I only went 2-2 in my East picks, but losing the Habs pick and the Leafs pick who played my beloved Bruins was worth the losses...
#7 Senators vs. #1 Penguins
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| Mister Anderson! |
The Senators who played hard in April to make the playoffs went on to upset the fadding Canadiens in the first round in 6 games. A team that didn't really have any offensive fire power coming into the playoffs, the Sens tallied 6 goals in two games and 12-0 over Habs in the 3rd period. Alfersodsson is the leader of this team with 6 points along with Karlsson who also has 6 points. The goal scorers have been Pageau, Turris and Conacher all who had 3 goals each. They will need all that and more to beat the high powered Penguins. Craig "Mister" Anderson was impressive allowing only 9 goals and a .950 save percentage. He will be key in this series. As Anderson goes as goes the Sens.
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| Crosby back with the broken jaw |
In a series that the Penguins should have swept, the Islanders took them to 6 games before the Pens finally moved on to the next round. The Penguins certainly don't lack in offensive talent. Malkin leads the team in points with 11, Crosby and Iginla both with 9, plus Dupuis has 5 goals. I could go on and on with players like James Neal, Kris Letang and Chris Kunitz, but I already did that....oops just did it again. However what this team has in offense it lacks in defense. The top players in points I mentioned are a combined -2 in +/-. They had to bench a struggeling Fluery after giving up 6 goals in the game 4 loss (and giving up 4 goals in the previous two games). How many were his fault...a lot but the Pens best defense is its offense.
The Sensators are a tough team and proved they can play with anyone. The Penguins have shown that they certainly have some chinks in their armor after the series agains the Islanders. Vokoun will likely be in the net entire series and has played well after releiving Fluery. Look for the Pens to move on. Penguins 4-2
#6 Rangers vs. #4 Bruins
Yet another Original 6 match up and what a doosey this one should be. Its amazing that the last time these two teams last met in the playoffs was 1973, a victory by the Rangers in 5 games after the Bruins won the Cup in 1972.
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| Lundqvist came up big with 2 shutouts |
It took the Rangers 7 games to defeat the Capitals but it didn't seem that close. The Rangers, after going down 3-2 turned to Lundqvist who came up with 2 straight shutouts to send Ovechkin and the Capitals home once again. Brassard has been the leading scorer for the Rangers with 9 points. Team scoring was the theme as 11 different players scored goals and Rick Nash was not one of them. Just imagine if Nash gets going. The team thrives on defense and goal tending. Only 5 players had a +/- rating in the negatives. Lundqvist has been incredible and will be key to victory for the Rangers. They have the grit and the goal tending needed to make a Cup run.
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| AMAZING! |
Well what can I say about the Bruins. They made the most incredible, historical comeback in NHL history beating the Leafs in game 7 in OT after trailing 4-1 more than halfway through the 3rd period. The Bruins play a similar game as the Rangers. Tough defense and good goal tending. The Lucic, Horton, Krejci line that was somewhat silent in the regular season has been money in the post season. David Krejci leads the league with 13 points in the post season and 5 goals, while Horton leads the league in +/- with +11. They really need the Marchand, Bergeron line to start to produce. Seguin has been suspect and in game 7 against the Leafs was replaced with Jagr on that line. Chara is the leader on the ice and in the locker room, almost willing this team to win that dramatic game 7. Rask in net has a pedastrian 2.49 goals against. Give aways in their own zone still an issue with this team.
The Rangers won two out of the three games they played against the Bruins, but both games they won were 1 goal games with one being a shoot out. Both teams don't score a ton, at least not yet. Lundqvist ceratinly has the edge on Rask. The Bruins' D has the edge along with the number one line. This will be a tough one and go 7 games easily. Will Lundqvist carry the Rangers on to the Eastern Conference Finals or will the momentum of the comeback game 7 win by the Bruins over the Maple Leafs carry them one step closer to the Stanley Cup? Can the Bruins D get healthy? Bruins in 7 (this series can go either way...total pick'em)
In a series that the Penguins should have swept, the Islanders took them to 6 games before the Pens finally moved on to the next round. The Penguins certainly don't lack in offensive talent. Malkin leads the team in points with 11, Crosby and Iginla both with 9, plus Dupuis has 5 goals. I could go on and on with players like James Neal, Kris Letang and Chris Kunitz, but I already did that....oops just did it again. However what this team has in offense it lacks in defense. The top players in points I mentioned are a combined -2 in +/-. They had to bench a struggeling Fluery after giving up 6 goals in the game 4 loss (and giving up 4 goals in the previous two games). How many were his fault...a lot but the Pens best defense is its offense.
The Rangers won two out of the three games they played against the Bruins, but both games they won were 1 goal games with one being a shoot out. Both teams don't score a ton, at least not yet. Lundqvist ceratinly has the edge on Rask. The Bruins' D has the edge along with the number one line. This will be a tough one and go 7 games easily. Will Lundqvist carry the Rangers on to the Eastern Conference Finals or will the momentum of the comeback game 7 win by the Bruins over the Maple Leafs carry them one step closer to the Stanley Cup? Can the Bruins D get healthy? Bruins in 7 (this series can go either way...total pick'em)
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