THE SERIES:

Montreal at Washington
Philadelphia at New Jersey
Boston at Buffalo
Ottawa at Pittsburgh

Colorado at San Jose
Nashville at Chicago
Los Angeles at Vancouver
Detroit at Phoenix

Biggest goal differential will be Washington, I think Montreal can steal a game but generally will get blown out.

If Pittsburgh were in form I'd confidently predict a sweep. I still think they will win the series easily but every game will be a struggle, Ottawa is a very conservative team.

San Jose will wipe Colorado out pretty quickly but I'd love to be wrong on this one. The Avs are an upstart bunch and I still see SJ as being a casual bunch of big for nothings ripe for collapse. Colorado is pretty underpowered though, would have rather seen the Flames or Ducks in their place.

Upset alerts I'd say Boston and Philly have fair chances. The Sabres are narrowly more talented up front, not as talented in the back line and in net either goalie could steal the series. I kind of like how Bergeron and Krejci are coming around and I am really underwhelmed by Buffalo's skaters as a whole.

The Flyers are sort of coming together right now. I don't think their dominance of the season series means too much but it means something. Brodeur has had a long year, he is on fire now but he is also an older guy who's carried a heavy load and went to the Olympics. This series will come down to special teams IMO, if the Flyers avoid untimely penalties and kill the ones they have to take, they win the series.

Nashville is a gutty team that can slow Chicago down but I don't think they can win the series. Rinne has been hot, maybe he steals it for them, but Chicago is just a team with more depth and talent. I think they advance in six games.

The Kings are an interesting darkhorse, the series against Vancouver will come down to how well they can contain the Sedin/Sedin/Burrows line. They probably cannot do much but if they can then watch out. The playoffs are about short-term chemistry and hot goaltending. They have a goalie whose committed a bit of larceny in his short career and more to the point I think they have the sort of team that could coalesce quickly. I think Vancouver will win the series but if they do not I would NOT want to be the team facing L.A. in the second round (presumably the Sharks with the re-seed).

The most intriguing series in a styles-make-fights sort of way is Phoenix and Detroit. On paper, Detroit should whip their asses, they have the experience and star power. But the methodical, north-south game of the Coyotes has done in many a superior opponent and while the Coyotes don't have the big guns they have a deep arsenal. Also, Lee Stempniak has been the best player on either team down the stretch, quietly dominated the West since coming over in a trade. Great clash of styles and two excellent goaltenders. I like Detroit in 7 but whether you see the host Coyotes as the favorite or the defending conference champion Wings as the smart bet, this one could be an upset as well.

And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.

I'm glad the Caps drew the Habs. In beatability by the Caps I put the Habs, Flyers and Bruins roughly on equal footing (with the advantage to the Flyers), but the Habs are by far the least physical team.

If the Caps go deep, I want to avoid as many bruising series as possible.

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