Subject: 2016 NHL Playoff Predictions

The thing I loved about game 6 in Nashville was in the 3rd period neither team played careful hockey to avoid losing, like you see in most playoff games that are tied close to the end or in OT. It was full tilt hockey. Very refreshing.

That said, you are absolutely right about finishing. The Blues/Stars series is the Blues to lose even though Dallas does not finish well. They have shown a tendency to play protect the lead hockey and then just eek out in the end. The did against the Wild, they are doing it against the Blues. With a "big" lead, around the middle of the second period they start playing one player up and four players back defending. Not smart hockey in the playoffs.

The blues always find a way to make it interesting I'm going to die of heart issues 5 years early just for being their lifelong fan.

Preds deserve props great playoff run no matter how it ends now win or lose its a great run for them. Being blues fan I'm hoping they win.

I agree its the penguins in the east they look strong Honk Honk waddle waddle ! I have no idea what a penguin really sounds like * shrugs

Man the Blues just shelled Dallas. And Dallas shitty goalies finally caught up with them.

If you go by total team goals in the series it was pretty ugly for dallas, but somehow they won three games. Dallas is paying like 10 mill for both dallas goalies salaries, the most in the league and their goalies do not even get a 90 percent save percentage. In comparasim the blues goalies combined is about 4 mill a year salaries. The Dallas GM might be looking for a new job within a year.

I really think dallas is stuck no one wants the two contracts of the dallas goalies( about 5 mill a year for a medicore goalie). I agree they just don't cut it if you want to go deep into playoffs you are not going there with these two. Dallas needs to eat one of those contracts and go get another goalie but it be real expensive for them.

The only reason Dallas made it as far as they did was scoring. When it worked, it really worked. But, if they could not establish that game, it was ugly. Honestly I never did expect Dallas to get out of the 2nd round. But, once it made game 7 I was getting hopeful. As an original Blues fan (was there in 67-68 as a kid) I am thrilled to see the Blues do something beyond the first round and out. We will see what happens after the Sharks-Preds finish up.

I don't like the blame the goalies thing. Take 25 of the 30 starters and the result would be the same. Only the most elite could handle the crap the Stars goalies do due to their run and gun style. You don't score the most in the league without sacrificing some defense.

Fair point. But what it says is the goalies on the roster are the wrong goalies for the style of play for the team.

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Playoff Predictions Notice
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The first game of the next round is tomorrow, 5/13/16, at 8:00 ET. If you want to make a prediction for the next round, try to get your predictions in before then. Since I am only giving one day's notice once again, you can post your predictions until the start of the first Western Conference finals game. If posted after the start of the PIT-TBL game, the prediction for the number of games for the PIT-TBL series won't count.

Penguins in 6 Sharks in 6

Also I think both of the western conference semi finals game 7s proved who the two top teams in the west. No disrespect to the stars and especially Nashville who I think may win a Stanley cup soon. But the Blues and Sharks felt like the most complete teams in the west and now the EA sports cover fight is coming true.

PIT (4) - TBL (2)
STL (4) - SJS (3)

I said it before the end of the previous round...

San Jose takes the West.
Tampa takes the East.

And, San Jose takes the Cup.

TB 7
Stl 7

$$$$$$$

Tampa over Pitt in 6

Sharks over StL in 7

Holtbys and Luongos aren't easy to come by.