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Zane “The Train” Heiple’s Predictions

Only four teams remain in the battle for the Stanley Cup and other than the New York Rangers, who saw this as the final four.  But that’s the great thing about the NHL playoffs every game, every series is a battle and only the team that is willing to grind during every game will have the right to hoist the cup.  In round two I did not land any correct picks when it came to how many games they would be won in, but I did predict the east right, so my playoff record stands at 5-7.

Eastern Conference:

(1)    New York Rangers vs. (6) New Jersey Devils: Two great goalies face off in this series and I really think that this series will be decided by which one of them is able to step up during these games.  I give the edge to Martin Broudeur.  The way these playoffs are going, this could be his final chance to win a fourth Stanley Cup, which should be motivation enough to lead his team against their division rivals.  Predicted Winner:  Devils in seven games.

Western Conference

(3) Phoenix Coyotes vs. (8) Los Angeles Kings.  I am pretty confident that no one in the world had this match up in the west.  The Kings scrapped their way into the playoffs and the Coyotes are owned by the NHL and have been rumored to move all season long.  I see this as another long series that will come down to defense and goaltending.  I think I am gonna lean towards the Coyotes as having the edge in this series for the main reason of having game seven on their ice.  Predicted Winner:  Coyotes in seven games.

Bad Chad Carlson’s Predictions

As has been proven over the years, the NHL Playoffs are completely unpredictable.  Teams that dominate the regular season fall short and are upset throughout the postseason, some even in the very first round.  This year is no different, as the two favorites in the league, the Pittsburgh Penguins from the East and the Vancouver Canucks from the West, both were upset in the first round.  Now, there continue to be surprise teams in the conference finals…two matchups that many (ok all) didn’t seem coming.

Eastern Conference Finals:

(1)    New York Rangers vs. (6) New Jersey Devils:  The Rangers are the only team in the conference finals that many actually believed would be there.  After a hard-earned seven game series victory over the Washington Capitals, they now face Martin Broudeur and the New Jersey Devils.  There’s just something about the Devils that seems to be clicking this postseason, and Broudeur is playing the way a championship goalie does this time of year.  It’ll a hard-fought series, but the Devils will pull the upset.  Predicted Winner:  Devils in six games

Western Conference Finals:

(3) Phoenix Coyotes vs. (8) Los Angeles Kings:    The Kings are, without a doubt, the story of the NHL Playoffs.  Having barely squeaked their way into the postseason in the first place, they looked to be an easy first-round opponent for the Canucks.  As we’ve seen though, the Kings have had the easiest road to the conference finals to this point, and they’re playing with a mound of confidence.  Not to take anything away from the Coyotes, but I have to lean towards the Kings, jumping on the bandwagon, to represent the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup Finals.  Predicted Winner:  Kings in six games.

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