Well, it's playoff time again in the NHL. After a season I'd describe as freakin' awesome, 16 teams now have to battle it out to go for the Cup. They already announced the schedule for the first round and pretty much every game will be on national TV.
Last year I predicted each series round-by-round and I was correct with 10 out of the the 15 series. I thought it was pretty solid for my first time around. I got several upsets right and I got 7 out of 8 first round series correct. So here I go for the 2011-2012 Playoffs!!!!!
EAST
1. New York Rangers vs. 8. Ottawa Senators
Ottawa won regular season series 3 games to 1
Well I noticed for several of the first round series, the high seeded team has a losing record against the lower seeded team. This does make things interesting going into the playoffs but in several cases, it should not reflect the outcome of some of the series.
Like this one for example.
Yes, the Senators played extremely well against the Rangers this year and matchup well with them also. Through their four game regular season series, Ottawa has outscored them 14-8 including a 3-0 win and a 4-1 win. So there's no question that Ottawa matches up well with them and aren't intimated by the first seed in the East.
Down the stretch, Ottawa played miserably. They dropped their last 3 and ended up in 8th place because of it. For the Rangers, it was also a mediocre finish as they almost lost their first seed in the Atlantic and then played just flat out awful in the last game of the season with the Presidents Trophy on the line.
OFFENSE:
Offensively, there's no doubt that Ottawa has been one of the best in the league. They are fourth in the league for goals per game Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson have been marvelous all year and Michalek has also played well. But if you ask (almost) any Ottawa fan who has been their best offensive threat all year, they'd say defenseman Erik Karlsson. He leads all NHL defensemen in goals and assists (19, 59) and has fueled Ottawa's offense this year. He's a wonderful skater and can really control the puck well. If Ottawa has any hope of winning, they need him to keep up his game into the playoffs.
For the Rangers, it's been another so-so year offensively. Bringing in Brad Richards wasn't as awesome as most Rangers expected him to be but he did have another solid year. The main spark came from Marian Gaborik as he had 41 goals and 35 assists. But the Rangers are going to need a lot more than just Gaborik, Richards and rookie sensation Carl Hagelin. If they can get players like Artem Anisimov and Derek Stepan going in the playoffs, they can really make a long run.
EDGE: I have to give Ottawa a slight edge based on their numbers this year. The Rangers are certainly capable of being the better team offensively but they have not showed it. If they can get those second/third line guys going then they will not have a problem.
DEFENSE:
The Rangers have been remarkable on defense this year. Their two young defensemen Ryan McDonagh and Michael Del Zotto have been great players and could easily go toe-to-toew with any of the best forwards in the league. Add Dan Girardi to the mix and it's almost unfair already. The Rangers need Marc Staal to be his old self again. After coming back mid-season from a concussion, he hasn't done too great. So far the other D-men have overshadowed his underachieving but he has got to get out of his little funk. The Rangers have the most hits in the league are fourth in the NHL in blocked shots and have been excellent in their own zone so not much to worry about for them this series on defense.
Ottawa has been alright on D this year. They've quietly put together a solid season there. Karlsson, along with his offensive surge, has been stellar on defense also. Together with Filip Kuba and Sergei Gonchar, they've been pretty solid. It's not one of their strengths but definitely not a weakness.
EDGE: Not a doubt in my mind the Rangers win this one. They have one of the best defenses in the league. It's not gonna be easy going up against the talented Ottawa offense but they've been playing great all year and it's for sure going to continue into the playoffs.
GOALIES:
We'll start with the Rangers just based on convenience. Henrik Lundqvist is certainly the best goalie in the NHL. I've seen games where he was lights out and he could honestly get a shut out on any given night. Throughout his career he has had to put up with weak Rangers teams and was still able to win pretty much on his own. This year he was given a good team so he put up stellar numbers and may easily win the Vezina Trophy (unless Jonathan Quick has anything to say about it). Additionally, the Rangers immensely lightened his load of regular season games this year so he should be well rested for the playoffs. Numbers: 39 wins, GAA 1.97, SV% .930, 8 shutouts
For Ottawa, it's Craig Anderson in net. Craig struggled at times but in the end put up some pretty good numbers. He's a goalie who can be lights out (51 save shutout in the playoffs two years ago against the Sharks anyone?) and could steal a game or two every now and then. Numbers: 33 wins, GAA 2.84, SV% .914, 3 shutouts
EDGE: Not even a question here. The Rangers and King Henrik easily have this one.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
I'll say it straight out..The Rangers have one of the most disappointing powerplays in the league. With their star power, they should be a bit better than 23rd in the league with the man advantage. I doubt they'll change their ways come playoff time but they do need a fix. On the penalty kill the Rangers are pretty good and having a great goalie helps. But if they are given powerplays by Ottawa (and Oh how there will be powerplays), they need to find a way to capitalize.
I hinted to it above. Ottawa has committed the second most penalties in the league and although the Rangers aren't quite a powerplay-goal machine, being shorthanded does not really help. Ottawa also isn't so great on the penalty kill so they really have to smarten up and play disciplined hockey or they could get into a lot of trouble. Now the Rangers also commit their share of penalties and Ottawa has had a good powerplay all season long. If Ottawa has a chance of winning this series, look to their powerplay to get things done.
EDGE: The Senators have the edge here. The Rangers can commit a bit too many penalties and that may open the doors for Ottawa. The Rangers do have a great penalty kill but I think Ottawa has the ability to capitalize on stupid Ranger penalties.
CONCLUSION: So the Rangers have had trouble with them in the regular season but as everyone knows, the playoffs are completely different. The Rangers will win a couple of quick games. I can see Ottawa putting up a fight but Lundqvist will steal a game and officially kill the Senators season. It should be a physical series and hopefully a fun one to watch. But Rangers work ethic and tough hockey will win this one.
PREDICTION: RANGERS IN 6 GAMES
note: stick tap to dailyfaceoff.com for supplying starting roster and such. pretty sick site.
Last year I predicted each series round-by-round and I was correct with 10 out of the the 15 series. I thought it was pretty solid for my first time around. I got several upsets right and I got 7 out of 8 first round series correct. So here I go for the 2011-2012 Playoffs!!!!!
EAST
1. New York Rangers vs. 8. Ottawa Senators
Ottawa won regular season series 3 games to 1
Well I noticed for several of the first round series, the high seeded team has a losing record against the lower seeded team. This does make things interesting going into the playoffs but in several cases, it should not reflect the outcome of some of the series.
Like this one for example.
Yes, the Senators played extremely well against the Rangers this year and matchup well with them also. Through their four game regular season series, Ottawa has outscored them 14-8 including a 3-0 win and a 4-1 win. So there's no question that Ottawa matches up well with them and aren't intimated by the first seed in the East.
Down the stretch, Ottawa played miserably. They dropped their last 3 and ended up in 8th place because of it. For the Rangers, it was also a mediocre finish as they almost lost their first seed in the Atlantic and then played just flat out awful in the last game of the season with the Presidents Trophy on the line.
OFFENSE:
Offensively, there's no doubt that Ottawa has been one of the best in the league. They are fourth in the league for goals per game Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson have been marvelous all year and Michalek has also played well. But if you ask (almost) any Ottawa fan who has been their best offensive threat all year, they'd say defenseman Erik Karlsson. He leads all NHL defensemen in goals and assists (19, 59) and has fueled Ottawa's offense this year. He's a wonderful skater and can really control the puck well. If Ottawa has any hope of winning, they need him to keep up his game into the playoffs.
For the Rangers, it's been another so-so year offensively. Bringing in Brad Richards wasn't as awesome as most Rangers expected him to be but he did have another solid year. The main spark came from Marian Gaborik as he had 41 goals and 35 assists. But the Rangers are going to need a lot more than just Gaborik, Richards and rookie sensation Carl Hagelin. If they can get players like Artem Anisimov and Derek Stepan going in the playoffs, they can really make a long run.
EDGE: I have to give Ottawa a slight edge based on their numbers this year. The Rangers are certainly capable of being the better team offensively but they have not showed it. If they can get those second/third line guys going then they will not have a problem.
DEFENSE:
The Rangers have been remarkable on defense this year. Their two young defensemen Ryan McDonagh and Michael Del Zotto have been great players and could easily go toe-to-toew with any of the best forwards in the league. Add Dan Girardi to the mix and it's almost unfair already. The Rangers need Marc Staal to be his old self again. After coming back mid-season from a concussion, he hasn't done too great. So far the other D-men have overshadowed his underachieving but he has got to get out of his little funk. The Rangers have the most hits in the league are fourth in the NHL in blocked shots and have been excellent in their own zone so not much to worry about for them this series on defense.
Ottawa has been alright on D this year. They've quietly put together a solid season there. Karlsson, along with his offensive surge, has been stellar on defense also. Together with Filip Kuba and Sergei Gonchar, they've been pretty solid. It's not one of their strengths but definitely not a weakness.
EDGE: Not a doubt in my mind the Rangers win this one. They have one of the best defenses in the league. It's not gonna be easy going up against the talented Ottawa offense but they've been playing great all year and it's for sure going to continue into the playoffs.
GOALIES:
We'll start with the Rangers just based on convenience. Henrik Lundqvist is certainly the best goalie in the NHL. I've seen games where he was lights out and he could honestly get a shut out on any given night. Throughout his career he has had to put up with weak Rangers teams and was still able to win pretty much on his own. This year he was given a good team so he put up stellar numbers and may easily win the Vezina Trophy (unless Jonathan Quick has anything to say about it). Additionally, the Rangers immensely lightened his load of regular season games this year so he should be well rested for the playoffs. Numbers: 39 wins, GAA 1.97, SV% .930, 8 shutouts
For Ottawa, it's Craig Anderson in net. Craig struggled at times but in the end put up some pretty good numbers. He's a goalie who can be lights out (51 save shutout in the playoffs two years ago against the Sharks anyone?) and could steal a game or two every now and then. Numbers: 33 wins, GAA 2.84, SV% .914, 3 shutouts
EDGE: Not even a question here. The Rangers and King Henrik easily have this one.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
I'll say it straight out..The Rangers have one of the most disappointing powerplays in the league. With their star power, they should be a bit better than 23rd in the league with the man advantage. I doubt they'll change their ways come playoff time but they do need a fix. On the penalty kill the Rangers are pretty good and having a great goalie helps. But if they are given powerplays by Ottawa (and Oh how there will be powerplays), they need to find a way to capitalize.
I hinted to it above. Ottawa has committed the second most penalties in the league and although the Rangers aren't quite a powerplay-goal machine, being shorthanded does not really help. Ottawa also isn't so great on the penalty kill so they really have to smarten up and play disciplined hockey or they could get into a lot of trouble. Now the Rangers also commit their share of penalties and Ottawa has had a good powerplay all season long. If Ottawa has a chance of winning this series, look to their powerplay to get things done.
EDGE: The Senators have the edge here. The Rangers can commit a bit too many penalties and that may open the doors for Ottawa. The Rangers do have a great penalty kill but I think Ottawa has the ability to capitalize on stupid Ranger penalties.
CONCLUSION: So the Rangers have had trouble with them in the regular season but as everyone knows, the playoffs are completely different. The Rangers will win a couple of quick games. I can see Ottawa putting up a fight but Lundqvist will steal a game and officially kill the Senators season. It should be a physical series and hopefully a fun one to watch. But Rangers work ethic and tough hockey will win this one.
PREDICTION: RANGERS IN 6 GAMES
note: stick tap to dailyfaceoff.com for supplying starting roster and such. pretty sick site.
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