2012 NHL Playoffs Prediction/Observations Thread

[GTCrew4b]

OP will be updated accordingly throughout the postseason. Regardless of what was written in the official regular season thread, your cup prediction in this thread will be official, so choose wisely. Obviously some spots are still open as of now, so if your cup picks depend on those last few spots feel free to hold off. Below is my predicted standings/matchups

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaFINAL STANDINGS
EASTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaAWEST
#1 New York Rangersaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaai#1 Vancouver Canucks
#2 Boston Bruinsaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa#2 St. Louis Blues
#3 Florida Panthersaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiaaaaaaaa#3 Phoenix Coyotes
#4 Pittsburgh Penguins aaaaaaaaaaaiaaaaaai#4 Nashville Predators
#5 Philadelphia Flyersaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiaaaaa #5 Detroit Red Wings
#6 New Jersey Devilsaaaaaaaaaaaaiiaaaaaaai#6 Chicago Blackhawks
#7 Washington Capitalsaaaaaaaaaaaiaaaaaa #7 San Jose Sharks
#8 Ottawa Senatorsaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaai#8 Los Angeles Kings

CUP PREDICTIONS

1. GTCrew4b: DET beats PHI 4-3
2. Allen K.: NYR beats STL 4-2
3. 77GTFan: STL beats PIT
4. gtrower: VAN beats PHI 4-2

5. Yellow_Jacket: PIT beats VAN
6. Buzz Czar: NYR beats DET
7. turbanicusGT: STL beats PIT 4-2

PLAYOFF SERIES TRACKER

EAST
#1 NYR-4::3-#8 OTT
#2 BOS-3::4-#7 WSH
#3 FLA-3::4-#6 NJD
#4 PIT-2::4-#5 PHI

#1 NYR-4::3-#7 WSH
#5 PHI-1::4-#6 NJD

#1 NYR-2::4-#6 NJD

WEST
#1 VAN-1::4-#8 LAK
#2 STL-4::1-#7 SAN
#3 PHO-4::2-#6 CHI
#4 NSH-4::1-#5 DET

#2 STL-0::4-#8 LAK
#3 PHO-4::1-#4 NSH

#3 PHO-1::4-#8 LAK

STANLEY CUP FINAL

NJD-2::4-LAK

+= tonight's games

[The Jacket]

It's not official if it doesn't have "GO THRASHERS" in the subject line.

[BlackJacket]

Originally Posted by The Jacket

It's not official if it doesn't have "GO THRASHERS" in the subject line.

This.

[GTCrew4b]

can we compromise? I don't know how to change the thread title, but the subject line has been changed I believe.

[The Jacket]

Nashville is going to be a really hard team to beat. Their loss on Saturday aside, they've been firing on all cylinders. Scoring, defense, physicality, the whole enchilada. I would be very, very surprised to see them make an early exit.

[Allen Koholic]

Rangers over Blues 4-2

[GTCrew4b]

I agree, I just think Detroit's experience will help them take Nashville out, since they'll be the chic pick to win it all and Nick "Norris" Lidstrom won't like being underestimated.

The only reason Detroit isn't a runaway President's Trophy winner is health, and they expect to get Darren Helm back in the middle of round 1.

Plus I like rooting for Detroit. It makes me feel American—like I just bought a Ford or something.

[77GTFan]

I like the Blues/Red Wings in the West and Bruins/Pens in the East. I'll take the Penguins and Blues for the Cup, with the Blues winning it all. I think the Capitals have a great chance of upsetting the Rangers in Round 1.

[gtrower]

I havent watched enough of the West to make an informed prediction, but for the East I could get specific...

Caps over Rangers (homer pick, but not grossly unfounded with Backstrom back)
Bruins over Ottawa (Thomas)
Devils over Florida (No points for OT losses in the playoffs)
Flyers over Pitt (should be a lot of fun to watch)

Flyers over Caps (Homerism only goes so far)
Bruins over Devils (Thomas)

Flyers over Bruins to take the East (IDK why)

I'll take a stab at the West with Vancouver over Chicago. Leaving Vancouver over Flyers in 6.

[GTCrew4b]

there's re-seeding in the NHL playoffs, so the 8th seed would face the Bruins in your scenario, and Philly would play New Jersey, but my predictions are nearly identical to yours in the East.

Regarding the sly comment at Florida, remember that despite the terrible OT record, OT is 4-on-4 and the shootout is the shootout, neither of which are true come playoff time. Also New Jersey has a staggering 12 shootout wins. If you take away OT records and just look at 5-on-5 hockey, Florida is 30-25 while New Jersey is 29-25. Also the Panthers are .500 against New Jersey. That will be an interesting series...