1st San Jose Sharks vs. 8th Anaheim Ducks
San Jose was drew one tough 8th seed in Anaheim and their amazing defensemen. With Beauchemin back from injury along with Pronger, Niedermeyer, and Whitney they easily have the best D corps in the league and they will need it against Thornton, Marleau&Co. This is going to be a tough hard fought series and it can go either way and may be won by San Jose being so good at home and I think they squeak by just barely.
San Jose in 7
2nd Detroit Red Wings vs. 7th Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus enters its first postseason against the Detroit and they couldnt ask for a worse opponent. This series depends on the rookie Steve Mason stopping the Detroit scoring attack led by Pavel Datsyuk and his sidekicks Marion Hossa and Henrik Zetterberg and anchored on defense by the best in the league in Nicklas Lidstrom. I just dont think the Jackets are good enough to beat this Detroit team that makes up its lack of goaltending with its ability to outscore anyone.
Detroit in 4
3rd Vancouver Canucks vs. 6th St. Louis Blues
The best 2 teams in the second half of the season square off in an extremely even series. Luongo and the Sedin twins will win this series over the inexperienced Blues but it wont be easy. Chris Mason has played some amazing goal as of late and has really kept this team in it. They just dont have enough to beat Luongo and the twins.
Vancouver in 6
4th Chicago Blackhawks vs. 5th Calgary Flames
This series will be one thing, high scoring. Toews and Kane, two of my favorite players to watch because they are so young but play like they've been in the league for so long and do it so well. They embark on their first playoff stint against a flat looking Calgary team that doesnt look as good as they did a couple months ago. These two teams combined have 11 20 goal scorers so there is no doubt they will score but can Kiprusoff stop the young guns of Chicago and can the Bulin wall stand up against the veteran experience of Olli Jokinen and Jarome Iginla? I think that the Blackhawks will keep playing amazing hockey and get put out the Flames.
Chicago in 5
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Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
NHL Playoff Preview-Eastern Conference
1st-Boston Bruins vs 8th-Montreal Canadiens
In this hated Original 6 rivalry we see one hell of a match up. This series could go either way even though it's an 8 vs 1. Montreals terrible 2nd half confuses me because they were such a good team for the start of the season but I have high hopes for the Habs in the playoffs. If they can right the ship here and start playing some hockey with the veteran leadership of Kovalev and get some solid goaltending from Carey Price they can surprise the Bruins and send them to the golf course early. They just need to find a way to get past Tim Thomas who's 4-0-1 against them and learn how to control Zdeno Chara who has 3 goals and 3 assists and Marc Savard 3 goals and 2 helpers against them this year. If they can pull that off they can upset the B's and help out my Rangers.
Canadiens in 7 (wishful thinking)
2nd-Washington Capitals vs. 7th New York Rangers
Offense meets defense in this battle between Ovechkin and his merry bunch of scorers vs King Henrik. This game is decided by if the Rangers want to score or not which tends to be a big problem for them this year. If Washington starts scoring 3-4 goals it's going to be very difficult for the Rangers to keep up and it could end up like last year against the Penguins. As long as they play stellar defense, dont take dumb penalties and Lundquist plays his ass off the Rangers could somehow get by this offensive powerhouse.
Rangers in 6
3rd-New Jersey Devils vs. 6th Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina coming off a great playoff push going 9-2 in their last 11 games are playing a great Devil team with a healthy Brodeur. Can the Hurricanes beat the Devils yet again in the playoffs which they've done the last two times they met? And can the Devils finally win at the RBC Center where they can't seem to win at all? I think so with Brodeur and Zach Parise they hold a slight edge over Eric Staal and Cam Ward. I see a bunch of 2-1 and 3-2 games and the Devils taking the series.
Devils in 5
4th Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 5th Philadelphia Flyers
The battle of Pennsylvania is here and Pittsburgh is ready to kill the Flyers. Their offense is too potent to be contained by the Flyers. Malkin and Crosby are gonna skate circles around the Flyers defense and make quick work of them.
Penguins in 4
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In this hated Original 6 rivalry we see one hell of a match up. This series could go either way even though it's an 8 vs 1. Montreals terrible 2nd half confuses me because they were such a good team for the start of the season but I have high hopes for the Habs in the playoffs. If they can right the ship here and start playing some hockey with the veteran leadership of Kovalev and get some solid goaltending from Carey Price they can surprise the Bruins and send them to the golf course early. They just need to find a way to get past Tim Thomas who's 4-0-1 against them and learn how to control Zdeno Chara who has 3 goals and 3 assists and Marc Savard 3 goals and 2 helpers against them this year. If they can pull that off they can upset the B's and help out my Rangers.
Canadiens in 7 (wishful thinking)
2nd-Washington Capitals vs. 7th New York Rangers
Offense meets defense in this battle between Ovechkin and his merry bunch of scorers vs King Henrik. This game is decided by if the Rangers want to score or not which tends to be a big problem for them this year. If Washington starts scoring 3-4 goals it's going to be very difficult for the Rangers to keep up and it could end up like last year against the Penguins. As long as they play stellar defense, dont take dumb penalties and Lundquist plays his ass off the Rangers could somehow get by this offensive powerhouse.
Rangers in 6
3rd-New Jersey Devils vs. 6th Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina coming off a great playoff push going 9-2 in their last 11 games are playing a great Devil team with a healthy Brodeur. Can the Hurricanes beat the Devils yet again in the playoffs which they've done the last two times they met? And can the Devils finally win at the RBC Center where they can't seem to win at all? I think so with Brodeur and Zach Parise they hold a slight edge over Eric Staal and Cam Ward. I see a bunch of 2-1 and 3-2 games and the Devils taking the series.
Devils in 5
4th Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 5th Philadelphia Flyers
The battle of Pennsylvania is here and Pittsburgh is ready to kill the Flyers. Their offense is too potent to be contained by the Flyers. Malkin and Crosby are gonna skate circles around the Flyers defense and make quick work of them.
Penguins in 4
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Saturday, April 11, 2009
NL East Preview
The Marlins have great young pitching that goes unnoticed and so many young players that I wouldnt be surprised if they make a playoff push this year or next but they are not to be overlooked. This 4-0 start is no fluke and they will continue to perform this well as the season goes so they are my surprise pick this season.
Even though the Phillies have had a bad start their team is too good to not win the NL East unless the fish sneak up on them. I would throw the Marlins in second because they have great arms and great bats but will it be good enough to topple the defending World Series champs? The Mets will choke during September as usual even though they have K-rod and Putz to set him up but they still don't have a dominant lefty in the pen and that's something you need when playing the Phillies. I dont see them making the playoffs yet again even though they are lucky enough to not be playing Florida the last 3 games of the season. The Braves are a solid team but their pitching is just not good enough to do well in this division. The Nationals dont need to be mentioned because well they're the Nationals and who really cares about them?
So its obvious I'm drinking the Marlin Kool-aid and I hope they do well as the season progresses but we will just have to wait and see.
NL East Finish: Phillies 95-67, Marlins 87-75, Mets 85-77, Braves, 81-81, Nationals 60-102
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Even though the Phillies have had a bad start their team is too good to not win the NL East unless the fish sneak up on them. I would throw the Marlins in second because they have great arms and great bats but will it be good enough to topple the defending World Series champs? The Mets will choke during September as usual even though they have K-rod and Putz to set him up but they still don't have a dominant lefty in the pen and that's something you need when playing the Phillies. I dont see them making the playoffs yet again even though they are lucky enough to not be playing Florida the last 3 games of the season. The Braves are a solid team but their pitching is just not good enough to do well in this division. The Nationals dont need to be mentioned because well they're the Nationals and who really cares about them?
So its obvious I'm drinking the Marlin Kool-aid and I hope they do well as the season progresses but we will just have to wait and see.
NL East Finish: Phillies 95-67, Marlins 87-75, Mets 85-77, Braves, 81-81, Nationals 60-102
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Friday, April 10, 2009
The Rangers are in the Playoffs!
I dont know how the most underachieving team in the NHL did it but they managed to hold on for a nice playoff spot. Excluding King Henrik the Rangers underperformed especially on offense and more importantly on the power play which looks more like a penalty kill at times. They need to pull it together and get ready for a playoff run which i know this team has in them under the veteran leadership of Chris Drury. Hopefully they can get a win on Sunday over the Flyers and get that 7th spot so they can play the Capitals and let the Habs play the Bruins. History tells us the Rangers like playing Washington in the playoffs (see 1994 Stanley Cup) and they stand a way better chance of beating them then the Bruins.
I see Montreal being able to beat the Bruins mainly because they have won a Stanley Cup in every decade except this one. Seeing as this is the last year to do so they cant lose plus they beat them a couple years ago in the playoffs when they met in opposite positions (Montreal now 8th seed was 1 and vice versa).
If somehow the 7th and 8th seeds upset the 1st and 2nd it would set the Rangers up for a cup push but its highly doubtful and i can only dream but you never know. Let's Go Rangers
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I see Montreal being able to beat the Bruins mainly because they have won a Stanley Cup in every decade except this one. Seeing as this is the last year to do so they cant lose plus they beat them a couple years ago in the playoffs when they met in opposite positions (Montreal now 8th seed was 1 and vice versa).
If somehow the 7th and 8th seeds upset the 1st and 2nd it would set the Rangers up for a cup push but its highly doubtful and i can only dream but you never know. Let's Go Rangers
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Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Tiger Tiger Woods Y'all
This weekend is what golf fans have been waiting nearly a year for, Tiger Woods in a major event. The Masters will be watched by millions including myself(if O'Malley allows it) solely because of his presence and greatness . I would like to see him down a couple strokes going into Sunday so we can see him do what he does best; scare the shit out of whoever is ahead of him to the point where they choke. Then all he has to do is put on his Sunday red shirt and make shot after shot after shot and win yet another major. If anyone is going to bet on golf now's the time Tiger Woods +170 to win The Masters
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Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Eagles Upcoming Draft
With 12 picks in this years draft what the hell are the Eagles going to do with all these picks. Here's 1 idea, TRADE SOME. As draft day approaches they need to trade for Boldin because they need a weapon other then Westbrook to carry the team. Boldin isn't too old and still has many good years left plus he's a number 1 receiver, something the eagles have lacked since the departure of terrible owens. I don't care what they give up for him but they need him more then jaguars wide receivers need their coke. Desean Jackson cant be a number 1 because of his height and Kevin Curtis is white so something needs to change because the window is closing for another chance at the Super Bowl. Drafting a wide receiver this year will help but they need someone tall with good hands and because of the depth of this years draft they don't need to waste a 1st round pick on one. We need a good tackle to replace Runyan and a nice running back to complement Westbrook. Someone like Donald Brown from Uconn would be a good fit but if the Eagles can't get a #1 receiver they have no chance. If they could package a 1st 3rd and 5th to get Boldin they can still address their needs to getting a tackle with their other 1st round pick and pick up a good rb with the 2nd round pick. If that's not possible I would settle for Ocho Cinco even though he is a bit older and his best years may be behind him but it's still a solid number 1 and a big improvement.
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The Tar Heels are #1
As expected UNC beat Michigan State by outplaying them in every aspect of the game. After 3 minutes went by you kinda knew it was over. The same thing will probably happen tonight when UCONN spanks Louisville and goes undefeated for the womens title.
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Saturday, April 4, 2009
Final Four Overview
The day has finally come and we are up and running. Perfect timing because the Final 4 games are today. I like UNC to beat Villanova not sure if it will cover the 7 point spread but they are going to win it all. It comes down to the guard play with Lawson vs. Reynolds, whoever wins that battle wins the game.
Izzo Vs Calhoun: Michigan state basically home against UCONN is the game to watch today. Quick whistles could very well decide the game if Thabeet gets into foul trouble Michigan state will drive through them but if Thabeet stays out of trouble they MUST hit their outside shots or else the Huskies win. I think the Spartans will squeak by UCONN in an epic coaches battle.
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Izzo Vs Calhoun: Michigan state basically home against UCONN is the game to watch today. Quick whistles could very well decide the game if Thabeet gets into foul trouble Michigan state will drive through them but if Thabeet stays out of trouble they MUST hit their outside shots or else the Huskies win. I think the Spartans will squeak by UCONN in an epic coaches battle.
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