Picks from the Jailhouse - Wales
New York Islanders vs. Tampa Bay
Oh the Islanders. Is there any point in doing this whole playoff thing? They're soooo good. They've got the top two scorers in the league in Peca and Sakic, the Vezina runner up (it's going to be Dunham baby!) and 2 other centres that are #1 calibre, 7 snipers on the wings and impenetrable defence. Led the league with 325 goals for and were second in goals against to THE NEW YORK RANGERS with 219. .718 win percentage.
Over in Tampa though the Islanders have the misfortune of playing the defending champs. Tampa is a team that resembles their real life counter parts in that they have all the tools but lacked the goaltending in their attempt to repeat. With only a few games to go Tampa moved some vets including Lemieux and Svehla - who were probably demoralized by their GM screaming that they were available for trade as loud as he could - but his team made the playoffs anyway. Unfortunately, with the departure of Svehla the defence is no longer the best in the league but this team is formidable!
The Islanders are too cocky after their easy season. Tampa shocks the Islanders and beats them in game 7 in New York!
Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia
Wow these two teams are lucky to meet each other. These appear to be two of the weakest teams to make the playoffs. The Penguins have a solid line in Drury, Elias, Bataglia and decent defence led by Aaron Ward, Jussi Timonen, and Willie Mitchell and a decent goalie but not much depth.
Philly, on the other hand has Todd White...and...um...Lundmark...and Osgood is in my opinion one of the best goalies in Clutch and....how did they make the playoffs again? There needs to be a league inquiry into this kind of thing. Something is being manipulated here.
Penguins in 5 - even though their #1 goalie is suspended for 2.
Florida vs. Washington
Washington is a team that was life and death to make the playoffs but gave the New Jersey Devils a serious of straight up mollywoppings in order to make the playoffs. An impressive run to end the season. They're a solid all around team with Marleau, Chubarov, and late addition Vyborny heading them up at centre. They've got decent wingers led by Warriner, Lukes, Carter and Palffy. Their defence is led by the always excellent Rob Blake and then Eaton, Boyle, Suchy, and Berard. Legace is a good goaltender.
Panters though... third overall in the league and second in the conference. There players at over a point a game in Bondra (99), Novoseltsev (92) and Nolan (88). Second in the league in goals for and 5th in goals against. Despite the goals against their current defence doesn't look uncrackable. Though Johnsson, Rathje and Krajicek, are excellent defender their overall defence lacks speed. The Panthers have tons of offence to fight with if their defence struggles though and Luongo is between the pipes.
Washington battles valiantly but loses in 6.
New York Rangers vs. Carolina
This along with the Islanders/Tampa and Calgary/Colorado series is a doozy. The Hurricanes have great depth and have been steadily remaking their team all year despite being at the top of the league for the first half. Perhaps it was the16 game streak ending defeat at the hands of the very Rangers they face that led them to rethink their lineup. Or the GM is just mad! Carolina is great for depth but lacking game breaking players. They do, however, have great defensive forwards who can also score. Their defence is solid but unspectacular. This team is young and will improve greatly next year. They're balanced, hungry, and have a great but inexperienced goaltender in Jose Theodore.
The Rangers, on the other hand, are not lacking in game breaking and experienced players after the deals of the last few weeks that brought first Alfredsson, then Sundin, and finally Lemieux. Pavel Bure's speed and wicked shot are something to be wary of (44 goals this season) and the team enjoys great depth on lines 1 through 3. The defence has been fantastic all year round led by Redden and Girard. The Rangers also have two starting goaltenders and they've announced that last years Stanley Cup winner (Thilbault) will be getting the start in game 1.
Rangers have enough to overcome the 'Canes. Rangers in 3! Yes 3! The Canes' refuse to show up for another 9-1 beating in game 4!
Seriously though. Rangers in 7.
Oh the Islanders. Is there any point in doing this whole playoff thing? They're soooo good. They've got the top two scorers in the league in Peca and Sakic, the Vezina runner up (it's going to be Dunham baby!) and 2 other centres that are #1 calibre, 7 snipers on the wings and impenetrable defence. Led the league with 325 goals for and were second in goals against to THE NEW YORK RANGERS with 219. .718 win percentage.
Over in Tampa though the Islanders have the misfortune of playing the defending champs. Tampa is a team that resembles their real life counter parts in that they have all the tools but lacked the goaltending in their attempt to repeat. With only a few games to go Tampa moved some vets including Lemieux and Svehla - who were probably demoralized by their GM screaming that they were available for trade as loud as he could - but his team made the playoffs anyway. Unfortunately, with the departure of Svehla the defence is no longer the best in the league but this team is formidable!
The Islanders are too cocky after their easy season. Tampa shocks the Islanders and beats them in game 7 in New York!
Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia
Wow these two teams are lucky to meet each other. These appear to be two of the weakest teams to make the playoffs. The Penguins have a solid line in Drury, Elias, Bataglia and decent defence led by Aaron Ward, Jussi Timonen, and Willie Mitchell and a decent goalie but not much depth.
Philly, on the other hand has Todd White...and...um...Lundmark...and Osgood is in my opinion one of the best goalies in Clutch and....how did they make the playoffs again? There needs to be a league inquiry into this kind of thing. Something is being manipulated here.
Penguins in 5 - even though their #1 goalie is suspended for 2.
Florida vs. Washington
Washington is a team that was life and death to make the playoffs but gave the New Jersey Devils a serious of straight up mollywoppings in order to make the playoffs. An impressive run to end the season. They're a solid all around team with Marleau, Chubarov, and late addition Vyborny heading them up at centre. They've got decent wingers led by Warriner, Lukes, Carter and Palffy. Their defence is led by the always excellent Rob Blake and then Eaton, Boyle, Suchy, and Berard. Legace is a good goaltender.
Panters though... third overall in the league and second in the conference. There players at over a point a game in Bondra (99), Novoseltsev (92) and Nolan (88). Second in the league in goals for and 5th in goals against. Despite the goals against their current defence doesn't look uncrackable. Though Johnsson, Rathje and Krajicek, are excellent defender their overall defence lacks speed. The Panthers have tons of offence to fight with if their defence struggles though and Luongo is between the pipes.
Washington battles valiantly but loses in 6.
New York Rangers vs. Carolina
This along with the Islanders/Tampa and Calgary/Colorado series is a doozy. The Hurricanes have great depth and have been steadily remaking their team all year despite being at the top of the league for the first half. Perhaps it was the16 game streak ending defeat at the hands of the very Rangers they face that led them to rethink their lineup. Or the GM is just mad! Carolina is great for depth but lacking game breaking players. They do, however, have great defensive forwards who can also score. Their defence is solid but unspectacular. This team is young and will improve greatly next year. They're balanced, hungry, and have a great but inexperienced goaltender in Jose Theodore.
The Rangers, on the other hand, are not lacking in game breaking and experienced players after the deals of the last few weeks that brought first Alfredsson, then Sundin, and finally Lemieux. Pavel Bure's speed and wicked shot are something to be wary of (44 goals this season) and the team enjoys great depth on lines 1 through 3. The defence has been fantastic all year round led by Redden and Girard. The Rangers also have two starting goaltenders and they've announced that last years Stanley Cup winner (Thilbault) will be getting the start in game 1.
Rangers have enough to overcome the 'Canes. Rangers in 3! Yes 3! The Canes' refuse to show up for another 9-1 beating in game 4!
Seriously though. Rangers in 7.
posted by RangersGM at 9:26 PM
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