Prediction Contest: Who would you rather face in the first round of the playoffs? (Tampa/Boston)

[saltming]

I would rather face the Panthers
But of the 2 choices if both are healthy, yikes, I will say Boston because I'm hoping they burn all their luck before the playoffs start

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

Boston, I think Tampa is much deeper and I just want to beat the Bruins.

 

[Kiwi]

I would rather face the Panthers
But of the 2 choices if both are healthy, yikes, I will say Boston because I'm hoping they burn all their luck before the playoffs start

Both options suck but I'm going to go with Tampa

I think Boston's physicality makes them a tough matchup for us and Tampa's goaltender is less of a known commodity in the playoffs

 

[Cor]

Tampa.

Better team, but we matchup better against them I think. I also think Babcock would be more inclined to just let our skill do it’s thing more than he would against Boston.

Both would be good series, that could go either way though.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Boston is the inferior team on a hot streak. Tampa has more talent and that's what is scary in the postseason

 

[saltming]

Both options suck but I'm going to go with Tampa

I think Boston's physicality makes them a tough matchup for us and Tampa's goaltender is less of a known commodity in the playoffs

Hedman scares me and the speed on that team is 4 lines of blinding skill.
Chara looked slow last year by the time playoff came around. I'm hoping the old legs do the same this year
And ya both are terrifying thoughts

 

[Clark4Ever]

We should revisit this in about a month after Boston completes the most gruelling part of their schedule, like we already did.

 

[LeafalCrusader]

Hope we play both in the playoffs.

 

[ACC1224]

I could care less today, ask me in April and I will.

 

[Kiwi]

Hedman scares me and the speed on that team is 4 lines of blinding skill.
Chara looked slow last year by the time playoff came around. I'm hoping the old legs do the same this year
And ya both are terrifying thoughts

I think we've got a chance against anyone if it stays a skill vs skill type battle, when teams up the physical play we struggle and I just don't think that's Tampa's game but Boston has the possibility of getting nasty

 

[saltming]

I think we've got a chance against anyone if it stays a skill vs skill type battle, when teams up the physical play we struggle and I just don't think that's Tampa's game but Boston has the possibility of getting nasty

That's fair but I prefer the tougher teams as I think ultimately our skill will wear them down over 7 games as they will be chasing us the whole game. Either way it's a rough draw and should be fun

 

[IPS]

Boston. They're clearly overachieving right now.

 

[Kiwi]

That's fair but I prefer the tougher teams as I think ultimately our skill will wear them down over 7 games as they will be chasing us the whole game. Either way it's a rough draw and should be fun

Boston is a great possession team though, one of the best in the league I think so if they tilt possession and play physical we're going to be in tough

Neither team is a good option though, it could potentially end up with the 2nd and 3rd best teams in the East in the first round playing each other

Stupid playoffs format

 

[TakeTheBody]

Boston, I think Tampa is much deeper and I just want to beat the Bruins.

What he said......

 

[naruto]

Boston bc we are definitely better than them. I am 90% confident we would beat them (5% the refs do their thang and 5% bruins actually somehow win).

Tampa i feel 50% confident.

 

[Dzonna]

No difference. Whoever we don’t get in the first round, we’ll get in the second.

Agree but I can’t take another playoff loss in the opening round vs Boston. Maybe they can be bruised and battered by the second round, or be eliminated by Pittsburgh in the wildcard spot. Would that mean we would play the pens next?

 

[saltming]

Boston is a great possession team though, one of the best in the league I think so if they tilt possession and play physical we're going to be in tough

Neither team is a good option though, it could potentially end up with the 2nd and 3rd best teams in the East in the first round playing each other

Stupid playoffs format

Ya I really dislike the format too.
The NHL really should fix that especially if they want to raise interest through the whole playoffs

 

[IPS]

Boston is a great possession team though, one of the best in the league I think so if they tilt possession and play physical we're going to be in tough

Neither team is a good option though, it could potentially end up with the 2nd and 3rd best teams in the East in the first round playing each other

Stupid playoffs format

If it was the old format, if the playoffs started today, we'd be facing the New Jersey Devils. The NHL went full try-hard mode when they brought in this new format. Never liked it when it at first and severely dislike it now. The third best team facing the second best team is completely asinine.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Boston bc we are definitely better than them. I am 90% confident we would beat them (5% the refs do their thang and 5% bruins actually somehow win).

Tampa i feel 50% confident.

I disagree. They are better at the moment. We are lead by sophomores, and they are led by a solid veteran core that has a Stanley Cup and another Final appearance. And in that veteran core, they have a guy that can legitimately be in the MVP and Selke convo. They have the vets that have been there to support their young players, we don't.

 

[firstemperor]

Boston......Tampa has more talent, better team around them. I don't know if Boston is overachieving, but they are close to peaking. I don't think they have another level in them, whereas I think Tampa could.

Either will be tough matchups. I'd rather play about every team in the East, except Pittsburgh, mostly due to pedigree... then Boston or Tampa.

On our end, I don't think we're close to peaking. I wouldn't say we have the optimal lineup moving forward today.....but we probably have the optimal lineup, with the reigns of what Babcock will allow, today. And that took half a season to accomplish......it will take some time for them to gel together.

 

[BlueBaron]

Boston is a no brainer for me. Original 6 rival, owed revenge so we can put that game 7 story behind us, smugger fans.

 

[Mr Hockey]

Our peak hasn't come yet

 

[Kiwi]

Ya I really dislike the format too.
The NHL really should fix that especially if they want to raise interest through the whole playoffs

If it was the old format, if the playoffs started today, we'd be facing the New Jersey Devils. The NHL went full try-hard mode when they brought in this new format. Never liked it when it at first and severely dislike it now. The third best team facing the second best team is completely asinine.

This format is nuts

I get wanting to develop rivalries but they have completely messed this up

 

[IBeL34f]

If it was the old format, if the playoffs started today, we'd be facing the New Jersey Devils. The NHL went full try-hard mode when they brought in this new format. Never liked it when it at first and severely dislike it now. The third best team facing the second best team is completely asinine.

We'd also have home-ice advantage.

 

[Mr Hockey]

I like the format, I cant wait to play Habs,Sens, wings, sabres in a playoff series.