We did the East yesterday, and I went 4-0 in my predictions (I predict) and time to do the same thing today with the West Side Story - if only the Jets were playing the Sharks! (Come on Jim, know your audience! )
You can read yesterdays sweet East-Side jam Here
Onward.
Minnesota vs. St. Louis.
This is an unfortunate match-up because ideally you'd like to see both of these teams make the second round, at least, as they are two of the most balanced rosters in the NHL.
Everyone is in love with Devan Dubnyk and I'm not here to tell you that he hasn't played amazing, but maybe we could dial the hype down a bit? Just a bit? Hart Trophy, for a goalie who started the year as the back-up on the league's worst team and has exactly half a season of excellence? In his career?
Get real.
The Wild were always a great team - just look at that roster - and they got very very bad goaltending that almost cost them their season. I am of the opinion that except in very rare cases, the goalie plays to the team's level. In the case of the Wild, all they needed was for somebody to not be a bag of crap. They got it and never looked back.
Anyways, the Blues are going to crush this series because they are even better than the Wild. They virtually have three first lines and maybe the best D core in the NHL. They have Tarasenko. They have Steen - maybe the single most underrated player in the game - and they have Pietrangelo. It is possible that all three of those players are better than anyone on MN and they will win. In five.
Sorry Prince.
Nashville vs. Chicago
Let's face it: the band Chicago sucks and no one has ever had the guts to call their band Nashville. But Chicago has Wilco and Vince Vaughn, not that it really matters, I just feel the need to have some sort of preamble.
Nashville fans on this site hate my guts with a fervor rivaled only by the disdain your average person has for Ted Cruz. This ain't gonna help: By the power invested in me by the state of Illinois and in the name of Fred Clause, I declare that the Chicago Blackhawks will win in six.
The Jets employ Dustin Byfuglien, the dirtiest player on the planet. But who cares? Karma isn't real and the guy is awesome at hockey. The Ducks have one line essentially and they won't be able to stop the Jets, who are criminally underrated like the NHL's very own Charles Bukowski - only dirtier.
Good. Dirty wins in the Playoffs and no one wanted to play the Jets. They are going to be eating roast duck for the next week and a half.
Jets in six.
Calgary vs. Vancouver
It must make the L.A Kings very upset to learn that two teams not even in their stratosphere are going to play each other while they go home and take an extra long vacation with their millions of dollars.
The Vancouver Canucks have a lower even-strength save % than the Leafs.
THAN THE LEAFS.
And the Kings won 37 games. In regulation.
But Brutus was an honorable man.
Obligatory Ghost Rider reference.
And don't say I wasn't a fan all-along.
Thanks for reading.