***Official 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread***

[The_Doctor10]

Stanley Cup Finals:

Congratulations to the 2011 Stanley Cup champions, the Boston Bruins!

[ModSocks]

Lol, wut?

NHL? I didn't even know the season was going on.

[The_Doctor10]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

Lol, wut?

NHL? I didn't even know the season was going on.

Any knock-knock jokes or perhaps a Titanic reference that you'd like to get out of your system? You know, while we're hitting these things at the height of their popularity...

[CanadianChief]

I'm a big Habs fan and would like to see them win it all but I'm predicting Philly vs SJ in the finals with the Flyers winning it in 6.

[Sofa King]

What sport is this? table tennis or something?


I don't watch table tennis.

[Saulbadguy]

CANUCKS

[Otter]

Originally Posted by CanadianChief

I'm a big Habs fan and would like to see them win it all but I'm predicting Philly vs SJ in the finals with the Flyers winning it in 6.

I like your style hoss!

[Sofa King]

Knock Knock.

Who's there?

The Titanic.

The Titantic who?

The NHL sucks.

[Otter]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

Lol, wut?

NHL? I didn't even know the season was going on.

Thanks for letting us know.

[Predarat]

Boston vs San Jose for the cup!

[The_Doctor10]

Originally Posted by CanadianChief

I'm a big Habs fan and would like to see them win it all but I'm predicting Philly vs SJ in the finals with the Flyers winning it in 6.

My dad's from Montreal, so I've always had the Habs as my second-favorite team when the Flames get knocked out, but I just don't see them getting past Boston. There's such a size mismatch there; the Habs have no answer for Lucic or Chara, and as great a year as Price had, I don't see him being able to overcome the weaknesses his team has in this matchup.

The East is still reerunedly wide-open;

Boston is as big, mean, and skilled as they come. And they have two world class goalies. They're set up nicely.

Philly is in the same boat, though I'd say they're a little more skilled through the forward ranks, and their defense is just a little bit better. Pronger goes straight into Beast-mode come playoff time, and anyone who bets against him in the playoffs has bigger balls than I. The goaltending is the only area, once again, where things fall down for them. The tandem is decent, but is it enough? We'll see.

Pittsburgh: Sidney Crosby is going to play. He missed half the year, and the team had 100 points. They knew they were gonna be fine and make the playoffs without him, there was no point in rushing him back. It's interesting to note that despite missing half the season, Crosby is still top 20 in league scoring, or was with 10 games to go. Lots of people still there from the Cup teams; the defense is lights out, Fleury is as clutch as they come in the playoffs, and when Crosby does step onto the ice, he's gonna have James Neal and Alex Kovalev riding shotgun with him, the best set of wingers he's played with in his career outside of Hossa.

Tampa is only going to go as far as Dwayne Roloson can carry them, but his defense should help him out. Hedman had a massive growth year, and the addition of Eric Brewer was a solid one at the deadline. And they've got a ridiculous offense; Stamkos, St-Louis, Lecavalier, Ryan Malone is finally healthy, and Steve Downie is the kind of player the playoffs were meant for. They shouldn't be underestimated.

Washington is going to choke. Let's not talk about them.

New York is going to upset Washington and then get lit up in the second round by ACTUAL winning teams.

Buffalo will get demolished. No Derek Roy, no chance.

If the Canucks get through Chicago, I'd be very wary of them; in a long series, they'll beat the Sharks up, and they can out-skill them. They've also got better goaltending; a rested Luongo cannot be undervalued.

Anaheim's the dark horse in the West; really deep team top-to-bottom, a core group of guys that have been there before and won it all, and three starting-quality goaltenders. If Hiller gets over his vertigo, look out.

Detroit looks like they're on the downswing; won the division, but finished third? There are definite question marks. I see them getting by the Coyotes, but not much after that.

Phoenix? **** off. There was also a report leaked today that the team is moving to Winnipeg after they're eliminated. Hope they get swept.

Nashville hasn't won more than two games in a playoff series in its history. It still has no top-line talent to speak of, and if your best forward is Sergei Kostitsyn, you've got about as much a chance of winning the Stanley Cup as I do of cumming inside Olivia Wilde tonight.

LA could be interesting as well, but losing Kopitar and Williams long-term is devastating. Drew Doughty and that defense are still beastly, but this likely just isn't their year.

[ModSocks]

Originally Posted by Otter

Thanks for letting us know.

Don't hate the player, hate the game.

[The_Doctor10]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

Don't hate the player, hate the game.

I just lost the game.

[Otter]

Originally Posted by Unleash_the_Phury

Philly is in the same boat, though I'd say they're a little more skilled through the forward ranks, and their defense is just a little bit better. Pronger goes straight into Beast-mode come playoff time, and anyone who bets against him in the playoffs has bigger balls than I. The goaltending is the only area, once again, where things fall down for them. The tandem is decent, but is it enough? We'll see.

Nice write up.

Pronger may actually have to sit tomorrows game and possibly Saturdays from what I'm reading. If they can stay up 2-0 without him they should breeze through Buffalo come Monday.

I really want to see Philly vs. Pitt. After spending four years at U Pitt surrounded by Penguins (and Steelers) Fans there's not too many things that bring a smile to my face quicker than seeing Crosby and his prancing ponies get drilled into the ground by one of the Broad Street Bullies finest.

Hopefully Crosby's cheesy mustache lands somewhere up in 17th row.

[Sfeihc]

Only good coyote is a dead coyote.

Let's go Red Wings!