I had always planned to do a playoff prediction piece at the start of the playoffs but decided I wanted a chance to work with some of the people I listen to, read or otherwise follow on a regular basis and thankfully I got a great response and the result is a round table of playoff predictions from some great people who cover the Sharks in different ways. So please enjoy the article and take the time to check the people who contributed.
The Round Table
Ian Reid: RSEN / Teal Tinted Glasses Podcast
Twitter: @IanBlogsSharks, @TTGPodcast
Tyler Spence: RSEN / Sports Midweek Madness
Twitter: @TylerSpenceRSEN
Andrew Bensch: The Hockey Writers
Twitter: @ViewFromBensch
Patrick Gackle: The Gackle Report
Twitter: @PatrickGackle
Wendell McGowan: Teal Tinted Glasses Podcast
Twitter: @ComicNotGeek, @TTGPodcast
AJ Strong: Pucknology / Pucknology After Dark
Twitter: @aj_strong, @pucknology
MJ Kasprzak: The Examiner/AXS
On to the predictions!
Montreal Canadiens (1st. Atlantic)
vs.
Ottawa Senators (1st. Wild Card)
Ian Reid picks Montreal.
I really don’t want to take anything away from what the Senators and Andrew Hammond have done but with the amount of playoff style hockey they had to play just to get in makes me wonder how much they actually have left in the tank now that the real push begins. I think it goes the distance but based on the Carey Price factor alone I give this one the the Canadiens in 7.
Tyler Spence picks Ottawa.
Montreal is hard to go against, but Ottawa has played Montreal extremely well this season, taking the season series 3-1. Senators in 7.
Andrew Bensch picks Montreal.
The Hamburglar was a nice story but Carey Price is the odds on favorite to win MVP. Montreal will take this one in six games.
Patrick Gackle picks Montreal.
Carey Price enough said… Don’t care if Pacioretty will be ready.
Wendell McGowan picks Ottawa.
Ottawa in 6 for one reason, they want it more. They have proved it.
AJ Strong picks Montreal.
Two words: Carey Price. Hammond has been an amazing story for Ottawa this season, but Montreal is just better at almost every position. Canadiens in 6.
MJ Kasprzak picks Montreal.
Montreal has more playoff experience and better top-end talent, but a scrappy Ottawa knows it well and is too hot not to win a couple games. Canadiens in six.
Tampa Bay Lightning (2nd. Atlantic)
vs.
Detroit Red Wings (3rd. Atlantic)
Ian Reid picks Tampa Bay.
Obviously this will be an interesting series because of the Apprentice returning to face the Master but I don’t know how compelling it will actually be on the ice. I really don’t think the Wings were getting consistent enough goal-tending down the stretch so I am giving this to the Lightning in 5.
Tyler Spence picks Tampa Bay.
Tampa Bay had a great regular season, Detroit had some inconsistency and the Lighting do own a 3-1 edge in the season series. Lightning in 6.
Andrew Bensch picks Tampa Bay.
Detroit has done an excellent job continuing their playoff streak despite their most recognizable stars entering the twilight of their careers. Unfortunately for Wings fans, the Lightning are just too stacked across the board. Lightning in five.
Patrick Gackle picks Tampa Bay.
Lightning 32-8 on home ice… Tough one but I’ll take Tampa in 7.
Wendell McGowan picks Tampa Bay.
I’m gonna take Tampa Bay in 6. It will be a fun matchup. I don’t believe Detroit has the firepower it once had.
AJ Strong picks Tampa Bay.
Tampa appears to be a deeper team with more balanced fire power whereas Detroit relies too heavily on certain players showing up. Lightning in 6.
MJ Kasprzak picks Tampa Bay.
Tampa Bay has the better goalie and top-end forwards, while Detroit has only the experience advantage needed just to offset its recent struggles. Lightning in seven.
New York Rangers (1st. Metropolitan)
vs.
Pittsburgh (2nd. Wild Card)
Ian Reid picks New York Rangers.
I don’t even know if Pittsburgh even makes the playoffs if they don’t draw Buffalo in their season finale, that is how bad they were down the stretch. They have a really banged up blue line as well. The Rangers seemed to be firing on all cylinders, winning The Presidents Trophy, are very deep and poised to make a long playoff run. I give this to the Rangers in 4.
Tyler Spence picks New York Rangers.
Pittsburgh snuck into the playoffs after a bad last couple of months. Rangers still have a bad taste in their mouth from last years Stanley Cup Finals and are dying to get back. Rangers in 6.
Andrew Bensch picks New York Rangers.
The Penguins depth issues don’t ever seem to be going away since they won the Stanley Cup in 2009. They are too top heavy whereas the Rangers are incredibly deep and have one of the best goaltenders in the world. The only sweep of the first round, Rangers over Penguins in four games.
Patrick Gackle picks New York Rangers.
I think the Rangers may be the best team in the playoffs. All the Penguins have done since Letang went out is lose.
Wendell McGowan picks New York Rangers.
I think the Penguins may be so outmatched it may be an embarrassment for a game or twos They may steal 1 so Rangers in 5.
AJ Strong picks New York Rangers.
See the TB/DET comments. NYR is deeper with better D while PIT continues to rely too much on the top line. Rangers in 5.
MJ Kasprzak picks New York Rangers.
Pittsburgh has not been a good playoff team since winning the Cup while New York has the best team on paper and throughout the 2014-15 NHL season. Rangers in five.
Washington Capitals (2nd. Metropolitan)
vs.
New York Islanders (3rd. Metropolitan)
Ian Reid picks New York Islanders.
I think of all the hardest series to call this may be one of the 2 hardest along with Vancouver vs. Calgary. I really want to see Nassau get the send off it deserves and while I think the Islanders are the deeper of the 2 teams so Islanders in 6.
Tyler Spence picks Washington
I think this will be a tough series, and might be the best one of the playoffs. Giving the edge to the Capitals. Capitals in 7.
Andrew Bensch picks New York Islanders.
While Alexander Ovechkin has turned his two way game around this year under new head coach Barry Trotz, I’m not sold on the Capitals’ team game. The Islanders on the hand are a terrific team. Give me the Islanders in five games.
Patrick Gackle picks Washington.
Toughest series for me but I’ll roll with Trotz and the best goal scorer in the NHL.
Wendell McGowan picks New York Islanders.
This is another fun match up. I’ll give it to the islanders for my own selfish reasons but it will be a great series.
AJ Strong picks New York Islanders.
I honestly have nothing to back up this prediction other than the hockey gods loving the idea of a NY vs NY second round. Islanders in 7.
MJ Kasprzak picks Washington.
Washington has more hunger and experience, and its defensive commitment makes that too much for New York. Capitals in seven.
