2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread (Second Round is set, begins tomorrow)

[Hatman 🍁]

Finally!

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

[Hatman 🍁]

The Sens just wont go away! Woohoo!

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

CARL HAGELIN!!!!!  IN OOOOOOOOOOOVERTIME!!!!!

Onward we march to the Eastern Conference Semifinals!

[DemPGH]

That was an exciting Pens/Rangers game last night, and kudos to the Pens for giving a superior team a real fight throughout the series. Fleury was actually really good. I suppose now my Yankees loyalty will bleed over to the Rangers, so go Rangers.

[© tweed]

sent the Barn out right

[NewYorkExpress]

sent the Barn out right

If the Isles advance, we'd get one more Long Island Expressway series, which will be quite interesting, but if the Capitals advance we have the NHL's best scorer (Alex Ovechkin) against their best goalie (Henrik Lundqvist). The NHL can't lose here.

[© tweed]

sent the Barn out right

If the Isles advance, we'd get one more Long Island Expressway series, which will be quite interesting, but if the Capitals advance we have the NHL's best scorer (Alex Ovechkin) against their best goalie (Henrik Lundqvist). The NHL can't lose here.

I not quite hoping the Isles lose game 7, but I'm legitimately afraid of the spectacle of NYR celebrating on Coliseum ice.  this was the more suitable ending for the Barn.

that said, I assume the Rangers would prefer to face Wash, as they're familiar with them.  if the Isles do manage to take this series the supernatural threatens to makes its presence known.  a lucky break here or there for the Islanders and the series becomes more than just a Conference Semi, its meaning points beyond itself.  ghosts of Coliseum past awake from slumber, that sort of thing.  

those type series can become scary for the favorite, though they sometimes pull through anyway.

[© tweed]

also, with TB not playing well, the challenges to the Rangers look a bit weak in the East.  the two best teams left other than the NYR are Chicago and Anaheim.  I'd put Montreal fourth, Islanders fifth... but those ghosts, man...

[NewYorkExpress]

sent the Barn out right

If the Isles advance, we'd get one more Long Island Expressway series, which will be quite interesting, but if the Capitals advance we have the NHL's best scorer (Alex Ovechkin) against their best goalie (Henrik Lundqvist). The NHL can't lose here.

I not quite hoping the Isles lose game 7, but I'm legitimately afraid of the spectacle of NYR celebrating on Coliseum ice.  this was the more suitable ending for the Barn.

that said, I assume the Rangers would prefer to face Wash, as they're familiar with them.  if the Isles do manage to take this series the supernatural threatens to makes its presence known.  a lucky break here or there for the Islanders and the series becomes more than just a Conference Semi, its meaning points beyond itself.  ghosts of Coliseum past awake from slumber, that sort of thing.  

those type series can become scary for the favorite, though they sometimes pull through anyway.

I'm rooting for the Islanders... I'm just pointing out that from the NHL's perspective, they can't lose.

[Hatman 🍁]

also, with TB not playing well, the challenges to the Rangers look a bit weak in the East.  the two best teams left other than the NYR are Chicago and Anaheim.  I'd put Montreal fourth, Islanders fifth... but those ghosts, man...

Montreal? Seriously?

[© tweed]

also, with TB not playing well, the challenges to the Rangers look a bit weak in the East.  the two best teams left other than the NYR are Chicago and Anaheim.  I'd put Montreal fourth, Islanders fifth... but those ghosts, man...

Montreal? Seriously?

hey, if Carey Price plays like Carey Price... but that's just the point.  the East is so thin.  the NYR could march into Chicago or Anaheim having played 15 or 16 postseason games.

that's what makes the Isles possibly scary.  the hockey Gods may have something up their sleeve with the Isles.  hard to see it for anything or anybody else, unless you feel the dearth of Canadian cups qualifies.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Hey, Canadiens were my original pick and I'll stick with them to get by Detroit at least.

I'll still wait for someone to give the Ducks a challenge but that likely won't happen until the West conference finals. I want to see how they fare vs. good competition, i.e. anyone in the other west division including St. Louis.

I'm sticking with the same final four (Minnesota coming out of that ridiculous cluster), but I'm more optimistic about the Rangers getting past Carey Price then I was at the start. They really have to start playing better, but they are winning at least.

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

EASTERN CONFERENCE

 vs.

 vs.


WESTERN CONFERENCE

 vs.

 vs.

Five of the final eight made it to this round last year as well.  New York, Montreal, Chicago, Anaheim, and Minnesota.  This year Washington, Tampa Bay, and Calgary are in, too.  

My predictions:

Rangers in 5
Lightning in 6
Wild in 7
Ducks in 6

[dead0man]

The Blues are healthy going into the playoffs this year, Tarshenko is going to tear it up.

They are running into a juggernaut in Minnesota.  That team has been absolutely awesome for three months.

We were both right...you were just more right.

[Smid]

EASTERN CONFERENCE

 vs.

 vs.


WESTERN CONFERENCE

 vs.

 vs.

Five of the final eight made it to this round last year as well.  New York, Montreal, Chicago, Anaheim, and Minnesota.  This year Washington, Tampa Bay, and Calgary are in, too.  

My predictions:

Rangers in 5
Lightning in 6
Wild in 7
Ducks in 6

Hope you're wrong, go Flames!

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Rangers in 6
Canadiens in 5

Wild in 7
Ducks in 6

Rangers in 7
Wild in 6

Wild in 7

Sorry, HD

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

I'm still picking the Lightning to win it all but damn the Habs scare me......this series is going to be the best of the bunch to watch.  If the Habs win I'm going with them all the way.

[© tweed]

Wild/Chicago is another good series.  Chicago has a tough road, esp. if it goes NSH/MIN/ANA/NYR.

[Boris]

But if CGY and WSH pull off the upsets, then I'll be in a prettyyyy good position to party like it's 2013. Or 2010.

[The Dowager Mod]

Rangers.
Habs.
Blackhawks.
Ducks.

[Badger]

Rangers.
Habs.
Blackhawks.
Ducks.

Wild over Hawks. Otherwise agree.

[muon2]

Rangers.
Habs.
Blackhawks.
Ducks.

Wild over Hawks. Otherwise agree.

The Wild will have to win 4 out of 5 at this point. They also have to break their playoff jinx at the United Center.

[The Dowager Mod]

Rangers need to get their sh**t together >:I

[Gass3268]

Very happy that my two teams (Hawks and Caps) are doing well.