nice post of negreanu's picks. i think i am opposite all of his picks. the one team i like is van, and wanted to take them to win the west, but drawing st. louis in the first round is dangerous. i think columbus would've been a nice 5 game series for the nucks, but really unsure with this one.
a little credibility lost when saying boston just aint that good. not that good? when you are no. 2 in nhl in scoring and no. 1 in goals against, have a probable vezina winner in net, a probable norris winner defenseman, and can thow out a 3rd line of recchi-bergeron-kobasew i think your pretty good. montreal HAS underacheived all year, but what makes you think it'll change? gainey took the helm after firing carboneau, but that hasnt change anything. they're still not playing well. while everyone started panicking when boston took a slide in march, the b's i believe closed out the season like 10-2. i do believe that boston will make quick work of montreal this series. huge rivalry, i know, but its just that boston is much deeper at all positions and will physically dominate this series. im sure the refs in montreal will give the habs a game, but i see boston taking this one before game 6. and if they ever lost this series, well.......
the more i look into the jersey/canes series, i tend to lean towards carolina. i do think ward will outplay broduer this series. marty looked awful last year in the rangers series, and has stretches since returning from injury where he has looked bad. jersey does have more fire power up front this year, but cam ward has played unreal late in the season. carolina should be able to win all their home games, and if they steal one of the first two i think this series is over.
alot of talk about the san jose/anaheim series and with good reason. the sharks draw a very tough matchup with the ducks. anaheim struggles to stay out of the box, and the sharks will make them pay at home. san jose can match up physically with anaheim so that should neutralize their biggest threat. ill take nabby in net over a hiller/giggy combo as well. there are some that are picking the ducks to win this, and i think san jose is feeling a little disrespected. this will be the year when they are picked to be knocked out early and they actually make a deep run. i think the sharks prevail here, but obviously wouldnt be shocked with the 8 seed moving on.
