my prediction for the other 14 teams left in round 1

Red Wings vs Blue Jackets will have the Red Wings victorious in 5. This may seem like a no brainer because the red wings are the defending stanley cup champions, they have home ice advantage, they signed the top unrestricted free agent this summer in Marian Hossa for dirt cheep, there powerplay is the best in the league at 25.5% they have absolutely destroyed teams this year with the man advatage. But the x-factor is Chris Mason, the blue Jacket net minder is nothing short of a phenom and can make this series close and maybe even an upset.

Canucks vs St.Louis with have the Canucks finished on top in six. This will be a good series but the bottom line is you have one of the best goalies of all time in Roberto who is supported by possiably the best defence corp in the NHL right now (could you imagine how good they would have been if they got Jay Bouwmeester from florida?). St.Louis just wont be able to score and that is a problem when you are trying to win games. you could make the arguement that the Blues have been oh so hot recently and heading into the playoffs. But the canucks themselves have been on a decent tear and in the best of seven the best team normally comes out on top and in this case it is going to be the Canucks.

Calgary vs Chicago will have Calgary losing in the first round for the fourth consecutive year. Its really a shame though because i want them to win. They have not made it out of the first round in what must seem like an enternity for their fans (it feels that long for us shark fans getting out of round two but at least we get to go to round two). The thing is at the trade deadline Calgary made the best moves and are a way better team for it. They haven't been the same since and cruising along at about .500 Chicago on the other hand has been great pretty much all year, have the home ice advantage and the way i see it will win in six games. Sorry Mr.Iginla but your team isnt likely to move on but i hope you can prove me wrong. I really really hope that you do.

On to the eastern confrence

Boston vs Montreal wont really be a series as boston will sweep the habs. its a shame that for the canadiens 100th year of exsitence the wont have anything to show for it in the post season. But Boston is the better team by way too much. From the goalies to the defence to the forward Boston is better, way better. So boston is a lock to win this series and go to round two mark my words.

Washington vs New York will have washigton winning their first playoff series since 1998. They will have an easy time winning this series because of fire power. And lack of fire power from the rangers. Even though i think that the rangers have a the better goalie, and washington will bench their number one net minder at the first sign of trouble (detriot did that last year and it turned out pretty good for them and washingtons back up is a very respectable 12-6-2 with a .908 save percentage) the sheer number of pucks that the capital will be putting into the back of the net will win them this series.

New Jersey vs Carolina will be a terrific series in round one. Possibly the best because these teams probably see eye to eye better then any other team. They have similar home records at 28-12-1 for the devils and 26-14-1 (they are the only teams this year to lose only once in over time at home). Also New Jersey went on a six game slide just prior to the start of the playoffs and are 4-5-1 in their last ten while the canes have won ten straight at home and have an 8-2 record in there past ten games. I whish that i didnt have to chose a winner here but i am going to go with the canes because they have been the better team as of late and have an amazing center in Eric Staal who has been chomping at the bit to get back into the playoffs.

Pittsburgh vs Philadelphia will be the other very close series in the first round and also be the most physical. We all know that the flyers hit everything that moves on the ice, and that strategy worked wonders last year going all the way to the eastern confrence finals where they lost to...the penguins. This year they dont have to wait as long before they are eliminated as Sidney Crosby lead his team to victory in six. It will be a very tough series on both teams but the flyers wont win. They also will not be able to stop the sheer fire power this team owns. And ever since the coaching change the penguins have been approximently 17-4-2. They went from tenth in the eastern confrence (wouldnt the NHL be upset to see these guys out of the playoffs) to fourth in as little as two months and will continue the surge untill at least round two.

So there you have it my predictions and reasons for making said predictions.