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Monday Poll> Which Wildcard Has the Best Shot at An Upset? |
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Every Year it Happens. So why wouldn't it happen this year??
History tells us that one of the top 2 seeds, or more, will get knocked out of the playoffs. It is just science.
So who will it be this year? What wildcard could play cinderella?
Well, to answer the second question first I honestly don't think there are cinderellas in hockey.
The 16 teams who find their way to the post season are all more than capable of getting hot or being carried by a hot goalie past almost anyone. The best teams in the NHL are very good, but are also not without vulnerabilities.
Could it be Detroit?
The Wings did take 3 of 4 from Boston this year...making them one of the only teams to win their season series versus the President's Trophy winner...but perhaps more importantly, as Kevin Allen said on our podcast on Friday, the Red Wings are still being led by a group of players who know how to win in the playoffs and have done it already. Plus the Red Wings are fast enough to skate with the Bruins. This could be the best series of the opening round.
Could it be Columbus?
The Jackets have been playing hard-nosed "must win" hockey since Christmas, which is about the same time the Penguins had wrapped up the division and have had basically nothing to play for since. These Jackets are an incredibly hard-working team and win more one on one battles then almost any team in hockey. And they have the far better goalie in this series. A goalie with a history of giving the Penguins fits. Bobrovsky is quick enough to neutralize teams who make the kinds of passes and quick plays for which Crosby and company are famous. It was obvious this weekend the Penguins, or at the least Mark Andre Fleury, wanted the Jackets to be their first round opponent. The Penguins went 5-0 this year against the Jackets...well actually in "this year (2014)" they went 1-0 winning a tough fought 2-1 game a few weeks ago. The other four games came in 2013...when the Jackets were struggling and the Penguins were flying.
Could it be Minnesota?
Colorado took 4 of 5 games this year and the only Wild win was via shootout. That said, all those games came prior to February and the Wild have been steadily improving and now this Wildcard team has their own Wildcard in Ilya Bryzgalov...who can win big games and has lately. The Avalanche can flat out fly though and they have been consistent as consistent gets this whole season.
Could it be Dallas?
Dallas did go 2-1 versus Anaheim in their year away from the Pacific Division. Going back three years the Stars have won 9 of the last 14 against the Ducks. The Stars are a well put together team that has peaked at the right time while the Ducks struggled at times down the stretch. This series reminds me a lot of Pittsburgh and Columbus, and I wouldn't be shocked if this is a long series. Also the Ducks have to shake last year's ghosts away when they were upset in the first round by Detroit.
What's the buzz?
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