NHL Playoffs Continue

I've been really slacking lately....but I am a slacker by nature. I did totally neglect to make may NHL playoff predictions prior to the first round, but I will make up for it that be doing it now before the second round...

Tonight we got game one of Buffalo vs the NY Rangers. Buffalo has been solid all year long whereas the Rangers have gotten their first playoff win in 10 years. New York is clearly out-manned in this series and I'd be surprised if it went more than 5 games with Buffalo winning.

Also starting tonight out west is Anaheim vs Vancouver. A very interesting game one for sure. Anaheim took care of the Wild in relatively easy fashion in 5 games. Vancouver was in a slugfest with Dallas. In most sports you would think the well rest team would have the upper hand, but in hockey most general sport rules don't apply. But I still like Anaheim. Goaltending is more times than not the determining factor in a Stanley Cup team and I just don't think Luongo is good enough but Giguere has been a stud all season long and has kept it up in the playoffs. I think Anaheim wins this series in 6.

Ottawa-New Jersey start their series tomorrow. Ottawa has traditionally been disappointing in the playoffs and the Devils have traditionally been surprising in the playoffs. New Jersey is beginning to see Zach Parise step up his game and at no better time than the playoffs. I think New Jersey survives this series and wins in 6.

The final conference semi-final matchup is San Jose vs Detroit. Detroit is always a team that makes a charge at the cup and has as much playoff experience on that squad as you could get. San Jose is one of these teams from the west that play good throughout the regular season but just doesn't have that extra gear yet for the playoffs. Detroit's experience will factor in these series and they should win in 7.