Evie
Pronounced like Eevee
And so with the Sens winning their delayed game against the Bruins, we know at last who will be facing who in the playoffs.
In the EAST
1 Pittsburgh Penguins v. 8 New York Islanders
A history in the making there. Pittsburgh has the advantage (like there's a team they don't), but the Isles can get under their skins like few others.
Season reason: Pittsburgh 4 win to 1 loss. The loss was the first game of the season.
2 Montreal Canadiens v. 7 Ottawa Senators
At last! The battle of the 417! Two hours drive, and we still had to wait 20 years for it. Good year for it, too (see below), good potential there.
Season Result: 2-2 tie, and a bitter, can't-get-ahead fight (Ottawa won, Montreal won right back. OTtawa got a SO win, Montreal got one right back)
3 Washington Capitals v. 6 New York Rangers
Opposite the above, this is the third straight playoff meeting in a row for these two. Maybe they'll get a real rivalry out of it eventually.
Season Result: New York wins 2-1 (a SO loss at that). But those games were earliers in the season, before the rebirth of Team Ovie, so who knows?
4 Boston Bruins v. 5 Toronto Maple Leafs
As a Habs fan, my commentary for this playoff can only ever be: whoever lose, I win. But that said...go Bruins. Love to hate them; just hate the Laffs.
Season Result: 3-1 edge to Boston, but with very narrow games (1-0, 4-2, 2-3, 3-2 (SO)). Don't count the Leafs out (sadly).
In the WEST
1 Chicago Blackhawks v. 8 Minnesota Wild (Chicago 2-1 in regular season)
The Wild were THE team of the off-season period (because Sutter/Parise). Then the Hawks were THE team of the regular season (because)
Season results: Chicago 2-1. Surprisingly, the one MIN win was actually early season, back when the Hawks were quasi-unbeatable. (SO win).
2 Anaheim Ducks v. 7 Detroit Red Wings (Detroit 2-1 in regular season)
Precious little to say here. They're...teams...that play hockey...that won cup the past decade. Uh. DET is on hard time, ANA is...ANA.
Season results: Detroit 2-1, rather surprisingly. Anaheim won the first, Detroit got right back at them with the next two.
3 Vancouver Canucks v. 6 San Jose Sharks
In effect, a race to the bottom to see which team has their annual playoff fizzle first. (Sorry, SJ and VAN fans. You know it's true).
Season results: San Jose 3-0, though one win was in shoot-out.
4 St Louis Blues v. 5 Los Angeles Kings
A solid team though undermined by injuries, against the reigning champs (Not the best season for LAK, but that didn't exactly stop them a year ago)
Season results: Los Angeles 3-0, clean and convincing.
Someone else can have the privilege of organising the prediction thingy
(For ease of predicting, here is the list of games without my comments)
East
1 Pittsburgh Penguins v. 8 New York Islanders
2 Montreal Canadiens v. 7 Ottawa Senators
3 Washington Capitals v. 6 New York Rangers
4 Boston Bruins v. 5 Toronto Maple Leafs
West
1 Chicago Blackhawks v. 8 Minnesota Wild (Chicago 2-1 in regular season)
2 Anahiem Ducks v. 7 Detroit Red Wings (Detroit 2-1 in regular season)
3 Vancouver Canucks v. 6 San Jose Sharks
4 St Louis Blues v. 5 Los Angeles Kings
In the EAST
1 Pittsburgh Penguins v. 8 New York Islanders
A history in the making there. Pittsburgh has the advantage (like there's a team they don't), but the Isles can get under their skins like few others.
Season reason: Pittsburgh 4 win to 1 loss. The loss was the first game of the season.
2 Montreal Canadiens v. 7 Ottawa Senators
At last! The battle of the 417! Two hours drive, and we still had to wait 20 years for it. Good year for it, too (see below), good potential there.
Season Result: 2-2 tie, and a bitter, can't-get-ahead fight (Ottawa won, Montreal won right back. OTtawa got a SO win, Montreal got one right back)
3 Washington Capitals v. 6 New York Rangers
Opposite the above, this is the third straight playoff meeting in a row for these two. Maybe they'll get a real rivalry out of it eventually.
Season Result: New York wins 2-1 (a SO loss at that). But those games were earliers in the season, before the rebirth of Team Ovie, so who knows?
4 Boston Bruins v. 5 Toronto Maple Leafs
As a Habs fan, my commentary for this playoff can only ever be: whoever lose, I win. But that said...go Bruins. Love to hate them; just hate the Laffs.
Season Result: 3-1 edge to Boston, but with very narrow games (1-0, 4-2, 2-3, 3-2 (SO)). Don't count the Leafs out (sadly).
In the WEST
1 Chicago Blackhawks v. 8 Minnesota Wild (Chicago 2-1 in regular season)
The Wild were THE team of the off-season period (because Sutter/Parise). Then the Hawks were THE team of the regular season (because)
Season results: Chicago 2-1. Surprisingly, the one MIN win was actually early season, back when the Hawks were quasi-unbeatable. (SO win).
2 Anaheim Ducks v. 7 Detroit Red Wings (Detroit 2-1 in regular season)
Precious little to say here. They're...teams...that play hockey...that won cup the past decade. Uh. DET is on hard time, ANA is...ANA.
Season results: Detroit 2-1, rather surprisingly. Anaheim won the first, Detroit got right back at them with the next two.
3 Vancouver Canucks v. 6 San Jose Sharks
In effect, a race to the bottom to see which team has their annual playoff fizzle first. (Sorry, SJ and VAN fans. You know it's true).
Season results: San Jose 3-0, though one win was in shoot-out.
4 St Louis Blues v. 5 Los Angeles Kings
A solid team though undermined by injuries, against the reigning champs (Not the best season for LAK, but that didn't exactly stop them a year ago)
Season results: Los Angeles 3-0, clean and convincing.
Someone else can have the privilege of organising the prediction thingy
(For ease of predicting, here is the list of games without my comments)
East
1 Pittsburgh Penguins v. 8 New York Islanders
2 Montreal Canadiens v. 7 Ottawa Senators
3 Washington Capitals v. 6 New York Rangers
4 Boston Bruins v. 5 Toronto Maple Leafs
West
1 Chicago Blackhawks v. 8 Minnesota Wild (Chicago 2-1 in regular season)
2 Anahiem Ducks v. 7 Detroit Red Wings (Detroit 2-1 in regular season)
3 Vancouver Canucks v. 6 San Jose Sharks
4 St Louis Blues v. 5 Los Angeles Kings
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