Before round one I put out three different methods to predict the first round to see what would be most accurate....so who won?
Matchups...
I have been tracking this for years, so I know it works. The road a team has to the Cup ALWAYS matters. If you base the winner on the teams versus each other over their last 10 games you would beat the pundits more than you would lose...
Results: 6 of 8 right.
In the East...3 out of 4. Only matchup I got wrong was Montreal...
In the West.. 3 out of 4. Only matchup wrong? Chicago
Special Teams/Goalies
This was one I always wanted to try. I have always believed that in the playoffs, the team with the better goalie and the better power play wins...
Results: 5 of 8 right.
In the West: All four correct. Including maybe the only system/pundit to predict a Nashville victory.
In the East: 1 of 4. Only Washington right.
Predictions based on my gut...
This is always the one that you DON'T want to evaluate!
Results: 3 of 8...I managed to miss on ALL four series in the West. That's hard to do! The only one I got wrong in the East...again, I had Montreal.
So the winner for round 1...The Matchups with a solid 6 of 8
On to round 2...
Looking at the Matchups for Round 2...
Pittsburgh vs. Washington
The Penguins have won 6 of the last 10 games in this classic rematch from last year's playoffs...
Winner: Pittsburgh
Ottawa vs. NY Rangers
These teams have split their last 10 games..so in that case I go to the last five games and the Sens have won 3 of the last five including two shutouts.
Winner: Ottawa
Anaheim vs. Edmonton
Anaheim has won 6 of the last 10 so I have to go with Anaheim based on this system. The problem here is the Oilers were so bad last year and this is an entirely different team. The Oilers have actually won 3 of the last 5...so I wonder about this...
Winner: Anaheim
St Louis vs. Nashville
The Blues have won 6 of the last 10, but the Preds have won 4 of the last 6...So the matchup here feels crazy close..but this is not subjective...
Winner: St Louis
Looking at the Power Play/Special Teams Predictions...
NY Rangers vs. Ottawa Goaltending:
Ottawa: 10
NY Rangers: 13 Power Play:
Ottawa: 23
NY Rangers: 11 Penalty Kill
Ottawa: 22
NY Rangers: 19 Total Score:
Ottawa: 18.33
NY Rangers: 14.33 Winner: NY Rangers
Washington vs. Pittsburgh Goaltending:
Washington: 1
Pittsburgh: 4 Power Play:
Washington: 3
Pittsburgh: 17 Penalty Kill:
Washington: 7
Pittsburgh: 20 Total Score:
Washington: 3.66
Pittsburgh: 13.66 Winner: Washington
St Louis vs Nashville Goaltending:
St Louis: 12
Nashville: 15 Power Play:
St Louis: 8
Nashville: 16 Penalty Kill
St Louis: 3
Nashville: 15 Total Score:
St Louis: 7.66
Nashville: 15.33 Winner: St Louis
Anaheim vs. Calgary Goaltending:
Anaheim: 3
Edmonton: 8 Power Play:
Anaheim: 17
Edmonton: 5 Penalty Kill
Anaheim: 4
Edmonton: 17 Total Score:
Anaheim: 8
Edmonton: 10 Winner: Anaheim
What's the BUZZ?
What say you?
What do you think of these systems?
What System of your own do you use?
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