By: Mike Dunshee
www.mikedunshee.com
2007 NHL Playoff Preview
EAST
(1) Buffalo Sabres vs. (8) New York Islanders
Buffalo started the season red-hot and continued the strong play through a rash of injuries to finish with the best record in the NHL. The Islanders, whom after a tumultuous off season and sneaking into the playoffs on a last day shootout, are riding a huge emotional high and looking to continue their surprising season. Rick Dipietro is most likely out for the series making the Isles task nearly impossible. SABRES IN 5
(2) New Jersey Devils vs. (7) Tampa Bay Lightning
Two teams built with opposite philosophies face off in the first round. New Jersey is of course built around Hall of Fame goalie Martin Brodeur and deploys a defense first philosophy that doesn’t breed top scorers. Tampa is an interesting study in the salary cap era as Lightning GM Jay Feaster as committed a large percentage of the teams cap to its four core stars; LeCavalier, St. Louis, Richards and Boyle. Tampa Bay can score but betting on Johan Holmqvist is outplay Brodeur is hearsay.
DEVILS IN 6
(3) Atlanta Thrashers vs. (6) New York Rangers
The Thrashers make their first ever playoff appearance while the Original Six Rangers make their 50th appearance in the postseason. That meaningless fact of course has no bearing on this playoff series. What does have a bearing is the impact trade deadline pickups Keith Tkachuk and Alexei Zhitnik have had on the Thrashers. Those veterans along with the firepower of Hossa, Kovalchuk and Kozlov should be enough to push the Thrashers past Jagr and Co.
THRASHERS IN 5
(4) Ottawa Senators vs. (5) Pittsburgh Penguins
This is a series that all of the hockey world will have its eyes on as Sidney Crosby and the rest of the young Pens take on Ottawa, one of the few teams able to match the Penguins offensive firepower. While the Penguins are the young, promising and flashy team, Ottawa has been a perennially playoff disappointment. On the other hand, while getting to the playoffs was a huge step for Pittsburgh, the regular season is meaningless to the Sens.
SENATORS IN 7
WEST
(1) Detroit Red Wings vs. (8) Calgary Flames
Calgary is probably the best eight seed ever. They have a world class goalie and forward, they play great at home and have one of the most punishing defenses in recent memory. Detroit meanwhile, is even better at home (29-4-8) has an even more accomplished goalie and allowed 27 less goals on the season. Taken that and the better offensive depth on the Red Wings and I don’t see another eight seed upset.
RED WINGS IN 6
(2) Anaheim Mighty Ducks vs. (7) Minnesota Wild
Anaheim started the season white-hot before losing some steam with Chris Pronger out injured for a spell. The Wild spent the first half of the season treading water with superstar Marian Gaborik out for the bulk of the early going. When Gaborik returned the Wild got hot and sprinted into the playoffs. Both teams are rock solid defensively and very tough on home ice. The Wild have a major offensive drop off after Gaborik and Demitra and surely the Ducks will exploit this by matching Pronger and/or Niedermayer against them every time.
DUCKS IN 7
(3) Vancouver Canucks vs. (6) Dallas Stars
Vancouver is flying high riding Hart candidate Roberto Loungo and a breakout season from the Sedin twins. Dallas is a playoff tested club coming off a disappointing first round loss last season. While Loungo makes his playoff debut, Dallas goalie Marty Turco is feeling the heat of past playoff failures. I don’t see the Canucks applying enough pressure against the better balanced Stars to severely test Turco, or if he plays Mike Smith.
STARS IN 6
(4) Nashville Predators vs. (5) San Jose Sharks
Nashville has the home ice advantage but it is the Shark Tank in San Jose that can be a difficult place to play come playoffs. Both squads boast star forward, young defensemen, and great goalie tandems, but the San Jose pair of Toskala and Nabokov gives them a stopper either way Coach Ron Wilson looks.
SHARKS IN 7
QUARTERFINALS:
EAST
(1) Sabres vs. (4) Senators
Winning the Presidents Cup has been a bit of a curse over the last decade or so and I am going to predict that trend continues. Ryan Miller at times has been shaky over the season and with Ty Conklin as backup, there is no backup. Ottawa has long been playoff underachievers, not this year.
SENATORS IN 7
(2) Devils vs. (3) Thrashers
New Jersey is the team with the playoff pedigree and tested system. Still few seem to notice the last two Stanley Cup winners are from the Southeast division. The Devils have lost a host of depth in the last couple seasons. I’ll take this series as a Kari Lehtonen coming out party.
THRASHERS IN 6
WEST
(1) Red Wings vs. (6) Stars
The playoffs are the only season in Detroit and after some disappointments of late that is truer than ever for the Wings. Detroit just has too much overall talent for the Stars to match.
RED WINGS IN 5
(2) Ducks vs. (5) Sharks
In the battle of California the Sharks inexperience on defense will finally catch up with them.
DUCKS IN 6
CONFERENCE FINALS
(3) Thrashers vs. (4) Senators
The ride ends here for the Thrashers as the Senators finally make it out of the East.
(1) Red Wings vs. (2) Ducks
The Red Wings give their aging stars another shot at the Cup as they outlast the Ducks in a tough series.
RED WINGS IN 7
NHL FINALS
(1) Red Wings vs. (4) Senators
The Wings show why the West is best and Hasek is able to stick it to his former team.
RED WINGS IN 6
