I don't understand the Toronto love. I get that making playoffs is a big deal but to call them contenders with the depth on center they have is a little far fetched.

When Bozak is the best two way center available it raises question marks.
How will Kadri's line perform against the oppositions shutdown lines in a trap series? Will Grabo even be noticeable?
- Whiskey-Tango

They're probably deeper down the middle than Vancouver. Roy is a loser, ask any Buffalo fan.

I made the mistake of using recent history as an influence and picked them to make it a decade without playoff hockey. Woulda been fun if they could have made it one full decade without playoffs, but 9 years is a pretty good run. I know I've enjoyed it.
- woopstash

Obviously you have some strange obsession with the Leafs. I've never understood people who hate the Leafs more than they like their own team. Get a life.

Ottawa was 3-1 against the NYR last year, for all the difference that made!
- Mr_Clean

Sure, but to imply that the Leafs can't at least compete in a series with Montreal is just stupid.

They're probably deeper down the middle than Vancouver. Roy is a loser, ask any Buffalo fan.
- Jeffmt

Sure, but to imply that the Leafs can't at least compete in a series with Montreal is just stupid.
- Jeffmt

I didn't imply that. To imply that I implied that is stupid! Only saying that the regular season series is irrelevant when it comes to the 2nd season.

I didn't imply that. To imply that I implied that is stupid! Only saying that the regular season series is irrelevant when it comes to the 2nd season.
- Mr_Clean

guess as a Sens fan you'd know that all too well

guess as a Sens fan you'd know that all too well



- Big_Lightnin

Yup!

I didn't imply that. To imply that I implied that is stupid! Only saying that the regular season series is irrelevant when it comes to the 2nd season.
- Mr_Clean

Then why is the assumption that the Leafs can't compete in the playoffs such a prevalent belief? I was actually shocked that "The Reporters" on TSN thought the Leafs could beat the Habs in the playoffs.

I didn't imply that. To imply that I implied that is stupid! Only saying that the regular season series is irrelevant when it comes to the 2nd season.
- Mr_Clean

No, I know you didn't, the original guy I was replying to did.

Then why is the assumption that the Leafs can't compete in the playoffs such a prevalent belief? I was actually shocked that "The Reporters" on TSN thought the Leafs could beat the Habs in the playoffs.
- tmlfan69

I don't know. I don't share that be-leaf. I think they could easily win any series except against a healthy Pittsburgh... Look at the first page of this thread and you'll see.

You just shouldn't give season series results as evidence for why one team will beat another.

No, I know you didn't, the original guy I was replying to did.
- Jeffmt

Ahh never mind then. Serves me right for jumping in on conversation without proper context

Ahh never mind then. Serves me right for jumping in on conversation without proper context
- Mr_Clean

Just raise your hand when you want to participate.

I don't know. I don't share that be-leaf. I think they could easily win any series except against a healthy Pittsburgh... Look at the first page of this thread and you'll see.

You just shouldn't give season series results as evidence for why one team will beat another.
- Mr_Clean

I guess that's true. I'm sure both Leaf and Sens fans can attest to the fact that regular season results mean nothing. I personally don't think we could beat Boston but I hope we at least make a series of it.

IMO. this is how the East finishes.

1. Pitt
2. Montreal
3. Washington
4. Boston
5. Toronto
6. NYR
7. Ottawa
8. NY Islanders

1. Pitt v. 8. Islanders
2. Montreal v. 7. Ottawa
3. Washington v 6. NYR
4. Boston v. 5. Toronto

1 beats 8. 5 games
2 beats 7 6 games
6 beats 3 7 games
4 beats 5 6 games

Pitt plays NYR
Boston plays Montreal

Pitt wins 7 games
Boston wins 7 games

Pitt vs Boston.

want to say pitt will win, and I believe they will. But wouldn't surprise me to see Jagr kill the penguins. way too much karma against the Penguins in that series.

pens will be healthy... except maybe Martin.

As far as the east goes, Boston is having a hard time scoring, and lost back to back to Carolina I believe... if they can't get there scoring back, they may not be around long in the playoffs, won't win many games in the modern NHL with 0, 1 or 2 goals.... as for the pens, Morrow looks like he is gelling but Murray and Iginla not so much, wouldn't shock me if the pens don't last long either.
- aries1976

Bruins will be fine. Sure we lost to the Isles and Canes this week but we're missing Marchand and Bergeron, Hamilton was also given those games off for rest. Our injured player should be returning soon and ready to go for the playoffs. Don't forget we have Soderberg making his way to Boston on Wed.
Lucic-Krejci-Horton
Marchand-Bergeron-Seguin
Soderberg-Peverley-Jagr
Paille-Campbell-Kelly

Not to shabby of a playoff roster

Is that (frank)tard Whoopstash banned yet? Only a (frank)tard would have an avatar that trolls another team. I think he is actually a closet Leafs fan.

pens will be healthy... except maybe Martin.
- SuperHenderson13

Only problem is that they have a couple of players who are pretty vulnerable to concussions and players do stupid things in the heat of the playoffs(look at Weber on Zetterberg last year). If healthy, even without Martin they're the favourite for the cup though as long as the core stays healthy.

Only problem is that they have a couple of players who are pretty vulnerable to concussions and players do stupid things in the heat of the playoffs(look at Weber on Zetterberg last year). If healthy, even without Martin they're the favourite for the cup though as long as the core stays healthy.
- Nucker101

certainly true, but all guys have to worry about concussions.

the real worry for me is how our 4th line is going to play. Given all the moves we made, our 4th line could be Cooke-Jokinen-Adams. I am hoping our speed can really hurt some teams but our lack of size on the 4th line really can be a question mark.

when we are 100% healthy, I could see us going with:

Dupuis-Crosby-Iginla
Kunitz-Malkin-Neal
Morrow-Sutter-Bennett (I would put him there, but I doubt he gets the spot)
Cooke-Jokinen-Adams

we have a hitter per line which I like. I think this offense really plays a bad matchup for most teams. I know you probably haven't watched many pens games, but our 3rd line has just flat out destroyed our teams' lines. Their mix of speed and hitting has really hurt our defenses. Morrow has been a wrecking ball.

Im not worried about MAF for 2 reasons.

If you look at it, he has never had 2 bad playoff series in a row. he is very good at bouncing back.
plus we have Vokoun, if MAF has a bad game, we have Vokoun to fall back on.

I think the Flyers bring out the worst in the Pens, not having them there will def. help us out.

certainly true, but all guys have to worry about concussions.

the real worry for me is how our 4th line is going to play. Given all the moves we made, our 4th line could be Cooke-Jokinen-Adams. I am hoping our speed can really hurt some teams but our lack of size on the 4th line really can be a question mark.

when we are 100% healthy, I could see us going with:

Dupuis-Crosby-Iginla
Kunitz-Malkin-Neal
Morrow-Sutter-Bennett (I would put him there, but I doubt he gets the spot)
Cooke-Jokinen-Adams

we have a hitter per line which I like. I think this offense really plays a bad matchup for most teams. I know you probably haven't watched many pens games, but our 3rd line has just flat out destroyed our teams' lines. Their mix of speed and hitting has really hurt our defenses. Morrow has been a wrecking ball.

Im not worried about MAF for 2 reasons.

If you look at it, he has never had 2 bad playoff series in a row. he is very good at bouncing back.
plus we have Vokoun, if MAF has a bad game, we have Vokoun to fall back on.

I think the Flyers bring out the worst in the Pens, not having them there will def. help us out.
- SuperHenderson13

Totally agree about Fleury, he's won a cup before and like you said the Flyers just appear to have the Pens number like the Hawks did with the Canucks. That forward group is scary when healthy, the only question is how the defence will hold up and staying healthy.

IMO. this is how the East finishes.

1. Pitt
2. Montreal
3. Washington
4. Boston
5. Toronto
6. NYR
7. Ottawa
8. NY Islanders

1. Pitt v. 8. Islanders
2. Montreal v. 7. Ottawa
3. Washington v 6. NYR
4. Boston v. 5. Toronto

1 beats 8. 5 games
2 beats 7 6 games
6 beats 3 7 games
4 beats 5 6 games

Pitt plays NYR
Boston plays Montreal

Pitt wins 7 games
Boston wins 7 games

Pitt vs Boston.

want to say pitt will win, and I believe they will. But wouldn't surprise me to see Jagr kill the penguins. way too much karma against the Penguins in that series.
- SuperHenderson13

my opinion i think the caps or rags could give pitt a serious challenge in the playoffs, especially the rags if they turn up the physicall game, just my .02 tho

my opinion i think the caps or rags could give pitt a serious challenge in the playoffs, especially the rags if they turn up the physicall game, just my .02 tho
- Hawkeyes

I agree. I don't want to see the NYR in the first round. I don't think we will considering NYR has a pretty easy schedule. I could see them move into 6th or 7th.

the good thing about this year's playoffs is that no one has an easy first round. in the past, at least one team from each conference had a pretty easy matchup.

not this year.

Totally agree about Fleury, he's won a cup before and like you said the Flyers just appear to have the Pens number like the Hawks did with the Canucks. That forward group is scary when healthy, the only question is how the defence will hold up and staying healthy.
- Nucker101

I am much more confident with our defense than I was last year. first, I think Bylsma has really learned a lot about playoff defense given the offensive explosion last year in the playoffs. I suspect him to be much better with the system.

plus, I think this defense is much deeper and much better at their roles. last season we made guys like Oprik play 20+ minutes a game. he just cant do that anymore, he is too old and slow. losing martin will complicate our positions a little bit, but I am not worried about the defense.

I hate to say it, but the Habs are just not a playoff team. Prust was a start, but the smurfs at center can't get it done in the post season. Sucks to say it, but it's true.

I hate to say it, but the Habs are just not a playoff team. Prust was a start, but the smurfs at center can't get it done in the post season. Sucks to say it, but it's true.
- JLO961

if they get NYR, it will certainly be a tough matchup for them.