Toronto Maple Leafs, Raptors, Jays, Argos, Rock and sports by Randy Charles Morin.
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Copyright 2005-07 Randy Charles Morin
Part of the KBCafe blog network.
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Red Wings vs Sharks
The Red Wings made it to the 2nd round on a horrible performance by the Flames. Unfortunately, they now have to play a much better team. The key to this series is Pavel Datsyuk. After a quick start in the playoffs, he's once again pulled his playoff disappearing act with 1 assist in his last 4 games. If Detroit wants to win, then Pavel has to show up. Go with the Sharks.
Goaltending: even
Defense: +Wings
Offense: +Sharks
Coaching: +Sharks
Heart: +Sharks
Ducks vs Canucks
Both the Canucks and Stars should've been eliminated in the first round but one of them had to win. If the Canucks are gonna win again, then Roberto Luongo is gonna be the reason, but that won't be enough. The Swedes are the key to this series. Can Markus Naslund, Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin score against the best defense in hockey; Chris Pronger, Francois Beauchemin and Scott Niedermeyer?
Goaltending: +Canucks
Defense: +2 Ducks
Offense: +Ducks
Coaching: +Ducks
Heart: +Ducks
Sabres vs Rangers
The Rangers really don't have much chance here. They will need an amazing performance by Lundqvist to stand any chance. The key is gonna have to be Avery running Miller in the first 5 minutes of game one. The Rangers can't win this series straight up.
Goaltending: +Sabres
Defense: +Sabres
Offense: even
Coaching: +Sabres
Heart: +Rangers
Senators vs Devils
The Devils played really bad against the Lightning and Brodeur bailed them out. The key to the series will be Emery. If Emery plays well, then the Senators should win, because the Devils simply don't compete outside of the crease.
Goaltending: +2 Devils
Defense: +Senators
Offense: +2 Senators
Coaching: +Devils
Heart: +Senators
Note: In the six series decided to date, I'm 6 for 6 in my predictions.
Curt Schilling is blogging.
This plays on the scoreboard at the start of every Thrashers home playoff game.
NHL Quest for the Cup promitional commercials for the NHL, Red Wings and Penguins.
Great hockey commercials from FOX.
The best legit hit this Stanley Cup playoffs to date. Colby is not a big guy, but he sure plays big.
The last half of the 3rd period of the game that made hockey an international sports.
A compilation of the ugliest incidents in NHL history.
Another compilation of the top 20 goals in NHL history. The McCarty goal is one I haven't seen in awhile. I think Orr's elbow pass and superman goal are obvious misses, although the superman goal is included in the video, just not in the top 20.
This is a list of the 23 players that I think are true leaders in the NHL for the recently ended regular season. These are not necessarily the top scorers, but it surely does include some. It's mostly to recognize those that contribute beyond just stats.
Goalies
Defensemen
Forwards
Red Wings vs. Flames
This looks like the easiest upset prediction in world history. The Red Wings are proven chokers and now minus Yzerman. The Flames on the other hand are known for playoff grit. The goaltending should be spectacular with Kiprusoff and Hasek. The key to the series is Datsyuk. He usually disappears in the playoffs and is likely the biggest reason that the Red Wings are known chokers.
Goaltending: +Flames
Defense: +Red Wings
Offense: +Red Wings
Coaching: +Flames
Heart: +2 Flames
Ducks vs. Wild
There's a lot of people predicting upset here, but honestly, it just can't happen. The Oilers went to the finals last season on Pronger's back. He's now on the Ducks. Add Giguere's spectacular 2003 playoff, Scott Niedermayer (what can I can?), Teemu Selanne gets better in big tourney's and this team is loaded with playoff performers. The key is going to be the Wild's goaltending (Backstrom or Fernandez). Somebody between the Wild pipes is gonna have to play the best seven games of his life.
Goaltending: +Ducks
Defense: +2 Ducks
Offense: +Ducks
Coaching: +Wild
Heart: +Ducks
Canuks vs. Stars
This is a difficult one to predict. I wouldn't expect either team to go very far in this years playoff. This'll be the first time the Sedin's (Daniel and Henrik) are the go to guys on offense. This is also Luongo's first playoff go, but he's proved himself in World tournament before. In the other net is known playoff choker Marty Turco. The key to this series is whether the Star bother to show up.
Goaltending: +Canuks
Defense: +Stars
Offense: +Canuks
Coaching: even
Heart: +Canuks
Predators vs. Sharks
This is gonna be a very unexciting series. Except for the key player to be named later, I would expect the Sharks to win and get knocked out in the 2nd round. Can Joe Thornton break his streak of playoff choking (only 27 points in 46 games)? The key to this series will be Forsberg. Forsberg has scored within one point of a point per game in 11 straight playoffs. This guy is a playoff god.
Goaltending: +Predators
Defense: +Stars
Offense: +Sharks
Coaching: +Sharks
Heart: +Predators
Sabres vs. Islanders
This will likely be a walk, since the Sabres are healthy and had good playoff experience last season. With DiPietro coming back off injury and not having played in a couple weeks, he might be stale for the first game. He is the key to the series. If he doesn't play his best hockey for six games, then the Islanders will be in trouble. The Islander push for the playoff was impressive, but nobody expect them to win and I think they've already hit their goal, just getting into the playoffs.
Goaltending: +Sabres
Defense: +Sabres
Offense: +Sabres
Coaching: +Islanders
Heart: +Sabres
Devils vs. Lightning
This series should prove what is more valuable. Great scorers or a great goalie. The Devils would not have made the playoffs without Brodeur and the Lightning would not have made the playoffs without Lecavalier and St. Louis. My money is on the Devils, mostly because of the massive goaltending advantage. Holmqvist is by far the worst starting goaltender in this year's playoff and Brodeur is the best. But, with the recent problems in the Devils organization, I wouldn't preclude an upset. The key to this series is behind the bench. Will the Devils play for Lamoriello after he fired their coach?
Goaltending: +2 Devils
Defense: +Devils
Offense: +2 Lightning
Coaching: +Devils
Heart: +Lightning
Thrasher vs. Rangers
This is looking like an upset. The Thrashers are new the playoffs and that usually means bad things. On the other hand, the Trashers have a scary defense and great scoring. Even if the Rangers win, they'll get beat up. Avery is the wild card in this series. He could lose it with the stupidity he's known for or he could play rough but smart and even up the Thrasher's physical advantage.
Goaltending: +Rangers
Defense: +Thrashers
Offense: +Thrashers
Coaching: +Rangers
Heart: +Rangers
Senators vs. Penguins
The Penguins are the team of the future, but the Senators could be the team of 2007. The Senators are prime for a good playoff. They've changed the team. Brought in players that have performed in big tournaments (Heatley). Like the Trasher series, 1st year playoff teams like Pittsburgh often don't play up to playoff speed. The key to this series will be Crosby. Duh!? He could just want to win now and it'll happen.
Goaltending: +Penguins
Defense: +Senators
Offense: +Senators
Coaching: even
Heart: +Senators
I put together a list of the best players in the 2007 regular season.
Goalies
Defensemen
Forwards
The talk show hosts on WGR Sports Radio 550 were comparing Chris Drury to Steve Yzerman and Joe Sakic. They were saying that he should be view in the same light and if he were Canadian and played for one team his entire career, then he would. I thought this was kinda funny.
Notes:
It's the end of the 2006-07 season and the Leafs will be watching the Islanders-Devils today to determine if they advance to the playoffs or the golf cource. I predict the golf course.
Here's my NHL Award Predictions:
Lecavalier's goal was the most important (his 50th), but Phil Kessel's is the most most spectacular.
The starting line-up for our Blue Jays.
