Fear the (Playoff) Beard

Henerik Zetterberg

Ok boys its time to use the razor for one last shave before you pack it away until after Lord Stanley’s Cup has been hoisted. Thats right its time to grow out your playoff beard, the more you look like Grizzly Adams the better your team is doing. This is also where you can separate the boys from the men, literally. Men can grow full beards and end up looking like axe murderers (Henrik Zetterberg) and other look like that 14 year old neighbor who is trying to grow out his first mustache and just looks like a straight up creeper (cough cough Sydney Crosby). Which leads me to my predictions for the the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, for hockey fans this is as close to heaven as one can get. So lets just get right to it.

Sydney Crosby

Eastern Conference

#1 New York Rangers vs. #8 Ottawa Senators

This matchup should be smooth sailing for the Rangers, the Senators had to fight their way in to snag that last playoff spot. As long as the Ranger do not look too far down the road past the Sens then they should be ok. Rangers in 5.

#2 Boston Bruins vs. #7 Washington Capitals
The Bruins are the defending Stanley Cup champions and did not really lose anyone from last years squad. Ok so Timmy Thomas is not had a year like last season but he is still one of the top 2 goalies in the Eastern Conference. The Capitals in the last couple of years had arguabley the best young firepower on any one roster but this season they have fizzled and are entering the playoffs with an unproven keeper do to injuries. Bruins in 5.

#3 Florida Panthers vs. #6 New Jersey Devils
Even though the Panthers are the three seed they are not better then the Devils. If we were seeding teams according to total points and ignoring division winners then the Panther would be the 6th seed. This Devils team fits the mold of the past where they play hard nosed D and dont really win in a high scoring fashion. The Panthers have adequate goaltending expect that it was almost by committee which usually does not work in the playoffs. I am taking New Jersey in 6.

#4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #5 Philadelphia Flyers
The Penguins were the hottest team in the league even before Crosby came back. Even after Crosby came back the Pens kept their top two line combinations together and have been on fire since. If the Penguins were playing any other team aside from the Flyers I would predict a straight sweep or at the very least a win in 5 games. However this series is between bitter interstate rivals and could end up going to 7 games. The Flyers started the season strong but have picked up some injuries as the season has progressed. Unfortunately this is a first round series that I think will end up being won by the Penguins in 6.

Western Conference

#1 Vancouver Canucks vs. #8 Los Angeles Kings
The Canucks are the defending Western Conference Champions, year in and year out they have scored goals, won games at a pace that has netted them the past two Presidents Trophies for having the best regular season record just haven't been able to go all the way. I don't really see them having any problem in disposing the Kings. This could be a sweep but I am going with the Canucks in 5.

#2 St.Louis Blues vs. #7 San Jose Sharks
The Blues have the top goaltending combination in the league. There is not a drop off from one to the next however you can not be switching goalies in the playoffs. Usually a team will start out with one and if they struggle then the make a move to the second one. In this case if they go with Halak first and then switch to Elliot it will be almost impossible to switch back to Halak. The Blues look good on the blue line but they do not have the offense to go all the way. They have some veterans that have lifted the Cup in Arnott and Langenbrunner. The Sharks on the flip side have some offense but the defensive depth is a bit lacking, the Sharks can pull off the upset if they can keep the series as short as possible. I am taking the Sharks in 5.

#3 Phoenix Coyotes vs. #6 Chicago Blackhawks
The Coyotes have won their first division title since they left Canada, but they will be meeting up with better Blackhawks team that is peaking at the right time. The Hawks are a young team that is also experienced with winning the Cup a couple years back. I am predicting a sweep. Blackhawks in 4.

#4 Nashville Predators vs. #5 Detroit Red Wings
All I can say about this series is that I wish this was a match up taking a place later in the playoffs. The Wings bring the same energy and veteran leadership year in and year out, but age is starting to catch up with them. The Predators would have had an easier time had they finished 6th or 7th. In the cage they have Pekke Rinne (one of the funnest names in sports) who has been lights out this year, I would give him the Vezina Trophy hands down. They have three solid defensemen in Weber, Gill and Suter but eventually the Wings will grind them down, look for the Predators to make a deep run next season. Red Wings in 7.


As of right now I am going with the Penguins to take the cup over the Blackhawks in 6