I had believed two of the first round series would go seven games. Only I picked the Kings and Bruins to win their contests in 7. Obviously, this is not the case. I never imagined the Wings and Caps would have such difficulty beating inferior opponents. For the Wings, let's chalk it up to old age and having played more games than anyone else by a long shot the last 4 years. For the Caps, well, they seem to enjoy making their own playoff lives difficult. Fourth straight series going to game 7. 1-2 so far, despite having home ice all three times. You know the numbers by now.
Anyway, what can we expect tonight and tomorrow night?
Detroit @ Phoenix:
* Howard's "they got lucky" quote may come back to bite him, and his team, in the ass.
* If Shane Doan does return, make the Yotes a lock to win the game.
* Detroit cares not for home ice "advantage".
* The fate of Phoenix, as always, rests with Ilya Bryzgalov. Can he channel Jaroslav Halak for one evening?
Prediction: The feisty Coyotes have certainly made this matchup sporting, but in the end, the superior team always wins a seven game series.
Detroit 5, Phoenix 2
Montreal @ Washington
* The Caps got caught looking ahead, which is actually a first for them. Their last two opening rounds, they trailed 3-1 before losing the first time and winning the second.
* Montreal needs Jaroslav Halak to be as good as the last game. And the defense needs to not let the Caps get so many shots on net. There's only so much one man can do.
* Plenty of bulletin board given by the Caps to Montreal after last night's game. And through the series. Suddenly, cookie-cutter answers given to the media don't sound so bad after all...
* Montreal, if they get another early lead, can't rest on their heels again. The past two games, they were almost damned by it. Halak bailed them out big-time. Lightning can't strike thrice... the Habs need a complete game to take the series.
Prediction: Man, Montreal has given quite a fight up to this point. But this is where it ends. The Caps are simply too good to lose to a team like the Habs in a seven-game series. As I said before, the better team ALWAYS wins. The Caps will prove they are the better team, and DC will breathe a collective sigh of relief.
Capitals 5, Canadiens 1
- Matt
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Also, another wrinkle I forgot to add to tonight's game:
* If Ovechkin is half the competitor I think he is, then there's still no way he allows the Caps to lose this game. I've heard talk that his reputation, not only the team's, may be riding on this game. He will step up in a big way, if not on the scoresheet then in another way. But his presence will be felt. Count on it.
Post a Comment