The Obligatory 2004 NHL Playoffs Thread
Holy smokes what a great bunch of match-ups we have! Hard to pick them, but I'll take first crack at it. We should do one of those points-based pools too. I like the one where you rank the teams 1-16 in order of which you have the most confidence in to win the Cup (16 = best). Each time that team advances, you get that many points. Then just tally them at the end.
I'll post my rankings shortly, but first the matcups.
Tampa - NYI
Tampa wins the East and plays well all year against the Phillys, New Jerseys and Bostons, but frequently lose to... who else, the Islanders.
Boston - Montreal
Two very evenly matched teams -- both statistically and depth-wise -- who absolutely despise one another. This one will be a classic matchup.
Philly - NJ
One very deep team with average goaltending vs. a team with great goaltending and almost no offensive depth. Classic offense vs. defense (Scott Stevens is out and Rafalski is playing on a broken leg; gotta love hockey players).
Toronto - Ottawa
This one needs no explanation for hockey fans.
"Lose Leafs, LOSE!"
Detroit - Nashville
This won't be close. Edmonton would've made it a real series IMO.
San Jose - St. Louis
Both teams have suspect goal tending, both play physical, both have a history with one another in the playoffs. Should be high scoring.
Vancouver - Calgary
I am biased but I think unless Kiprusoff stands on his head, Calgary is in trouble. No Reinprecht or Yelle hurts, also.
Colorado - Dallas
The team that was given the Cup before the year began (by people like myself), finished fourth and played with very little heart at times this year. Dallas has the better goalie, is bigger up front, and knows how to play playoff defense (even though no Hatcher or Sydor hurts). This one will be fun.
...and the second round matchups show potential for some great series, too. It's going to be a great playoff season. Hopefully so great the powers that be will be compelled to reach a new CBA (complete with some good officiating and rules changes) by September 15.
My "confidence rankings" (I'll be happy to run the "pool" if you guys want. No moolah required....)
16. Detroit
15. Dallas
14. Ottawa (homer vote, I admit it)
13. Toronto
12. Vancouver
11. Tampa Bay
10. New Jersey
9. Colorado
8. Boston
7. Montreal
6. Philadelphia
5. St. Louis
4. Calgary
3. San Jose
2. NY Islanders
1. Nashville
I'll post my rankings shortly, but first the matcups.
Tampa - NYI
Tampa wins the East and plays well all year against the Phillys, New Jerseys and Bostons, but frequently lose to... who else, the Islanders.
Boston - Montreal
Two very evenly matched teams -- both statistically and depth-wise -- who absolutely despise one another. This one will be a classic matchup.
Philly - NJ
One very deep team with average goaltending vs. a team with great goaltending and almost no offensive depth. Classic offense vs. defense (Scott Stevens is out and Rafalski is playing on a broken leg; gotta love hockey players).
Toronto - Ottawa
This one needs no explanation for hockey fans.
"Lose Leafs, LOSE!"
Detroit - Nashville
This won't be close. Edmonton would've made it a real series IMO.
San Jose - St. Louis
Both teams have suspect goal tending, both play physical, both have a history with one another in the playoffs. Should be high scoring.
Vancouver - Calgary
I am biased but I think unless Kiprusoff stands on his head, Calgary is in trouble. No Reinprecht or Yelle hurts, also.
Colorado - Dallas
The team that was given the Cup before the year began (by people like myself), finished fourth and played with very little heart at times this year. Dallas has the better goalie, is bigger up front, and knows how to play playoff defense (even though no Hatcher or Sydor hurts). This one will be fun.
...and the second round matchups show potential for some great series, too. It's going to be a great playoff season. Hopefully so great the powers that be will be compelled to reach a new CBA (complete with some good officiating and rules changes) by September 15.
My "confidence rankings" (I'll be happy to run the "pool" if you guys want. No moolah required....)
16. Detroit
15. Dallas
14. Ottawa (homer vote, I admit it)
13. Toronto
12. Vancouver
11. Tampa Bay
10. New Jersey
9. Colorado
8. Boston
7. Montreal
6. Philadelphia
5. St. Louis
4. Calgary
3. San Jose
2. NY Islanders
1. Nashville
Comments
Not that this would be my first wish ? see where I am posting from ? but I think that this may just be the year for the buds. And as I said a couple of years [oops, Freudian slip...I meant months
So win, Ottawa, if you can,?but if not, I?m cheering for the Leafs this year.
I can't wait for Wednesday to get here.
Go WINGS!!!!!
and Moogs... how can Detroit and Dallas be one two in your rankings... ??
shouldn't the eastern champ be in the number two spot if the western team wins?
And man, I am having a really hard time thinking about any series other than the Canucks/Flames matchup. I still can't believe I am actually going to be watching Calgary in the PLAYOFFS. Christ, it seems like a lifetime ago since Calgary did their usual first round exit dance. heh heh
I think it's going to be a great series, but yes, Kipper is going to have to play phenomenal for them to advance. I am really biased, but they just seem to have a "this year's Anaheim" feeling to them. We just need Oliwa to beat up Brad May a few times, Cloutier to get run a few times so he loses his cool and his focus... having Ohlund break his leg would be nice too. The bastard has done a pretty good job of shadowing Iginla in the past...
One nice thing, it's not like Kiprusoff is just on a little 4 game hot streak, the dude has been shutting it down all year. Lowest goals against ever in the NHL this year. Cloutier has only been non-shitty for the last couple of weeks.
The big upset in round 1 might just be Tampa. I bet most hardcore Lightning fans don't even have a good feeling about this matchup. Yikes... if they start coughing up weak goals, heads are gonna roll.
The other #1 vs. #8 - you're right Moogs, Detroit is going to roll up Nashville pretty quick. Edmonton would have been a MUCH better series, especially with the roll they were on to even get close to making the playoffs.
Anyway, I think I'm buying an old beer fridge to set next to the couch this weekend. I'm not leaving the house for 2 months.
The conferences basically go out the window. You look at the sixteen teams who make the playoffs, and you rank them according to which has the best chance overall to get the Cup. Obviously you have to consider who is playing who to achieve better odds at better point totals as well, but you can rank them any way you want.
Then, every time a team wins (a series), you get the numer of points associated with your ranking.
IOW, if you rank New Jersey #12 and they advance past the first and second rounds, you'll get 24 points for that. Obviously the first team they beat (Philly), would get you no points, because they didn't win a series... kind of simplistic but WTF. Thought it was worth trying. I'm open to suggestions for altering the scoring system, I just wanted to have some fun with you yahoos during playoff time.
Bunge: I feel your pain. Believe me. There's a reason I watch the Canucks more than the Hawks, and his name is Bill Wirtz. Hope to God Chicago doesn't get the #1 pick... they'll never sign the kid to a long term deal (Ovechkin).
Anyway, I think I'm buying an old beer fridge to set next to the couch this weekend. I'm not leaving the house for 2 months.
Now people get just how badly conceived that "Murbot Poll" really was... pass the Molson, Homer.
15. Toronto
14. New Jersey
13. Ottawa
12. Philadelphia
11. Tampa Bay
10. Boston
09. Dallas
08. Colorado
07. San Jose
06. Calgary
05. Vancouver
04. Montreal
03. St. Loius
02. Nashville
01. New York
It was a toss up between the Leafs and the Red Wings for me, but when I look at the teams the eventual Eastern Conference champ will have to beat to get to the Finals, I could see that team being pretty worn out. So I had to give the nod to Detroit.
Originally posted by Moogs
Bunge: I feel your pain. Believe me. There's a reason I watch the Canucks more than the Hawks, and his name is Bill Wirtz. Hope to God Chicago doesn't get the #1 pick... they'll never sign the kid to a long term deal (Ovechkin).
I saw the Stanley Cup hoisted in the old Chicago Stadium...by Lemiux and the rest of the Penguins. It was better than the current situation.
Originally posted by murbot:
This is going to be a great playoff year... I can just smell it.
Y'know... I think I'm catching a whiff of that too...
The Canucks - Flames matchup has got my near undivided attention. Canucks are lookin' hot right now, Cloutier has been solid in their last 6 straight wins, Nazzy's scoring again... Nucks in 5 or 6 is my call. This is too bad, I'd like to see both teams move further into the playoffs.
The way Colorado has been playing lately, and their abyssmal coaching, Dallas is lookin' to smack them down pretty hard. Dallas is healthy again, rock-solid goal-tending... I don't envy the Avs meeting them first up. Dallas in 5 or 6. I kinda hope the Avs somehow win this one somehow so the Canucks can match up with them further on. *That* would a series worth watching.
Ottawa - Toronto... damn, too many Canadian teams matching up in the 1st round. My pick is Toronto in 6 or 7. A Canucks - Toronto Final would be my dream matchup for this year.
Boston - Montreal... should be another good matchup, especially since, IIRC, Boston is playing without their star goalie. Boston should win it, but I'm rooting for Montreal. A Montreal - Toronto matchup down the line would be sweet.
Cheers,
C.
15. Dallas
14. Detroit
13. Vancouver
12. Ottawa
11. Toronto
10. Colorado
9. Montreal
8. Boston
7. Tampa Bay
6. Calgary
5. St.Louis
4. San Jose
3. NY Islanders
2. Nashville
1. New Jersey
Ok, who can spot the huge bias?
15. Detroit
14. Colorado
13. Philadelphia
12. Boston
11. New Jersey
10. Dallas
9. Vancouver
8. Tampa Bay
7. San Jose
6. Ottawa
5. Calgary
4. Montreal
3. NY Islanders
2. St. Louis
1. Nashville
Of course
15. Maple Leafs
14. Sharks
13. Lightning
12. Stars
11. Habs
10. Flames
09. Flyers
08. Avs
07. Sens
06. Canucks
05. Devils
04. Blues
03. Bruins
02. Islanders
01. Preds
Desperately desiring a Leafs/Wings finals: One for the Ages or Aged!
Sorry, I'm too buy getting ready for the Flames game tonight. I keep pinching myself...
I'm betting my wife's grandpa on the series. Loser shaves his head. The old bastard is going to look GREAT with a bald dome.
15. Detroit
14. Tampa
13. Toronto
12. Philly
11. San Jose
10. Boston
9. Colorado
8. Dallas
7. Montreal
6. New York
5. Nashville
4. Ottawa
3. Calgary
2. New Jersey
1. St. Louis
Equally obvious bias.
An all Canadian Final would be cool, but might not get the ratings of a cross-border clash.
But Vancouver - Tampa would be killer travel.
As I write this, Boston is up 2-0 in the 2nd period of Game 1 vs Montreal.
Nashville has scored first against Detroit (also in the 2nd period).
*considers editing list...
Detroit comes back to win 3-1
Colorado is up 2-0 in the first.
Hope Vancouver keeps the anthem tradition of mass patriotic karaoke.
Nucks in 6.
Amazing.
15. Boston
14. Detroit
13. Tampa
12. Vancouver
11. San Jose
10. Colorado
9. Philly
8. Calgary
7. Dallas
6. New York
5. Nashville
4. Toronto
3. New Jersey
2. St. Louis
1. Montreal
Go Sens Go!!!
Lovin' the Bruins romp over the Canadiens!
It is too bad 4 Canadian teams had to battle eachother, it would have been nicer to have more of them move on.
PS. Leafs suck, burn in hell!!!!
15. Vancouver
14. Detroit
13. Philly
12. Boston
11. San Jose
10. Ottawa
9. Tampa Bay
8. Dallas
7. Devils
6. Calgary
5. Montreal
4. Colorado
3. Islanders
2. Nashville
1. St. Louis
Hope you Ottawa fans enjoy losing for the fourth straight time to the mighty Blue and White.
GO LEAFS GO!
Leafs will sweep the Sens.
GOLEAFSGOGOLEAFSGOGOLEAFSGO....................