Eastern Predictions

I hoped you liked my Western Conference predictions and now with the playoffs starting tonight I better hurry and give you my Eastern Conference predictions:

(1) Montreal Canadiens vs (8) Boston Bruins

Montreal finally won the conference title for the first time in 19 years and I think they will ride that success into the playoffs. The Bruins haven’t been playing to well of late especially Tim Thomas who was looking great at the start of the year. There will be a lot of pressure on Canadiens rookie goalie Carey Price to perform well, and if the Bruins want to win this series they will have to get him off his game and quick. I think we will see a repeat of there 2004 first round series, except expect Montreal to take it in a shorter series.

Prediction: Montreal in 5 games


(2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs (7) Ottawa Senators

Well the Kid has returned to this years playoffs and I think Sid as well as the other young talent in Pittsburgh have matured since there first round defeat last year at the hands of the Ottawa Senators. I think this year will be a lot different especially considering that Ottawa’s goaltending situation is in the mess that it is. They have settled on Martin Gerber as there number one, so I guess will see if he can pull off any postseason magic. I think the scoring prowess of Pittsburgh will be too much for Ottawa and we will see Sid the Kid move onto the second round for the first time.

Prediction: Pittsburgh in 6 games


(3) Washington Capitals vs (6) Philadelphia Flyers

Finally Ovechkin will make his long awaited debut in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Will he be able to add a Stanley Cup ring with his amazing 60 goal performance this season, I honestly doubt it. I think that Washington will put a good effort in and have some good postseason experience in Sergei Fedorov, but I have a feeling that the Flyers will be too much and will hit the Capitals any chance they have which will be too much for the young squad

Prediction: Philadelphia in 6 games


(4) New Jersey Devils vs (5) New York Rangers

Well the Rangers dominated the regular season series between these two with a 7-0-1 record. I believe that trend will continue as the Rangers have so many offensive threats in Jaromir Jagr, Chris Drury, and Scott Gomez that they will be very difficult to contain. The Devils defensive play is nothing to forget as many teams have been frustrated by their strong defensive game. If the Devils defense can’t get it done they still possess one of the games greatest goaltenders in Martin Brodeur, with that said I don’t think that will be enough to stop all the scoring that the Rangers have, but I expect this to be a great series.

Prediction: New York in 7 games


Well there’s my predictions for the first round of the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs and I'm not sure maybe no one out there agrees with me and I'm just being an idiot, let me know.