Hockey Playoffs!

[gekko]

The NHL playoffs are starting, and it's really the only time to sit up and pay attention.  I plop down to see some action and....what...station...do...I...tune..to??  OLN???  It's got to be on my DirecTV list somewhere.....

Ah, to live in Canada in springtime...

To DeeBye:  Leafs Fire Quinn -- WTF?

Let's look on the bright side:  This year you have the unprecedented opportunity to give completely unbiased opinions about who will win the Stanley Cup.  So let's have 'em:  Who & Why.

Do you go with the old saw that goaltending wins playoffs  -- picking the Devils & Flames to meet?  Or do you believe this is truly the NEW NHL, with up-and-down action, obstruction rules enforced throughout the playoffs, and not-on-TV-unless-you're-in-a-home-market-or-live-in-Canada?  Which means Sens v. Red Wings, to me.

This has to be the Sens year.  I've suffered too long.  :(
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Two games go into overtime on the first night. What a start.

I think this could be Dallas' year. They're just so deep, and they kept pace with the Red Wings nearly all year, and in a much tougher division. Calgary should be tough to beat, like always; it will be interesting to see if they can score enough to win 16 games.

In the East, New Jersey's gotta be a favourite with the way they've played for the past few weeks. If Ottawa's goaltending can hold up, and they can avoid their usual post-season choking and get their offence rolling, they'll be almost unbeatable. The East has so many green goalies, it's hard to predict what's going to happen.

I like Quinn, but I think the Leafs needed a change. Quinn has the distinction of having coached the most games without winning a Stanley Cup. I get the feeling he pretty much trusts his vets to do the right thing and lets them loose. That just doesn't cut it, certainly not in the "new NHL," where everyone has to rely more on younger and cheaper players.

I really love the first round of the playoffs. Four games a night, plenty of opportunity for upsets... what's not to love?

gekko