East:
(1) New York Rangers vs. (6) New Jersey Devils:
Notes: Everyone in the NY/NJ area wanted to see this epic and that is exactly what they will get. This series will only be fitting if it has an overtime ending. This series will be a battle of wills, but I have to give the edge to the Rangers in defense and goaltending. Offensively, you can give the Devils the edge due to their aggressive fore-check. You can be assured that Girardi and McDonagh will be out against the Parise line of the Devils and sometimes against Kovalchuk. But this series will most definitely come down to Lundqvist and Brodeur. The big key for the Devils will be if they can get more than a one goal lead. They have struggled against the Rangers this season in Madison Square Garden. They simply cannot afford to let Lunqvist get into their head. I just have to err on the side of defense in this series.
Prediction: Rangers in 7
West:
(3) Phoenix Coyotes vs. (8) Los Angeles Kings:
Notes: The :Los Angeles Kings have been relatively unbeaten in these playoffs knocking off the Presidents Trophy Winning Vancouver Canucks squad and then thumping the most consistent team in the NHL, the St. Louis Blues. But, who could have predicted that the Kings will meet the Coyotes for the Western Conference Crown. The Coyotes absolutely annihilated the Nashville Predators, who were picked by many to win the Stanley Cup. But as the Rangers and Devils, this will come down to the two goaltenders in Mike Smith and probably the best goaltender in the West in Jonathan Quick. I will have to go with the team of destiny and we could be looking at a coaching re-match of the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals, but with two different teams.
Prediction: Kings in 6
(1) New York Rangers vs. (6) New Jersey Devils:
Notes: Everyone in the NY/NJ area wanted to see this epic and that is exactly what they will get. This series will only be fitting if it has an overtime ending. This series will be a battle of wills, but I have to give the edge to the Rangers in defense and goaltending. Offensively, you can give the Devils the edge due to their aggressive fore-check. You can be assured that Girardi and McDonagh will be out against the Parise line of the Devils and sometimes against Kovalchuk. But this series will most definitely come down to Lundqvist and Brodeur. The big key for the Devils will be if they can get more than a one goal lead. They have struggled against the Rangers this season in Madison Square Garden. They simply cannot afford to let Lunqvist get into their head. I just have to err on the side of defense in this series.
Prediction: Rangers in 7
West:
(3) Phoenix Coyotes vs. (8) Los Angeles Kings:
Notes: The :Los Angeles Kings have been relatively unbeaten in these playoffs knocking off the Presidents Trophy Winning Vancouver Canucks squad and then thumping the most consistent team in the NHL, the St. Louis Blues. But, who could have predicted that the Kings will meet the Coyotes for the Western Conference Crown. The Coyotes absolutely annihilated the Nashville Predators, who were picked by many to win the Stanley Cup. But as the Rangers and Devils, this will come down to the two goaltenders in Mike Smith and probably the best goaltender in the West in Jonathan Quick. I will have to go with the team of destiny and we could be looking at a coaching re-match of the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals, but with two different teams.
Prediction: Kings in 6
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