Conference Finals playoff predictions

MARC LALONDE SAYS::

Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia

As a Canadiens fan, I would be rooting for Pittsburgh anyway, but they happen to be one of the most exciting offensive teams in recent history, while Philadelphia will have to get the same opportunism from R.J.-freakin'-Umberger and Mike Richards if they want to even stay in the series, because Pittsburgh has lost but once in these playoffs, and that to a motivated Rangers team who, I think, is eons better than these same Flyers. John Stevens has proven himself a savvy gameplanner, but I think if Michel Therrien can avoid any kind of meltdown, Sidney Crosby will have a shot at the Cup in his third NHL season—just like Gretzky did. It's written in the stars, people!

Penguins in 5 games



Detroit vs. Dallas

I've been picking against Dallas every step of the way, and this time is no different. Here's the thing, though: they're losing this time for sure. The President's Trophy-winning, highlight-goal-scoring Detroit Red Wings are coming to town and they're bringing the red-hot Johan (The Mule) Franzen with them. If Mike Ribeiro's team wins this series and he's a major reason why, I think I might just kill myself. Or Ribeiro.

I'll give Dallas and Marty Turco credit for getting this far, but the party's over, Dallas.

Besides, football season is just around the corner and –'hey! There's Jessica Simpson!'

You looked. Of course you did. That's why it doesn't matter if the Stars go home next week.

Wings in 6. It would've been 5, but Brad Richards and Turco will steal one game on their own.

PHILIPPE BOISVERT SAYS:

Détroit vs. Dallas

Cette série a tout pour faire croire qu’elle se finira rapidement du côté que l’on connaît tous. Je ne crois pas qu’un Mike Ribeiro a les nerfs assez forts pour être un leader important dans une victoire des Stars contre les Wings.

La formation de Détroit est tout simplement trop forte, trop bien rôdée. Seule faiblesse, devant le filet. Mais encore là, si Chris Osgood flanche, ils pourront faire appel au Dominator. Deux vieux gardiens, mais deux gardiens aguerris et reposés.

Wings en six

Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphie

Quelque chose me dit que les Flyers pourraient faire le même manège que les Hurricanes de la Caroline avaient fait en 2002 après avoir éliminé les Canadiens. La voie était ouverte pour se rendre jusqu’en finale de la coupe pour ensuite perdre rapidement contre les puissants Red Wings.

Cela va-t-il encore arriver ? Difficile à dire, parce que tout repose sur les épaules de Martin Biron. Même s’il a excellé contre le Canadien, fera-t-il le poids face à l’attaque des Penguins, qui est plus efficace en séries que ne l’a été celle des Habs.

J’y vais avec le feu dans cette bataille de la Pennsylvanie, les Penguins l’emporteront ni facilement, ni difficilement.

Penguins en six

ALBERT KRAMBERGER SAYS

Penguins vs. Flyers



Crosby, Malkin, Hossa, Gonchar. These names will adorn the Stanley Cup after this year's playoffs are said and done. While the Habs were skating rings around the Flyers but forgot how to score (or to go to the net) in their series, it is unlikely the Penguins will fail to deliver the goods against the Flyers, who, while a solid squad, don't match up well talent wise. Pittsburgh's biggest question mark going into the playoffs was goaltending, but Marc-Andre Fleury has proven his critics wrong and has played well enough to lead this young team to a championship. Pittsburgh in five.



Detroit vs. Dallas



The Stars, led by former Habs Mike Ribeiro, have surprised many by getting to the final four in the playoffs. They now face the Wings, who have history and experience on their side, but has age crept up on them, especially in nets? But the Wings have enough young bloods upfront to make up for some potentially tired veterans. This should prove to be a see-saw battle but the Wings will prevail: Wings in seven.





PASCAL LEBLANC says:

Il ne reste plus que quatre équipes et je dois dire que seuls les Penguins faisaient partie de mes prévisions d’origines. Malgré la victoire assez inattendue des Flyers face aux Canadiens, je crois que les Stars est l’équipe surprise grâce à des victoires relativement faciles contre les champions défendant (les Ducks) et les Sharks, que plusieurs voyaient en finale de la Coupe.

(1) Pittsburgh vs (6) Philadelphie

Les deux formations de la Pennsylvanie n’ont eu besoin que de cinq parties pour vaincre leurs adversaires respectifs qui semblaient pourtant de taille. Cette série devrait être plus chaudement disputée simplement parce qu’il s’agit d’une finale de conférence. Je crois tout de même que la redoutable attaque des Penguins aura raison des Flyers, surtout si Marc-André Fleury continu d’exceller devant le filet.

Pittsburgh en cinq.

(1) Detroit vs (5) Dallas

Les Red Wings semblent déterminés à se rendre jusqu’au bout à la suite d’une autre excellente saison régulière, alors qu’ils se sont souvent écroulés en séries dans les dernières années. Leur attaque fonctionne à plein régime, la défensive est solide et Chris Osgood a répondu à l’appel même s’il n’a pas beaucoup joué cette saison. Les Stars sont aussi sur une lancée et je ne crois pas que le match-marathon les a complètement vidés de leur énergie. Ainsi, ils offriront une bonne bataille aux Wings, mais ils manqueront de munitions.

Detroit en six.

Puisqu’il vaut mieux tard que jamais, je tiens à partager mes choix de la ronde précédente. J’avais choisi les Penguins en six contre les Rangers et les Canadiens en cinq contre les Flyers (ouch!). Dans l’ouest, j’avais misé juste en prenant les Stars sur les Sharks, mais j’avais prédit en cinq. L’Avalanche devait vaincre les Wings en six, mais les blessures (Forsberg, Wolski, Stastny, Smyth, Hannan et Svatos) ont tué l’équipe que je voyais championne de la Coupe Stanley.



RICK MOFFAT SAYS:

DALLAS VS. DETROIT: We've got the biggest Monkey on the net while Detroit has the biggest Mule in hockey, Johan Franzen, but Dallas has "the son-in-law" Brendan Morrow. Mike Ribeiro doesn't pick up all those assists unless Morrow is clearing lanes and burying those one-timers. The Stars are going to knock the Wings to the golf course, though it could take 7 games.





PENGUINS VS. FLYERS: Martin Biron cannot have any more horseshoes in his goalie pants. He may have single-handedly snuffed out the Canadiens' playoff chances and Montrealers' riotous expectations, but his luck has to turn. The Penguins will win this series in 5 or 6 (I know, that's what I said the Habs would do!) and don't give me any more crap about Crosby being a whiner. He's passionate and great for the game, and opposing teams will be complaining about him getting special treatment in Stanley Cup playoffs for the next 20 years.





THUNDERMONKEY says:

Philadelphia vs. Pittsburgh

Philly! Philly! Philly! If there was ever a team that epitomized my throw-feces-at-the-wall-and-see-what-sticks philosophy, it's the feces-flinging Flyers! I mean, Derian Hatcher is bigger than any gorilla in the jungle, and he runs around like a meerkat with a meth habit hammering any and all comers. That, and John Steven, for all his bookish appearance, is a world-class poo-tosser.

Flyers in six

Dallas vs. Detroit

No matter which way you slice it, the weather is nicer in Dallas, and that provides major feces-hurling potential, whereas in Detroit, most of the downtown core already looks like my 82 brothers and sisters spent our formative years flinging poo there. Plus, I've got a crush in Mickey Ribs. He's the only Canadiens player that could ever drink me under the table. He can pack it away for such a little guy. Dallas' ideal poo-flinging climate wins out. Dallas will win the series in five games.