Hockey Fans rejoice! The 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs are set to begin this Wednesday April 13th. After a grueling 82 game schedule the 2nd season, and the more exciting hockey, is ready to rock and roll this Wednesday. The following are the playoff matchups in the 1st round as well as the date and times of the games, National TV games, and my predictions for each matchup. We begin in the western conference.
1st matchup to look at is the #1 Vancouver Canucks taking on the #8 Chicago Blackhawks. Here is the breakdown of days and times of the 7 game series:
April 13 Chicago Blackhawks - Vancouver Canucks 10:00 pm Versus, CBC
April 15 Chicago Blackhawks - Vancouver Canucks 10:00 pm Versus, CBC
April 17 Vancouver Canucks - Chicago Blackhawks 8:00 pm Versus, CBC
April 19 Vancouver Canucks - Chicago Blackhawks 8:00 pm Versus, CBC
April 21 Chicago Blackhawks - Vancouver Canucks 10:00 pm Versus, CBC
April 24 Vancouver Canucks - Chicago Blackhawks 8:00 pm CBC
April 26 Chicago Blackhawks - Vancouver Canucks TBD CBC
The Vancouver Canucks entered the playoffs as the Western Conference regular season champions and Presidents' Trophy winners, earning 117 points. The Chicago Blackhawks qualified for the postseason as the eighth seed with 97 points. This is the third time in three years that Vancouver has met Chicago in the playoffs. Chicago took each of the previous two second-round series by a score of 4 games to 2, adn the 4th time overall these two have met in the playoffs, with the Hawks winning each time. The Blackhawks are the defending Stanley Cu[p Champions and looking to repeat, and the Canucks are looking to get to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 1994. The Blackhawks are good I won't take that away from them, but I just think the Canucks are too much for the Hawks this year. Chicago puts up a good fight but will fall short in winning back-to-back Cups. i take the Canucks in 6 games.
Now moving on we have the #2 San Jose Sharks take on the #7 Los Angles Kings. Here is the breakdown of games for Sharks-Kings:
April 14 Los Angeles Kings - San Jose Sharks 10:00 pm Versus, TSN
April 16 Los Angeles Kings - San Jose Sharks 10:00 pm Versus, TSN
April 19 San Jose Sharks - Los Angeles Kings 10:30 pm Versus, TSN
April 21 San Jose Sharks - Los Angeles Kings 10:30 pm TSN
April 23 Los Angeles Kings - San Jose Sharks 10:00 pm Versus, TSN
April 25 San Jose Sharks - Los Angeles Kings TBD TSN
April 27 Los Angeles Kings- San Jose Sharks TBD TSN
The San Jose Sharks entered the playoffs as the second seed in the Western Conference after winning the Pacific Division with 105 points. The Los Angeles Kings earned the seventh seed with 98 points. This will be the first meeting of these teams in the postseason. Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, justin Williams, and Ryan Smyth lead the way for the Kings and Jonathan Quick holds down the fort in net. However, the Sharks are going with Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski, and Dany Heatley on offense and have Antti Niemi in net. Sharks, even thought they have had playoff troubles in the past, will roll in this one, Sharks in 5.
Now its time for the #3 Detroit Red Wings and the #6 Phoenix Coyotes. here's a look at the series matchup:
April 13 Phoenix Coytoes - Detroit Red Wings 7:00 pm Versus,CBC
April 16 Phoenix Coytoes - Detroit Red Wings 1:00 pm NBC, CBC
April 18 Detroit Red Wings - Phoenix Coytoes 10:30 pm Versus,CBC
April 20 Detroit Red Wings - Phoenix Coytoes 10:30 pm Versus,CBC
April 22 Phoenix Coytoes - Detroit Red Wings 7:00 pm Versus,CBC
April 24 Detroit Red Wings - Phoenix Coytoes TBD CBC
April 27 Phoenix Coytoes - Detroit Red Wings TBD CBC
The Detroit Red Wings entered the playoffs as the third seed in the Western Conference after winning the Central Division with 104 points. The Phoenix Coytoes earned the sixth seed with 99 points, losing tiebreakers to both the Anaheim Ducks and Nashville Predators. Detroit and Phoenix played in the first round in 2010, which Detroit won by a score of 4 games to 3. Detroit is looking to get back to the Finals while Phoenix looks to get to the 2nd round for the 1st time ever. Sadly that wont happen this year wings roll in 5.
Finally we look at the #4 Anaheim Ducks and the #5 Nashville Predators. Here is a look at the series matchup:
April 13 Nashville Predators - Anaheim Ducks 10:30 pm TSN
April 15 Nashville Predators - Anaheim Ducks 10:30 pm TSN
April 17 Anaheim Ducks - Nashville Predators TBD TSN
April 20 Anaheim Ducks - Nashville Predators TBD TSN
April 22 Nashville Predators - Anaheim Ducks 10:00 pm TSN
April 24 Anaheim Ducks - Nashville Predators TBD TSN
April 26 Nashville Predators - Anaheim Ducks TBD TSN
The Anaheim Ducks entered the playoffs as the fourth overall seed in the Western Conference with 99 points, by winning tiebreakers over the Nashville Predators and the Phoenix Coytoes. The Nashville Predators earned 99 points during the regular season to finish fifth overall. They lost the tiebreaker to Anaheim by having fewer games won in regulation and overtime. This will be the first playoff series between these two teams. This may actually be the most even matchup in the West of the first round. The Ducks have the playoff experiance and I give them the series in 6.
Now moving on to the Eastern Conference. we start it off with the #1 Washington Capitals against the #8 New York Rangers. Here's what the schedule looks like for this one:
April 13 New York Rangers - Washington Capitals 7:30 pm Versus, TSN
April 15 New York Rangers - Washington Capitals 7:30 pm Versus, TSN
April 17 Washington Capitals - New York Rangers 3:00 pm NBC, TSN
April 20 Washington Capitals - New York Rangers 7:00 pm Versus, TSN
April 23 New York Rangers - Washington Capitals 3:00 pm NBC, TSN
April 25 Washington Capitals - New York Rangers TBD TSN
April 27 New York Rangers - Washington Capitals TBD TSN
The Washington Capitals entered the playoffs as the Eastern Conference regular season champions, earning 107 points. The New York Rangers qualified for the postseason as the eighth seed with 93 points. This will be the sixth playoff series between the two franchises, with Washington holding a 3–2 edge in the past series. The two teams last met in the first round of the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs, where the Capitals won the series 4-3. In the season series, the Rangers hold a 2–1–1 record, winning the last three games by a combined score of 15–1. I give the Rangers the edge in Goaltending right now. The Caps have the revolving door between Michal Neuvirth and Semyon Varlamov. I would go with Varlamov to start the series. Rangers make it a good fight but I go Caps in 6.
Now we look at #2 Philadelphia Flyers and the #7 Buffalo Sabres. Here's the breakdown of the games:
April 14 Buffalo Sabres - Philadelphia Flyers 7:30 pm Versus , TSN
April 16 Buffalo Sabres - Philadelphia Flyers 5:00 pm TSN2
April 18 Philadelphia Flyers - Buffalo Sabres 7:00 pm Versus, TSN
April 20 Philadelphia Flyers - Buffalo Sabres 7:30 pm Versus, TSN
April 22 Buffalo Sabres - Philadelphia Flyers 7:30 pm Versus, TSN
April 24 Philadelphia Flyers - Buffalo Sabres 3:00 pm NBC, TSN
April 26 Buffalo Sabres - Philadelphia Flyers TBD TSN
The Philadelphia Flyers entered the playoffs as the second seed in the Eastern Conference after winning the Atlantic Division with 106 points. The Buffalo Sabres earned the seventh seed with 96 points, losing the tiebreaker to Montreal on regulation + overtime wins (38 to 41). This will be the ninth meeting of these two teams in the postseason, with Philadelphia holding a 5–3 edge on the past series. Now this series is the most interesting. Buffalo has a set goalie in Ryan Miller. The Flyers on the other hand have used Sergei Bobrovsky, who is a rookie, and Brian Boucher. They also still have playoff hero from last year Michael Leighton, so I wont be surprised if he gets playing time. Now this may annoy a lot of Sabres fans but I really don't think Buffalo has the depth to match the Flyers. Philly may faulter in later rounds but now I think its too much Flyers Philly takes this in 6 games.
Now on to the only divisional matchup in the East its the #3 Boston Bruins against the #6 Montreal Canadians. Here is the breakdown:
April 14 Montreal Canadiens - Boston Bruins 7:00 pm Versus, RDS, CBC
April 16 Montreal Canadiens - Boston Bruins 7:00 pm Versus, RDS, CBC
April 18 Boston Bruins - Montreal Canadiens 7:30 pm RDS, CBC
April 21 Boston Bruins - Montreal Canadiens 7:00 pm Versus, RDS, CBC
April 23 Montreal Canadiens - Boston Bruins 7:00 pm Versus, RDS, CBC
April 26 Boston Bruins - Montreal Canadiens TBD RDS, CBC
April 27 Montreal Canadiens - Boston Bruins TBD RDS, CBC
The Boston Bruins entered the playoffs as the third seed in the Eastern Conference after winning the Northeast Division with 103 points. The Montreal Canadiens earned the sixth seed with 96 points, winning the tiebreaker over Buffalo on regulation + overtime wins (41 to 38). This is the 33rd meeting of these teams in the postseason, which is the most frequent playoff series in NHL history. Montreal has earned a record of 24–8 against Boston in the playoffs. On April 10, the scheduled date of the French-language Canadian federal election debate between party leaders was changed from April 14 to April 13 so it would not conflict with Game one of the opening round between the Montreal Canadiens and the Boston Bruins. Carey Price has done a great job holding down the nets in Montreal. But Boston Has Tim Thomas and Tuukka Rask.Both teams are evenly balanced in scoring. I just have one of those feelings about this one Boston in 7.
Finally we look at the most even matchup in the East the #4 Pittsburgh Penguins against the #5 Tampa Bay Lightning. here is the breakdown:
April 13 Tampa Bay Lightning - Pittsburgh Penguins 7:00 pm CBC
April 15 Tampa Bay Lightning - Pittsburgh Penguins 7:00 pm CBC
April 18 Pittsburgh Penguins - Tampa Bay Lightning 7:30 pm Versus, CBC
April 20 Pittsburgh Penguins - Tampa Bay Lightning 7:00 pm CBC
April 23 Tampa Bay Lightning - Pittsburgh Penguins TBD Versus, CBC
April 25 Pittsburgh Penguins - Tampa Bay Lightning TBD CBC
April 27 Tampa Bay Lightning - Pittsburgh Penguins TBD CBC
The Pittsburgh Penguins entered the playoffs as the fourth overall seed in the Eastern Conference with 106 points. The Tampa Bay Lightning earned 103 points during the regular season to finish fifth overall in the Eastern Conference. This will be the first playoff series between these two teams. The Penguins are good. This will be the most even series in the 1st round. Here is the upset as the Lightning take the series in 7 hard fought games.
So there you have it. The first round preview is all set. Now just sit back, relax and enjoy all the action!
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