RETAPE CAUSE AG WAS LATE! HOPEFULLY THE WEST COAST VIEWERS DIDN'T SEE IT!
Canada's favorite Mock-Game Show kicks off the 1st round. Our panelists, KesselLooksLikeRadar, JumpierPegasus, and Anton Gretzky if he shall ever show up. I, Soli, shall act as your Quiz Master. Lets get started.
Of these lower seeds, who has the greatest potential to pull an upset?
A. Buffalo
B. St. Louis
C. New Jersey
D. Other
KLLR: Buffalo. While New Jersey has a great chance to beat Boston, the perfect storm is brewing for Buffalo. Washington has fallen off and does not have a completed roster while Buffalo has a very underrated offense which could stun the Capitals. Ryan Miller will have to play at an all-world level.
JP: Buffalo & New Jersey. Washington has fallen after the deadline and were lucky to keep #1 in the division. They looked sloppy in the last month or so and I think Buffalo can take advantage of that. Boston has a good team, however NJ seems stacked this year. I think we can see NJ pull a pretty great upset upon last years champs
AG: I'll go with New Jersey. It'll be hard to dethrone the reigning champs, but they made some great deadline acquisitions and really hit their stride down the stretch. They're getting hot at the right time.
Soli: JP... you committed a classicl Quiz faux-pa on your first question. Minus 2. I'll agree with Buffalo. Last season Washington goes out, adds heart, and it still didn't matter. This season, they added a fragile playoff goaltender and don't play a system that will protect him. It's a recipe for disaster IMO.
Who has the best 1st line in the West and is it enough to propel them out of the 1st round?
A. Detroit (Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Iginla)
B. Chicago (Cammallari - Richards - Kane)
C. San Jose (Marleau - Thornton - Couture)
D. Los Angeles (Williams - Kopitar - Hossa)
KLLR: Detroit. Detroit doesn't have the scoring depth that Chicago has, so they will have to rely on their first line to carry them as they have all year. The question then becomes how far can that line carry them in the playoffs.
JP: Detroit. With the acquisition of Iginla has propelled that line into star status. They have a great #1 line consisting of leadership, grit, great sniping ability, and skill
AG: Gotta be Chicago. No line has more goal scoring ability.
Soli: Chicago. That RaCK line of Richards Cammallari and Kane "racks" up all the goals. They were assembled for one purpose and that was to be the most dynamic offensive line in hockey. They're chemistry is undeniable and they think the game on a whole different level when they're together. Chicago has the master plan to unravel any #1 line, and that's Davie Bolland.
The East has two premiere goaltending battles about to unfold, WAS vs. BUF and BOS. vs. NJD. All strong teams by their own right, but who's playoff hopes rely squarely on their goaltender?
A. Buffalo (Ryan Miller)
B. New Jersey (Martin Broudeur)
C. Boston (Tim Thomas)
D. Washinton (Roberto Luongo)
KLLR: Buffalo. As I mentioned earlier about their offense, they are very underrated, however, if Buffalo is to upset Washington, they need Ryan Miller to stand on his head, much like he did in the Olympics. If Ryan Miller is average, Washington will dominate the series.
JP: Buffalo has a partially deep team, but the other three teams definatly have the skill upfront to do it. Buffalo is going to use Miller to work past teams. This means if Miller tank, Buffalo tanks. We rarely see that however as Miller is a premier goalie.
AG: Luongo for Washington. They finally have the goalie they've been lacking, but he'll need to step and be clutch for the Capitals to finally make it out of the east.
Soli: Washington and Roberto Luongo. No goalie has ever had more scrutiny placed on him than Roberto Luongo. Whatever team he's on, he's always the #1 topic. The title of playoff choker is a very, very difficult one to shake off.
Which of these GM-abandoned teams is most screwed in the playoffs?
A. Washington
B. Philadelphia
C. Los Angeles
D. Anaheim
KLLR: Anaheim. While Philadelphia is in deep trouble, Anaheim has the toughest task ahead of them. They have to face the President's Trophy winning Nashville, and unless Nashville under-performs and the Ducks play up to their potential, they shouldn't have a chance in this series.
JP:Yes Philly. They didn't do much this season and just fell down in the standings. Another team potentiall harmed is Washington, but I feel that Philly is screwed in their own right
AG: Philly did acquire Carey Price, so I can't say it's them. I'll go with Anaheim. They're facing the best team in the regular season, and early Cup favorites. With no GM I expect this series to be over very quickly.
Soli: Los Angeles. Vancouver's just pissed heading into the playoffs and Los Angeles is gonna have to bear the brunt of it. The Sedins will blow their load in one series trying to show they've grown as players and unfortunately, Los Angeles is gonna be the ones left on their knees.
Finally, your thoughts on the series matchups and who will win and in how many games
KLLR:
WSH vs BUF: Buffalo in 7. This should be a really close series, and as of right now, Buffalo has the momentum to knock off the number 1 seed in the East
BOS vs NJD: Boston in 6. While New Jersey made great acquisitions, Boston acquiring Jason Spezza should not be overlooked. Boston should pull this series out with solid defensive player and a balanced offense.
PIT vs PHI: Pittsburgh in 5. This series is probably going to be the least interesting of all the match-ups. Pittsburgh should take this one because they are the lesser of two evils. They made slightly better moves than Philly.
CAR vs WPG: Carolina in 7. Amazing series, and should go down to the wire. The teams are very close, but, I feel the deciding factor will be Cam Ward and his ability to play under pressure.
NSH vs ANA: Nashville in 4. Anaheim became worse, Nashville became better. Nashville won the series in 6 last year, and should not expect a different result.
SJ vs STL: San Jose in 5. Nittymaki will hold up in the first round of the playoffs and the Sharks will show they are the better team in this match-up
VAN vs LAK: Vancouver in 5. Los Angeles might have an underrated defense, but they made themselves much worse this offseason. Vancouver should win this easily.
CHI vs DET: Detroit in 7. In my opinion, the closest series. Looking up and down the rosters, they are almost equal, but, the leadership on Detroit will be the deciding factor, and Detroit will advance.
AG:
WSH vs. BUF - Was in 7. It'll be a close series, but home ice advantage wins out.
BOS vs. NJD - NJD in 6. The Devil's new additions will get the job done.
PIT vs. PHI - Pit in 5. The inactive Philadelphia GM really hurt his team.
CAR vs. WPG - CAR in 7. Will be the best series of the 1st round. In the end playoff experience and leadership from their captain and goaltender, on top of home ice advantage, will win it for the Hurricanes.
NSH vs. ANA - NSH in 4. 'nuf said.
SJ vs. STL - SJ in 5. STL will steal a game early, but SJ is clearly the better team and it'll show.
VAN vs. LAK - Van in 4. Don't expect too much of a challenge here for the defending Western conference champs.
CHI vs. DET - DET in 7. This should be a great series. In the end Detroit pulls it out
Soli:
Buffalo in 7. Washington's attempt to rely on a counter-attack system will fail against an Offense-always Buffalo. If they don't step on the gas and run and gun with Buffalo, they don't stand a chance.
New Jersey in 6. The loss of the Nose-Faced Killer will come back to bite Boston in the ass. Stanley Cup Hangover will be too much.
Pittsburgh in 5. Questionable moves, but still have Philly right where they want them.
Winnipeg in 4
Nashville in 5. The toast of the NHL right now. They shouldn't take this too likely, they still need to come together as a team and any 1st round cake-walk might delude them to thinking it'll be easier than it is.
San Jose in 6. Unless Malkin and Halak go Godly Beast mode... I fear the Sharks feast in round 1.
Vancouver in 5. GM-abandoned LAK are SOL.
Chicago in 6. Chicago's hungry, deep, and ready to lay the body on a comparably softer Wings team.
JP:
WSH vs BUF - Two very talented goalies. Miller seems to have the upper edge. Offense is definatly Washingtons strong suit and they will have to rely on it as they fell throughout the end of last season.
Offense:
WSH > BUF
Defense:
WSH = BUF
Goaltending:
WSH < BUF
Playoff Experiance:
WSH < BUF
Intangibles:
WSH = BUF
Winner: BUF in 7
BOS vs NJD - Another goalie match-up. NJ really turned it up and around this season with many good acquisitions by RS. Can they upset the beastly Bruins, and last years up winners? It happened this year with VAN and CHI
Offense:
BOS < NJD
Defense:
BOS < NJD
Goaltending:
BOS > NJD
Playoff Experiance:
BOS > NJD
Intangibles:
BOS > NJD
Winner: NJD in 7
PIT vs PHI - Two teams that blew themselves... up. With a couple of weird moves here and there, this will not be an exciting series.
Offense:
PIT > PHI
Defense:
PIT > PHI
Goaltending:
PIT > PHI
Playoff Experiance:
PIT = PHI
Intangibles:
PIT > PHI
Winner: PIT in 4
CAR vs WPG - Wow, the two teams that turned it around so well, the two that I would have personally thought would be playing eachother in the Eastern Conference Finals. This is my pick for best series of the 2011 playoffs
Offense:
CAR < WPG
Defense:
CAR > WPG
Goaltending:
CAR = WPG
Playoff Experiance:
CAR > WPG
Intangibles:
CAR < WPG
Winner: WPG in 7
NSH vs ANA - For me I know who the better team is. It is the team that has turned it around so much, has become the #1 team in the league in 1 offseason. It's also the same matchup we saw last year
Offense:
NSH > ANA
Defense:
NSH > ANA
Goaltending:
NSH > ANA
Playoff Experiance:
NSH < ANA
Intangibles:
NSH > ANA
Winner: NSH in 4
SJ vs STL - Is the inclusion of Malkin enough to bring the first upset in the West? Without a goalie on both sides will we see many goals? Maybe not if Halak can bring his play from the Montreal run.
Offense:
SJ = STL
Defense:
SJ > STL
Goaltending:
SJ < STL
Playoff Experiance:
SJ > STL
Intangibles:
SJ < STL
Winner: STL in 6
VAN vs LAK - With VAN losing Luongo, but gaining Semin, can they still pull it together and make it into the playoffs? Or is LA going to overpower them this year? Could both Cup finalists from last year be out?
Offense:
VAN > LAK
Defense:
VAN < LAK
Goaltending:
VAN < LAK
Playoff Expierence:
VAN > LAK
Intangibles:
VAN < LAK
Winner: VAN in 7
CHI vs DET - Another close matchup... will it be the inclusion of Richards or Iginla that will pull a team through? Will the loss of Toews be to much for Chicago?
Offense:
CHI < DET
Defense:
CHI > DET
Goaltending:
CHI = DET
Playoff Experiance:
CHI = DET
Intangibles:
CHI = DET
Winner: DET in 5
|Luca Sbisa, Nicolas Deschamps, ANA 1st 2011|
|Matt Belesky, Peter Holland|
|Emerson Etem, Andy Sutton|
|Marc Staal, Pavel Valentenko|
