Buffalo will advance to the 2nd round.

Buffalo in 7

[Edited on April 21, 2006 at 10:02 PM. Reason : Added first round]

4/21/2006 10:01:07 PM

must say this red wings / oilers game has been wild

4/21/2006 10:21:03 PM

Yeah this has been awesome. Almost forgot how much I love the playoffs.

4/21/2006 10:21:51 PM

rolly the goally is dead?

4/21/2006 10:23:38 PM

This series could be fun

4/21/2006 10:24:06 PM

wtf is wrong w/ him

GET UP, PLAY'S BEEN CALLED DEAD

4/21/2006 10:24:08 PM

unlimited OT is soooo gay

4/21/2006 10:27:23 PM

unlimited OT is soooo gay awesome

4/21/2006 10:27:49 PM

^agreed. Remember the Pens - Flyers game that went to 5 OT. I believe they played the equivalent of two in a half games that night.

4/21/2006 10:37:59 PM