HockeyBuzz Hotstove: Which second round series will be most lopsided?

Cavaliers-Raptors
(for the former, obviously)

I for one think Nashville will come in so cocky they will defeat themselves. I too remember when the Blues beat the sharks a while back in the first round and everybody was celebrating like we had won the cup already and then LA smoked us. I excpect this to go the same way.

Just keep doubling down on Wild/ Preds.

Guess you figure you have to be right at some point. Or continue to look even more clueless.

It's amazing how beating a Chicago team that didn't even show up for the series has everyone anointing Nashville the second coming.

Minnesota threw everything they possibly could at the Blues and managed to win one game. Yes the games could have gone either way but they didn't.


I expect (as most people with hockey knowledge do) for it to be a long hard fought series that could go either way. Could we be wrong? Of course

Don't mistake fan & media overhype of the Preds for the team being cocky. I think the Preds' players have some confidence after playing so well against Chicago...who wouldn't? But the quotes I've seen and heard this week from the coaches and players have been anything but cocky. They have, across the board, given credit to what a tough team the Blues will be to play, and how they can't take anything for granted.

I think some of the media hype is just because this team was so far under the radar screen - for good reason. They had been very inconsistent all year, and when they finally got everyone healthy, they were in a super busy stretch of the season, and were still playing pretty uneven hockey. It just shocked everyone that Chicago could lose - so the media and some fans are now overrating the Preds a bit.

I think this is a pretty even series. A well-played even series can still end in 4-5 games if one team gets most of the bounces. That happens. I didn't think the Wild played so poorly to get beaten in 5 games. But I also don't think the Blues got enough credit - it wasn't just luck.

When you mix the media overrating of the Preds, and the media underrating the Blues because the fancy stats say the Wild were the better team - that's where you get these lopsided series predictions. I think it's going to be a slog. It wouldn't surprise me if either team won in 6 or 7.

The last time Blues and Nashville played, it was viewed as the most important game of the season for either team. Winner was all but guaranteed third place in the division. Blues played without Statsny, Sobotka, Lehtera, Gunnarson, or Bortuzzo; meaning they've literally upgraded a quarter of the team since then. And in that must win game, Blues won 4-1.

The last time Blues and Nashville played, it was viewed as the most important game of the season for either team. Winner was all but guaranteed third place in the division. Blues played without Statsny, Sobotka, Lehtera, Gunnarson, or Bortuzzo; meaning they've literally upgraded a quarter of the team since then. And in that must win game, Blues won 4-1.
- Antilles

Preds on road, back end of back-to-back, starting their backup goaltender. Also icing 4-5 different players from their playoff lineup (Neal, Weber, Aberg & Zolnercyk did not play on 4/1). Is this comparison an April fools' joke? Great game to use as a predictor for the upcoming playoff series.

How come all these talking heads said the Hawks were going to beat the Preds. Now all of sudden the Preds are the favorite with all the same talking heads.

How come all these talking heads said the Hawks were going to beat the Preds. Now all of sudden the Preds are the favorite with all the same talking heads.
- benderboots

Don't worry youre fine. They all picked the Wild too.

Preds in 4. Book it!

Cordell, "the polls all have Clinton winning so obviously she'll crush Trump on election night."

That's what you sound like. Your refusal to look at the stats closer and not having to bothered to watch any of the games...oh wait you're are doing this purely for responses.

Does anyone believe Subban is better than any dman on the Blues? Bc he has been one of the most overrated players in the league for a while and I have been a fan. Though less and the less the past few years when he makes stupid plays on the opposition.

Don't mistake fan & media overhype of the Preds for the team being cocky. I think the Preds' players have some confidence after playing so well against Chicago...who wouldn't? But the quotes I've seen and heard this week from the coaches and players have been anything but cocky. They have, across the board, given credit to what a tough team the Blues will be to play, and how they can't take anything for granted.

I think some of the media hype is just because this team was so far under the radar screen - for good reason. They had been very inconsistent all year, and when they finally got everyone healthy, they were in a super busy stretch of the season, and were still playing pretty uneven hockey. It just shocked everyone that Chicago could lose - so the media and some fans are now overrating the Preds a bit.

I think this is a pretty even series. A well-played even series can still end in 4-5 games if one team gets most of the bounces. That happens. I didn't think the Wild played so poorly to get beaten in 5 games. But I also don't think the Blues got enough credit - it wasn't just luck.

When you mix the media overrating of the Preds, and the media underrating the Blues because the fancy stats say the Wild were the better team - that's where you get these lopsided series predictions. I think it's going to be a slog. It wouldn't surprise me if either team won in 6 or 7.
- holycow_75

Here is some sound logic. I mean you get it even correct that few bounces plus momentum could shake the series lose for either side. I applaud this balanced take on the match up.

How come all these talking heads said the Hawks were going to beat the Preds. Now all of sudden the Preds are the favorite with all the same talking heads.
- benderboots

They can always go back to their preseason predictions and hopes of a Habs vs Nasville Cup final, sans the Habs of course.

It's amazing how beating a Chicago team that didn't even show up for the series has everyone anointing Nashville the second coming.

Minnesota threw everything they possibly could at the Blues and managed to win one game. Yes the games could have gone either way but they didn't.


I expect (as most people with hockey knowledge do) for it to be a long hard fought series that could go either way. Could we be wrong? Of course
- bluenote31

I thought about that as well and was thinking the same thing.. but after pondering a bit more, Minnesota played light years better than Chicago did and as you pointed out could only muster one win in 5 very close games... Chicago didn't sccore a goal until the 3rd game of the series. They were not playing well.

I think Blues win in 6 or less.

Preds in 4. Book it!
- Polecat

Whoa there Polecat, lets not start making out with our sisters just yet.. we have to wait til we are up 2-0
Just kidding, Im from Tennessee to, all that aside, I would not be shocked to see the Preds beat them in 4, however, I can also see this series going to six.
My bet Preds in five. bet it and tell your sister I said Hi

Ya the st.louis vs Nashville series is close to call ,but lopsided I doubt that any series will be? But the Pittsburgh penguins could be a short series! Pens in 5/6 if the Caps continue to? Idk hate the word choke, but dam that teams deep and have amazing goaltender! And ottawa and n.y. again close !Sorry couldn't care about the west

Whoa there Polecat, lets not start making out with our sisters just yet.. we have to wait til we are up 2-0
Just kidding, Im from Tennessee to, all that aside, I would not be shocked to see the Preds beat them in 4, however, I can also see this series going to six.
My bet Preds in five. bet it and tell your sister I said Hi
- pred_26

St. Louis is hoping that the Preds feel just as cocky! but good luck to both of your teams,they are impressive

Whoa there Polecat, lets not start making out with our sisters just yet.. we have to wait til we are up 2-0
Just kidding, Im from Tennessee to, all that aside, I would not be shocked to see the Preds beat them in 4, however, I can also see this series going to six.
My bet Preds in five. bet it and tell your sister I said Hi
- pred_26

Sweep of the hawks and everyone starts sniffing glue huh

Preds on road, back end of back-to-back, starting their backup goaltender. Also icing 4-5 different players from their playoff lineup (Neal, Weber, Aberg & Zolnercyk did not play on 4/1). Is this comparison an April fools' joke? Great game to use as a predictor for the upcoming playoff series.
- holycow_75

Preds are the road team this series, so the fact they were on the road then is irrelevent. And half the guys you listed were healthy scratches who may or may not be healthy scratches this series, not exactly difference makers. Meanwhile, Statsny is a PPG player in the playoffs this far, Sobotka over .5 PPG in the playoffs. More importantly, that game was a "must win" for both teams, which is why it's the closest to a playoff game between the two we've seen.

We simply SUCKED!!! Good luck to both teams - enjoy the games!!!!

Is this even a question - The Rangers are going to ruin the sens. 4 or 5 games. With their lack of scoring power, and the tight defense of the Rags + Lundqvist, I'm guessing over the 4 or 5 games the series lasts, the sens don't score more than 6 goals.

That's my over/under.

Yeah Subban sucks right Blues fans??

Who said subban sucks? Blues didn't get steamrolled like you all thought though. If not for Allen's miscue, the game could still be going on.

I still think Nashville in 5, but that doesnt mean the Blues get steamrolled every game... and I think no one said that.