Paul McCann: Let the Second Season Begin

Time to get over the Red Wing hump. Love our chances!

From here on out, let me be the first to say, that every game is truly a must-win game.

I hope we have a gold-out for our home games!

Time to get over the Red Wing hump. Love our chances!
- mattva03

Should be a great series. Just don't see det losing to anybody in the first round. If this was later in the playoffs I would say Nash in 6 but my gut says det in 7 this early in the playoffs

Should be a great series. Just don't see det losing to anybody in the first round. If this was later in the playoffs I would say Nash in 6 but my gut says det in 7 this early in the playoffs
- Bieksa#3

I hope you're wrong but have no issues with this pick. I think we will win in 7, teams are too evenly matched. Maybe Radu will be the difference??? That would be cool.
I was on the nhl.com boards and people were picking Detroit in 5 games. If someone thinks the Preds will only win one game in this series they are freaking crazy. Should be a dandy. GO PREDS!!!

Time to get over the Red Wing hump. Love our chances!
- mattva03

AMEN!!! I AM PUMPED!!! GO PREDS!!!

I hope you're wrong but have no issues with this pick. I think we will win in 7, teams are too evenly matched. Maybe Radu will be the difference??? That would be cool.
I was on the nhl.com boards and people were picking Detroit in 5 games. If someone thinks the Preds will only win one game in this series they are freaking crazy. Should be a dandy. GO PREDS!!!
- tracerv

What r your other 1st round predictions. While I agree that Nash will win a few games and perhaps the series, det is the one team who could steamroll them. If there is a team with a better d core them Nash, its det. If Howard gets hot, you guys are pooched. I think the way to beat det is a finesse game. They seem to have more trouble with van, Pitt or even sj. Those old warhorses over there won't be completely shut down. Again I say det has a 1st round win in them this yr

What r your other 1st round predictions. While I agree that Nash will win a few games and perhaps the series, det is the one team who could steamroll them. If there is a team with a better d core them Nash, its det. If Howard gets hot, you guys are pooched. I think the way to beat det is a finesse game. They seem to have more trouble with van, Pitt or even sj. Those old warhorses over there won't be completely shut down. Again I say det has a 1st round win in them this yr
- Bieksa#3

Your saying that Detroit has a better D then Nashville?

Weber - Suter
Gill - Josi
Klein - Bouillon

Way better then Detroit. And our D has depth if anyone goes down. Detroit doesn't

Hmm. All season predators have been ranked fairly well and by all accounts given respect as a major contender only to be dismissed when the pairings come out. The predators have been very consistent, stable health wise, and put together what is almost assuredly the best on team in the franchise's history. Detroit on the other hand has faced injuries over the past few months as well as a season (not disregarding the home record) that hasnt been as solid. Detroit is a fine team but the name alone doesn't carry the same weight this year and I don't think you can discount the predators chances.

Your saying that Detroit has a better D then Nashville?

Weber - Suter
Gill - Josi
Klein - Bouillon

Way better then Detroit. And our D has depth if anyone goes down. Detroit doesn't
- dgutzman

I would like to see Nash win but to say that is way better then Detroit is comical. Kronwall might be the most underated player in hockey. Not very often Nash will ever play a team with a better d man then them. But Lidstrom is that

What r your other 1st round predictions. While I agree that Nash will win a few games and perhaps the series, det is the one team who could steamroll them. If there is a team with a better d core them Nash, its det. If Howard gets hot, you guys are pooched. I think the way to beat det is a finesse game. They seem to have more trouble with van, Pitt or even sj. Those old warhorses over there won't be completely shut down. Again I say det has a 1st round win in them this yr
- Bieksa#3

Well, I say for 1st round-
EAST
Rangers
Bruins
Devils (not really an upset)
Flyers (My upset pick in east)

WEST
Nucks
San Jose (Hope I'm wrong. Would love to see 3 cental teams advance)
Hawks
PREDS!!!! YEAH!

Good luck to you guys. Who you got?

The way Detroit has been playing lately a first round exit woulnd't be suprising to me, and to be honest I wouldn't have a problem losing to Nashville...they are a solid team and Barry Trotz deserves some success, and is as classy as they come. That said, Detroit wins one game in Nashville and home-ice goes out the window, and this is the playoffs-anything can happen. Good luck to both teams.

NSH in 6. Too much D, goaltending, and just as fast up front. Howard has been injured this year, so that will be a factor as well.

I would like to see Nash win but to say that is way better then Detroit is comical. Kronwall might be the most underated player in hockey. Not very often Nash will ever play a team with a better d man then them. But Lidstrom is that
- Bieksa#3

Think we are deeper and also another factor is younger.

Likely the top D pairing in Weber/Suter.
#1 Goalie in wins and points in Rinne.
#1 Powerplay.
Highly ranked PK.
Balanced scoring and a much stronger 3-4 line with another entire set of 3-4 lines scratched. For peets sake, Hornquist is on the 3rd line with Goose and company.

We are crazy deep on the roster...that is the big difference and as a physical series goes on, that will be huge.

Never look past Detroit but by no means are we a walk in the park.

I don't like this mojo man. Every ESPN "expert" picked the Preds to win, and both JR and the other guy who I can't remember on NBC sports also were thinking the Preds would win. Maybe it's just the pessimist in me coming out.

#OperationVisine keep the red out of Bridgestone Arena

You guys are 3-3 against Detroit if I'm not mistaken, and 16-5-3 against the Central division in general. As much as I don't want to see Radulov hoist the cup, if you get past Detroit in the first round I don't see any teams stopping you, especially since the West is dominated by Central teams.

Long story short, I think the Preds can and should take the West

#OperationVisine keep the red out of Bridgestone Arena
- Predsboro

C'mon give the refugees a break, it's all they got!

Both 4-5 seed matchups this year are hard to predict. When it's a even matchup like this with two deep teams, I usually go with the team with the better goalie so I'll say Preds in 7. Gotta love the Wild West!

Both 4-5 seed matchups this year are hard to predict. When it's a even matchup like this with two deep teams, I usually go with the team with the better goalie so I'll say Preds in 7. Gotta love the Wild West!
- Nucker101

What's the over/under on Luongo-schneider? Does Luongo get pulled in game 2 vs Chicago second round?

I would like to see Nash win but to say that is way better then Detroit is comical. Kronwall might be the most underated player in hockey. Not very often Nash will ever play a team with a better d man then them. But Lidstrom is that
- Bieksa#3

w/ his still injured ankle he wont be the best dman on the ice.... at least not in this series. over time, he is untouchable

Well, I say for 1st round-
EAST
Rangers
Bruins
Devils (not really an upset)
Flyers (My upset pick in east)

WEST
Nucks
San Jose (Hope I'm wrong. Would love to see 3 cental teams advance)
Hawks
PREDS!!!! YEAH!

Good luck to you guys. Who you got?
- tracerv

hope you are right cause that would mean we get the hawks

Nashville will take detroit in 6 in my opinion. They are a solid team... The additions of Gaustad Gill and Radulov were huge. I am not exactly a nashville fan, but i feel that they will take the west. But i dont see them winning the cup... I really feel they are gonna be the cup finalists this year. I also really feel the Rangers will win the cup. I have these teams in the first round:

Rangers
Boston
New jersey
Philly


Kings (my upset)
St Louis
Chicago
Nashville


then ive got

Rangers and Philly
and
L.A and Nashville

then i got Rangers vs Nashville

Its hard for me to believe L.A can beat Vancouver and St Louis but i just have a hunch, they have waited a while to go deep. I think this could be the year but i still sorta dont believe myself that they can take St Louis but im going with it because of Quick Richards and Brown... And i think Doughty will play well. But St Louis is really quick and solid, very dangerous players in Oshie Backes and Perron. But i think St Louis has a bit of an over rated goal-tending situation.

All in all i think Nashville has a really solid team and a team built for the playoffs, but Chicagos offense could cause them fits, but i still have them moving on.

Rangers would crush you guys though. There checking line of Boyle Rupp Prust (im predicting will be put together for the playoffs) is killer. And Gaborik and Richards are solid Callahan is just a warrior and they have got depth up front a really skilled and solid defense core. And the best goalie in the world. Nashville has many of the same qualitys but arent as deep on D

Rangers would crush you guys though. There checking line of Boyle Rupp Prust (im predicting will be put together for the playoffs) is killer. And Gaborik and Richards are solid Callahan is just a warrior and they have got depth up front a really skilled and solid defense core. And the best goalie in the world. Nashville has many of the same qualitys but arent as deep on D
- Bar-South

Rangers crushed a lot of teams this year. Rinne is as good as any goalie in the world.