[06330i]

detroit red wings right here #13 pavel datsyuk

[red_wagen]

Originally Posted by eleven24

I was just talking about this with a friend yesterday. When was the last time you remember all 16 teams making the playoffs having 90+ points? It's entirely possible the 16th best team, the defending Cup Champions, ends up with 95 points.

Back to the Rangers/Flyers and the division... What kind of reward will winning the division bring? A first round matchup with the streaking Devils? You guys can have it. GLADLY. The Devs are 9-0-1 in their last 10, and with the NHL slowly allowing the clutching & grabbing to return I really don't feel like watching a boring first round.

If the Rangers win the division the Flyers get Buffalo, who are really struggling. If the Devils leapfrog the Flyers, then its a Flyers/Rangers first round. I'd be happy with that. And no, not a flame... it would be a good series. I'd just rather face Lundqvist after a few weeks off than Brodeur who is on fire.

You're right about ending up against the Devils by winning the division (if) but at least by winning the division we get home ice for at least the 1st round. Very important imo esp in hockey. But like I mentioned, even if we play the 8th seed, it's not a given. Although Brodeur is on a streak, he's not the same Brodeur 4-5, or even 2, years ago. He's still very good but a lil beatable now. Heck, Esche can go on a streak himself. We'll see about Lundqvist. Hopefully he gets a game or two to tune up before the playoffs. Good luck

[puck724]

i dont think home ice is that important in ice hockey. having the crowd behind you is wonderful, but not everything. its a lot easier for a road team to play an away game in the nhl than it for any other sport.

[Ilac91]

Never loved the Canucks and the best hockey i've ever seen "live" was in 1989 when the Flames won! From Calgary and always a Calgarian! Good luck in the playoffs!

[puck724]

all loyalties aside, who do you think will raise the cup come june?

i think the canes have a good shot. hopefully my ducks will get a streak going though.

[eleven24]

Started watching the Flyers in 1976-77, so I've never seen a Cup. And I won't be seeing one this year either. Waaay to inconsistant.

The easy pick would be Detroit - which, by the way, must have a time machine at Joe Louis Arena. Isn't Stevie Y 85 years old now? Anyway... Detroit is known for putting up big regular seasons and then getting bounced in the playoffs. I'll go out on a limb and predict a conference Finals of...

West : Calgary vs San Jose
East : Carolina vs NJ

Cup Finals: Carolina vs Calgary

Cup: Carolina

[red_wagen]

Congrats to the Devils. They certainly earned it. 11 straight wins
My Blueshirts are limping into the playoffs on 5 straight....losses
But you know what? I can't complain. Heck, the "experts" (admittedly, I was one of them) didn't give them a snowballs chance in hell and to actually contend for the division on the last game of the reg season is a huge achievement. Whatever happens, this season, in my book at least, has been a success. I'm looking forward to the second season...

[puck724]

let the games begin!

[SocalTy]

This is going to be good.

[eleven24]

At my office we always have a little tournament each year, and it goes like this...

Predict the winner of each series, along with the number of games they will win in.

Scoring:
In Rounds 1 & 2, 1 point is awarded for picking the correct team, 3 points is awarded for picking the correct team AND number of games.
In Round 3 2 points are awarded for picking the correct team and 4 points for picking the correct team AND number of games.
In Round 4 (Stanley Cup Finals) 4 points are awarded for correct team, 5 points for correct team & number of games.

No points will be awarded for picking the correct number of games, but the wrong team as the winner.

Whomever has the most points at the end of the playoffs is the winner. For now, the prize is a new BMW. Whichever model you choose - courtesy of E90 Post - or bragging rights.

Round 1 picks must be posted no later than FRIDAY 5:00 PM EST Note: Only pick winners for round 1. Do not predict all teams right to the cup.

Matchups:

Eastern Conference ~
#1 OTTAWA vs #8 TAMPA BAY
#2 CAROLINA vs #7 MONTREAL
#3 NEW JERSEY vs #6 NY RANGERS
#4 BUFFALO vs #5 PHILADELPHIA

Western Conference ~
#1 DETROIT vs #8 EDMONTON
#2 DALLAS vs #7 COLORADO
#3 CALGARY vs #6 ANAHEIM
#4 NASHVILLE vs #5 SAN JOSE

[puck724]

Eastern Conference ~
#1 OTTAWA vs #8 TAMPA BAY----------ottawa in 6
#2 CAROLINA vs #7 MONTREAL---------carolina in 5
#3 NEW JERSEY vs #6 NY RANGERS------- Rangers in 6
#4 BUFFALO vs #5 PHILADELPHIA--------sabres in 6

Western Conference ~
#1 DETROIT vs #8 EDMONTON----------detroit in 5
#2 DALLAS vs #7 COLORADO------------colorado in 7
#3 CALGARY vs #6 ANAHEIM-----------ducks in 5
#4 NASHVILLE vs #5 SAN JOSE----------san jose in 6

[Hornet]

Originally Posted by puck724

#3 CALGARY vs #6 ANAHEIM-----------ducks in 5

So it's Kiprusoff vs. Selänne
Sadly I can't see the matches here on TV.

[SocalTy]

Anybody here in Socal know a good spot where I could possibly catch the Ranger game this saturday??

I was thinking of maybe hitting up the Irvine Spectrum. The Fox Sports restaurant might have it on but im sure if it were on they would have the game on one of those little ass tvs in the corner....without the sound. Oh well, any suggestions??

[SocalTy]

and...

Eastern Conference ~
#1 OTTAWA vs #8 TAMPA BAY----------ottawa in 5
#2 CAROLINA vs #7 MONTREAL---------carolina in 5
#3 NEW JERSEY vs #6 NY RANGERS------- Rangers in 7
#4 BUFFALO vs #5 PHILADELPHIA--------Philly in 6

Western Conference ~
#1 DETROIT vs #8 EDMONTON----------Wings in 5
#2 DALLAS vs #7 COLORADO------------Dallas in 6
#3 CALGARY vs #6 ANAHEIM-----------(sorry socal) flames in 5
#4 NASHVILLE vs #5 SAN JOSE----------san jose in 6

[puck724]

Originally Posted by SocalTy

Anybody here in Socal know a good spot where I could possibly catch the Ranger game this saturday??

I was thinking of maybe hitting up the Irvine Spectrum. The Fox Sports restaurant might have it on but im sure if it were on they would have the game on one of those little ass tvs in the corner....without the sound. Oh well, any suggestions??

i was thinking the fox sports too. also you might wanna check out champs, its also at irvine specturm. not too sure where else to go to cathch a hockey game though,haha...

[puck724]

i was jsut reading some oth e posts made al ong time ago reegarding how crosby is over rated.

being the youngest to hit 100 points and playing for the owrst team in the league just got him more respect from me.

[SocalTy]

Originally Posted by puck724

i was thinking the fox sports too. also you might wanna check out champs, its also at irvine specturm. not too sure where else to go to cathch a hockey game though,haha...

Coolios, thanks puck. I just found out that the ranger game (along with other games) will be on nbc this saturday, just a matter of which game nbc is going to show though. So i might just stay home and hope its the ranger game they broadcoast over here in socal. Otherwise, its off to the spectrum.

[red_wagen]

Originally Posted by SocalTy

Coolios, thanks puck. I just found out that the ranger game (along with other games) will be on nbc this saturday, just a matter of which game nbc is going to show though. So i might just stay home and hope its the ranger game they broadcoast over here in socal. Otherwise, its off to the spectrum.

Wow, you're one devoted Ranger fan How'd you end up being a Blueshirt fan when you're in Socal? LOL.
Btw I like your prediction, Rangers in 7 I hope it happens...

[EVO_S4]

Eastern Conference ~
#1 OTTAWA vs #8 TAMPA BAY ----Ottawa in 4
#2 CAROLINA vs #7 MONTREAL----Carolina in 5
#3 NEW JERSEY vs #6 NY RANGERS----New Jersey in 7
#4 BUFFALO vs #5 PHILADELPHIA----Buffalo in 7

Western Conference ~
#1 DETROIT vs #8 EDMONTON----Detroit in 4
#2 DALLAS vs #7 COLORADO----Dallas in 6
#3 CALGARY vs #6 ANAHEIM----Calgary in 6
#4 NASHVILLE vs #5 SAN JOSE----Nashville in 6

[SocalTy]

Originally Posted by red_wagen

Wow, you're one devoted Ranger fan How'd you end up being a Blueshirt fan when you're in Socal? LOL.
Btw I like your prediction, Rangers in 7 I hope it happens...

HAHa thank you! It should be a great and exciting series, as is every game the rangers are up against the devils. But I was born in queens,ny and I moved out here 2 years ago for school purposes. So I pretty much grew up watching the Rangers on msg. I remember even when I got here, the first thing I did was call Time Warner to see if I could somehow get the MSG channel out here....then bitched at them when I couldn't.

[puck724]

laker game is on saturday i think. good luck finding a TV without that game on....lol

[puck724]

damn flames.