That's why I'm rooting for Bruins/Rangers or Bruins/Capitals series
- Mr_Clean

I think we can beat Washington in a series. The Bruins team is better than they were last year. I don't want the Rangers, Henrik Lundvquist can steal a series no problem. With so few games remaining I think the Bruins will end up with either Tor/Ott, unless Mtl craps the bed and we get the division.

The Leafs may or may not win a round.

Money $$$ on the Rangers doing nothing.
- PAY-DIRT

Rangers have shown this season you would be crazy to bet on them in the playoffs. They are a mess, lucky to even get in the dance this year.

How would they possibly end up playing Ottawa? I'd be thrilled but it's virtually impossible from what I can tell.
- Mr_Clean

Have they really fallen that far recently? Guess I should pay closer attention. There is still a mathematical chance the Leafs end up 2nd and Sens 7th but highly unlikely.

Regardless, my point still stands. The match ups haven't been set and to discount the Leafs, or any other team, in a best of 7 series at this point is just silly.

I think we can beat Washington in a series. The Bruins team is better than they were last year. I don't want the Rangers, Henrik Lundvquist can steal a series no problem. With so few games remaining I think the Bruins will end up with either Tor/Ott, unless Mtl craps the bed and we get the division.
- fudd1689

I think it's a lot more likely that you will catch Montreal than it is that Ottawa will catch Toronto.

Rangers have shown this season you would be crazy to bet on them in the playoffs. They are a mess, lucky to even get in the dance this year.
- MidnightMarauder

Yes, unfortunately. The playoffs would be much more ineresting with a strong Rangers team (i.e. last years team) in the mix.

Rangers have shown this season you would be crazy to bet on them in the playoffs. They are a mess, lucky to even get in the dance this year.
- MidnightMarauder

I would never write off a team with King Henrik as the back stop. Tight checking, low scoring, grinding games. Playoffs are a different animal than the regular season, especially this season.

My pre-season call was NYR beat STL for the Cup and I'm standing by that. Pretty good track record the past 3 years so no sense in wavering now. That being said, I'll be snapping up as many Pens and Kings as possible for my playoff pool

I don't think any of the teams 5-through-8 in the Eastern Conference are really much better or worse than each other... After all, the Leafs are just as close to 8th as they are to 4th.

Really, then, this should be about the top-4 and the top-4 alone (in the East at least)
- Mr_Clean

I'd say it's Pittsburg and everyone else. I can't see huge mismatches in any series. The real ? for me are Caps. I don't know how much of their run is from playing lousy SE teams or if they are for real.

Have they really fallen that far recently? Guess I should pay closer attention. There is still a mathematical chance the Leafs end up 2nd and Sens 7th but highly unlikely.

Regardless, my point still stands. The match ups haven't been set and to discount the Leafs, or any other team, in a best of 7 series at this point is just silly.
- BlueBallz

Yeah, I think it's more that neither the Leafs nor the Senators are going to make it #4 or #2 with this number of games left than it has to do with the Senators falling... But agreed, your point stands.

I'd say it's Pittsburg and everyone else. I can't see huge mismatches in any series. The real ? for me are Caps. I don't know how much of their run is from playing lousy SE teams or if they are for real.
- Canada Cup

I wouldn't be shocked to see Fleury poop the bed again like last year.

I wouldn't be shocked to see Fleury poop the bed again like last year.
- fudd1689

Fleury is what stands between the PENS winning it all and falling short...IMO.

Yeah, I think it's more that neither the Leafs nor the Senators are going to make it #4 or #2 with this number of games left than it has to do with the Senators falling... But agreed, your point stands.
- Mr_Clean

Any chance of Spezza and/or Karlsson coming back for round 1? If so then I think they could knock out any of the top seeds, including PIT.

I'd say it's Pittsburg and everyone else. I can't see huge mismatches in any series. The real ? for me are Caps. I don't know how much of their run is from playing lousy SE teams or if they are for real.
- Canada Cup

No defense, still an easy out, especially against a team with good goaltending.

I would never write off a team with King Henrik as the back stop. Tight checking, low scoring, grinding games. Playoffs are a different animal than the regular season, especially this season.

My pre-season call was NYR beat STL for the Cup and I'm standing by that. Pretty good track record the past 3 years so no sense in wavering now. That being said, I'll be snapping up as many Pens and Kings as possible for my playoff pool
- BlueBallz

That would be one boring SCF, wow.

We're for real.
- Rocktane

No, you're not. You're the best team in the world, who has had a few unfortunate injuries (because NO OTHER TEAM has injuries, you know), and gets screwed by the refs every night. Your team is CLEARLY the class of the Atlantic, despite holding it up from underneath. More talent than any other team on the planet. I know this, because Servalli tells me this every time I read the Daily News....

I don't want the Rangers, Henrik Lundvquist can steal a series no problem.
- fudd1689

Yeah, that's why I picked them to win before the season started, and if you saw what happened out on Long Island last night, you'd find nothing to refute your assessment. They were outplayed by the Isles for large chunks of that game- most of it, in fact- and still I was happy to get out of there with a point. When he's on, it's almost unfair. In a class by himself, now that Brodeur is getting towards the end.

Toronto real????

I wouldn't be shocked to see Fleury poop the bed again like last year.
- fudd1689

I agree 100%. Their defense is suspect too.

That would be one boring SCF, wow.
- MidnightMarauder

Yeah, not exactly a run and gun series, but run and gun seldom wins championships in any sport.

Remember NJ vs ANA in 2003 or did you sleep through most of it like me and everyone else?

Yeah, not exactly a run and gun series, but run and gun seldom wins championships in any sport.

Remember NJ vs ANA in 2003 or did you sleep through most of it like me and everyone else?
- BlueBallz

I think the coaches for each were caught napping. To date, the worst seven game series I have ever seen.

Out first round will be the Rangers, Toronto, Washington and Boston. Isles will win their first playoff series in years.

Toronto real????
- GioRock

I KNOW!!!

Many Leafs fans are having a tough time getting used to it too!

i think it's impossible to tell, at least in the east, until the extent and/or duration of some key injuries are known.

pitt - crosby, neal, martin, letang........if those guys are back for playoffs, this is the team to beat. if they aren't back for the playoffs, pitt is primed for an upset.

boston - marchand, bergeron.....see above

ottawa - cowen, karlsson, spezza.......without these guys, ottawa might be in tough....but if even 2 of them return, ottawa is gonna be a team that not many are going to want to play.

Yes, unfortunately. The playoffs would be much more interesting with a strong Rangers team (i.e. last years team) in the mix.
- PAY-DIRT

The Rick Nash trade killed them. They sacrificed character for skill.

Toronto real????
- GioRock

hey, their being 8th overall is like fake boobs, it may not be for real but I'm not imagining it

The Rick Nash trade killed them. They sacrificed character for skill.
- flamminghead

Ever try Hacker-Pschorr Weisse? (sp.)