It's that time of the year again. While most of the country is squarely under the minion of Mel Kiper Jr. and his multiple spreadsheets of NFL draft prognostication, a select few is awaiting the NHL second season with glee.
There is nothing in sports that can in any form equal the intensity that is the NHL playoffs. I've been to both NBA playoff games and NHL playoff games, and in terms of crowd noise and palpable tension, there is no comparison. Now of course this could be different depending on where you live, but you'd be damned to tell me that the stalwart teams of the NBA including the Lakers, Knicks, and even Bulls, could match the intensity of a Red Wings, Sabres, or Wild game in terms of crowd reaction.
Anyway, that's enough NHL pimping from me, here are my first round predictions.
Eastern Conference
(1) Sabers vs (8) Islanders
Salutations must go out to the Islanders for even making the playoffs, but with better forwards, defensemen, and a better goalie, this is probably the easiest series to pick. Sabres in 5
(2) Devils vs. (7) Lightning
Sometimes in life we can overanalyze and overcomplicate things. Don't make that mistake on this series. As good as the Lightning have been over the second half of the season, the Devils still have Martin Brodeur, who broke Bernie Parent's single-season wins record. Devils in 6
(3) Thrashers vs. (6) Rangers
The Rangers have been hot lately, and even though Jaromir Jagr has the reputation of taking some shifts off, he has been an offensive force this season. Atlanta is in the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, and I think that inexperience will doom them. Rangers in 6
(4) Senators vs. (5) Penguins
This will easily be the most competitive and entertaining series out there. The Penguins, other than old-timers Gary Roberts and Mark Recchi, are entirely green around the ears. The Ottawa Senators face a different scenario, as they have a recent history of early-round exits The Senators will tell you "the past is the past" but in this case, the past will once again be a forbearer of the future. Penguins in 7
Western Conference
(1) Red Wings vs. (8) Flames
With a faster team, and more offensive firepower, the Red Wings will try to keep things relatively up-tempo. They'll eventually get there, and define the tempo of the series, and while goalie Mikka Kiprusoff has the ability to steal a game or two for the Flames, the pick is Red Wings in 5
(2) Ducks vs (7) Wild
Although the Wild are the more defensive-minded team, they certainly aren't as good on defense as the Ducks who feature two of the best three defensemen in the league in Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermeyer.
Despite being the less talented team, I see the Wild suffocating the formerly mighty Ducks with their trap, and riding goalie Nicklas Backstrom to a series victory. Wild in 6.
(3) Canucks vs. (6) Stars
I don't have much to say here, as I feel that if either one of these teams wins, they will not make it out of the second round. Nevertheless I give Dallas the edge here, Stars in 5.
(4) Predators vs. (5) Sharks
Sometimes for whatever reason, be it lunacy or logic, one just gets a feeling about a certain team. As good as the Nashville Predators are, with defensemen Shea Weber having a breakout year, I've got a good feeling about the Sharks. I think last year's Hart Trophy winner Joe Thornton leads the Sharks to the Finals, Sharks in 6
