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Opening Round Predictions
Jennifer Miller	4/22/2006
Out of the hospital just in time for the start of the playoffs, this will be brief but I just had to write a little something before the games we really care about get underway. First there is a lot of talk about how the games will be officiated and apparently, Gary Bettman has issued a warning to the referees that if they do not call the playoffs as they called the regular season, there will be heavy consequences. Very good. Some people who are not avid hockey fans will be tuning in for these games. If they see the energy and skill that we have been treated to all season, they could easily become avid hockey fans. If they see the clutching, grabbing and trapping of the past, they will yawn and change the channel in hopes of finding an old episode of Everybody Loves Raymond. I have a selfish motive as well, the Red Wings will do better, the tighter the games are called. So onto my little run down of the first round match ups and how I think they will play out. In the East, we have Ottawa facing the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning. I guess it's sort of surprising to see the defending champs barely eking into the eighth seed. But they did have a lot of goaltending issues this season. They lost Nikolai Khabibulin which is more important than many thought it would be. Ottawa in first is no surprise to anyone although the fact that they did it in large part with the absence of Dominik Hasek is a bit of an eyebrow raiser. Obviously I see Ottawa winning this series. I don't think Tampa can shut down Dany Heatley or any of the other blazing Senator offense and it has become obvious that no matter which goalie Ottawa has to go with, they are stronger than most teams in that arena as well. Ottawa in four. Carolina vs. Montreal. This is where I see an upset. Christobal Huet has been standing on his head for the Canadiens and the Olympics showed us that they wouldn't lose a thing if they had to go with David Aebischer in net. The Canadiens have been playing strong of late while Carolina is lacking depth. Beyond Eric Staal, they have little as far as scoring and it will take more than that kid if they are to get past a team like Montreal whose seeding is deceptive to the strength of team that they have. Montreal in seven. New Jersey vs. New York. It is so good to see the Rangers back in the playoffs. This is their first appearance in the post season since 1997. This is a tight match up. Lou Lamoriello has his team clicking on all cylinders and he has one of the best playoff goalies ever in Martin Brodeur. While New York has a refreshed Jaromir Jagr. And some very impressive rookies. I worry about the pressure that will fall to young goalie Henrik Lundquist. Big Apple pressure can be suffocating for the best of them. New Jersey in six. Buffalo vs. Philadelphia. Philly has been playing some inspired hockey of late and I have to give them credit for it. I see Buffalo edging out as far as goaltending is concerned and I think that will make the difference in the series. Sabres in six. Time to head to the west now where Nashville will face the San Jose Sharks. If Tomas Vokoun were healthy, I'd give this series to Nashville hands down. Although I still think it would be a hard fought and long series. Joe Thornton and Jonathan Cheechoo are scoring like mad and nothing seems to be able to stop the Sharks lately. With Vokoun out, I don't see how the Predators will be able to take this. Sharks in seven. Calgary vs. Anaheim. Miikka Kiprusoff is an amazing goalie and he will have to be because his team isn't going to score a lot in front of him. This is the series I see as most evenly matched as far as a toss up on how it could turn out. I just see a little more fight in the Ducks this year. Anaheim in six. Dallas vs. Colorado. The Avalanche are not the team they once were. They rely too much on the kids and their goaltending is weak. Trading Aebischer for Theodore still makes no sense at all to me. I just don't get that one. Dallas has been climbing up Detroit's behind all season and I don't see them slowing it down for the playoffs. There is too much strong leadership on that team. Dallas in five. Detroit vs. Edmonton. This is going to be tougher than some would think. This Oilers team has played us hard all season. They are fast and aggressive and have basically been playing playoff hockey for the last month just to get into the post season while we have had things locked up and have looked sluggish and sloppy at times. There can be no more sloppy if we want to not be upset in the first round. And we could be easily upset. I don't think it will happen though. We have better goaltending and more balanced scoring than most teams out there. And definitely than the Oilers do. In past seasons, the scoring has shut off come playoff time and I don't see that happening this year. Granted we will still be without Pavel Datsyuk tonight but with Henrik Zetterberg and Mikael Samuelsson and that soft handed wonder, Tomas Holmstrom (who knew?), I think we will still be fine. Detroit in six. Okay folks, that does it for this little girl. I need a nap now or I won't make it awake to the puck drop. Chemo is a girl dog if you get my meaning. I will write more later and I should have some more energy tomorrow. I hope. I also hope we are looking at a 1-0 lead in the series so as to retain home ice advantage. Not that the home or road thing seems to matter this season.