Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2010 21:30:52 GMT -5
Welcome to the Resurgence episode of "The Sloppy Second". As always I'm your host Cor99. Today we will preview the Eastern Conference Quarter Finals. I'll give you the match ups, the key players and the star players, I will also give you my prediction on each series.
So Let's Get Started.
#1
vs #8 
So once again the Pittsburgh Penguins have dominated the Eastern Conference and finished first in the conference. Let's look at their record and some players to watch for. The Key for the Pens is to dominate, run up the score as much as you can to get momentum as high as you can to last thru the next 3 rounds instead of only lasting for one and getting booted before or during the finals.
Record: 53-21-8 (114 Points)
Star Players: Sidney Crosby, Ilya Kovalchuk, Jonathen Toews, Patrick Kane, Zdeno Chara, Drew Doughty.
Key Players: Tyler Seguin, Jordan Eberle, Dennis Wideman.
Goalie: M-A Fleury
The Boston Bruins sit in the 8th seed in the East and have the impossible task of taking on the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1st round. Although in the past 8th seeds usually have a good chance at making it to the 2nd round that's mainly been in the west, while in the east the top seeds usually dominate. The Key for the Bruins is for their secondary scoring and their defense to shine. They need to come at the Pens hard, or else they won't get any further action in the playoffs.
Record: 41-38-3 (85 Points)
Star Players: Jason Spezza, Sam Gagner, Johan Franzen, Brent Seabrook, Mike Komisarek.
Key Players: Ryan Whitney, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Saku Koivu, Jason Pomminville.
Goalie: Johnny Bower
MY PREDICTION: Pittsburgh Penguins in 4, the Pens will win a game by 5 or more goals.
#2
vs #7 
The Battle of Ontario resumes this season as the two teams meet in the playoffs for the first time since 2003, more than a decade. This will be a classic series. The Ottawa Senators are a star-studded team that is my personal favorite to take home the Cup. The Key for the Sens victory in this series is to come out of the gate physical on Toronto's star players.
Record: 46-30-6 (98 Points)
Star Players: Alexander Semin, Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Blake Geoffrion, Doug Harvey, Tim Horton.
Key Players: Chris Neil, Peter Forsberg, Rob Schremp.
Goalie: Patrick Roy
The Toronto Maple Leafs have a tough series ahead of them. Mental and physical toughness will be needed to win the New Era of the Battle of Ontario.The Key for the Leafs is to come out flying, use their speed to their advantage.
Record: 40-33-9 (89 Points)
Star Players: Jeff Carter, Steven Stamkos, Brad Boyes, Andrej Meszaros
Key Players: Cam Barker, Cody Hodgson, Nazem Kadri
Goalie: Chris Osgood
MY PREDICTION: Sens in 6, BUT Gretzky get's injured in the process and won't be back until the Finals.
#3
vs #6 
Two former cellar dwellers meet up in the first round of the playoffs in the east. Both teams look to suprise but only one team will be able to say "We made it to the 2nd round" as both teams won't get futher. This will be the closest series, as both teams have the exact same records. The Tampa Bay Lightning are the only southeast team in the playoffs, thus winning the division by default. The key for Tampa is to get off to a lightning start and blow past the Islanders.
Record: 4--30-7 (97 Points)
Star Players: Jean Beliveau, Stan Mitika, Mike Bossy, Cam Neely, Brendan Shanahan.
Key Players: Bryan Little, Branden Witt, Zach Bogosian.
Goalie: Ken Dryden
The New York Islanders do have some talent on their team but they aren't a contender quite yet. They have the easiest 1st round a 6th seed has ever had facing a 3rd seed that is equally good or maybe a bit worse. The Key for the Islanders is simply to have their below average starting goaltender play lights out.
Record: 4--30-7 (97 Points)
Star Players: Joe Sakic, Marcel Dionne, Luc Robitaille, Guy LaFleur, Al MacInnis.
Key Players: Daniel Alffredsson, Derek Morris, Mike Comrie.
Goalie: J-M Pelletier
MY PREDICTION: Islanders is 7 Games, Al MacInnis getting a hatty in game 7
#4
vs #5 
This will be the series to watch, a series that will ultimately see the early departure of Martin Brodeur and the Devils from the Playoffs. The New Jersey Devils were their typical self this season, domiating the East but falling just short of the Eastern Conference Title and the Presidents Trophy. The Key for the Devils is to stay healthy, and have the Russian Duo (Ovechkin and Malkin) light up Nik Backstrom and the Flyers.
Record: 53-23-6 (112 Points)
Star Players: Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, Henrik Zetterberg, Alexander Mogilny, Paul Coffey, Scott Stevens.
Key Players: Viktor Kozlov, Steve Ott, Adam Foote, Rob Blake.
Goalie: Martin Brodeur
The Philadelphia Flyers, a team that seems to go up and down every season. They have a star-studded legendless team that will be very dangerous. The Key for the Flyers is to hope that Big Joe Thornton comes thru for them.
Record: 49-26-7 (105 Points)
Star Players: Rick Nash, Joe Thornton, Phil Kessel, Marian Hossa, Chris Pronger, Niklas Lidstrom, Duncan Keith.
Key Players: Niklas Hagman, Wade Redden, Claude Giroux,
Goalie: Niklas Backstrom
MY PREDICTION: Flyers in 5 games, Joe Thornton leads the playoff scoring race.
So to wrap up my Eastern Conference Semi-Finals:
#1
vs #6 #2
vs #5 Enjoy the Eastern Conference Quater-Finals Ladies and Gents, I know I will....
I'm Cor99,
Go Fuck Yourself!
