I told you
2015‘s Opening round winners’ were the toughest to pick since in a decade. I
went 5 of 8 my worst in years. A bounce here a bounce there things would be
different but that’s what all the losers say. The next round should by easier
because round 1 is for upsets rounds 2-4 are for champions. First though a few
thoughts on round 1.
The Rangers
dispatched the Penguins in 5 games. The games were close but the series never
was. Rangers played as hard as they needed too. Geno Malkin did absolutely
nothing 0s across the board but Marc Andre Fleury hopefully won over his
critics with an outstanding series. The Rangers will need to play better in round
2 especially Nash and Kreider. Getting Klein back on defense will help lesser
how many times Boyle and Yandle are scared in the corners.
The
Capitals/Islanders series was by far the most entertaining in round 1. Both
teams, every player finished every check, usually viciously every game. It was
secondary scoring that was the difference as Washington had a little more skill
and just as much grit as the Islanders. Troy Brouwer knocking Calvin de Haan
out left New York weak on the back end and it showed in Game 7.
Montreal
took care of business against the Senators. Ottawa pushing it to 6 gave the
Canadiens just enough of a scare to help them down the road. The Ottawa fairy
tale ended when the Hamburgler’s did.
Detroit had
Tampa Bay beat and let them back in. Just like last year when they let Boston
off the hook. Mrazek was awesome for
Detroit as was Datsyuk and Tatar. The Niklas Kronwell suspension hurt but it
should not have gone that far. Tampa Bay needs to thank their lucky stars that
Tyler Johnson didn’t disappear like Steven Stamkos did. Ben Bishop Looked
scared in net and was lucky when the puck hit his big body.
Out West
Anaheim swept Winnipeg which was a shame because each game was a war. The big
bodies on both teams were crushing each other. Anaheim’s goalie Frederick Anderson
played better than Winnipeg’s Ondrej Pavelec but really came down to the Duck’s
experience. They scored clutch goals and didn’t take stupid penalties. Anaheim’s
Dynamic Duo of Getzlaf and Perry looked like they were waiting since October
for that series and Kesler looked like has was waiting since 2012.
The Calgary
Flames kept their Cinderella season going by beating the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks new found depth and grit didn’t
bring it in the playoffs. The Flames top line of Monahan, Hudler and Johnny Hockey
looked unstoppable at times. I don’t understand the Canucks not playing Vrbata
with the Sedin twins but in the end the Canucks D looked old and the Flames
wanted it more.
The Chicago
Blackhawks toyed with the Nashville Predators. You knew Chicago was going to
score whenever they really had too. Chicago was flip flopping goalies and they
never seemed concerned. That’s Championship ped
.
The St Louis
Blues are the ones who should hang their heads. What an absolute disgrace. Don’t
blame the kid goaltender Allan. It’s St Louis’s rotten core. Their overrated
Canadien Olympic defense and overrated top line Backes -7, Oschie -10, Steen -5
. The Blues always claim they needed secondary scoring well Tarasenko got a hat
trick and more. Taking nothing away from the Wild though, goaltender Devan Dubnyk
was outstanding and Zach Parisse is a Prince among men.
On to round
2.
Rangers/Capitals
I love the
way the Capitals play but the referees won’t let them play that way against the
Rangers. The refs will make it a special teams fest and King Hank and the
Blueshirts will eek out the series. Remember the Capitals defensemen took a
beating against the Islanders and the fresh Rangers D are adding Klein Rangers in 7
Canadien/ Lightning
Lightening
star Stephen Stamkos is in a slump so the last thingg he want to do is face the
best goalie in the NHL Montreal’s Carey Price. The worst goalie still playing
is Tampa’s Ben Bishop. He got upset by the tactics of noted rabble rouser Tomas
Tatar ( sarcasm) what’s he gonna due with Monteal’s angry midgets) Gallagher,
Galchenyuk) Throw out the regular season Canadiens in 6
Blackhawks / Wild
Devan Dubnyk
had an amazing year. He’s going to need to have a super amazing series against
the Hawks if the Wild have a chance. The Hawks come in waves and I don’t see
the smallish Minnesota defense being able to withstand the constant pressure.
Matt Cooke can only take out so many knees.
Hawks in 6
Ducks /Flames
Everyone in
Canada wants the Flames to win. Sorry I don’t think even BBQ Bruce can mess
this one up. Ducks in 6
