Put the razors away and say goodbye to productive evenings for the next two months – the 2011 NHL playoff season has begun.
Sixteen teams have started the second season in pursuit of Lord Stanley’s mug, so for a hockey fan, the next 60-ish days are the best time of year.
I’ve gone with a different strategy this year in regards to my playoff pool. Most times, I pick players from a variety of teams and avoid the “pick seven from one team” trap. But I’ve decided to give that style a try this year, even though I can already foresee recalling this moment in anger later on.
The teams I’ve decided to bulk up on are the San Jose Sharks (going against every urge otherwise), the Boston Bruins (which pains me to a degree as a partial Montreal fan) and the Washington Capitals. You may be wondering where the Vancouver Canucks are. Sadly, another year will pass without the Cup coming to a Canadian team. I think the team will make it to the Western Conference championship, but don’t feel this incarnation is playoff proven or ready to go all the way.
The old adage is you have to lose first before you can win (I’m also quoting Rory McIlroy after he shot 80 on Sunday at the Masters). Going by that, I’m selecting a Washington-San Jose Stanley Cup final, with the Caps coming out on top. They were shocked and embarrassed by the Canadiens last spring, but should cruise past the New York Rangers in round one, setting up a round two encounter with Airdrie’s Dana Tyrell and the Tampa Bay Lightning (who I’ve got beating the Penguins without Crosby and Malkin).
San Jose always finds a way to lose in the playoffs, regardless of how much talent it has. But I’m telling myself this year’s going to be different. It has to be.
I think the Sharks will beat the Canucks in the West. Vancouver should beat Chicago easily, as the Blackhawks needed help to make it, and lost key playoff contributors in Dustin Byfuglien, Kris Versteeg and Brent Sopel, during the offseason. Anaheim is hot right now and should beat Nashville, but won’t handle the Sharks in round two.
Due to the terrible grouping in two of the five-player sections, where I had to pick Shane Doan and Keith Yandle, I’ve decided to select the Phoenix (or Airdrie, if you read our April 1 issue) Coyotes over Detroit in the first round.
Nobody knows where the Desert Dogs will play next season, so I expect its players to step up and knock the perennial favourite Red Wings out.
I’m rounding out my picks with Philadelphia and Boston over Buffalo and Montreal in round one, before the Bruins beat the Flyers in an outstanding second round series. Both teams are built for the playoffs, but I’m giving the edge to Boston based on having likely Vezina winner Tim Thomas in net.
Having said all of that, if this year’s NCAA March Madness taught us anything, it’s don’t count out the underdogs in any of the opening round series’, as you could find yourself ripping up your pool sheet/bracket early on.
Oh, and, if you’re a non-hockey fan, the best you can do is offer support to your partner or friends until early June by moving the treadmill or exercise bike to the TV room.
