Return of the Winged Wheel

Hello again to anyone who has been waiting for the past several months for me to post my thoughts (sorry for the wait). The NHL playoffs got underway last week and has put the NHL on the map even on their former carrier ESPN. I've managed to make the transition from Eastern Standard Time to the playoff standard of not knowing when I'm going to bed. Sadly, I did not last through the four overtime epic that was game 1 between Vancouver and Dallas (I turned in after two extra periods). However, that game has set the tone for what appears to be another great postseason. As I type this, I'm four days into my playoff beard which I'm growing for the Detroit Red Wings run through the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

On Detroit, what more can you ask for from the first two games against Calgary? They've out hit the Flames, out shot them 97-35, and have been far better in every facet of the game. If not for Mikka Kiprusoff, the games would have been far more lopsided. As the series shifts to Calgary tomorrow night, Detroit must maintain that level of intensity because Calgary was the best home team in the league. A sweep would be great, but a split should be the bare minimum expectation. Get back to Detroit up 3-1 and this should be over. I have not seen the Red Wings outwork a team like this in the playoffs since probably 2002.

Folks, the Winged Wheel is back and these Wings will not be pushed over. If they take care of business against Calgary, that will give them so much confidence moving forward that they'll be extremely difficult to beat. Even in a tough conference, I don't see a team beating the Wings if they keep playing this well. Pavel Datsyuk is finally coming up with big goals, Zetterberg has been the best pointless player in the playoffs so far, Hasek is playing solidly, and their grind lines are scoring as well. With some of the youth in this lineup, this franchise will be competitive for a long time.

Here are my playoff predictions before the playoffs started with a little description of each:
Western Conference
1. Detroit Red Wings vs. 8. Calgary Flames-Predicted: Wings in 6, (currently 2-0 Wings)
Comments: The Red Wings have dominated this series through two games. Outshooting Calgary 51-15 and outscoring them 7-2. If you want to pick away at any flaw, they're only 2/15 on the power play. If the Flames don't win both games in Calgary, they're done. I expect that the Wings will be in for a fight on the road, Calgary has got to get it together at some point right? The way this has been playing in the first two games, I wouldn't be surprised if this did end up a sweep. Which is funny because I thought this would be a much tougher series than it has been so far for Detroit.

2. Anaheim Ducks vs. 7. Minnesota Wild-Predicted: Ducks in 5 (currently 3-0 Ducks)
Comments: Despite playing without starting goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere, the Ducks have won three straight one goal games with Ilya Bryzgalov backstopping them. I did not expect the Wild to make this much of a series. True, they allowed the fewest goals in the league, but they just cannot put the puck in the net. I seldom pick sweeps but that's what this is looking like. However, I am concerned about a possible goaltending controversy for the Ducks if and when Giguere comes back.

3. Vancouver Canucks vs. 6. Dallas Stars-Predicted: Canucks in 7 (currently 2-1 Canucks)
Comments: This series has been every bit as close as I thought it would be. With Vancouver taking home ice away from Dallas last night with Taylor Pyatt's goal 7:47 into overtime (the second overtime game of this series). The goaltending has been superb in this series. With Roberto Luongo making his postseason debut with 72 saves in a game 1 win and Marty Turco shutting the Canucks out in game 2. Last night was more of the same with both goalies starring but Luongo coming out on top. The power plays have done nothing for either side so far. Dallas isn't done, but I still like Vancouver to pull this one out in seven.

4. Nashville Predators vs. 5. San Jose Sharks-Predicted: Sharks in 6 (currently 1-1)
Comments: This has been by far the most physical series of the playoffs so far. With players being knocked out of games on both sides and the coaches jawing at each other for their dirty tactics (like the pot calling the kettle black). The Sharks scored a big game 1 win in Nashville and currently hold the home ice advantage headed into tonight's crucial game 3 tonight in San Jose. The Sharks managed a split in Nashville despite getting 0 goals from Joe Thornton, Jonathan Cheechoo, Patrick Marleau, and Bill Guerin. Look for them to get on track as Nashville is knocked out of the 1st round yet again.

Eastern Conference
1. Buffalo Sabres vs. 8. New York Islanders-Predicted: Sabres in 4 (currently 1-1)
Comments: Well New York has already won more games in this series than I thought they would so I'll defend my prediction somewhat. I did not expect Rick DiPietro to be back in net this quickly after his concussion or to play as well as he did in the Islanders game 2 win. Former Buffalo coach Ted Nolan just stole home ice away and he'll need DiPietro to be just as good the rest of the series for them to have a chance. That said, this Buffalo team is flat out loaded and I don't see them losing another game in this series. They're just too good.

2. New Jersey Devils vs. 7. Tampa Bay Lightning-Predicted: Devils in 6 (currently 1-1)
Comments: This has been a very good series so far. The Devils won a 5-3 shootout in game 1 (shootout by Devils standards) and Lightning goalie Johan Holmqvist redeemed himself with 34 saves in game 2. Tampa Bay has to be feeling good about where they are in this series. They got the split they were looking for in East Rutherford and their go to players are scoring (Vincent LeCavalier 3 goals, Brad Richards 3 assists, Martin St. Louis 2 goals) and they've thrown Devils star keeper Martin Brodeur off his game. However, goaltending wins in the playoffs and I don't see Brodeur continuing to give up three goals a game, meaning Holmqvist will have to keep this up. I'll put my money on Brodeur.

3. Atlanta Thrashers vs. 6. New York Rangers-Predicted: Rangers in 7 (currently 2-0 Rangers)
Comments: Well I thought of myself as smart by picking the Rangers to beat Atlanta, turns out I may have given the Thrashers too much credit to win three games. Kari Lehtonen was awful in game 1 and Atlanta turned to Johan Hedberg, who played well. I'm wondering if coach Bob Hartley is going to go back to Lehtonen like he seemed to lead on. With back to back games in Madison Square Garden and a Rangers crowd itching for some playoff success, this series could be over by Wednesday.

4. Ottawa Senators vs. 5. Pittsburgh Penguins-Predicted: Senators in 7 (currently 2-1 Senators)
Comments: Aside from a bad third period in game 2, the Sens have dominated this series. Sydney Crosby has been solid in his playoff debut, but nobody aside from Gary Roberts has given him any help. If the Penguins are going to stay in this series, Marc-Andre Fleury has got to do much better in goal. Otherwise, this series could be done before the weekend. I like Pittsburgh to stay in this one, but I trust Ray Emery more than Fleury at this point in their careers. I'll stay with Ottawa.