Playoffs?!

Yes, the playoffs start on Wednesday - or what to me is the fast forward button until the start of the CFL season - High Five! Here are some thoughts on the first round in this years playoffs.

East
1 Washington VS 8 Montreal

I love Ovechkin as lots of you know, but I'd love to see Montreal do well in this years playoffs. However as much as I'd like to see Montreal do well, against Washington they don't have a hope in hell. Washington is faster, stronger, bigger, oh yeah....and more talented as well....Montreal sadly may have been wishing they missed the playoffs when this series is done (hope I'm wrong) but Washington in 4 games

2 New Jersey VS 7 Philadelphia

Welcome to the annual snoozefest series of the 1st round. Neither team can score all that much - though Jersey may not be so bad with Kovalchuk in the lineup. Philly has had very inconsistent goaltending all season, and will be going up against King Marty. I would imagine given his efforts in last years playoffs and the Olympics, he would be eager to show he has some gas left in the tank. New Jersey in 6.

3 Buffalo VS 6 Boston

Old time match-up from the old Adams Division before the NHL did their re-alignment after 95 season I believe it was. This should be a solid series, Buffalo is a very fast moving team, and while Boston has had trouble in goal at times this year, Zdeno Chara comes to play in the playoffs, and it will be cool to see how the smaller Sabres team deals with him. This will also be a great chance for Ryan Miller to take the next step in his career. He's had his breakout year and Tyler Myers is probably going to be one of the top defenseman in the NHL. Buffalo in 6 in a solid series

4 Pittsburgh VS 5 Ottawa

I know this is a 4 VS 5 series, and they are usually very close...I don't see Pittsburgh repeating this year, they seem to lack that killer instinct from the last 2 years, but that being said, against Ottawa they don't have to worry about Alex Kovalev, and Crosby, Malkin and Staal must be drooling at the thought of facing LeClaire and Elliot. Pittsburgh in 4

West

1 San Jose VS 8 Colorado

It's the middle of April - Do you know what that means? Goodbye Joe Thornton! Dany Heatley is going to have to carry this team on his own, and Nabokov has been sketchy at best since the Olympics. Colorado is a good, young, up and coming team and will probably make this series more competitive than most expect, but regardless of this, and the fact that Joe will go missing again, having Heatley will be enough to get them through the first round. San Jose in 6

2 Chicago VS 7 Nashville

This one should be another quick series. Despite the questions in goal for the Hawks, they are much more faster and skilled than Nashville. Rinne might be able to steal a game for the Preads, but he will have to stand on his head to do it. Towes, and Kane must be tickled pink to have this first round match. Chicago in 4

3 Vancouver VS 6 Los Angeles

Wow...I don't even know on this one. Vancouver has been totally sketchy the past month of the season, and at the start of the year, LA was at, and near the top of the Western Conference standings. The Sedins should put in a strong show, but the question is what kind of Luongo will be showing up for Vancouver. If he plays to his ability, Vancouver shouldn't have much of an issue, but given he rarely does, and likely won't this year again, this series will probably be closer than it needs to be. Ontop of that, Quick has been outstanding for the Kings this year. Kopitar will be ready to go, and the leadership of Ryan Smyth will be a huge asset. Canucks in 7

4 Phoenix VS 5 Detroit

Well, well....welcome back to the playoffs Phoenix, and as a nice welcome back you get the hottest, healthiest and most experienced team in the NHL playoffs, the Detroit Red Wings. While Phoenix has had a much better year than anyone could have ever expected, this is doing to be a new experience for a very young team. The leadership from Ed Jovonovski will be huge here, and Mueller should have a good series as should Bryzgalov, but as I said, Detroit is just to well versed for this situation, and are desperate for one more cup run with an aging team. Detroit in 6.