2011 NHL Playoffs

Playoff hockey is upon us. The puck will be dropped in the 2011 NHL Playoffs on Wednesday night. The Vancouver Canucks enter the postseason as the oddsmakers favorites. There are plenty of teams that can make some noise though. Vancouver gets the defending champion Chicago Blackhawks in the opening round. Can the 'Hawks make a surprise run to defend their trophy? Can the Washington Capitals avoid another first round upset? Will Sidney Crosby return to the ice? These are some of the questions that I plan to answer with my predictions for the 2011 NHL Playoffs.

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

1 Washington (-260) vs. 8 NY Rangers (+200)

This will be a hard fought series down to the end. I don't think Alex Ovechkin will let his team have another early exit.

Prediction - Washington over NY Rangers 4-3

4 Pittsburgh (-155) vs. 5 Tampa Bay (+125)

The Penguins have already accomplished plenty this year. The fact that they were within 1 point of the East's best record is remarkable in its own right. Marc-Andre Fleury leads the way as Pittsburgh continues to impress without Crosby and Malkin.

Prediction - Pittsburgh over Tampa Bay 4-2

3 Boston (-200) vs. 6 Montreal (+160)

Does it get any better than Boston-Montreal? These two teams have hated each other for decades, and that hate has been evident in this year's brutal meetings. The team that can endure the most punishment will likely come out of this one - and the team with the best goaltender. That's Boston.

Prediction - Boston over Montreal 4-1

2 Philadelphia (-170) vs. 7 Buffalo (+140)

This could be the most intriguing matchup in the East Quarters. Philly enters slumping, while Buffalo could be the hottest team in the conference. There always seems to be at least one of the lowest seeded teams advance. This year look for it to be Ryan Miller and the Sabres.

Prediction - Buffalo over Philadelphia 4-2

Western Conference Quarterfinals

1 Vancouver (-240) vs. 8 Chicago (+180)

This is a great way to kick off the Playoffs. This year's President's Cup winners take on the defending Stanley Cup champions. Vancouver has been on a terror since the calendar flipped to 2011, while Chicago has been very inconsistent. The 'Hawks still have lots of talent, but the Sedins will be too much to handle.

Prediction - Vancouver over Chicago 4-2

4 Anaheim (-150) vs. 5 Nashville (+120)

This could be the most even matchup of the opening round. Both teams have played very well down the stretch. Ultimately, I give the edge to the better defensive team. That team is the Predators who will make Nashville proud and win the franchise's first playoff series.

Prediction - Nashville over Anaheim 4-3

3 Detroit (-200) vs. 6 Phoenix (+160)

Do the Red Wings ever get old? Every year you think that this could be the year that they start to go down hill, and yet here they are as Central Division champs again. They will have enough in their tank to win another playoff series as well.

Prediction - Detroit over Phoenix 4-2

2 San Jose (-280) vs. 7 Los Angeles (+210)

I seem to find myself picking the Sharks to carry the Cup every year, and every year they let me down. Well they are heavy favorites once again as the oddsmakers have pegged them as the largest favorite of the opening round. Though they have a history of letting me down, they get through the Quarters this year.

Prediction - San Jose over Los Angeles 4-1

Here are my picks throughout the remainder of the NHL Playoffs (bold team the winner):

East Semifinals

1 Washington over 7 Buffalo 4-2
3 Boston over 4 Pittsburgh 4-2

West Semifinals
1 Vancouver over 5 Nashville 4-1
2 San Jose over 3 Detroit 4-3

East Finals
3 Boston over 1 Washington 4-2

West Finals
1 Vancouver over 2 San Jose 4-2

Stanley Cup Finals
3 Boston over 1 Vancouver 4-3

I am picking the Boston Bruins to hoist the Stanley Cup at the season's end. They have a tough opening round matchup with their bitter rivals, but if they can withstand that series, they have what it takes to make a deep run. Vancouver has been the NHL's best team virtually all season, but only once in the last 7 years (Detroit in 2008) has the President's Cup winner went on to win the Stanley Cup. I think that trend continues as GK Tim Thomas and a bruising defense lead the B's to the title.