NHL: Playoffs Preview

The NHL playoffs arrive this week, and it's a much different landscape than last year. Let's take a look with the Eastern Conference first:

1) Washington vs 8) Montreal: One of the best teams in the league vs a team that scraped into the playoffs? That was an easy pick to start with. Washington in 5, and Ovechkin nets four goals.

2) New Jersey vs 7) Philadelphia: The one team NJ probably didn't want to play... Philly is a rough team any time of the year, and they seem to have the tenacity of a bulldog come playoffs. The team to take them out the last two years? Pittsburgh, repeating Eastern Conference Champions. But, this is Brodeur we're talking about. He'll steal two games, at least. NJ in seven.

3) Buffalo vs 6) Boston: Battle of the goalies. Tuuka Rask vs Ryan Miller. I think this will be the series that no TV analyst will want to put on... 1-0, 2-1, etc. In the end, it's a crapshoot. Neither of these teams are going anywhere, so I'll take Boston as the upset. Boston in 6.

4) Pittsburgh vs 5)Ottawa: Freaking Pittsburgh. I hate Sidney Crosby with a passion that burns from my inner soul. Unfortunately, I agree with Scott Burnside that Pittsburgh has an on switch... And Ottawa just has no playoff soul. Pittsburgh in 5.

Western Conference Picks:

1) San Jose vs 8) Colorado: That worked out well for San Jose. They caught a layup first round; existing in the same situation as Washington. Colorado is flailing, and won't put up much of a fight. San Jose in 4.

2) Chicago vs 7) Nashville: Tough series. Nashville is a nasty playoff team. But Chicago outmatches them in skill and talent. Chicago in 6.

3) Vancouver vs 6) Los Angeles: Why is LA in the playoffs again? I have zero feel for this team. Maybe They can prove a cinderella and upset Vancouver in 7?

4) Phoenix vs 5) Detroit: Poor Phoenix. Finally get to the playoffs again, and have to face Detroit. Detroit has more Cup rings than Phoenix has players... And on top of that, because of the nature of Detroits auto industry's various relocations, playing in Phoenix is like playing a home game. Detroit in 5.

Further Predictions:

Washington over Boston in 5.

Pittsburgh over NJ in 6.

Pittsburgh over Washington in 7.

Detroit over Chicago in 7.

San Jose over LA in 5.

Detroit over San Jose in 5.

Detroit over Pittsburgh in 7.