Lets get this out of the way.  The records for the previous round of NHL predictions.  Sharkey was 1-3.  Terrible.  Doozer, also 1-3. Awful.  ManInBlack, a putrid 0-4.  Which brings the totals for the guys to..

Sharkey – 6 for 12 = 50% (a flip of a coin)

ManInBlack – 5 for 12 = 42% (the percentage louder that Chris Berman is compared to everyone else)

Doozer – 1 for 3 = 33% (32% more than the amount of time Skip Bayless is proven right)

So…yeah.  But in our defense, I don’t think anyone would have predicted that one conference final would be sporting a #1 vs #2 matchup while the other boasts a #7 vs #8 matchup.  I’d like to see the person who predicted a Flyers/Canadiens conference final.

Eastern Conference

#7 Philadelphia Flyers vs. #8 Montreal Canadiens

ManInBlack says:

This was not supposed to happen.  Philly had to win their last game of the season to even get into the playoffs.  Montreal was a reeling team who had the least points of any playoff team in either conference.  Yet these two are meeting in the conference final.

How did this happen?  When you have the defending Stanley Cup Champion Penguins, the Presidents Trophy-winning Washington Capitals, a Buffalo Sabres team with maybe the current best goaltender in the league, and an always-stingy New Jersey Devils team backstopped by the best goaltender in history…who would ever imagine this matchup happening?

So what happened?  Two of the biggest shockers in NHL playoff history happened.  The Canadiens won two game 7′s on the road over arguably the two favorites to win the Cup.  Jaroslav Halak has played out of his mind, and the Canadiens’ defense has been spectacular.  And Philly?  They just became the third team in NHL history to win a series after being down 0-3.  Incredible.

So who wins this series?  I have to go with the Canadiens.  Philly lost their goaltender Boucher, and while his backup has played admirably, 2 games isn’t enough for me to get a read on whether he’s the real deal.  Halak, meanwhile, has faced the two best players in the league and made it look effortless.  I think their defense will frustrate Philly into taking a lot of penalties and their offense will capitalize.  It worked against the Capitals and Penguins, and Philly is known for taking stupid penalties.

Canadiens in 6

Sharkey Says:

I had half a mind to just copy & paste what MIB said, and use that as my argument.  I picked against Montreal twice, and both times was left speechless.  It would be very easy to say they can’t do it a third straight time, and a huge part of me believes that.  But I don’t see Philadelphia winning an entire series without Boucher in net.

If Boucher was playing, I think Philly takes this series.  I think he could neutralize Cammalleri & Gionta, arguable the two best skaters in these playoffs.  With Chris Pronger in front of him, Philadelphia would probably be able to do what Pittsburgh & Washington could not.  Unfortunately for Philadelphia, I just don’t have the same faith in Michael Leighton, the man who will protect the pipes for the Flyers the rest of the way.

Montreal’s magical run continues, Canadiens in 6.

Western Conference

#1 San Jose Sharks vs #2 Chicago Blackhawks

ManInBlack says:

How is it possible to overlook the #1  and #2 seeds in the NHL playoffs?  Its not easy but it seems to have been done quite a bit what, with Detroit always being the reliable pick and Vancouver and Phoenix being the sexy upset picks.   Meanwhile, the two best Western Conference teams in the regular season just kept winning, proving to be the best in the playoffs as well.

I’ll admit it; the Sharks’ playoff history had me doubting them.  But that’s over with.  Evgeni Nabokov has been solid in goal, and the team is playing like anything but one that is ready to go home.  Meanwhile, the Blackhawks have been playing stellar offensive hockey, with Niemi being a nice surprise in goal.  Who wins?  Tough one, but I think this is the year San Jose finally gets over the hump.  Plus the Hawks have Marion Hossa, and he’s not allowed to win the Cup.  Its just the law.

San Jose in 7

Sharkey Says:

My Detroit-Vancouver conference final pick is looking pretty sweet right now.  About as good as my Pittsburgh-Buffalo Eastern Final looks.  Ugh.

San Jose is probably playing the best hockey of the four remaining playoff teams, and in theory they should win what will probably be a fantastic 7 game series.  I trust Nabakov more than I trust Niemi, and I like San Jose’s team more than I like Chicago’s.

Nothing fancy here, though.  The stats say I’m right 50% of the time these playoffs, so picking Montreal & San Jose I’ll only get one right.  I don’t see Philly winning, so Ill switch and take Chicago, so that maybe I can go 2-for-2.  Of course that means we’re now destined to have a San Jose-Philadelphia Cup Finals.

Blackhawks in 7