NHL Playoff Preview.

In my season preview I predicted San Jose over Buffalo in the Cup final. I am sticking with those teams to make the finals, San Jose against my better judgement, but am taking Buffalo to win it. I think there are five teams with a legitimate chance to win the cup but only one is in the east, Buffalo. Which means they won't be as beat up for the finals as whomever comes out of the west.

Eastern Conference

Buffalo Sabres (1) vs. New York Islanders (8)
This series is going to be an absolute annihilation by the Sabres. They are better than the Isles in every aspect of the game and the only chance the Isles would have in this series is with a healthy Rick DiPietro in net. Daniel Briere and Chris Drury are going to run amok for the Sabres.

Prediction: Sabres in 4.

New Jersey Devils (2) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (7)
I have complete respect for the Devils (though I still haven't forgiven them for single-handily ruining NHL hockey by introducing the trap in the mid 90's) and the fact they have the best goalie in the league in Martin Brodeur, but they are in very tough against the Lightning. Tampa has the better group of forwards with Vinny Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis and Mr. Clutch, Brad Richards. The Devils are slightly better on the blueline though and have the big advantage in net. It's really tempting to go with the upset (though that term is relative in today's "New NHL", which is watered down crap), but I can't see Tampa beating Marty 4 times.

Prediction: Devils in 7

Atlanta Thrashers (3) vs. New York Rangers (6)
This is a hard series to figure out because of the Rangers strong late season surge and Atlanta's playoff inexperience. One thing the Thrash have going for them is Marian Hossa who was always the one guy who played in the playoffs for the Senators while he was there. I also think Ilya Kovalchuk will have a good showing but it won't be enough. The Rangers big advantage in this series is going to be the experience and leadership of Brendan Shanahan, the talent of Jaromir Jagr, and the goaltending advantage they have with Henrik Lundquist.

Prediction: Rangers in 6

Ottawa Senators (4) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (5)
This year's recipient of the Easter gift of playing the gutless Sens in the first round are the Penguins. The Sens have done absolutely nothing to suggest they are anything but the choking losers they have always been, and won't in this series. The Pens high flying offense is going to skate circles around the Sens wimpish defense and I expect Gary Roberts to continue to kill the Sens, Wade Redden specifically. Sidney Crosby is going to have a great series and get about 10 points. As long as Pens goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is average the Pens will win this easily because Ray Emery is going to shit the bed for the Sens.

Prediction: Penguins in 6

Western Conference

Detroit Red Wings (1) vs. Calgary Flames (8)
I'm not sold on Detroit as the best team in the west and not having guys like Shanahan and Steve Yzerman around is ultimately going to hurt them. But it won't in this series because Calgary is not that good. They are terrible on the road and will likely have to win twice in Detroit. I don't see that happening regardless of how well Flames goalie Miikka Kiprusoff plays.

Prediction: Red Wings in 5

Anaheim Ducks (2) vs. Minnesota Wild (7)
This should be the best series of the first round. Both these teams were built around speed and it should be highly entertaining hockey. I don't think either team has an advantage in net and I think their forwards are a saw off as well. What's going to make the difference for the Ducks in this series is having defenceman Scott Neidermayer and Chris Pronger each logging 35 minutes a night. They got those two guys for their playoff abilities and it is now going to pay off.

Prediction: Ducks in 6

Vancouver Canucks (3) vs. Dallas Stars (7)
This should be the worst series of the first round. Each game may end up 1-0 in triple overtime because neither team can score any goals. This should interesting though because both of these teams have been playoff busts in recent years. Both teams return to the playoffs with their previous years' rosters pretty much the same, with the obvious exception of the 'Nucks having Roberto Luongo, the best goalie in the league not named Brodeur, in net. But the Canucks previous failures were not 100% due to bad goaltending so they will need some guys to step up. Fortunately for Canuck forwards, the Stars still have Marty Turco in net. I expect Turco to cost Dallas the series.

Prediction: Canucks in 6

Nashville Predators (4) vs. San Jose Sharks (5)
It's a credit to the how good the west is that these two potential Cup winners are meeting in the first round. The Preds got a whole lot scarier at the trade deadline by adding Peter Forsberg. Forsberg's playoff heroics are well documented and I don't expect him too slow down at all. The Preds also have quick young forwards and veterans Paul Kariya and the underrated Jason Arnott. On the other side the Sharks have Joe Thornton who has matured into the best player in the conference, a quick defence and a lot of offensive depth with Patrick Marleau, Johnathan Cheechoo and veteran Bill Guerin. Neither team has an advantage net so I honestly think this one's a coin flip.

Prediction: Sharks in 7