The 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs are underway. Photo from Web.
When I drive home on the New Jersey Turnpike—the most beautiful road in the Garden State—exit 16W always stands out as a special exit. 16W represents not only the former home of the New Jersey Devils during the 90s, but also the number of playoff wins an NHL team needs to hoist the most sacred trophy in all of sports: Lord Stanley’s Cup. The number sixteen often makes me reminisce about the Avalanche, Red Wings, Stars and Devils fighting (often literally) through triple overtimes for the Cup on ESPN.
While hockey’s ESPN glory days are over, and my beloved New Jersey Devils are currently playing golf, sixteen teams are still vying to be the best. The Capitals are once again the top seed in the Eastern Conference, led by Alexander Ovechkin, the most electrifying player in the NHL. Because of this, I decided to consult Charlie Lonaeus ’11, the biggest Kolzig fan from DC that I know, to present our 2011 NHL playoff predictions.
The days of powerhouse teams from traditional hockey locales such as Detroit, Chicago and Colorado are fading along with the likes of Nicklas Lidstrom, Marian Hossa and Joe Sakic. The Vancouver Canucks, the most dominant team throughout the regular season, will unexpectedly see their Cup run fall short. Unlike last year’s President’s Trophy winners—the Washington Capitals—Vancouver will avoid a historic collapse, but will fall to the unheralded squad from the music city. Call us crazy, but the Western Conference will belong to the Nashville Predators in 2011.
Led by Shea Webber and Pekka Rinne, the Predators were able to collect 25 out of a possible 36 points against the four best Western Conference teams this year. We believe Nashville’s dominance against these top teams will continue into the months of April, May and June.
The Eastern Conference has no clear favorite. Ryan Miller, Carey Price and Henrik Lundqvist are all goaltenders with the ability to single-handedly win a series for their respective teams. However, only American-born Olympic hero Ryan Miller will lead the Buffalo Sabers to an upset in their series with Philadelphia. With Chris Pronger nursing a hand injury and weak goaltending, the Flyers will be kicked to the philthy curb.
Goaltending will again highlight the series between the Montreal Canadiens and the Boston Bruins, as likely Vesina Trophy winner Tim Thomas will out-duel Carey Price, causing riots in Montreal and celebrations in Beantown. Zdeno Chara and the Bruins will continue to ride the miraculous play of Thomas past the injury-depleted Pittsburg Penguins, sending Sidney “Crysby’s” squad home early.
Thanks to veteran leadership from former New Jersey Devil Jason Arnott and great play from the two Russian Alexanders, Washington will overcome their recent playoff disappointments to meet Boston in the Conference Finals.
In the regular season, the Bruins handily defeated Washington, winning three out of four games before January. Thanks to Capitals coach Bruce “bleeping” Boudreau’s mid-season transformation of his team into a defense-first squad however, the Capitals will overcome their regular season struggles against the B’s and reach their first Stanley Cup Finals since Olie Kolzig led them there in 1998.
While this season proved to be the end of an era for my beloved New Jersey Devils, it will be the beginning of a new period in the NHL as young teams like Nashville and Washington compete for their first Stanley Cup. •
