My friend said that the players seemed to be more confident when it's Budaj in net...I told him it could also be the other way around, they tighten up defensively when he's in net.

Who knows.
- stinger67

That makes sense though.

Sens play a strong defensive game and their goaltending is top notch. They also have skilled players on their PP. Have to stay out of the box.
- hscesq

hockeybuzzzz

For playoff predictions, I think these match-ups have created a situation where the East is completely up in the air. All 4 NE teams have sort of backed into the playoffs but that also means two will get to win, so who knows who can get on track. All of the sexy options like Pittsburgh and Washington have been really hot, and usually hot streaks don't last 40 games, so I'd say a NE team ends up winning it, biased, but I like Montreal in the East. Getting Ottawa first round I think is prefect to get Carey Price back on track which could be scary for other teams in later rounds. If they get Ottawa, Washington, and someone can upset Pittsburgh (because Montreal can't pull that off).

As for the West, it's the exact opposite. I don't see many upsets. Chicago and Anaheim should roll to their match-up in the Conf. Finals. St. Louis may be the only wild card I see in the West. I'll take Anaheim just because I think they have better goaltending than Chicago once the pressure comes into to play in the conf. finals.
- kev1586

I agree about the East. You have to consider Pittsburgh the heavy favorite and the rest is up for grabs.

In the West, Chicago for sure but I could see Detroit upset Anaheim.

If I learned anything from the playoffs in the last 20 years: It doesn't usually pay off to bet against Detroit.

I agree about the East. You have to consider Pittsburgh the heavy favorite and the rest is up for grabs.

In the West, Chicago for sure but I could see Detroit upset Anaheim.

If I learned anything from the playoffs in the last 20 years: It doesn't usually pay off to bet against Detroit.
- Scabeh

The West is not a sure thing. LA is defending cup champs, St Louis is my dark horse pick.

I agree about the East. You have to consider Pittsburgh the heavy favorite and the rest is up for grabs.

In the West, Chicago for sure but I could see Detroit upset Anaheim.

If I learned anything from the playoffs in the last 20 years: It doesn't usually pay off to bet against Detroit.
- Scabeh

As close as I think the east is, I have no clue about any series in the west.

Chicago is the obvious choice, but even that is no guarantee. It would not be a surprise to see any of the other 3 series won by the lower seed.

Not sure if the habs have a better chance against Ottawa than they would have had against the Leafs.

But who cares, it's the playoffs.

Get it done, habbies.
- Pecafan Fan

The only upside is that Price has played the sens well. Down side is that Anderson has played Habs better.

The West is not a sure thing. LA is defending cup champs, St Louis is my dark horse pick.
- blarneylad

I was going to say much the same thing... a lot of people seem to be picking LA. I could easily see St. Louis going all the way to the cup though. If HitchRichard gets them playing with discipline again, they will be tough to beat, even for Chicago.

Low scoring, with Chris Neil being a Richard.
- stinger67

nice tilt with Lucic last night

Not sure if the habs have a better chance against Ottawa than they would have had against the Leafs.

But who cares, it's the playoffs.

Get it done, habbies.
- Pecafan Fan

I agree with you overall. I just meant that Price has been good against Ottawa for the better part of his career, with the exception of Daniel Alfredsson. I'm not basing this off of any stats, just what I seem to remember. So it's a better match-up for him than Toronto that seem, for some strange reason, to really be in his head right now.

I was going to say much the same thing... a lot of people seem to be picking LA. I could easily see St. Louis going all the way to the cup though. If HitchRichard gets them playing with discipline again, they will be tough to beat, even for Chicago.
- Aetherial

A wise man I know once said:

The Habs did not destroy the Leafs twice.

I am not sure who is an easier opponent for anyone at this point. Any one of the Leafs/Sens/Habs/Bruins could all beat each other. I do think the Leafs are the underdog in any of those series though.

I am just real tired of Leafs fans who have just assumed for the last few weeks that we would face the Habs in the playoffs, and beat them. I was glad when Montreal beat Toronto on Saturday. I figured if we met the Habs in the first round, that loss would have been a good wake up call for the Leafs.

... I just hope they keep it competitive against the Bruins.

I was going to say much the same thing... a lot of people seem to be picking LA. I could easily see St. Louis going all the way to the cup though. If HitchRichard gets them playing with discipline again, they will be tough to beat, even for Chicago.
- Aetherial

With Halak perhaps.... but Elliot? I have my doubts.

The only upside is that Price has played the sens well. Down side is that Anderson has played Habs better.
- Pie

I think the Habs had a better chance against the Leafs.

The Leafs are a sloppier team in their own end, so if a Habs goalie plays a solid game the Habs have a very good chance of winning.

To beat the Sens though, the Habs need to outwork them and capitalize on the very few defensive team lapses the Sens will give them.

A wise man I know once said:

The Habs did not destroy the Leafs twice.

I am not sure who is an easier opponent for anyone at this point. Any one of the Leafs/Sens/Habs/Bruins could all beat each other. I do think the Leafs are the underdog in any of those series though.

I am just real tired of Leafs fans who have just assumed for the last few weeks that we would face the Habs in the playoffs, and beat them. I was glad when Montreal beat Toronto on Saturday. I figured if we met the Habs in the first round, that loss would have been a good wake up call for the Leafs.

... I just hope they keep it competitive against the Bruins.
- hscesq

With Halak perhaps.... but Elliot? I have my doubts.
- Scabeh

uh, yeah, there is that

Budaj starts game 1?

Budaj starts game 1?
- stormey

This is your best work? I mean, after mocking my six year old of course.

I think the Habs had a better chance against the Leafs.

The Leafs are a sloppier team in their own end, so if a Habs goalie plays a solid game the Habs have a very good chance of winning.

To beat the Sens though, the Habs need to outwork them and capitalize on the very few defensive team lapses the Sens will give them.
- Aetherial

They've outshot Ottawa handily in the reg. season but need to get in and pick up rebounds. The two teams match up well.

Oh yeah, by the way... a big heartfelt thanks to the fcuking nauseating Habs.

My 6-year old son, lost a 24-person hockey pool on the final game of the season, by ONE POINT.

If the Habs played Price on Saturday, there is a very good chance he gets two points and wins.

fckuing Habs.

Budaj starts game 1?
- stormey

Agreed Budaj had a stellar .815 against the Sens and Price was only .944

Oh yeah, by the way... a big heartfelt thanks to the fcuking nauseating Habs.

My 6-year old son, lost a 24-person hockey pool on the final game of the season, by ONE POINT.

If the Habs played Price on Saturday, there is a very good chance he gets two points and wins.

fckuing Habs.
- Aetherial

Kessel, Eller, Yak got me in to 2nd in a 25 team pool on Fri, Sat night. $400 win

Oh yeah, by the way... a big heartfelt thanks to the fcuking nauseating Habs.

My 6-year old son, lost a 24-person hockey pool on the final game of the season, by ONE POINT.

If the Habs played Price on Saturday, there is a very good chance he gets two points and wins.

fckuing Habs.
- Aetherial

I think I heard Michel Therrien say something about how he wanted to (frank) some 6 year old's pool chances, and that's why he put Budaj in net.

Could be your son......

Kessel, Eller, Yak got me in to 2nd in a 25 team pool on Fri, Sat night. $400 win
- AGalchenyuk27

I hope we see a ton of him in the playoffs.

He needs to play more than Desharnais.

This is your best work? I mean, after mocking my six year old of course.
- hscesq

They've outshot Ottawa handily in the reg. season but need to get in and pick up rebounds. The two teams match up well.
- Pie

Anderson needs to return to form and the Habs need to keep up the insane puck pursuit I saw from them a couple weeks ago.

Wild vs Hawks - Hawks in 5
Wings vs Ducks - Ducks in 6
Sharks vs Canucks - Canucks in 6
Kings vs Blues - Kings in 5
Pens vs Isles - Pens in 4
Sens vs Habs - Habs in 7
Rangers vs Caps - Rangers in 6
Leafs vs Bruins - Leafs in 7...