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!
St. Louis Blues (1st. Central)
vs.
Minnesota Wild (1st. Wild Card)
Ian Reid picks St. Louis.
The Minnesota Wild are one of the great stories of this season but I think this is a tough out for them as The St. Louis Blues seem to always be knocking on the door to take that next leap forward. This year should be that year although they might have to go the distance to do it. I think it will be the Blues in 7.
Tyler Spence picks St. Louis.
Many think this series can go 6 or 7, but I think the Blues will dominate it. Blues in 5.
Andrew Bensch picks St. Louis.
This wasn’t an easy choice but going with the Blues. I really love the story of what Devan Dubnyk has been able to do but I think the Blues are simply hungrier. They have had top level expectations for years now and I think this is the year they break through. They will beat the Wild in six games.
Patrick Gackle picks Minnesota.
Minnesota has been unreal since acquiring Dubnyk I expect that to continue and knock off the Blues.
Wendell McGowan picks St. Louis.
I want the wild to win in 6. However, we don’t always get what we want and the Blues will take it.
AJ Strong picks St. Louis.
I think this series could be the tightest in the first round with the edge going to St. Louis for having home ice. It wouldn’t surprise me if this is one of those “home team wins every game” match-ups. Blues in 7.
MJ Kasprzak picks St. Louis.
St. Louis can use its depth to wear down Minnesota’s overused goalie and top-end talent in a seven-game series. Blues in seven.
Nashville Predators (2nd. Central)
vs.
Chicago Blackhawks (3rd. Central)
Ian Reid picks Chicago.
Nashville should be a force going forward but this isn’t a good match up for them at all. While the Predators have the better goal-tending I’m going to give this one to Chicago for overall depth and playoff experience. Blackhawks in 6.
Tyler Spence picks Chicago.
Blackhawks also won the season series 3-1 and controlled most of those games despite them being close. Blackhawks in 6.
Andrew Bensch picks Chicago.
The Blackhawks firepower will be too much for the Predators. That said, it will be a tight hard fought series that goes the distance. Jonathan Toews will score an overtime winner in Game 7.
Patrick Gackle picks Chicago.
Do i need a reason? It’s the Blackhawks and it’s playoff season.
Wendell McGowan picks Chicago.
I have to give this to Chicago because I think they are simply a deeper team. Nashville’s defense will force it to a full 7 games however.
AJ Strong picks Chicago.
Despite Nashville having home ice, I give the edge to Chicago simply based on experience. Nashville may have peaked too early. This series could come down to special teams and I think Chicago’s defense will be the difference. Blackhawks in 7.
MJ Kasprzak picks Nashville.
Nashville has the better goalie and Chicago’s Patrick Kane is not likely to be great right away. Nashville in seven.
Anaheim Ducks (1st. Pacific)
vs.
Winnipeg Jets (2nd. Wild Card)
Ian Reid picks Anaheim.
As much as it pains me to say this because of wanting to see the Jets do well and the Ducks to be terrible I just cannot deny the fact that the Ducks should have the easiest path to the Conference Finals. The Ducks will overwhelm the Jets in 5.
Tyler Spence picks Winnipeg.
UPSET! Winnipeg is going to be extremely scary this post-season. Watch out for them. Jets in 6.
Andrew Bensch picks Anaheim.
The Ducks are annually an easy pick to be upset because they don’t have great depth. However this year that depth is improved with Ryan Kelser, James Wisniewski, and Simon Despres. Had they drawn the Kings, I would have taken Los Angeles, but I’m not a big fan of Winnipeg, so I will take the Ducks by a nose in seven games.
Patrick Gackle picks Anaheim.
Wanted to roll with the hometown team here, but I don’t think Winnipeg gets their second ever playoff series victory ever. I think it’ll be closer then most think and the Jets will give em a run but I’ll take the Ducks.
Wendell McGowan picks Anaheim.
As much as I want it to be the Jets, it will be the Ducks in 5. I don’t think they have it in them sadly.
AJ Strong picks Anaheim.
While the story of Winnipeg this season has been fun to watch, Anaheim has more stars and experience. Ducks in 6.
MJ Kasprzak picks Anaheim.
Anaheim’s playoff struggles should not keep them from beating Winnipeg’s huge disadvantage at forward. Ducks in five.
Vancouver Canucks (2nd. Metropolitan)
vs.
Calgary Flames (3rd. Metropolitan)
Ian Reid picks Calgary.
As I said in the east preview this in my mind is one of the hardest series to pick. I’m going to go with Calgary even though I think that they are probably this years Colorado Avalanche, they work hard and have proved me wrong all season they get my belief for the first round. I just have not liked the look of the Canucks all season to be honest. For that reason Calgary Flames in 6.
Tyler Spence picks Calgary.
Flames and Canucks is another series that could go the distance, but going to give it to Calgary. Flames in 7.
Andrew Bensch picks Vancouver.
These two surprise playoff teams are pretty much a toss up, but I will go with the Canucks primarily due to their playoff experience. Flames are just too young and not quite ready to make any noise in the playoffs. Canucks in six games.
Patrick Gackle picks Calgary.
Calgary just wins. Big late game team can only translate well into the playoffs and what will surely be some long OT games in this one.
Wendell McGowan picks Vancouver.
I like this match up because it’s hard to pick a winner. I’ll guess Canucks in 7.
AJ Strong picks Calgary.
This is my favorite match-up in the first round. Calgary has been the Cinderella story this season and the hockey gods don’t let good things happen to divers so I expect (and root for) Calgary to break Vancouver’s heart. Flames in 7.
MJ Kasprzak picks Vancouver.
Vancouver has the experience and needs this more than Calgary—not to mention being much better on paper. Canucks in six.
