When trying to determine a playoff winner I have always done it two ways:
#1. I have always found the basic playoff matchups to be the most accurate. Year in and Year out if you were to just pick the series winner off of the last ten games the teams have played against each other (Or the results of the last three years if out of division) you would be better than 80% of all the "exports" out there.
#2. I try to outsmart the matchups, I pretend to be an expert myself...and just go with my gut.
The first way is always better...
I will premier a third way tomorrow, and we will see how that works in comparison...It is a theory I have been working on for a few years now...
Lets start with the matchups...
Western Conference.
Chicago versus Nashville.
The Hawks have won 7 of the last ten. Three times in this year’s 5 games the Hawks scored 5 goals against the Predators.
Winner: Chicago
Minnesota vs St. Louis.
The Blues have won 6 of the last 10
The teams have split the last 10, so when that’s the case I look to this most recent season to determine…The Blues took 3 of 5
Winner: St Louis.
Anaheim vs. Calgary.
OK, this one is just nuts. The Ducks have won 9 of the last 10, with the only Flames win coming in December when the Flames oddly blew out the Ducks 8-3.
Winner: Anaheim
Edmonton vs San Jose.
The teams have split the last 10 games, but this season the Oilers won 3 of 5 including the last three in a row…
Winner Edmonton..
Second Round:
Chicago vs St Louis.
The teams have split the last 10. The season however the Hawks won 3 of 5. All that said, the Blues might be the team with the best historical shot at knocking off the Hawks.
Winner: Chicago
Anaheim vs. Edmonton
The Ducks have won 6 of the last 10, but the Oilers won 3 of 5 this season…This could go either way, but the system I am using has to go with the Ducks…personally…I would pick Edmonton…
Winner Anaheim
Conference Final:
Chicago vs Anaheim
The Hawks have won 6 of the last ten, but the Ducks won 3 of 5 this season including back to back shutout wins in the last month…
Winner: Chicago
I will be back later today to do the Matchups in the East…followed by my picks and my new method…
Watch today's Buzzcast with Russ Cohen, Mike Augello and USA Today's Kevin Allen, as they preview the matchups in the Eastern Conference:
On TuneIn Radio
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— Michael Augello (@MikeInBuffalo) December 12, 2016