I hope to handicap the playoffs with more success than the last day of the regular season! I have had some success the last few years with the NHL playoffs and I hope to continue that streak this year and contribute to this outstanding forum!
I am looking forward to reading and discussing this year's playoffs with all the great handicappers I have followed in a short period of time here at Mad Jack's!
My takes on the first round matchups:
Series Prices:
Senators +160
Flyers -180 Flyers have all the tools in place to make a run at an Eastern Conference Championship. The big question is will the Flyers show up and bring their A game? I think we will see a different Flyers team in the playoffs than we have seen the last few months of the regular season. This team has size, speed, strength and attitude!
PICK: FLYERS
Devils -260
Hurricanes +220
Do the Devils have what it takes to make it to the dance one more time?
The Devils have had problems defensively and Brodeur has been inconsistent. I think the Hurricanes give the Devils all they can handle in the first round and even an EARLY EXIT!
PICK: HURRICANES
Canadiens +280
Bruins -330
There is a reason the oddsmakers have the Bruins as one of the biggest favs in the first round. This team is solid! The only potential weakness I see in this team is goaltending. I really like Byron Dafoe and I hated to see him depart from the Kings years ago. The Bruins seem to go the way Dafoe is playing and I like this team to come out of the East!
PICK: BRUINS
Islanders +140
Maple Leafs -160
This is the best matchup in the first round. I like the Leafs to survive this series. Yashin always seems to disappear during the playoffs and I think Cujo, Sundin and Co. get it done!
Look for Mogilny to have a huge series!
PICK: MAPLE LEAFS
Canucks +400
Red Wings -600
Crawford has the Canucks playing outstanding hockey! Cloutier has been solid in net and Bertuzzi and Naslund have been the heart and soul of this team. This Red Wings team has been put together to make a solid playoff run and I think they do just that. Don't let that Red Wings team of the last month fool you! Bowman will have this team ready.
PICK: RED WINGS
Coyotes +190
Sharks -220
The Sharks are my pick to come out of the West. This team is solid with Nabokov in net and defensively with Suter, Marchment, Stuart, Rathje. Can they score enough goals? Yes, Nolan,
Selanne, Marleu, Thornton, Ricci, Damphousse and Co. will get the job done. They also play in the loudest arena in the NHL and the Compaq Center a.k.a the Shark Tank will be rocking!
PICK: SHARKS
Blackhawks +170
Blues -200
Not quite sure why the Blues are so heavily favored in this series? I guess it is playoff experience, but playoff experience does not solve the Blues goaltending problems and thin defense. Pronger and Macinnis the exceptions of course. I like the Hawks to win this series that I predict will go the distance.
PICK: BLACKHAWKS
Kings +170
Avalanche -200
As much as I would like to see my hometown team the Kings repeat and perhaps improve their playoff effort of last year, I cannot. Defensively the Avalanche should have no problem keeping the puck away from Roy. Blake, Foote, Kasparitis, DeVries, Skoula will play huge in front of Roy. I can't see Potvin outplaying Roy. Sakic,
Drury and Co. should score just enough to win this series. PICK: AVALANCHE The UNDER plays might be the $$$$ plays of this series. As always, Good Luck to all $$$
I am looking forward to reading and discussing this year's playoffs with all the great handicappers I have followed in a short period of time here at Mad Jack's!
My takes on the first round matchups:
Series Prices:
Senators +160
Flyers -180 Flyers have all the tools in place to make a run at an Eastern Conference Championship. The big question is will the Flyers show up and bring their A game? I think we will see a different Flyers team in the playoffs than we have seen the last few months of the regular season. This team has size, speed, strength and attitude!
PICK: FLYERS
Devils -260
Hurricanes +220
Do the Devils have what it takes to make it to the dance one more time?
The Devils have had problems defensively and Brodeur has been inconsistent. I think the Hurricanes give the Devils all they can handle in the first round and even an EARLY EXIT!
PICK: HURRICANES
Canadiens +280
Bruins -330
There is a reason the oddsmakers have the Bruins as one of the biggest favs in the first round. This team is solid! The only potential weakness I see in this team is goaltending. I really like Byron Dafoe and I hated to see him depart from the Kings years ago. The Bruins seem to go the way Dafoe is playing and I like this team to come out of the East!
PICK: BRUINS
Islanders +140
Maple Leafs -160
This is the best matchup in the first round. I like the Leafs to survive this series. Yashin always seems to disappear during the playoffs and I think Cujo, Sundin and Co. get it done!
Look for Mogilny to have a huge series!
PICK: MAPLE LEAFS
Canucks +400
Red Wings -600
Crawford has the Canucks playing outstanding hockey! Cloutier has been solid in net and Bertuzzi and Naslund have been the heart and soul of this team. This Red Wings team has been put together to make a solid playoff run and I think they do just that. Don't let that Red Wings team of the last month fool you! Bowman will have this team ready.
PICK: RED WINGS
Coyotes +190
Sharks -220
The Sharks are my pick to come out of the West. This team is solid with Nabokov in net and defensively with Suter, Marchment, Stuart, Rathje. Can they score enough goals? Yes, Nolan,
Selanne, Marleu, Thornton, Ricci, Damphousse and Co. will get the job done. They also play in the loudest arena in the NHL and the Compaq Center a.k.a the Shark Tank will be rocking!
PICK: SHARKS
Blackhawks +170
Blues -200
Not quite sure why the Blues are so heavily favored in this series? I guess it is playoff experience, but playoff experience does not solve the Blues goaltending problems and thin defense. Pronger and Macinnis the exceptions of course. I like the Hawks to win this series that I predict will go the distance.
PICK: BLACKHAWKS
Kings +170
Avalanche -200
As much as I would like to see my hometown team the Kings repeat and perhaps improve their playoff effort of last year, I cannot. Defensively the Avalanche should have no problem keeping the puck away from Roy. Blake, Foote, Kasparitis, DeVries, Skoula will play huge in front of Roy. I can't see Potvin outplaying Roy. Sakic,
Drury and Co. should score just enough to win this series. PICK: AVALANCHE The UNDER plays might be the $$$$ plays of this series. As always, Good Luck to all $$$
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