Jan, you are the man, but Avalanche for the cup?

They could easily be knocked out in the first round. I do agree that the East is wide open and could very well have two dark horses battle it out for the conference title though.

But that Avs pick is insane.

The big difference is being a good team night in and night out beating a different team every night by playing an efficient brand of hockey. Nashville did this model for years, but its not a successful model to go deep in playoff hockey when you need to matchup against ONE team for 7 games and protect your weaknesses over that span. Other teams will have a handful of games to expose that blue line. Its easier to protect that blue line for a game here and there against different teams with a hot game from Varly
- FourFeathers773

No I agree with you on that one, but the Avs have been pretty consistent all year with their style of play, eventually it will catch up with them, there is no denying that.

But its the fact people are writing them off bc they look at the roster on paper that is premature. I believe they have earned some respect this season and can easily be a thorn in the side of any team in the west and can take them to the limit.

What is the major factor with the Avs is not their blueline being able to handle the series, its with the forward group. When they are playing their game, they are using their speed and dictacting the pace of the game, helping their d down low. The avs fall apart when other teams use their size against the forwards and start to out muscle them in their own end. That leads to the d breaking down. The sharks were good at doing that all season against us, Burns and Thornton would cycle down low and bullrush our fowards and D. When they cant contain the big bodies they fall apart

Someone started drinking early I see...

Someone started drinking early I see...
- RobFlyers#1

Jan had hernia surgery so more likely he's on some high doses of percocets.

Jan had hernia surgery so more likely he's on some high doses of percocets.
- MrCrowley

better take a nice stool softener with those things

Jan, you are the man, but Avalanche for the cup?

They could easily be knocked out in the first round. I do agree that the East is wide open and could very well have two dark horses battle it out for the conference title though.

But that Avs pick is insane.
- MidnightMarauder

I did a Scenario B in the column which had St Louis beating Boston. I could have easily stuck with chalk but if you read the column, you will see why I made the choices I did. If I am wrong, I am wrong.

Jan had hernia surgery so more likely he's on some high doses of percocets.
- MrCrowley

Everyone is a comedian

Working on Game 1 preview, will be up early this afternoon

Jan, you are the man, but Avalanche for the cup?

They could easily be knocked out in the first round. I do agree that the East is wide open and could very well have two dark horses battle it out for the conference title though.

But that Avs pick is insane.
- MidnightMarauder

Its not that crazy, yes they can get bounced in the 1st round, any team really can. But they have been good against the Wild all season, and should take care of business.

Round 2 they get Duchene back and have been strong against the Hawks all season, and last game against the Blues shown they can beat them without a Top 6 line playing.

They will be one of those teams that if they get hot and start rolling, they could go deep, but they dont have the roster to grind one out if half their team isnt playing up to their potential. All cyclinders need to be firing

better take a nice stool softener with those things
- jimbo83

Yep, shoulder surgery had me on tons of that stuff, the mellow feeling & the pain goes away, but yea, that morning dump is a lot tougher if u can go at all.

Too much information?

Yep, shoulder surgery had me on tons of that stuff, the mellow feeling & the pain goes away, but yea, that morning dump is a lot tougher if u can go at all.

Too much information?
- MrCrowley

we are all family here

Everyone is a comedian
- airjan23

Getting the last laughs in before the inevitable paranoia kicks in.

we are all family here
- jimbo83

I did a Scenario B in the column which had St Louis beating Boston. I could have easily stuck with chalk but if you read the column, you will see why I made the choices I did. If I am wrong, I am wrong.
- airjan23

Every team has a chance to win, without question.

Nobody saw the 2012 Kings dominating their way to the Stanley Cup but it happened. The Avs don't have the personnel constitution that makes up for a successful playoff recipe.

That defense is very underwhelming. Varlamov bailed that team out in almost every single game he won for them. The offense is good but it's young, playoff inexperienced and, without Duchene, is lacking a proven go to guy.

I would not be surprised to see Minnesota knock them out in the first round, not one bit.

Montreal, on the other hand, is a very interesting pick but one that makes sense. The Eastern Conference is wide open; Boston is very good but they can be had.

Its not that crazy, yes they can get bounced in the 1st round, any team really can. But they have been good against the Wild all season, and should take care of business.

Round 2 they get Duchene back and have been strong against the Hawks all season, and last game against the Blues shown they can beat them without a Top 6 line playing.

They will be one of those teams that if they get hot and start rolling, they could go deep, but they dont have the roster to grind one out if half their team isnt playing up to their potential. All cyclinders need to be firing
- DDM-Coga

Minnesota is a strong bottom seed that has a lot of proven top end players. Parise, Koivu, Pominville and Moulson are all very dangerous offensive players. Youngsters like Granlund and Coyle have looked very good for Minneota, down the stretch, and have provided really good secondary scoring for them as well.

Minnesota's defense is overall steady and they have oneof the best in the game in Suter. The only real issue with the Wild is how Bryzgalov or Keumper(sp?) will play in goal.

Don't overlook the Wild; this series could easily go the distance.

Minnesota is a strong bottom seed that has a lot of proven top end players. Parise, Koivu, Pominville and Moulson are all very dangerous offensive players. Youngsters like Granlund and Coyle have looked very good for Minneota, down the stretch, and have provided really good secondary scoring for them as well.

Minnesota's defense is overall steady and they have oneof the best in the game in Suter. The only real issue with the Wild is how Bryzgalov or Keumper(sp?) will play in goal.

Don't overlook the Wild; this series could easily go the distance.
- MidnightMarauder

It wont be a cake walk, but their Top 6 matches pretty well with the Avs, and they have a deeper DCore on paper. But in all the Wild Avs games this year, they have had issues contain the Avs forwards speed, outside of Suter, none of them have really shown they can shut them down.

Series will be won and lost in the bottom 6. Wild have a stronger one with their youth, Avs is banged out and not looking pretty. Heatly seems to always find a way to score against the Avs.

They get to Bryz early they should be ok. I think it goes to game 6

It wont be a cake walk, but their Top 6 matches pretty well with the Avs, and they have a deeper DCore on paper. But in all the Wild Avs games this year, they have had issues contain the Avs forwards speed, outside of Suter, none of them have really shown they can shut them down.

Series will be won and lost in the bottom 6. Wild have a stronger one with their youth, Avs is banged out and not looking pretty. Heatly seems to always find a way to score against the Avs.

They get to Bryz early they should be ok. I think it goes to game 6
- DDM-Coga

whats going to decide that series is the MIN pp vs the COL pk in my opinion

Sean Hartnett ‏@HartnettHockey 3m
Not seeing Jesper Fast on the ice. Could mean Carcillo goes in.

whats going to decide that series is the MIN pp vs the COL pk in my opinion
- FourFeathers773

thats a huge factor too, Avs need to stay out of the box. Parise is a PP machine

Sean Hartnett ‏@HartnettHockey 3m
Not seeing Jesper Fast on the ice. Could mean Carcillo goes in.
- jimbo83

At first I thought Scott Hartnell sent that...I was like wtf

Greetings from Orlando. Had to chime in. I see no Fast on the ice, but then again not set pairing and no set line rushes. Nobody knows a thing about anything except for AV. I'm pumped

Sean Hartnett ‏@HartnettHockey 3m
Not seeing Jesper Fast on the ice. Should mean Carcillo goes in.
- jimbo83

Fixed.

No offense to Fast, his time will come, but the Rangers need as many hard hitters in the lineup as NHL lineup constructing possible.

Carcillo should be playing in every game this series.

Greetings from Orlando. Had to chime in. I see no Fast on the ice, but then again not set pairing and no set line rushes. Nobody knows a thing about anything except for AV. I'm pumped
- Blueshirts4ever

It makes no sense to put Fast in there.

Although Philadelphia is not loaded with hard hitters; they have enough to warrant Vigneault going with Carcillo instead of the rookie.

At first I thought Scott Hartnell sent that...I was like wtf
- TPC

Steve Zipay ‏@stevezipay 11m
AV says Carcillo not in. Maintenance morning for Fast, who is playing