Another year, another round of picks…let’s get started:

San Jose vs Anaheim Ducks (San Jose in 7)

This will be a tough series, San Jose needs to play a tough team like the Ducks in the first round instead of playing a team they could walk all over.  Blake and Boyle on the blueline for the Sharks will be the key for the series as both have Cup rings.   Even though there is almost 30 points separating these teams in the standings, it’ll be a close series, but San Jose has better goaltending and more fire-power and much more scoring depth than the Ducks.

Detroit vs Columbus (Columbus in 6)

The playoffs are about goaltending, the Blue Jackets have it and the Wings don’t.  Osgood hasn’t been good all year and despite his 3 Stanely Cups, he’s past his time and Conklin isn’t much better (I still haven’t forgiven him for the screw up that cost the Oilers game 1 against the Canes when Roloson was injured a few years back).  Detroit is an un-beleivably talented team but Steve Mason is the difference maker regardless of the fact he’s a rookie (remember Patrick Roy anyone?) and Ken Hitchcock’s style will ultimately frustrate the Wings and the Blue Jackets will prevail.  This will be one helluva boring series to watch.

Vancouver vs St Louis (Vancouver in 5)

Vancouver has far too much depth for this to be much of a series.  Kariya likely won’t be back for this series and he has the most playoff experience on the team.  The Blues are missing their top 2 defencemen as well.  It’s a great story that the Blues came back from last place a few months ago to 6th place, but they had nothing to lose, now the games count for something and they don’t have the experience or depth to handle a club like Vancouver.  Luongo will be sensational and even though Sundin hasn’t set the world afire when he signed on, he’ll have a great playoff.  Vancouver is simply too good and will roll over the Blues, but it’ll be a good series to watch.

Calgary vs Chicago (Calgary in 6)

This will be a beauty to watch.  Chicago has a lot going for them, except experience (not counting the Bulin Wall).  Chicago is a fast team but Calgary has much more character and has the gritty players you need come playoff time.    Although Calgary faded the last few weeks of the season and had tremendous injury problems, they’ve iced the best team the city has seen since they won the cup 20 years ago IMO.    The only chance Chicago has is if Khabibulin out-duels Kiprusoff, which is possible, but I don’t see a young team like Chicago pulling this off even though most are saying the Flames are the underdogs.

Montreal vs Boston (Bruins in 4)

Sorry Habs fans…the Canadiens don’t stand a chance against this Bruins team.  They have too much talent, goaltending, size and grit for Montreal to have a shot at an upset.  Tim Thomas has had a fantastic year and after toiling away in the minors for most of his career, he has elevated his game over the last few seasons.  The Habs are missing their best defenceman in Markov and don’t have the gumption to handle the physical game the Bruins will throw at them.  If Price gets hot they might steal a couple, but they won’t win the series.  Even though I’m predicting a sweep this will be a fantastic series to watch, lots of emotion and a great rivalry.

Washington vs Rangers (Washington in 5)

Lundqvist (spelling?) is the only hope the Rangers have to not get embarrassed in this series.    Well, that and if Theodore doesn’t fall flat on his face for the Caps.  Nobody can stop Ovechkin and Washington learned a lot from last year’s playoff loss and will be a tough team for the Rangers to handle.  Washington has too much speed but the only problem they might run into is depth on defence.  Outside of Mike Green and maybe Tom Poti, there isn’t much there and it shows as the Caps has the 2nd worst GAA out of all playoff teams.  The Caps have been great on the powerplay, but the Rangers have been equally good on the PK.  Washington will still roll over this one and despite the Avery hype, this won’t be much of an entertaining series.

Penguins vs Flyers (Penguins in 7)

Now this is going to be a beauty.  Sydney Crosby is going to erase his mediocre season (even though he finished 3rd in scoring) with an un-believable playoff.  I really like the he’s been playing all year, much more of an edge to his game and he’ll be bringing it to the Flyers all series long.  I will take Fleury over Biron any day of the week and the pickups the Pens made be getting Guerin and Kunitz will be key in this series.  They both bring a huge physical presence that the Pens need.    Philly doesn’t have a match-up for Malkin and Crosby on defence, but it’ll be great watching Crosby battle against Mike Richards.

Hurricanes vs Devils (Devils in 6)

I said this last year but was dead wrong, so I’ll say it again.  One Word.  Brodeur.  He faltered down the stretch and did have that serious bicep injury, but he came to training camp in the best shape of his life and he wants to prove he’s better than Roy, especially after beating his win record.  Had it not been for that injury he’d have eclipsed the shutout record too.  Brendan Shanahan is a proven playoff performer and even though Carolina has been great during the last couple of months, the Devils will still prevail in this one.  There will be some amazing saves between Ward and Brodeur, but this will largly be a snooze fest to watch.

Who will win the cup? Boston.  Great goaltending and too much talent.  I picked the Flames at the start of the year by the way…

Best Series? Calgary/Chicago.  Lots of speed and hits, great entertainment.

Worst Series? Detroit/Columbus.  Trap, trap and more trap…boooooo

Conn Smyth Winner: Tim Thomas

Scoring Leader: Sydney Crosby.  I think he’s really going to turn it up a notch even though they won’t make it to the finals.

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